A Simulation of Alternative Futures in U.S. Farm Size

The focus of this study is on the analysis of the potential impacts of an expansion of U.S. average farm size as measured by acres per farm. To analyze this alternative, the runs of a National Agricultural Econometric Simulation Model are used. Alternative I serves as a base and is the projected outcome. Alternative II assumes a much larger increase in farm size. Alternative III is a combination of the other two. The results suggest that the direction U.S. farming will take is highly dependent upon the goals and policies of the U.S. society.