Farm Families in Transition: Implications for Rural

Abstract

This study explores the characteristics of North Dakota families who quit farming between 1980 and 1986 for economic reasons. It describes (1) the demographic characteristics of former operators as well as the structural and financial characteristics of their former farms, (2) the financial circumstances of their departure from farming and the support systems they used in their transition, and (3) their current employment situation and perceived family financial well-being. These data are compared with those of a cross section of households that were operating farms in the state in 1986. The findings clearly indicate that significant numbers of farm families are making the transition to other occupations and that, in many cases, this transition involves migrating to urban areas. Displaced farmers who chose to leave their community were typically younger, more educated, and had less equity than those who chose to stay. Such selective migration poses numerous negative consequences for communities, such as d...