The same may be held for pursuits that involve farm equipment, according to a recent survey from the University of Minnesota Extension. The organization took a look at producers who were particularly successful and saw that they held a number of common attributes.
"The survey included questions on formal education, farmers' attitudes toward management, their situation, and other potential reasons that are frequently mentioned by farmers when discussing performance," the extension said.
Farmers who had a positive feeling about the future of their business had a better output than those who were more concerned with their bottom lines. Furthermore, setting goals and working to achieve them was an attribute shared by more successful farmers.
Positive attitudes about the future of the industry may also end up affecting it on the whole. The U.S. Department of Agriculture is trying to improve opportunities in rural communities to keep young people from moving away. In the past, reduced job prospects have caused many to move away from those areas to cities, where jobs are more plentiful.
