Farm Structure and Community Viability in the Northern Great Plains

• Published in: The Review of regional studies 1993, Vol.23 (3), p.265
• Main Authors: Stabler, Jack C., Olfert, M.R.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agricultural economics; Agricultural production; Agriculture; Farms; Hypotheses; Influence; Population density; Regional studies; Rural areas; Variables
• ISSN: 0048-749X; 1553-0892
• DOI: 10.52324/001c.9119

The way in which the economic base of regional economies influences the viability of the communities that serve them has been a subject of inquiry for several decades. Many previous studies have been static in nature, thereby failing to capture the influence of changes in the base through time. Others, conducted over a period of years, have included only one (or a few) independent variables and have, consequently, provided a very selective view of the relationship. In this paper, we investigate the relationship between the viability of 598 communities distributed among three agricultural economic regions in Saskatchewan over a 30-year period. A total of37 variables describes each community at three points in time during the period studied. A distinct positive association is observed between agricultural diversification, smaller farms, higher population density, and community viability. Conversely, a higher incidence of decline is associated with lack of diversification, larger farms, and lower population density.