Is there a future for small family farms in the UK? That is the subject of a report commissioned by the Prince’s Countryside Fund and the answer appears to be yes for some but life will continue to be tough for all.
One of the questions we need to address first is whether the survival of such farms really matters. Certainly advocates of small family farms make a strong case for the positive contribution they make in local communities and the environment.
The report explains that the relationship between farm size and the environmental and social benefits they may bring to the countryside is highly complex. As a result, in some instances where farm size, farm type and the farmer’s attitude and behaviour all interact favourably, this can result in a very positive role for small farms - but by implication this is not always the case.
The report also highlighted how complicated it is to even define what a “small family farm” is because the term encompasses a whole range of structures from retirement holdings, lifestyle farms, part-time farms to “main living farms” and because of this variety there will be a range of futures for the different types.
The report recognises there is not necessarily a future for all small family farms and explains that there are powerful economic forces driving change in farm size and structure - and little can be done about this. However, the report does say there are initiatives that can improve the resilience of a small farm.
These include the need to improve farm management skills and performance through targeted and co-ordinated advice and training, some of which should be provided by farmers themselves, mentoring others to improve their skills.
Other important challenges include finding ways to shorten the supply chain so farmers can gain a larger share of the value of the end product, which is particularly important for small farms where there are limited opportunities to take advantage of economies of scale.
Also, there should be initiatives to encourage new entrants and this raises a whole variety of issues surrounding succession planning and helping older farmers to retire with dignity.
Overall the report highlighted there is no “one size fits all” answer to the challenges that face the huge diversity of small farm businesses dotted around the countryside.
However, what was also clear is that these farms provide a very important role in the structure of our agriculture and wider rural communities whose loss would be a huge detriment to Britain.
James Stephen MRICS FAAV
Partner
Rural Practice Chartered Surveyor, Wells
T: 01749 683381
E: james.stephen@carterjonas.co.uk
