IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/agrhuv/v42y2025i2d10.1007_s10460-024-10688-8.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Farm households’ social and economic needs and the future of agriculture: introduction to the symposium

Author

Listed:
  • Florence Becot

    (Pennsylvania State University)

  • Allison Bauman

    (Cornell University)

  • Jessica Crowe

    (Economic Research Service)

  • Becca B. R. Jablonski

    (Cornell University)

  • Katherine Lim

    (Economic Research Service)

  • Ashley Spalding

    (Economic Research Service)

Abstract

Efforts to recruit and retain farmers have traditionally supported the farm business through a focus on access to land, capital, and business skills. While these efforts are critical, a small body of work indicates that these may be insufficient because they rarely account for the social and economic needs of farm households and how the (in)ability to meet these needs interacts with the development and economic viability of the farm enterprise. Social and economic needs include, but are not limited to access to health insurance and health care, childcare, adequate household and retirement income, affordable housing, and food security. This article introduces a symposium intended to shed light on these underappreciated needs and how they connect to the farm enterprise. We contend that a greater understanding of farm households’ lived realities meeting their social and economic needs could lead to a paradigm shift in how we understand and support farm families’ resilience. We set the stage for the eight articles in this symposium in two ways. First, we present the theoretical and empirical reasons why considering household-level needs is crucial when working towards supporting the agricultural sector. Second, we review the literature on farm households’ social and economic needs. We then thematically summarize the key insights from the eight articles. Despite variations in topics studied, research designs, and geographical contexts, we note a clear pattern in what the authors see as the implications of their findings. Namely, they reaffirm the need to challenge the traditional view that separates household needs from farm enterprise activities and outcomes. Their collective call for stronger social and agricultural programs and policies is noteworthy and may in part be connected to the structural underpinnings of the challenges meeting social and economic needs highlighted across the articles.

Suggested Citation

  • Florence Becot & Allison Bauman & Jessica Crowe & Becca B. R. Jablonski & Katherine Lim & Ashley Spalding, 2025. "Farm households’ social and economic needs and the future of agriculture: introduction to the symposium," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 42(2), pages 613-623, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:agrhuv:v:42:y:2025:i:2:d:10.1007_s10460-024-10688-8
    DOI: 10.1007/s10460-024-10688-8
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s10460-024-10688-8
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s10460-024-10688-8?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Mary Clare Ahearn & James M. Williamson & Nyesha Black, 2015. "Implications of Health Care Reform for Farm Businesses and Families," Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, vol. 37(2), pages 260-286.
    2. Mary K. Hendrickson, 2020. "Covid lays bare the brittleness of a concentrated and consolidated food system," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 37(3), pages 579-580, September.
    3. Istenič Majda Černič & Hočevar Duška Knežević, 2013. "Intergenerational Assistance on Family Farms in Slovenia: Expectations and Practices," Eastern European Countryside, Sciendo, vol. 19(2013), pages 77-103, December.
    4. Amy M. G. Kandilov & Ivan T. Kandilov, 2022. "The impact of the Affordable Care Act Medicaid expansions on agricultural workers' health insurance coverage, medical care utilization, and labor supply," American Journal of Agricultural Economics, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 104(3), pages 1026-1049, May.
    5. Linda M. Lobao & Lazarus Adua, 2011. "State rescaling and local governments' austerity policies across the USA, 2001--2008," Cambridge Journal of Regions, Economy and Society, Cambridge Political Economy Society, vol. 4(3), pages 419-435.
    6. Ani L. Katchova & Mary Clare Ahearn, 2017. "Farm entry and exit from US agriculture," Agricultural Finance Review, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 77(1), pages 50-63, May.
    7. Meuwissen, Miranda P.M. & Feindt, Peter H. & Spiegel, Alisa & Termeer, Catrien J.A.M. & Mathijs, Erik & de Mey, Yann & Finger, Robert & Balmann, Alfons & Wauters, Erwin & Urquhart, Julie & Vigani, Mau, 2019. "A framework to assess the resilience of farming systems," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 176, pages 1-10.
    8. Fuchs, Doris & Kalfagianni, Agni, 2010. "The Causes and Consequences of Private Food Governance," Business and Politics, Cambridge University Press, vol. 12(3), pages 1-34, October.
    9. Mishra, Ashok K. & Durst, Ron L. & El-Osta, Hisham S., 2005. "How Do U.S. Farmers Plan for Retirement?," Amber Waves:The Economics of Food, Farming, Natural Resources, and Rural America, United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service, pages 1-7, April.
    10. Komarek, Adam M. & De Pinto, Alessandro & Smith, Vincent H., 2020. "A review of types of risks in agriculture: What we know and what we need to know," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 178(C).
    11. Linda Lobao & Mia Gray & Kevin Cox & Michael Kitson, 2018. "The shrinking state? Understanding the assault on the public sector," Cambridge Journal of Regions, Economy and Society, Cambridge Political Economy Society, vol. 11(3), pages 389-408.
    12. Florence A. Becot & Shoshanah M. Inwood, 2022. "Medical economic vulnerability: a next step in expanding the farm resilience scholarship," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 39(3), pages 1097-1116, September.
    13. Craig Gundersen & Susan Offutt, 2005. "Farm Poverty and Safety Nets," American Journal of Agricultural Economics, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, vol. 87(4), pages 885-899.
    14. Ahearn, Mary Clare & El-Osta, Hisham & Mishra, Ashok K., 2013. "Considerations in Work Choices of U.S. Farm Households: The Role of Health Insurance," Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Western Agricultural Economics Association, vol. 38(01), pages 1-15, April.
    15. Inwood, Shoshanah, 2013. "Social Forces and Cultural Factors Influencing Farm Transition," Choices: The Magazine of Food, Farm, and Resource Issues, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, vol. 28(2), pages 1-5.
    16. Inwood, Shoshanah & Knudson, Alana & Becot, Florence A. & Braun, Bonnie & Goetz, Stephan J. & Kolodinsky, Jane M. & Loveridge, Scott & Morris, Katlyn & Parker, Jason & Parsons, Bob & Welborn, Rachel &, 2018. "Health Insurance and National Farm Policy," Choices: The Magazine of Food, Farm, and Resource Issues, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, vol. 33(01), February.
    17. Williamson, James, 2015. "Potential Implications of Health Care Reform for Farm Families," Amber Waves:The Economics of Food, Farming, Natural Resources, and Rural America, United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service, issue 03, pages 1-1, April.
    18. Fuchs Doris & Kalfagianni Agni, 2010. "The Causes and Consequences of Private Food Governance," Business and Politics, De Gruyter, vol. 12(3), pages 1-36, October.
    19. Thorsøe, Martin & Noe, Egon & Maye, Damian & Vigani, Mauro & Kirwan, James & Chiswell, Hannah & Grivins, Mikelis & Adamsone-Fiskovica, Anda & Tisenkopfs, Talis & Tsakalou, Emi & Aubert, Pierre-Marie &, 2020. "Responding to change: Farming system resilience in a liberalized and volatile European dairy market," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 99(C).
    20. Andrea Rissing & Shoshanah Inwood & Emily Stengel, 2021. "Correction to: The invisible labor and multidimensional impacts of negotiating childcare on farms," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 38(4), pages 1215-1215, December.
    21. Shoshanah Inwood & Emily Stengel, 2020. "Working households: Challenges in balancing young children and the farm enterprise," Community Development, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 51(5), pages 499-517, October.
    22. Andrea Rissing & Shoshanah Inwood & Emily Stengel, 2021. "The invisible labor and multidimensional impacts of negotiating childcare on farms," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 38(2), pages 431-447, June.
    23. Whitt, Christine & Lacy, Katherine & Lim, Katherine, 2023. "America’s Farms and Ranches at a Glance: 2023 Edition," Economic Information Bulletin 340566, United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service.
    24. H. Frederick Gale, 1994. "Longitudinal Analysis of Farm Size over the Farmer's Life Cycle," Review of Agricultural Economics, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, vol. 16(1), pages 113-123.
    25. Kuo-Liang Chang & George Langelett & Andrew Waugh, 2011. "Health, Health Insurance, and Decision to Exit from Farming," Journal of Family and Economic Issues, Springer, vol. 32(2), pages 356-372, June.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Florence A. Becot & Shoshanah M. Inwood, 2025. "Children needs and childcare: an illustration of how underappreciated social and economic needs shape the farm enterprise," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 42(2), pages 693-712, June.
    2. Florence A. Becot & Shoshanah M. Inwood, 2022. "Medical economic vulnerability: a next step in expanding the farm resilience scholarship," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 39(3), pages 1097-1116, September.
    3. Analena Bruce & Elise Neidecker & Luyue Zheng & Isaac Sohn Leslie & Alexa Wilhelm, 2025. "“A farm is viable if it can keep its head above water”: defining and measuring farm viability for small and mid-sized farms," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 42(2), pages 625-641, June.
    4. Majda Černič Istenič, 2025. "Work-life balance on a farm with young children in Slovenia," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 42(2), pages 675-691, June.
    5. Andrew R. Smolski & Michael D. Schulman & Silvana Pietrosemoli & Francesco Tiezzi, 2025. "It’s not just the farm: enterprise and household responses to the pandemic by North Carolina niche meat producers," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 42(2), pages 713-727, June.
    6. Florence Becot & Casper Bendixsen & Kathrine Barnes & Josie Rudolphi, 2021. "Broadening Our Understanding of Farm Children’s Risk Exposure by Considering Their Parents’ Farming Background," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(10), pages 1-18, May.
    7. Monica Fisher & Paul A. Lewin & Ryanne Pilgeram, 2023. "Gender differences in the financial performance of U.S. farm businesses: A decomposition analysis using the Census of Agriculture," Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 45(2), pages 1233-1253, June.
    8. Blazquez-Soriano, Amparo & Ramos-Sandoval, Rosmery, 2022. "Information transfer as a tool to improve the resilience of farmers against the effects of climate change: The case of the Peruvian National Agrarian Innovation System," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 200(C).
    9. Ronja Teschner & Jessica Ruppen & Basil Bornemann & Rony Emmenegger & Lucía Aguirre Sánchez, 2021. "Mapping Sustainable Diets: A Comparison of Sustainability References in Dietary Guidelines of Swiss Food Governance Actors," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-21, November.
    10. Daniele, Bertolozzi-Caredio & Barbara, Soriano & Isabel, Bardaji & Alberto, Garrido, 2022. "Analysis of perceived robustness, adaptability and transformability of Spanish extensive livestock farms under alternative challenging scenarios," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 202(C).
    11. Anna Clare Bull & Jagjit Plahe & Lachlan Gregory, 2021. "International Investment Agreements and the Escalation of Private Power in the Global Agri-Food System," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 170(3), pages 519-533, May.
    12. Schleifer, Philip & Fiorini, Matteo & Fransen, Luc, 2019. "Missing the Bigger Picture: A Population-level Analysis of Transnational Private Governance Organizations Active in the Global South," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 164(C), pages 1-1.
    13. S. Henson & J. Humphrey, 2012. "Private Standards in Global Agri-Food Chains," Chapters, in: Axel Marx & Miet Maertens & Johan Swinnen & Jan Wouters (ed.), Private Standards and Global Governance, chapter 4, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    14. Godswill Ntsomboh Ntsefong & Hermine Ngalle-Bille & Walter Ajambang & Benoit Constant Likeng-Li-Ngue & Tabi-Mbi Kingsley & Joseph Martin Bell & Emmanuel Youmbi, 2016. "Brief Review on the Controversies around Oil Palm (Elaeis Guineensis Jacq.) Production and Palm Oil Consumption," International Journal of Regional Development, Macrothink Institute, vol. 3(2), pages 1-60, December.
    15. Agni Kalfagianni, 2014. "Addressing the Global Sustainability Challenge: The Potential and Pitfalls of Private Governance from the Perspective of Human Capabilities," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 122(2), pages 307-320, June.
    16. repec:osf:marxiv:wpr8k_v1 is not listed on IDEAS
    17. Büthe Tim, 2010. "Private Regulation in the Global Economy: A (P)Review," Business and Politics, De Gruyter, vol. 12(3), pages 1-40, October.
    18. Jung, Suhyun & Polasky, Stephen, 2018. "Partnerships to prevent deforestation in the Amazon," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 92(C), pages 498-516.
    19. Pardeshi, Shefali & Loughrey, Jason & O'Connor, Declan, 2024. "Farm Investment and Adoption of Fixed Milk Price Contracts on Irish Dairy Farms," German Journal of Agricultural Economics, Humboldt-Universitaet zu Berlin, Department for Agricultural Economics, vol. 73(1), April.
    20. Thomas Slijper & Yann de Mey & P Marijn Poortvliet & Miranda P M Meuwissen, 2022. "Quantifying the resilience of European farms using FADN," European Review of Agricultural Economics, Oxford University Press and the European Agricultural and Applied Economics Publications Foundation, vol. 49(1), pages 121-150.
    21. repec:ags:aaea22:335512 is not listed on IDEAS
    22. Spiegel, Alisa & Slijper, Thomas & de Mey, Yann & Meuwissen, Miranda P.M. & Poortvliet, P. Marijn & Rommel, Jens & Hansson, Helena & Vigani, Mauro & Soriano, Bárbara & Wauters, Erwin & Appel, Franzisk, 2021. "Resilience capacities as perceived by European farmers," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 193(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:spr:agrhuv:v:42:y:2025:i:2:d:10.1007_s10460-024-10688-8. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.