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Continuity in farming - Not just family business

Joosse, Sofie / Grubbström, Ann

AbstractCurrently, many European family farms are closing down, being rented out or sold outside the family (here termed non-family farm transfer). The discontinuity of family farms is expected to lead to changes in the organisation of farm production, and consequently to changes in agricultural landscapes and agrarian development. This expectation logically follows from the assumption that family farm transfer contributes to continuity in agriculture while non-family farm transfer leads to innovation and discontinuity. Our paper challenges these assumptions. Based on interviews with young and prospective farmers in Sweden, we compare family and non-family transfer in terms of the process of transfer, the relationship between former and new farmer, and farming practices. We identify respect, support and farm legacies as critical elements in farm continuity and argue that family farm transfer and non-family farm transfer can have more in common than conventionally assumed. Indeed, both family and non-family farm transfer entail relationships and practices that lead to continuity and change in farming practices.

Highlights•Nuances existing understandings of continuity in family versus non-family farm transfers.•Identifies respect, support and farm legacies as critical elements in farm continuity.•Compares the farming practices of family and non-family successors.•Family farm transfer does not necessarily lead to continuity.•Non family farm transfer does not necessarily lead to discontinuity.