Diversification In Five Food Processing Industries And The Farm Machinery And Equpment Industry

Census data made available from the Enterprise Statistics program show substantial changes between 1954 and 1967 in ownership patterns and diversification by companies processing food products and producing farm equipment and machinery. Employment in these industries is shown to be declining primarily among companies classified in the industry, but increasing among companies primarily engaged in other industrial activities. For example, the total number of employees in the meatpacking industry dropped by over 49,000 between 1954 and 1967. The number of employees of firms classified within the industry dropped by 61,000, but employment in meatpacking establishments owned by companies classified outside the meat industry rose by nearly 12,000. Companies classified outside the industry accounted for 10 percent of meatpacking industry sales in 1967. Similarily, 27 percent of the farm machinery and equipment sales were accounted for by companies classified in other industries such as electrical machinery.