10 pages, via online journal, As the agricultural industries of developed countries undergo an extended period of change, increasing numbers of farmers are leaving farming. In this paper, we investigate the relationship between intention to exit farming and farmer wellbeing, drawing on and adapting the conservation of resources theory of stress. In a quantitative analysis of 674 Australian farmers, we show that the more likely a farmer is to leave farming, the poorer their wellbeing; but this is moderated by smaller farm size, greater profitability, earning a larger proportion of income off-farm and older age, all of which attenuate the relationship between exit intention and poorer wellbeing. We conclude that it is important for policy-makers to consider the wellbeing of farmers when designing strategies to assist exiting farmers, as poor wellbeing at exit may reduce capacity to adapt successfully to life after farming.
Wingenbach, Gary J. (author / Texas A & M University), Catchings, Christa L. (author / Texas A & M University), and Texas A&M University, Department of Agricultural Education
Format:
Paper
Publication Date:
2004-02-14
Published:
USA
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 130 Document Number: C19762
Notes:
17 pages; Paper presented to Agricultural Communcation Section, Southern Association of Agricultural Scientists, Tulsa, Oklahoma, February 14-18, 2004
