Dairy cow as a part-time job: This is how farmers master the balancing act between work and love of animals!

Dairy cow as a part-time job: This is how farmers master the balancing act between work and love of animals!

Nowadays, part-time farming is becoming more and more important, especially in Germany and Austria. A look at the figures shows that around 18% of family dairy cow farms in Germany are run as part-time businesses, while in Austria the figure is as high as 55%. These are the current implications of a study that looks at corporate structure in agriculture. In these farms, the majority of the income often does not come directly from the cows, which illustrates the challenges and diverse work in agriculture. This information can be found in a report by Elite Magazine.

Another interesting fact is that in 2023, 55% of individual agricultural businesses nationwide will already be operated as a part-time business. Smaller farms with 10 to 50 hectares in particular often find themselves doing part-time work because the income alone is often not enough. Basically, farmers divide their time between different jobs, which requires efficient organization. Christian Schmidt, a part-time farmer, emphasizes that stress resistance and good time management are essential. He runs his business together with his neighbor in order to make feeding the cows more effective and even has a milking robot in operation. These and similar approaches illustrate how important it is to support family and neighbors in agriculture.

That’s why part-time business – more than just a hobby

Part-time businesses are often run by second generations, supported by tradition or love for animals. Non-agricultural income often predominates, which in many cases exceeds agricultural profits. According to a research by Farmer's newspaper An online survey shows that the economic pressure is great, but many farmers continue to run their businesses out of passion.

There is a strong disparity, particularly in eastern Germany, when it comes to part-time business structures. There, 40.5% of all businesses are counted as part-time businesses. Another point is that a good 30% of the land is rented, which shows that many farmers have to act flexibly in order to maintain their operations. The majority of part-time villages specialize in animal husbandry, but there are also voices that point out that this form of farming is often viewed as a “hobby” or unprofitable.

The challenges of court succession

A big issue in part-time farming is farm succession. According to a survey, many agricultural businesses, including those from... BMEL, considering the continuation of the company. 93% of part-time businesses plan to continue operating, but only 39% are actually looking to grow. Growers often view succession as of little relevance, which could potentially lead to an uncertain future for many small businesses.

It is obvious that part-time farming in Germany and Austria not only has economic value, but also plays an important role in the social structure and the preservation of the cultural landscape. So the exciting question remains: What are the future developments in this industry? What is certain is that part-time employment has lasting significance for many farmers and their families.