A new study says federal cooperative extension programs at land-grant universities help farmers stay in business.
The researchers say since 1985, 137,000 farmers would have left the industry without the federal program.
The study says cooperative extension and agricultural research translate into higher farm profits, allowing farmers to stay in agriculture.
Researchers say that unlike extension and research programs, farm subsidies or commodity programs may not have the intended effect of keeping farmers on their farms.
The study found areas receiving more subsidies or commodity dollars also saw a greater loss of farmers three or four years later.
