The farmer and the farm

Mixed farming has certain advantages from the point of view of the farmer. There can be a vast difference in outlook between the farmer who is an owner-occupier of his land and the tenant farmer. To a tenant farmer, the rise in land prices poses a threat of increased rent, and the problem of having to raise even more money if he wishes to join the owner-occupier group. A farmer’s success thus depends not only on his knowledge of how to grow the crops of his choice, but also his ability to plan and manage his production system. There are fewer major options open to the livestock farmer because there are fewer species of economic importance. Almost all large farm businesses keep comprehensive records compiled by trained staff. Most farmers, however, depend entirely on their farm income, so that the profit motive is often the dominant one.