Changes in Farm Production and Efficiency, 1978

Farm output in 1978 equalled the record set in 1977 and inputs used decreased 1 percent. Cropland used for crops decreased 9 million acres or 2 percent below 1977, and crop production per acre of cropland used for crops was a record high in 1978 - 3 percent above the previous record set in 1977. Fertilizer use in 1978 decreased 7 percent or 20.6 million tons of primary plant nutrients from the previous year's record high. Farm tractor stoks and some other machinery items continued to decline. Hours of farm labor in 1978 also continued to decline, down 5 percent from 1977.