[Objective] The overall features of contemporary agriculture with regard to society, economy and culture were depicted to illustrate the intrinsic social reason that might potentially slow down the agricultural progress. [Methods] Field investigation and interview, especially on the topics of ecological resources and sociocultural connotation were conducted in Shaanxi Province of Northwest China. The province was exemplified to analyze the intrinsic link between contemporary agriculture progress and society development, and to predict the agricultural evolution tendency. From social structure perspective, the effects of population emigration and stratum differentiation on the agricultural evolution were discussed. [Results] In terms of development concept, social foundation and equilibrium, a list of problems existed in agricultural development were thought rooted in social structure as the phenomena of breakout, imparity and gap. The agricultural development in the undeveloped areas in Northwest China were both affected by the rigorous environment and low level economy. Besides, it was also mutually affected by social structure factors as organization form, policy and administrative intervention. In other words, the agricultural progress itself was routinely shaped by external factors. [Conclusion] Choosing the operation mode for modern agriculture is essentially choosing the social formation for rural areas, which is closely related with the regional development trend.