The Consequences of the Farm Crisis for Rural Communities

Across the divide (?): Reconciling farm and town views of agriculture–community linkages

“…The transition to larger production units in agriculture has resulted in progressively smaller numbers of farms and a shrinking farm population, and this has been seen traditionally as a major reason for economic decline in many rural towns and villages (Albrecht et al, 1988;Goldschmidt, 1947;Leistritz et al, 1989). However, broad-scale changes in technology and demography in society, along with the impacts of economic and social restructuring in the service sector, have also contributed to change in the nature of rural communities (Joseph, 1999).…”

IMPACTS OF THE FARM FINANCIAL CRISIS OF THE 1980s ON RESOURCES AND POVERTY IN AGRICULTURALLY DEPENDENT COUNTIES IN THE UNITED STATES

“…Although the base of knowledge regarding the characteristics of the farming operations and of the producers who have been impacted is increasing (Murdock et al, 1985;Leholm et al, 1985;Albrecht et al, 1987aAlbrecht et al, , 1987bHeffernan & Heffernan, 1985;Bultena e t al., 1986) and an increasing, yet extremely limited, base of information is accumulating on the effects of the crisis on rural communities and their residents (Murdock & Leistritz, 1988;Murdock et al, 1987;Albrecht et al, 1988;Doeksen, 1987;Heffernan & Heffernan, 1985), the effects of the crisis on the general social and economic welfare of rural areas has not been adequately examined. As a result, the effects t h a t t h e crisis has had, or may yet have, on t h e ability of residents in rural areas to maintain an adequate base of resources for the support of individual households and to support community services in rural areas remain unclear.…”

The Impacts of the Farm Financial Crisis in the United States: Implications for Financial and Human Resources in Rural Areas

“…The base of knowledge is increasing regarding the characteristics of the farming operations, the producers who have been impacted (Albrecht et al, 1987a(Albrecht et al, , 1987bBultena et al, 1986), and the effects of the crisis on rural communities and their residents (Murdock and Leistritz, 1988;Murdock et al, 1987;Albrecht et al, 1988;Doeksen, 1987;Heffernan and Heffernan, 1985), but the effects of the crisis on the general social and economic welfare of rural areas has not been adequately examined. As a result, the effects that the crisis has had, or may yet have, on the ability of residents in rural areas to maintain an adequate base of resources for the support of individual households and to support community services in rural areas remain unclear.…”