County Fairs

Our society and the agricultural community have been through many changes over the past years, but the goals of the county fairs remain consistent today … providing a family-oriented show, dedicated to education, entertainment and fellowship to all.

These county fairs serve as one of the few remaining links between farm and non-farm residents. Today, less than 2% of our population is a farmer. With the majority of the public at least three generations removed from actual farm life, the county fairs are more important than ever before. More often than not, education and communication with each other can avoid basic misunderstandings. Too often, non-farm residents are ready to lay blame on the farming sector for a problem or concern that is unwarranted. On the other hand, farm residents must realize the need to get along with and positively promote their occupation to non-farm residents.

While the decline in the number of farms will continue for years to come, the remaining producers will strive to meet the needs of tomorrow’s society. Farm and non-farm residents will need to co-exist more in the years to come and the county fairs will provide an avenue for such interaction.

Locally we have the Butler Farm Show currently under way Aug. 4 to 9 and the Hookstown Fair Aug. 19-23, or you may just want to stop in at the Big Knob Grange Fair being held Aug. 26-30 in Rochester, Beaver County. To locate a fair near you log on to the Pennsylvania State Association of County Fairs at www.pafairs.org.

Cause and Extent of Farm “Exits”

A report by USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS) notes that U.S. farm numbers have been relatively stable between agricultural censuses in recent decades, “but beneath the surface, farming is a much more dynamic industry than the farm count indicates.” The relatively small net change in farm numbers masks substantial turnover in farms. In fact, says ERS, about 717,100 farms in the U.S. went out of business — or exited — between 1992 and 1997. But the total number of farms declined by just 13,400 because the number of entries (703,700 farms) nearly equaled exits.

On an annualized basis, U.S. farm exit rates are 9 to 10 percent, or within 1 percentage point of exit rates for all U.S. small nonfarm businesses with no employees. These rates also are comparable to exit rates for Canadian farms and businesses in other countries.

In studying farm exits, ERS researchers looked at two fundamental drivers: farm size and operator age. Among other things, the study found that:

ä Exit rates decline as farm size (measured by sales) increases.

ä Nevertheless, exit rates are still 6 to 7 percent for large farms (sales of $250,000 or more).

ä The exit rate initially declines with age until it reaches 8 to 9 percent for farmers between 45 and 54 years of age.

ä The rate then increases and peaks at 12 to 13 percent for farmers who are at least 65 years old.

Researchers say that understanding farm exits is important for three reasons.

First, knowing which types of farms are most likely to exit might be useful to policymakers interested in the effects of exits on exiting farmers, the remaining farms and farm communities.