THE PURPOSE OF THE STUDY WAS TO ASCERTAIN THE NATURE AND EXTENT OF OFF-FARM AGRICULTURAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN THE STATE. BUSINESS FIRMS, OCCUPATIONS, OCCUPATIONAL CHARACTERISTICS, AND METHODS OF RECRUITMENT WERE IDENTIFIED. THE SAMPLES OF BUSINESS FIRMS WAS SELECTED FROM 20 SAMPLE COUNTIES. INTERVIEWERS CONTACTED 545 OF THE 638 FIRMS IN THE SAMPLE OF WHICH 87 PERCENT WERE PAYROLL FIRMS. THERE WERE 5,443 AGRICULTURAL BUSINESSES, INDUSTRIES, AND SERVICES OF 18 DIFFERENT TYPES OPERATING IN THE STATE. IN THE FIRMS CONTACTED, 16,983 PERSONS WERE EMPLOYED, WITH 4,204 ENGAGED IN OFF-FARM AGRICULTURAL OCCUPATIONS. THE MAIN CATEGORIES OF FIRMS EMPLOYING MOST PERSONNEL IN OFF-FARM AGRICULTURAL OCCUPATIONS WERE (1) FARM MACHINERY SALES AND SERVICE, (2) COTTON PROCESSING, SALES, AND WAREHOUSING, AND (3) FARM SUPPLY RETAIL STORES. THE CATEGORIES EMPLOYING THE FEWEST WERE FOOD PROCESSING AND DISTRIBUTION, DAIRY PRODUCTS MANUFACTURERS AND DISTRIBUTORS, MEAT PROCESSING AND WHOLESALE, AGRICULTURAL CHEMICAL MANUFACTURERS AND WHOLESALE, AND LUMBER AND WOOD PRODUCTS. THERE WERE 184 DIFFERENT OFF-FARM AGRICULTURAL OCCUPATIONS. AN 8 PERCENT INCREASE IN EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY WAS PROJECTED FOR 5 YEARS HENCE. PROJECTION OF FIGURES FROM THE SAMPLE TO THE STATE POPULATION WOULD PLACE THE NUMBER OF PERSONS EMPLOYED IN OFF-FARM AGRICULTURAL OCCUPATIONS AT 49,447. THE STUDY INDICATED A NEED FOR (1) BROADENING THE VOCATIONAL AGRICULTURE PROGRAM, (2) IMPROVING COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN VOCATIONAL AGRICULTURE ANDEMPLOYERS, (3) INSTRUCTION TO ACQUAINT STUDENTS WITH EXISTING EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES, (4) CONTINUING STUDY OF OPPORTUNITIES, AND (5) MORE TEACHER RESPONSIBILITY FOR PLACEMENT. (JM)