摘要：Current research indicates the prevalence o f o f f -farm employment among United States farm famil ies creates an important linkage between farm and nonfarm sectors o f the economy. The contention i s t h a t the nonfarm sector contributes through t h i s medium t o the economic v i a b i l i t y o f the farm sector. Despite the relevance o f t h i s linkage, few attempts have been made t o f u r t h e r specify i t s nature. This study examines the extent and source (by industry) o f off-farm employment i n Texas nonmetropolitan counties, c l a s s i f i e d by t h e i r economic base. Data are from the 1980 Census o f Population and the c l a s s i f i c a t i o n o f nonmetro counties developed by ERS, USDA. The analysis explores d i f f e r e n t i a l s i n the strength and nature o f t h i s farm-nonfarm economic linkage i n nonmetro economies dominated by d i f f e r e n t basic industries. P a r t i c u l a r a t t e n t i o n i s paid to counties w i t h a g r i c u l t u r a l economic bases
