the new generation tempted by salaried employment, to “have a family life”, “to free up a week of vacation”

At Terres de Jim, an agricultural festival taking place in Doubs, students and young farmers do not hesitate to say that they prefer salaried employment, even though the sector lacks candidates.

The renewal of the current generation of farmers is one of the many concerns of the sector. By 2030, four out of ten farmers will be of retirement age. Attracting people to this profession is one of the objectives of Terres de Jim, the largest agricultural festival in Europe, which takes place on the weekend of September 7 and 8 in Mamirolle, near Besançon in the Doubs. At least 100,000 people are expected to attend ploughing competitions, cattle competitions and to meet agricultural students. They are ready to roll up their sleeves, but not at any cost.

Moments of relaxation on Jim’s Lands, or simply free time, are precious to Manon and she intends to keep some of them when she works. “It’s important to have a family life, and even, quite simply, to enjoy the people we love.”

This is why, after her BTS, which she is following in work-study, the 19-year-old young woman is aiming for a position as an agricultural employee. “The employee on the farm with me is a former farmer and his farm unfortunately went under because he couldn’t make a living.”

“Being employed means a guaranteed income and a few days of vacation.”

Manon, student

to franceinfo

Despite everything, some want to take over the management of a farm, like Dorian. But he wants to set up with his cousin in the form of an agricultural group, a Gaec. There are more and more of these in France. “It’s important to get together as a couple to have weekends, to have a bit of comfort in life, to free up a week of vacation. But there are still more and more climatic hazards, regrets Dorian, It’s getting harder and harder to manage, but we’re adapting.”

Despite these difficulties, Joakin also wants to participate in the renewal of generations. In 2030, 40% of the 500 000 farmers in France will be of retirement age, according to the Ministry of Agriculture. “I come from Doubs, where we have the county, a sector that works. There are farms to take over in a few years. It’s a sacrifice, but through passion, it will happen.”

Especially since some organizations allow farmers to take time off. “We have the replacement service, you call them and they come to milk on Saturday and Sunday to cut a little bit”, Joakin explains. Last year, 24 000 replacement days were provided in Doubs, a record.

But other factors must be taken into account to enjoy the job of a farmer according to Améline Priallaird, training manager at the CFA in Besançon, for “qthat they do not feel alone, once established, encourage them to keep farms on a human scale and in any case that they can manage, without being stifled by working hours and by administrative or technical constraints”.

Farmers remain more exposed to suicide than other professions according to the latest study by the MSA, the agricultural mutual social insurance company, published in 2023.