Are farmers businesspeople? Highlighting transformations in the profession of farmers in France

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to promote understanding of the current transformations in the profession of farmer. A literature review and 40 in-depth semistructured interviews were carried out in two regions of France. One hypothesis was that society's views and perceptions of farmers were of increasing importance for the farmers. This hypothesis was confirmed. Moreover, the diversity of models that the farmers use to define their profession is highlighted. Besides the usual agricultural references, the respondents focus on the 'entrepreneur' model, or on a personal, individualised project. Farming increasingly appears to be a job like any other. Six profiles of farmers were created by adding a more personal dimension through research into traditional or creative attitudes. The main transformations in the farming profession are threefold: farmers are getting more and more 'professional', with increasing value being placed on organisational, management and human resources skills; farmers increasingly take into account the expectations of society when defining their job; and they increasingly identify themselves as businesspeople.