Summary of Findings 



THE situation varies somewhat from place to place (the principal vari- 

 ations are presented in studies of six towns), but the following general 

 statements seem justified: 



1. The 20 towns studied each had from 7 to 37 places containing idle 

 or nearly idle farm land. There was an average of 19 such places and 631 

 tillable acres, plus somewhat less nonwooded pasture, per town. 



2. Some of these places have enough agricultural land for a com- 

 mercial size dairy farm (20 or more cows), more are of doubtful com- 

 mercial size, but the greatest number are distinctly less than commercial size. 



3. Such places may be found anywhere, but areas near plentiful non- 

 farm employment opportunities, areas offering good views and some pri- 

 vacy, and accessible small farm areas tend to have more agriculturally idle 

 places. 



4. The ownership of these places is varied. A few places are owned 

 by wealthy persons, but many are owned by persons of modest means in 

 about this order of frequency: local nonfarm workers; local and outside 

 business and professional people, some active and some retired; women heirs 

 of farmers; unsettled estates; retired and semiretired farmers; and others 

 too varied to classify but probably ranking below only the first two groups 

 in total numbers. 



5. Some of the larger places were taken out of farmer ownership by 

 persons of wealth. Others are held by persons of moderate or small means 

 for reasons of sentiment, uncertainty, indecision, future plans, etc. Appar- 

 ently a majority of the places below commercial size ceased to be farmed as 

 they became too small for complete farm units; the rather small acreage of 

 good land, their distance from active farms, and the value of the old farm 

 houses have been against the incorporation of these small places into ade- 

 quate size farmer-owned holdings. 



6. The principal present use of most of these places is as full or part- 

 time residence of the owner. 



7. There are a few opportunities for developing dairy farm units on 

 places now idle or nearly idle. However, on most places the farm land could 

 best be used to supplement another farm. This applies even to the larger 

 places because adequate buildings are seldom available for a tenant-farmer. 



8. Principal reasons given by owners of idle land for not currently 

 renting included, in order of frequency: no inquiries from renters; rented 

 for partial use; mistrustful of renters; owner may farm in future; owner 

 partially uses; place is for sale; and indecision as to future of place. 



9. About one-third of the owners were willing to rent their farm land 

 and about one-fourth more might be. persuaded. A few farmers wanted farm 

 units and more wanted some additional land. The farmers needing land 

 might use the better and more conveniently located pieces now idle. 



10. Owners often lack the interest or the means to make needed land 

 improvements. Farmers tended to be willing to fertilize and reseed if they 



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