search our site     home > key topics > farm structure, income, & performance   farm structure/characteristics Farm structural characteristics underlie the efficiency and competitiveness of the farm sector, the well being of farm households, the design of public policies, and the nature of rural areas. Farm structure covers the number and size of farms; farm specialization and diversification; ownership and control of resources; business arrangements, including contractual agreements; the concentration of production; and the characteristics of farmers and their households, including earnings from farming and other sources. related briefing rooms - offer an indepth discussion synthesizing ERS research Agricultural Resource Management Survey (ARMS) Farm Structure feature Income, Wealth and the Economic Well-Being of Farm Households—This report examines factors that affect the economic well-being of farm operator households based on USDA's ARMS survey data. The analysis uses a new concept of economic well-being that captures farm household wealth and expenditures in addition to more conventional income measures. The report examines whether farm households are inherently disadvantaged and whether they have lower incomes, lower wealth, and lower household expenditures than nonfarm households. AER-812 (7/02) web administration: webadmin@ers.usda.gov updated: July 10, 2002  Also at ERS... latest publications (all) • Characteristics and Production Costs of U.S. Rice Farms • Characteristics and Production Costs of U.S. Dairy Operations • U.S.-EU Food and Agriculture Comparisons latest data products (all) • Western Irrigated Agriculture • Agricultural Resources and Environmental Indicators (AREI) Database and Mapping Tool • Farm Financial Management Data Page resources • Contact an ERS Expert • Calendar of Releases services • Receive E-mail Updates • E-mail This Page • Translate This Page

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