Members of the farm related population generally lag behind their nonfarm related counterparts in the number of school years completed, number of persons completing high school and college, functional literacy rates, participants in adult education, and labor force status. In 1975 White farm males trailed metro and nonmetro nonfarm males by 1.2 and 0.8 years respectively in median school years completed. Black farm males and females trailed their metro counterparts by 5.7 years for men and 4.0 years for women. Functional illiteracy for Black farm males remained about the same (40 percent) while illiteracy among Black farm females rose from 23.1 to 31.9 percent. Farm-related youth are not seeking post-secondary schooling at a level approaching that for metro youth, and older farm-related people are less inclined to pursue adult education opportunities. Thus, many members of the farm related population lack the formal education needed to improve chances for success in complex modern farming as well as in professional career fields elsewhere. Census data from between 1968-1975 are used in this study on the educational characteristics of two farm related population components: nonmetro farm residents and farmers and farm laborers. The educational status of subpopulations (Blacks-Whites, males-females, younger-older persons) is particularly emphasized. (Author/DS)