Norwegian Agricultural Policy and the Family Farm, 1945–19821

Abstract

This article explores agricultural policies in an advanced capitalist country. It starts with the introduction of a model of family farming and explores the role of state intervention in agriculture. From these theoretical considerations the article proceeds to analyse Norwegian agricultural policy after the World War II. Two major periods arc observed. The first, lasting from 1945 to 1975, was marked by state support for extending production on some units and draining away the superfluous labour force from the others. The second lasting from 1975 to the early eighties, and called “the new agricultural policy”, was characterized by emphasis on national self‐sufficiency, support for small farms and marginal regions and equalization between farmers and manufacturing workers. Finally the consequences of this new agricultural policy arc analysed showing that it promotes overproduction and new rich farmers. A paradox emerges, showing that the concequences of the new agricultural policy legitimates state intervention of the “old” type (structure rationalization). Résumé čet article concernc les politiques agricolcs dans un pays capitaliste développé. ľauteur présente ?abord un modéle ?analysc de ľagriculture familiale et du rôle de ľintervention etatique dans ľagriculture; il analyse ensuite la politique agricole norvégienne depuis la seconde guerre mondialc. II distingue deux grandes périodes. La premiére, qui va de 1945 à 1975, se caractérise par Paction de ľEtat en faveur ?un accroissement de la production dans certaincs fermes, et ?une réduction de la main ?oeuvre dans ?autres. La seconde période, à partir de 1975, voit ľEtat mettre ľaccent sur ľauto‐suffisance alimentaire, Ic soutien des petites exploitations et ľégalisation des revenus des agriculteurs avec les catégories ouvriéres. ľanalyse des effcrs de cctte nouvelle politique conduit à constater quelle favorise la surproduction ?une part, et les agriculteurs riches ?autre part. Situation paradoxale done, dans laquelle les conséquences de la nouvelle politique tendent à légitimer ľintervention rationalisatricc typique de ľancienne politique agricole. Zusammenfassung Dieser Artikel untersucht mögliche agrarpolitische Maßnahmen in einem fortgeschrittenen kapitalistischen Land. Er beginnt mit der Vorstellung eines Modells der Familienbetricbs‐Landwirtschaft und untersucht die Rolle der staatlichen Intervention in der Landwirtschaft. Von diescn theoretischen überlegungen wird übcrgegangen zu den norwegischen Agrar‐politik nach dem 2. Weltkricg, wobei die Hauptperiodcn betrachtet werden. Die erste dauerte von 1945 bis 1975 und war gekennzeichnet durch staatliche Unterstützung für die Ausweitung der Produktion bei einigen Untemehmen und Abzug von überflüssigcn Arbeitskräften bei anderen. Die zweite dauerte von 1975 bis in die frühen achtziger Jahre und wurde “die neue Agrarpolitik” genannt. Schwergewicht wurde auf die nationale Selbsrversorgung, Unterstützung für Kleinbettiebe und benachteiligte Gcbietc und eine Angleichung zwischen Landwirten und Industrie...

Exploring the Sociology of Agriculture: Family Farmers in Norway - Future or Past Food Producers?

“…This goal never materialised, but gave farmers substantial welfare gains (Almås, 1994). It also opened a short period of optimism and growth in Norwegian agricultural production (Almås, 1984;Blekesaune & Almås, 2002). This might although have been more beneficial for the larger farms as they were able to grow and increase their influence (Almås, 1984).…”

“…Through the rediscovery of these theories, intense debates on the future of family farming was again on the agenda from the late 1970s until the 1990's, in America (as summarised by Buttel et al, 1990), in the UK (Newby, 1983) as well as other advanced capitalist countries like in Norway (Almås, 1984) and Sweden (Djurfeldt, 1981).…”

“…In the 1960's, Norwegian agricultural policy aimed for a stable family farm through planned www.intechopen.com national policies (Almås, 1984;1994). Taking the market into consideration, Norwegian agriculture was to be protected.…”

“…It also opened a short period of optimism and growth in Norwegian agricultural production (Almås, 1984;Blekesaune & Almås, 2002). This might although have been more beneficial for the larger farms as they were able to grow and increase their influence (Almås, 1984). In 1984, Almås concluded that over time, part-time farming replaces full-time farming in Norway .…”

“…In an analysis of Norwegian family farming under capitalism, Almås (1984) applied a modernised Marxist model developed by Djurfeldt (1981) to discuss when and why family farming resists capitalism. By adjusting Djurfeldt's model, farm gross income is divided in a series of components that are outlined for understanding both the decline and survival of the family farm system in Norway.…”