"Seventy-five percent of the nation's food still comes from 3 percent of its largest farms," he said.

"If 82 percent of our farms are losing money, this is a serious problem," Mr. Lugar said.

The state lost 16 percent of its farms during the turbulent 80's, and 9 percent more, or 3,000 farms, over the last decade.

Individuals, partnerships, and family corporations own 98 percent of the nation's 2.2 million farms and ranches.

In 1920, 14 percent of the nation's farms were owned by blacks, according to Federal statistics.

By 1930, tenant farming and sharecropping comprised 64 percent of the county's farms.

West Virginia would lose close to 80 percent of its farms, and Tennessee nearly 70 percent.

What data the agency does collect come from only the 3 or 4 percent of the nation's 2.1 million farms that have more than 10 employees.

New Hampshire leads the nation, with 17 percent of its farms headed by women.

Last year only 25 percent of the nation's farms were insured, well under the 50 percent Congress set as a goal.