Economic theory treats motivation as a parameter, explaining variation in economic behaviour in terms of availability of resources. This theory does not provide a wholly convincing account of farmers' actions. It is suggested that a better understanding of motivation, taken in conjunction with information already available on material resources and constraints, could lead to a more adequate explanation and prediction of farmers' economic behaviour. This paper explores the subject of goals and values in the farming occupation as one facet of motivation. Values may refer to instrumental, social, expressive or intrinsic aspects of farming and it is their ordering relative to one another which influences farmers' decisions in situations of choice. Pilot studies suggest that farmers have a predominantly intrinsic orientation to work, valuing the way of life, independence and performance of work tasks above expressive, instrumental or social aspects of their occupation. Comparing value orientations of larger with smaller farmers illustrates some implications and possible uses of this approach. Résumé BUTS ET VALEURS DANS L'ACTIVITÉ DE L'EXPLOITANT AGRICOLE Lu théorie économique traite la motivation comme un paramétre, expliquant la variation dans le comportement de l'économie en termes de disponibilité des ressources. Cette théorie ne fournit pas une information entiérement convaincante sur l'activité des exploitants agricoles, Une meilleure compréhension de la motivation, utilisée en conjonction avec les données déjà disponibles sur les ressources et contraintes matérielles, pourrait conduire, selon l'argument développé, à des explications et prévisions plus rigoureuses sur le comportement économique des agriculteurs. L'auteur analyse le thème des buts et valeurs dans le métier d'exploitant agricole comme un des aspects de la motivation. Les valeurs peuvent se référer à des aspects professionnels, sociaux, expressifs ou intrinsèques de l'exploitation agricole et c'est l'ordre dans lequel elles sont placées relativement les unes aux autres qui influence les décisions des agriculteurs dans les situations de choix. Les études pilotes convergent vers la conclusion selon laquelle les exploitants agricoles ont une orientation intrinsèque prédominante vers le travail, plaçant le style de vie, l'indépendance et la qualité des tâches qu'ils accomplissent au‐dessus des aspects expressifs, contributifs ou sociaux de leur profession. La comparaison des orientations de valeur entre grands et petits exploitants permet de souligner certaines des implications et des utilisations possibles de cette optique. Zusammenfassung ZIELE UND WERTE DER FARMER Die wirtschaftliche Theorie behandelt die Motivation als einen Parameter, der die Veränderung im wirtschaftlichen Verhalten in Form von verfügbaren Ressourcen erklärt. Diese Theorie liefert keine ganz überzeugende Darstellung der Handlungen von Farmem. Es wird vorgeschlagen, doss ein besseres Verständnis der Motivation, zusammen mit der Information, die schon über Materialressourcen und üb...

Although the great majority of U K farms are run as family businesses, the family dimension of these businesses is frequently neglected. There are nevertheless important inferences to be drawn from studying the farm family, its forms and functions, and the way that the family and the business interact. This calls for a multidisciplinary approach and the review attempts to draw together insights from industrial economics, social anthropology, history arid rural sociology as they apply to the farm family business. It then relates these insights to considerations of the family development cycle, processes of inheritance and succession, roles of farmers' wives and multiple-job farming families, The literature review points to opposing tendencies within the opiilation of farm businesses. less relevant to farming at the lower end of the size scale but more relevant to the conduct of a successful large farm business.Family forms of organisation an B relationships may have become

Under a new policy initiative, grants will be payable for the setting up of ancillary businesses on or adjacent to farms in the UK. While this initiative is to be welcomed, it is suggested that more could be done to develop the rural economy as a whole. Farm diversification grants, modelled on previous farm capital grant schemes, are focused on a narrow range of activities, for which demand is likely to be limited, and are most appropriate for the larger farm. They imply that farmine will continue to be the main activity and run counter to current trends. The goals of rural development and farm income support might be pursued more effectively by encouraging the creation in rural areas of off‐farm employment, unrelated to agriculture, and suitable for members of families on low‐income farms.