The Importance of Next Generation Farmers: A Conceptual Framework to Bring the Potential Successor into Focus

Abstract

Intergenerational succession is understood as an integral facet of the family farm. The importance of the succession process and more specifically, successor identification, are critically discussed in the context of the widely propagated projections of global population growth and associated demands on the agricultural sector. Having established the merits of successor identification, the article then highlights the absence of the ‘potential successor’ from contemporary research and continues by offering a conceptual framework, capable of bringing this important research subject into focus as an autonomous and valuable actor, which, given the anticipated renaissance in agriculture, is perhaps now, more important than ever.

“It's Definitely a Good Time to Be a Farmer”: Understanding the Changing Dynamics of Successor Creation in Late Modern Society

“…Interviews typically took place in farmers' and potential successors' homes, but a small number were conducted at a neutral location (a café) at the behest of the participant. Potential successors were defined as someone who could potentially gain managerial control of the farm, including someone assumed to be the future successor by virtue of his or her relationship to the farmer and those actively moving toward gaining managerial control of the farm (Chiswell ).…”

“…In light of the long‐standing cultural expectation that the eldest son would become the successor (de Hann ; Gasson and Errington ; Kuehne ; Silvasti ), as well as the scarcity of engagement with the potential successor in previous research (Chiswell ), we tried to interview farmers and their potential successors separately . We hoped that separate interviews would allow both parties to talk openly and honestly about their hopes, motivations, and plans for the farm, without fear of repercussions, in a way that they might not have been able to do in a joint interview.…”

“…Following this, questions and topics were generally open and guided by the participants. The freedom for respondent input facilitated detailed responses, and critically, given the absence of the potential successor in previous research (Chiswell ), gave voice to the potential successor. As Cloke et al (:151) recognize, one of many reasons for “using interviews lies in the desire … to ‘give voice to’ others as an integral part of the research process” (see also Philo ).…”

De-mystifying family farming: Features, diversity and trends across the globe

“…These opportunities need to be acknowledged by policymakers. Moreover, for any policy to be successful, engagement is needed with the potential next generation of farmers (Chiswell, 2014). For instance, in order to facilitate children to take over their parent's farm without immediately incurring debts, inheritance taxes could be reduced (van der Veen et al, 2002).…”

Still Being the ‘Good Farmer’: (Non‐)retirement and the Preservation of Farming Identities in Older Age

“…While it has been suggested that the number of willing successors may be declining, recent analyses have suggested that succession remains a central aspect of farming in UK, as elsewhere (see Riley , Chiswell ).…”