ARCHAIC RELATIONS OF PRODUCTION IN MODERN AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS - THE EXAMPLE OF SHAREMILKING IN NEW-ZEALAND

Sharecropping is neglected in the analysis of land use and rural chang e in modern western economies. Notwithstanding the Marxist classificat ion of sharecropping as a form of wage labor, it is conceptualized in this paper as simple commodity production, based on the unity of house hold and enterprise. The organization of sharecropping is examined wit h the use of this conceptualization, although the review incorporates economic and other perspectives. Sharemilking in New Zealand is used t o evaluate this framework at two scales, on representative dairy farms of average size and on large dairy farms owned by corporations. It is found to be a mutually beneficial relationship that promotes efficien t production and high output. It also facilitates intergenerational tr ansfer, provides a rung on the dairying ladder, and contributes to the reproduction of family-based dairying in New Zealand. Sharemilking is also the preferred means for recent corporate entrants to the industr y to operate their large dairy farms. Currently, sharemilking is playi ng a role in the penetration of agriculture by capital.