Information about small farms is valuable at federal, state, and local levels to program managers and community developers, researchers and educators, policy makers and farm families themselves. Adequate information can help in the assessment of small farm program needs, development of appropriate policies, and management of effective programs, thereby aiding the well-being of the small farm family and its role in agriculture as a whole. Research activity regarding small farms has increased in the 1970's and has included more reports, extension education directed to small farm families, legislation, small farm research agenda studies and workshops, activities of small farm advocates, and other initiatives of the United States Department of Agriculture. Future policy formation and program management requires information in seven main categories: small farm definition and criteria; the goals and goal achievement of small farmers; their problems and disadvantaged circumstances; available human resources; available farm resources; community institutions; and the family's current use of available resources to achieve its goals and solve its problems. No national or state-wide secondary data source adequately includes all this information. (Author/SB)