Linking Diversity–Productivity Conditions of Farming Systems with the Well-Being of Agricultural Communities

This paper uses data at the county level from 2010 to 2019 to first analyze how well-being varies across communities that differ in their levels of crop diversity and productivity. Then, it investigates how well-being varies across both diversity–productivity characteristics and farming intensity levels. Study findings show a consistent pattern of high levels of well-being across most diversity–productivity categories, with the notable exception of areas that are both highly diverse and highly productive. In addition, places with substantial commercial operations and where agriculture contributes greatly to overall GDP and employment generally appear to have higher well-being scores compared to other places. The analysis also reveals that there is more variability in the index of community well-being within each group than across groups of counties. Overall, the results suggest that the differences in community well-being are not solely determined by agricultural indicators, such as diversity–productivity characteristics and farming intensity levels, but also depend on contextual factors, such as social infrastructure, non-agricultural job opportunities, or local economic diversification.