Analysis of newly available longitudinal data on size changes of individual United States farms during 1974-78 suggests farm structure will not change dramatically by year 2000. Implications considered include need for small farm research and service delivery market/needs. Tables, charts, and discussion of Markov projection methods and data are…

Questions if high technology will enhance comparative advantage of rural areas, alleviate difficulties facing local/rural public institutions, change traditional rural industries, give large farms greater advantage, create unequal distribution of benefits, depersonalize rural society. Concludes computers and telecommunications will impact rural…

Synthesizes findings with personal estimates of likely impacts of biotechnology on nonmetropolitan economy, farming, public research institutions. Indicates biotechnology's benefit to rural America may come in expanded demand for raw materials although drawbacks may include declining farm numbers and displacement of rural workers in…

Describes computer Industrial Impact Model used by Texas Agricultural Extension Service rural planners to assess potential benefits and costs of new firms on community private and public sectors. Presents selected data/results for two communities assessing impact of the same plant. (NEC)

Discusses indirect and long-term rural implications of tax reform: elimination of local sales tax deduction, limits on local bond issues. Summarizes major tax changes affecting agriculture: individual income taxes, corporate tax rates, tax treatment of capital, capital gains, land deductions, cash accounting, development costs, passive losses and…

Lists addresses, telephone numbers, and contact persons for each state data center plus those in the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. Describes available rural data and services (mostly free): informational assistance, computer tapes and printouts, maps, assistance using data, and information on new products. (NEC)

Describes the use of census tracts in place of counties to identify metro and nonmetro components of a five-level "rural-urban continuum." Application of the system to Arizona, South Carolina, and Minnesota demonstrates the superiority of census tracts in providing a more precise territorial delineation of areas and classification of…

Examines trends, 1960-87, in population, retail and service activity, and manufacturing activity for a random sample of 202 nonmetro villages. Finds slowest growth or absolute decline in the 1980s. Suggests a stronger position for the small town as a residential center, rather than a retail or production center. (SV)

In 1987-88 large farms (annual sales over $40,000) had loan default and insolvency rates 2.5-3 times greater than small farms. Small farm solvency was related to income stability associated with off-farm employment, and decreased in areas with fewer off-farm employment opportunities. (SV)

Highway interchanges offer rural counties practically ready-made sites for development, but some interchanges offer better development opportunities than others. A study of a Kentucky interchange identified seven factors that make a difference in development, including traffic volume, distance to an urban area, ruggedness of terrain, and sale of…

Telephone interviews with 501 immigrants to 75 nonmetropolitan midwestern counties revealed that they favor development as long as it does not raise taxes. Older and less satisfied inmigrants supported expansion significantly more than did other newcomers. Younger, better educated individuals and women seemed more willing to assume added tax…

Discusses service industries' role in developing economies of rural areas. Describes ways service industries generate employment and local income and blend with a local economy. Summarizes survey of contributions to local economies and what attracted them to their communities for 385 service firms in nonmetropolitan Wisconsin. Tables provide…

Presents an overview of the use of telemedicine technologies and critical access hospitals in rural areas. Discusses changes in rural population, hospital closures, and federal health care policy. Provides anecdotal evidence on the impact of these innovations in rural Montana, which suggests that different health care solutions are needed for…

Reviews the history of Canadian rural development, comparing Canadian rural policy with U.S. rural policy. Canada's programs, although sharing some features with U.S. programs, are often delivered in a manner that emphasizes local planning and encourages rural areas to make a long-term commitment to integrating programs into a broader development…

Telecommunications can reduce rural isolation, improve access to education and services, and increase business efficiency. But urban and international competition may limit telecommunications benefits for rural areas and may possibly widen the development gap. Still, telecommunications are an essential part of rural development strategy.…