number of leadership farmers at from 5 to 10 per cent 

 of the total number, depending upon how closely one 

 defines leadership. This is but a rough estimate. 

 However, certain facts seem to indicate that this may 

 be approximately correct. Usually about 10 per cent 

 of the farmers in a county belong to the farm bureau. 

 It is estimated that about 10 per cent of the farmers 

 in the United States belong to the various coopera- 

 tive organizations. To the leadership families on the 

 farms must, of course, be added city people who 

 own farms and who are in many instances leaders 

 among the farmers in the community. Thus the 

 consensus of opinion seems to indicate that there may 

 be from 500,000 to 1,000,000 families included in the 

 farm leadership group in the farm market. It is to be 

 noted, however, that with agricultural progress the 

 number of leaders is steadily increasing and the 

 influence of these leaders is steadily growing. 



Farming Influenced by National Forces 



The forces which are transforming farming are 

 national in their operation. Farms in all sections are 

 being motorized. In all parts of the United States 

 modern improvements are being installed in farm 

 homes. The county agent and the home demonstra- 

 tion agent movement is national in its extent. In all 

 parts of the United States more efficient methods of 

 marketing farm crops are being adopted. The more 

 adequate financing of the farm is a national problem. 

 Local influences are becoming relatively less effective, 

 while national forces are of more vital importance. 

 The farmer is now more conscious that he is influ- 

 enced by national forces. Since the war opened he has 

 cooperated as never before with other farmers and 

 with city people in the various war activities Lib- 

 erty Loan, Red Cross and Young Men's Christian 



[63] 



