Farmers’ Attitude Towards Succession and Unconventional Tenures: Providing recommendations on unconventional tenures for new entrants

Abstract

Dette specialeprojekt undersøger hvilke faktorer som påvirker nye, unge såvel som ældre, etablerede landmænds motivationer og barrierer for at indgå i generationsskifter og ukonventionelle ejerforhold. Projektet præsenterer derudover anbefalinger for alternative ejerkonstellationer for potentielle nye landmænd. Den teoretiske ramme er Adele Clarks Situational Analysis. Studiets empiriske data er baseret på kvalitative, semi-strukturerede interviews med to landbrugsstuderende, en landbrugsskoleforstander, både etablerede og unge landmænd samt en landbrugskonsulent. Den indsamlede, empiriske data er analyseret efter Adele Clarkes situational maps, resulterende i 10 temaer, som sætter den overordnede ramme for analysen. Resultatet af dette studie viser, at stærke landbrugstraditioner samt en overbevisning om at selveje er den eneste rigtige måde, hvorpå en landmand kan drive landbrug, er grundlæggende for de danske landmænds skepsis overfor utraditionelle generationsskiftemodeller og ukonventionelle ejerforhold. Tillid og forpligtigelse mellem den etablerede landmand og den nytilkomne landmand skal desuden være til stede for at imødekomme et velfungerende generationsskifte eller etablere alternative ejerforhold. Derover er det nødvendigt, at den unge landmand føler sig selvstændig og økonomisk involvereret for, at være motiveret for at arbejde hårdt. Hvad angår indflydelse, har familien og landbrugsskolerne stor betydning for unge landmænds holdning og indstilling. Det konkluderes ydermere, at landmænd, som indgår i alternative generationsskifter eller ejerformer, typisk er fra mindre byer og altså ikke landsbysamfund. Endeligt konkluderer studiet, at landbrugslovgivning står som værende en væsentlig barriere for mange landmænd når generationsskifte, alternative landbrugskonstellationer og ejerforhold overvejes. Ud fra diskussionen, konkluderes det at landmændene umiddelbart anbefaler fire successionstyper. Forfatterne har ud fra disse skabt en model, der kombinerer modellerne for ukonventionelle ejerformer der blev præsenteret i interviewene og relevant information fra den udvalgte litteratur. Denne model vil kunne præsenteres for potentielle nye landmænd, og guide dem til hvorledes de kan indgå i et partnerskab med en etableret landmand under at tilføjelse af startkapital og på den måde nærme dem et liv som selvstændige landmænd.

In this Master Thesis, factors influencing motivations and barriers of new entrants and established farmers towards succession and unconventional tenures are investigated. Furthermore, recommendations on unconventional tenures for potential new entrants are presented. The theoretical framework is based on Adele Clarks Situational Analysis. The empirical data of the study is based on qualitative semi-structured interviews with two agricultural students and an agricultural school headmaster, three established farmers, a young new entrant and an agricultural consultant. The empirical data is analyzed according to Adele Clarks’ situational maps, resulting in 10 themes, which frame the analysis. The result of the study shows that decades of agricultural traditions, stating that sole proprietorship and freehold is the only true opportunity of farming, are causing farmers' scepticism towards untraditional succession methods and unconventional tenures. Trust and commitment between the established farmer and the new entrant must also be present in order for a succession or tenure to happen. In order to motivate and empower the young new entrant, he must feel independent and be involved in the investment of the holding. With regards to influence, family and agricultural schools have a great impact on new entrants’ attitude towards succession, alternative agricultural constellations and unconventional tenures. Thus, it is found that new entrants entering untraditional successions or unconventional tenures typically are from either smaller towns or cities and not rural communities. Finally, agricultural regulations and legislation also stand as great barriers for entering untraditional successions and unconventional tenures. From the analysis, it is also concluded that farmers currently see four types of unconventional tenures. From these suggestions, the authors have created one, which combine elements of the tenure model, presented by the interviewees and findings from the obtained literature. This model can be presented for new entrants to follow, enabling them to enter a partnership with an established farmer by adding a ‘buy-in’ in the business and thereby taking steps towards becoming independent farmers.

A master thesis from Aalborg University

Farmers’ Attitude Towards Succession and Unconventional Tenures: Providing recommendations on unconventional tenures for new entrants