Analysis of secondary data from 1980-85 revealed economic, demographic, social, and psychological effects of the current "farm crisis" on rural communities in Nebraska. Agriculturally dependent counties were found to have a widening income disparity with state and metropolitan county averages, declining retail sales, slower increase in number of establishments supplying goods and services, loss of population from rural counties, higher proportion of elderly residents, declining student enrollment, a lag behind the state as a whole in increase in ratio of physicians, more physicians over 50 years of age, and more part-time health services personnel than in metropolitan counties. Rural counties showed dramatic rate increases in public welfare program participation while metro rates increased only slightly during the period. Admissions to community mental health centers showed a small but consistent increase in agriculturally dependent counties with approximately half of the admissions for alcohol or minor mental problems relating to stress. Researchers concluded that basic economic indicators pointed to economic deterioration of rural communities, but recommended use of primary data reflecting views and behavior of community members to determine social and psychological changes. Appended tables provide economic, demographic, social, and psychological data grouped by counties. (LFL)