Social stratification in agriculture is a complicated process without a theoretical paradigm. Research to date has typically focused on the stratification of farms rather than the social stratification of farmers. Therefore, identifying social classes in agriculture based on a typology of farms clearly misses the social relations segment of stratification. A continuum based on ownership, labor contribution, and control over the production process is suggested as a possible stratification system for agriculture to better answer questions of benefit and control as well as ownership and wages. This system includes three general categories (agribusiness, farmer, and farmworkers) along with degrees of stratification to include owner capitalist, owner operator, manager, cash renter, crop share renter, share cropper, contract producer, hired labor, and unpaid workers. (NEC)