ABSTRACT
This chapter examines some of the unique aspects of southern agriculture including: the effects of hotter, more variable weather patterns; contending uses for land in the region; and demographic considerations shaping the industry's destiny. It considers technological developments that will underly many of the coming shifts in the agricultural sector, altering production practices and the location of activity. The contraction underway in agriculture across the South is continuing. Other uses besides farming compete for agricultural land and affect its price. Minority young people have been found to be less oriented toward careers in production agriculture. The low rates of return prevalent in agriculture seem to effectively discourage the entry of large scale corporate farming. From a strictly economic perspective, the rate of return on most agricultural enterprises is less than the prevailing interest rate. The South accounts for about 30 percent of the value of the nation's farm marketings.
