Discusses some of the ways the role of agronomists in agriculture is changing. Cites a recent study which indicates that there will be fewer graduates going directly into farming and ranching in the near future, and those that do will need to be more highly trained. (TW)

Effective rural development planning depends on facts and analysis based, not on rural averages, but on the diverse social and economic structure of rural America. Programs tailored to particular types of rural economies may be more effective than generalized programs. Because of their unique characteristics, government policies and economic…