Discusses indirect and long-term rural implications of tax reform: elimination of local sales tax deduction, limits on local bond issues. Summarizes major tax changes affecting agriculture: individual income taxes, corporate tax rates, tax treatment of capital, capital gains, land deductions, cash accounting, development costs, passive losses and…

Since 1905, the Forest Service has influenced rural economies by managing timber harvests from federal lands to avoid boom/bust cycles. The Forest Service goal of "community stability" is now shifting to one of helping rural communities to diversify their economies through wise use of all forest resources. (SV)

Business incubators can help fledgling firms get off the ground by providing business services and rental space, at below-market costs, for a business's first few years. The payoff for the community is more jobs. Concentrated until recently in urban areas, incubators are now succeeding in rural areas too. (JHZ)