Structural change in agriculture and farmers' social contacts: Insights from a Swiss mountain region

Farm numbers are steadily declining in Europe and globally while farms become larger more intensive. Driven part by worsening macroeconomic conditions, these structural changes the associated rationalization of agricultural supply chains have affected social relations rural areas. In turn, farmers' contacts influence farming decisions. Social thus interconnected, they affect resilience areas through their on environmental, social, economic capital. We examine connection between farm structures UNESCO Biosphere Reserve Entlebuch (UBE), a mountain region central Switzerland with strong presence family farms, explore implications change for resilience. conduct survey N = 102 households combine it farm-level census data interviews key stakeholders ( 13) to analyze current since year 2000. use regression cluster analyses relationship (changes in) characteristics. Farmers UBE high, but decreasing frequency family, friends, colleagues lower, increasing commercial administrative contacts. Workloads increased 6% five years, driven expansion area (+5%)—including expanding ecological compensation areas—and intensification managed (+3%), leading parallel processes extensification. Since most do not hire workers, growing workloads directly impinge free time, affecting informal most. managers intensive frequent diverse, also rapidly declining, Our results point net loss capital as less shift from local regional national professional A 17% decline 15 years reflects vulnerability this region. Growing financial strain, workloads, time pressure erosion contribute vulnerability. Policymakers should recognize contribution diverse networks towards seek options maintain enhance such networks. Beyond direct interventions that foster capital, policymakers rigorously consider short- long-term interconnections tradeoffs different forms Left : Current (2017) annual (weighted 1 365 daily) contact group, averaged across respondents. Right Change (+1 increase, 0 no change, ?1 decrease) 2000, respondents (values represent fraction farmers). Colors indicate category. • farm' combined reveals relationships (changing) connections. High correlate colleagues. Managers frequent—but declining—social policy actions change.