The social and economic determinants of farm succession in Ireland

Abstract

This study explores the multifaceted factors influencing farm succession in Ireland, emphasising the interaction among economic, social, and environmental aspects. With an ageing farm population, the need for effective succession strategies is critical to ensuring sustainable agricultural practices. We analyse the impact of drivers and barriers to succession, highlighting the importance of considering social factors along with economic factors using a probit model to examine these relationships. Our findings reveal that while farm size and dairy farming status show complex relationships with the likelihood of presence of a successor, social factors such as excessive workload impact decision-making. Our findings confirm expected relationships while offering new insights into farm succession and the farmer’s life cycle. Beyond profitability, social factors—such as workload and its perception by the next generation—play a crucial role in successor identification. Highlighting these dynamics, our study underscores the importance of social sustainability in securing farming’s future.