Abstract
One of the most striking consequences of the industrialization of agriculture in the United States is the extent to which production is becoming increasingly concentrated on a relatively few farms. In this study, a human ecological perspective and nationwide census data at the county level from 1982, 1987, and 1992 were used to explore concentration in the dairy, hog, and beef cattle industries. Wide differences were found in the extent of concentration from commodity to commodity and from county to county. It was found that in counties where the production of one commodity is highly concentrated, the production of other commodities may not necessarily be similarly concentrated. Also, factors related to high levels of concentration for one commodity are not generally related to high levels of concentration for other commodities.
Recommended Citation
Albrecht, Don. 1998. "Agricultural Concentration: An Analysis by Commodity." Journal of Rural Social Sciences, 14(1): Article 2. Available at: https://egrove.olemiss.edu/jrss/vol14/iss1/2
Publication Date
12-31-1998
