Incorporating agri-environment schemes into farm development pathways: A temporal analysis of farmer motivations

Ingram, Julie ORCID: 0000-0003-0712-4789, Gaskell, Peter ORCID: 0000-0001-8830-5252, Mills, Jane ORCID: 0000-0003-3835-3058 and Short, Christopher J ORCID: 0000-0003-0429-1143 (2012) Incorporating agri-environment schemes into farm development pathways: A temporal analysis of farmer motivations. Land Use Policy, 31. pp. 267-279. doi:10.1016/j.landusepol.2012.07.007

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Abstract

This paper aims to capture the complexity and dynamic nature of motivations for participation in agri-environment schemes (AESs). Specifically, it examines the extent to which decisions about family farm participation in Tir Gofal (TG), a whole farm AES in Wales, can be traced to long-term motivations for farm continuity; and how Tir Gofal fits into dynamic farm development pathways that farmers follow to ensure their continuity. It reports the findings from narrative style interviews with 25 TG agreement holders and 12 non-agreement holders across Wales. The results show that the continuance of the family farm is an important goal for agreement and nonagreement holders alike, and this is linked to enduring commercially or traditionally oriented values. Three broad sets of development pathways were identified and the extent to which TG fits in with these pathways is considered, with particular reference to different periods in the farm life cycle. The paper concludes that incorporating a temporal dimension into the wider question of farmers' participation in agri-environment schemes can help to improve understanding of farmers' behaviour particularly given the variety of possible opportunities currently open to, and used by, family farms.

Item Type:	Article
Article Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	REF2014 Submission. Agri-environment schemes, Motivation, Farm development pathways, Family farms, Wales,
Subjects:	G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > G Geography (General) G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GE Environmental Sciences
Divisions:	Schools and Research Institutes > Countryside and Community Research Institute
Research Priority Areas:	Place, Environment and Community
Depositing User:	Debi Jones-Davis
Date Deposited:	28 Mar 2014 15:03
Last Modified:	27 Nov 2021 12:02
URI:	https://eprints.glos.ac.uk/id/eprint/348

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