Farm and ranch operators in North Dakota (n=933) and Texas (n=1,020) were randomly surveyed in 1985 to determine the relationship of financial conditions to levels of off-farm employment by farm operators and spouses. The overall response rate was 75%. Off-farm employment was measured by number of days the farmer or spouse was employed off of the farm for 4 or more hours and by intention to obtain off-farm employment during the coming year. Debt-to-asset ratio and 1984 net cash farm income were used to measure amount of financial stress. Farm financial condition was not found to be significantly related to amount of off-farm employment. However, farmers and spouses with the highest debt-to-asset ratio who had started farming recently, had highest educational attainment, and who were most pessimistic about chances of continuing farming were most likely to state intentions to seek off-farm employment during the coming year. Off-farm employment was most prevalent among farm families with lowest farm incomes who farmed rented land, had started farming recently, had higher levels of education, and had fewer persons in the household. Tables provide correlation matrix of survey variables and regression coefficients and logistic regression showing effects of independent variables on off-farm employment. (LFL)