Agriculture in the Appalachian Region: 1965-2000
Dale Colyer
West Virginia University
Abstract: Agriculture in the Appalachian region has progressed since the ARC was established in
1965 when it was characterized by small farms with low incomes that contributed to the Region’s
high rate of poverty. However, the region’s agriculture remains relatively small compared to that
of the United States with an average farm size of 152 compared with 487 acres. The area is more
dependent on animal agriculture with three fourths of it income compared to half for the nation.
Farm operators obtain a large share of their income from work off-farm. However, farms in the
region have become more specialized and oriented more toward market activities.
Keywords: Agriculture, Appalachia, Farm Size, Farm Income
JEL Codes: Q10 Agriculture, R11 Regional Analysis, Growth, Development and Change
Agricultural and Resource Economics
2040 Agricultural Sciences
P.O. Box 6108
Morgantown, WV 26506-6108
Phone: 304-293-4832 x 4472
FAX: 304-293-3752
email: [email protected]
Copyright © 2001 by Dale Colyer. All rights reserved. Readers may take verbatim copies of this
document for non-commercial purposes by any means, provided that this copyright notice
appears on all such copies.