THE PURPOSE OF THE STUDY WAS TO IDENTIFY PRESENT AND EMERGING OFF-FARM AGRICULTURAL OCCUPATIONS, THE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES, TURNOVER AND JOB OPPORTUNITIES, NEED FOR AGRICULTURAL COMPETENCIES, BEGINNING AND MAXIMUM SALARIES, AGE FOR JOB ENTRY EDUCATION, AND SO FORTH. THERE WERE 1,879 MAJOR BUSINESSES CONSIDERED TO BE AGRICULTURALLY RELATED, AND 719 OF THESE WERE INTERVIEWED. THE SAMPLE PERCENTAGE VARIED FROM 40 PERCENT TO 66 PERCENT DEPENDING ON THE NUMBER OF BUSINESSES AND THE VARIATION OF THE BUSINESS ACTIVITIES. TWO INTERVIEW FORMS WERE USED. DATA INDICATED THAT--(1) 38 PERCENT OF THE WORKERS IN OFF-FARM AGRICULTURAL BUSINESSES NEEDED AGRICULTURAL COMPETENCIES, (2) THE GREATEST NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES WAS FROM THE SKILLED AND SEMISKILLED LEVELS, (3) THE NUMBER OF AGRICULTURALLY COMPETENT WORKERS WAS EXPECTED TO INCREASE 34 PERCENT BY 1969, (4) THE GREATEST INCREASE IN NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES WAS EXPECTED IN ORNAMENTAL HORTICULTURE, AGRICULTURAL MACHINERY, AND AGRICULTURAL SUPPLIES BUSINESSES, (5) 50 PERCENT OF THE EMPLOYEES NEEDED EDUCATION BEYOND HIGH SCHOOL, (6) THE NEED FOR PROFESSIONAL, COLLEGE-TRAINED PEOPLE WAS ESTIMATED TO BE ABOUT 400 PER YEAR, AND (7) IN 82 PERCENT OF THE CASES, MANAGERS PREFERRED EMPLOYEES WITH A FARM OR RURAL BACKGROUND. (PA)