gaps. Some redirection can take place and research directors and

administrators should look for opportunities to include such

adjustments. However, agricultural research has generally been

underfunded in recent years relative to other uses of public funds,

given the rates of return that have been estimated for agricultural

research. Therefore, it would seem appropriate that new initiatives

be funded primarily from increased resources.

 With extension, it is somewhat less clear given the great un-

certainty surrounding the level of current effort. However, there

is immediate need to sharpen the focus of the special pilot programs

and this can only be done by adding resources specifically earmarked

for the program.

 Data on Small Farm Activity

 There is no periodically updated data base on small farm activity.

The data that the task force utilized in this report are the product

of several one-time efforts by individuals or groups to meet the

specific data needs of their assignment. The small farm planning

groups recommended in this report need to give immediate attention

to this problem.

 On the research side, special category codes should be established

to show the relationship of the research to farm size. These cate-

gories would be as follows:

 Small Farm: The research is undertaken for the purpose of solving

a problem unique to small farms. For this purpose small farms are

defined as those with sales less than $20,000 and/or family income

below the nonmetropolitan median income.