Today in History revisits the Tuesday, October 4, 1977 edition of the Grand Forks Herald and highlights a story on farmers. Agricultural historian Gilbert Fite predicted the number of U.S. farmers would drop to 300,000 in 25 years due to increased efficiency. This decline would affect rural towns like Grand Forks. He also noted that with fewer farmers, they might better organize to set prices and regain political influence.

By Anne Valentine - Herald Staff Writer

The number of farmers in the United States will fall swiftly over the next 25 years, an agricultural historian said in Grand Forks Monday, Oct. 3, 1977.

From about 800,000 major farmers now, the number may eventually reach 300,000, said Gilbert Fite, history professor at the University of Georgia.

The drop will mean populatio

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