ABSTRACT
This chapter examines systematically the effects of local community changes on agriculture. It focuses on the role of community values and inputs in that linkage. Even a cursory review of the literature identifies a broad array of community forces with the potential for affecting agriculture. The exact nature of the changes in a particular community will depend on the type of community changes, on the existing stock of community resources, and on the type of agriculture in the local area. Changes in any component—socio-economic, community values, or local government—may be transmitted directly or indirectly to agriculture. Farmers also benefit when growth of the community's economic base stimulates creation of new local markets for their agricultural products. One of the crucial factors associated with rural community growth and economic development is the intensified demand for agricultural land for non-agricultural purposes. As of 1980, 48 states provided for some type of preferential assessment of agricultural lands for property tax purposes.
