An agricultural extension agent plans to reach 480 farmers in a district. If the agent can effectively manage 40 farmers directly and each contact farmer can then reach 8 additional farmers, how many contact farmers does the agent need to reach all 480 farmers?

The agent directly manages 40 farmers, leaving 480 − 40 = 440 farmers to be reached through contact farmers. Each contact farmer reaches 8 additional farmers, so the number of contact farmers needed is 440 ÷ 8 = 55. Therefore, the agent requires 55 contact farmers.