title: Age cohort analysis of the 20th century decline in U.S. farm numbers.
abstract: "The demographic component of the decline in U.S. farm numbers is analysed by tracking the size of farm operator age cohorts.... Cohort profiles indicate an inverted U-shape in the relationship between farm numbers and cohort age. Successive cohorts have been smaller than their predecessors, and withdrawal rates of older operators have fallen in recent years. Projections based on entry-withdrawal patterns for 1987-1992 suggest decline in farm numbers from 1.93 million in 1992 to 1.48 million in 2002 and 1.29 million in 2007. Imbalance between withdrawing older operators and younger new entrants could encourage a broadening of the pool of farm entrants and changes in farm ownership, operating and financing arrangements."
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000383:Agriculture; D000569:Americas; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003710:Demography; D019049:Developed Countries; D004467:Economics; D004651:Employment; D005544:Forecasting; D005843:Geography; D006280:Health Workforce; D009656:North America; D011153:Population; D011154:Population Characteristics; D012106:Research; D012424:Rural Population; D012939:Social Planning; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D014481:United States
keywords: Age Factors; Agricultural Development; Agricultural Workers; Americas; Cohort Analysis; Demographic Factors; Developed Countries; Economic Factors; Estimation Technics; Geographic Factors; Human Resources; Labor Force; North America; Northern America; Population; Population Characteristics; Population Projection; Research Methodology; Rural Development; Rural Spatial Distribution--changes; Spatial Distribution; United States