The study examines programs aimed at encouraging the economic, social, and cultural development of rural areas; the nature of activities undertaken and results achieved; major provisions of the new Rural Development Act; and directions which future policies and programs should take. A statement by the National Planning Association (NPA) Agriculture Committee on Rural Development Policy opens the document. Chapter 1 discusses the three sources of most problems concerning various rural development programs. Chapter 2 reviews recent rural development activities with emphasis on those since 1960. Chapter 3 outlines rural development accomplishments in the 1960's, noting that a major objective, stemming the tide of urbanization, was less than successful. Chapter 4 provides an overview of the Rural Development Act of 1972 with discussions of financing rural industrialization, coordination of rural development programs, research and extension education, and definitions of rural areas and rural development. Chapter 5, Challenges for the Future, discusses national priorities, six new national initiatives, and presents recommendations. Appended are a description of the NPA and lists of its Agriculture Committee members, officers and board of trustees, and a partial list of NPA publications. (Author/NH)