Family Farm Might Come to an End

Figures suggest that farm managers are on the rise while family farm business is on its way out. New research project, sponsored by RICS, investigates the potential impacts the coming changes may bring to the farm business. Paper called “The changing structure of agriculture and its relationship with family farm succession” written by Caroline Stanford-Billington of Harper Adams University College was published by RICS. The paper demonstrated the changes in the attitude of farm families towards their farms and their work during the last 10 years. As of 2005, the number of paid farm managers increased by 40% compared to 1998. Analysis revealed that more than 700 farm managers are created every year, while farmers, directors, partners etc. are slowly shifting from full-time to part-time job. In 2000, the number of part-time farmers exceeded the number of full-time farmers for the first time; ever since, the gap continued to widen. The changes suggest that the new generation of farm successors, who have inherited the land, will have a more and more distant relationship with the farm business of their ancestors. Instead, they are likely to be classified as share-farmers, landlords, 'pluriactive economic agents', or partners in contract farming. In legal terms, there has been a shift from farm family business being classified as sole trader to formal farm partnership or even limited company. This change suggests that now the decision-making process involves several shareholders. The paper also discusses the future of the agricultural sector and the advice offered by land agents.