ABSTRACT
Projections of the structure of American agriculture have been made by several agricultural economists, particularly in the years since World War II. The methods used and their results are reviewed at the outset of this chapter. This is followed by a set of projections to the year 2000 based heavily on agricultural census data for recent periods with 1987 as the point of departure, finally, the implications of these projections and alternative forces, which might speed up or slow down structural change, are considered. Comment is also made on what, if anything, can be said about the future of family farms in America.
