High work satisfaction despite high workload among European organic mixed livestock farmers: a mixed-method approach

Abstract

Organic mixed livestock farming offers a range of potential benefits for the environment. Due to the diversification of enterprises, this farming system can be associated with a high workload, which means that it could be socially unsustainable. The aim of this study was to understand and explain work satisfaction of farmers running an organic mixed livestock farm. Using a mixed-method approach, quantitative and qualitative data were collected from 102 farmers in seven European countries during face-to-face interviews. We showed for the first time that across Europe and different animal species and category combinations, organic mixed livestock farms can provide a high work satisfaction, despite a high workload. By using a mixed-method approach and a clear framework, we aimed at better understanding work satisfaction. Underlying reasons for work satisfaction included the diversity of tasks, opportunities to learn, autonomy in the work schedule, perceived acknowledgement by consumers, and the contribution to sustainable food production. Factors contributing to work satisfaction identified in the analysis of quantitative data included workload, number of livestock units, mental complexity, proportion of work peaks per year, and the match between wanted free time and time taken off work. The combination of qualitative and quantitative data allowed a deeper understanding of farmers’ work satisfaction and revealed consistent findings. Future research should investigate the relationship between farmers’ work satisfaction and capacity for innovation, flexibility, and adaptation potential.

Intrinsic and Extrinsic Factors Affecting Job Satisfaction: A Comparative Study of Public and Private Primary School Teachers

“…Employees who feel intrinsic satisfaction are better able to assume leadership roles inside the organization (Akosile & Ekemen, 2022). The job itself, the autonomy and respect it provides, personal development, success, recognition, involvement in decision-making, personal engagements, accepting responsibility, engagement in management, allowing for self-creativity, and allowing the person to use his skills and abilities freely are just a few examples of intrinsic factors that contribute to job satisfaction (Schanz et al, 2023;Baroudi et al, 2022;Ahmed et al, 2010). The amount of enthusiasm and commitment a person exhibits can have a significant impact on how content he is with his job (Lee & Kim, 2023).…”

Diversification for sustainable and resilient agricultural landscape systems

“…Diversification is understood to have agro-ecological, technological, environmental, organizational, governance, marketing and trade elements, and impacts. Promising approaches to diversification (Figure 1) include the following: (i) established and novel field arrangements, e.g., diverse rotations (Bowles et al 2020), integration of legumes (Reckling et al 2016), cover crops (Lamichhane and Alletto 2022), intercropping (Jensen et al 2020), patch cropping (Donat et al 2022), pixel cropping (Ditzler et al 2021), and agroforestry (Teixeira et al 2022); (ii) diversified farming systems, e.g., mixed crop-livestock (Ryschawy et al 2012) and mixed livestock farming (Schanz et al 2023), alternative social models, e.g., community supported agriculture (Vicente-Vicente et al 2023), and care farming (Leck et al 2014); (iii) diversified landscape systems such as rewetting of drained landscapes (Günther et al 2020), and introduction of semi-natural habitats (Holland et al 2017); and (iv) diversified value chains (Antier et al 2022).…”