TIME | 22 September 2011, 4pm onwards
LOCATION | CSAFE Seminar Room, , Dunedin
SPEAKER | Jeremie Forney
After the deregulation of the 1980’s, one of the major evolutions in Southland farming has been the decline of sheep and the rise of dairy farming. The conversion of the family sheep farm to dairy may involve a lot of changes, both in the structure of the farm and the way of farming. This presentation will be based on continuing research on social aspects of farm conversion. What are the main factors leading to conversion? Who converted and who did not? What are the most striking implications of conversion for farmers and for the local communities?
The farm succession and the definition of good farming seem to be the main motivators to conversion and dissatisfaction with sheep farming. These early results indicate that conversion might be the way to ensure a broader continuity for Southland family farmers.
Jérémie is visiting postdoctoral fellow at CSAFE. He just finished his PhD thesis (social anthropology) at the University of Neuchâtel, Switzerland, in May 2010. His doctoral research focused on the adaptation of Swiss dairy farmers to the political and economic changes that occurred since the late 1990’s: the progressive liberalization of market and the rise of “multifunctionality-based” policies. This main topic leads to a broad approach of family farming from a socio-cultural point of view, encompassing professional identities, farm management, analysis of political and economic frameworks, and landscape representations.