DUALISM OR DIVERSITY IN FAMILY FARMING - PATTERNS OF OCCUPANCY CHANGEIN BRITISH AGRICULTURE

The dualist thesis of structural change in advanced capitalist agricul ture, postulating the disappearance of the middle-range family farm, i s examined. In the case of the U.K., aggregate statistical evidence in support of this tendency is not forthcoming whereas in the United Sta tes recent research has downplayed the trend. It is suggested that the thesis is too structuralist, paying inadequate attention to the range of responses to be found among farming households and generally direc ting attention to patterns rather than processes of adjustment. In ord er to analyse the latter, a series of detailed farm interviews, provid ing social and economic profiles of farm business change between 1970 and 1985, was conducted in three contrasting agricultural areas of sou thern England. The survey data revealed important local differences se t within broadly similar trends though with a high level of unpredicta bility regarding individual household strategies. Areas requiring furt her detailed analysis are outlined.