In all advanced agricultural countries farming still consists mainly of the individual family unit using predominantly family labour and management. These family farms have smaller resources than many other enterprises and, unlike some, farmers are unable to engage their own specialist services. Partly because of this and partly because farming is essential to a nation, the State in many countries has undertaken to carry out much of the research to help to solve agricultural problems and to improve production. Advisory services are often provided in order to acquaint farmers with the results of research.