Final answer:
The exact trend in the number of minorities involved in production agriculture from 1997 to 2002 is not provided, but economic challenges and demographic shifts likely influenced it. Specific statistical data would be needed to answer conclusively.
Step-by-step explanation:
From 1997 to 2002, the number of minorities involved in production agriculture has not been explicitly stated in the provided references or data. However, considering the broader trends and historical context presented, one might infer the direction of change. The provided information indicates that numerous economic pressures have led to a significant loss of small farms and farmers over the decades, and that urban and suburban development has consumed valuable farmland. Despite these challenges, immigration from Asia and Mexico since the 1970s has contributed to a diverse demographic in various sectors of the U.S. economy, including agriculture.
Overall, the status of minority involvement in production agriculture during that time period would have been influenced by multiple factors, including economic barriers to entry in the farming business, loss of farmland to development, and demographic shifts in the workforce. To accurately answer this question with one of the provided options (a-d), specific statistical data on minority involvement in production agriculture between 1997 and 2002 would be required.