| Below, in two charts, is a short, animated,
visualization illustrating the potential effects of structural
change on the number of farms and the acreage controlled by
alternative farm size categories over the next 15 years. Each chart
looks at change across 20 distinct segments; combining five farm
size categories (in terms of acreage) and four buying behavior
categories (as defined in
Farmers of
the Future: Market Segmentation and Buyer Behavior). Based
upon data from the U.S. Census of Agriculture, the charts examine
the implications if the trends in farm size that occurred between
1987 to 2002 continue until 2017. Data are shown for Corn Belt
region; which is defined as being comprised of the following five
states; Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Missouri, and Ohio. The modeling
tools developed by Centrec are very flexible in terms of the region
of analysis that the user can specify. Regions can be specified
from national, multi-state, individual states, or market
territories. Market territories are aggregations of specific
counties of interest to the user.
The modeling tools that create these visualizations are a key
component of the
Exploring
for Profitability in YOUR Future Ag Marketplace workshop
available from Centrec. In the two charts below, first “play” the
chart forward by hitting the
button and observe the changes in number of farms that would occur
in each size category if the trends that occurred from 1987 to 2002
continue for the next 15 years or so. Then move to the second
chart, which focuses on the number of acres within each farm size
category. “Play” that chart forward; compare the differing
implications that would arise simply by focusing on number of farms
in each category versus the acreage controlled within those
categories. |
