According to the latest census by French agency MSA, farm holdings in the country continued to increase in size, and the number of individual farmers to dwindle over 2011. However, data for the year up to January last year, published this week, shows that the rate of decline has slowed over the past year.

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MSA figures show that, in January 2012 there were 483,815 farmers in France, compared to 489,218. Although this marks a 1.1 percent fall in numbers since the same date in 2011, the rate at which farm managers are leaving the industry appears to be slowing, according to analysts.

The figures show that the rate at which the French farming population is declining has begun to slow since 2005, although MSA concluded that "Major structural changes in the sector continue," including falling numbers of farm managers and increases in the average area farmed.

Even so, figures showed a much healthier rate of replenishment than in previous years. There were 17,197 new entrants in 2012, compared to 22,600 people leaving the sector. This replacement rate of 76 percent is significantly higher than 2011's, which stood at 71 percent. However, the number of employees on farms dropped by 6 percent; the steep decline marked a continuation of trends seen in this area over the past few years.

The overall decline hides some areas of growth. Although "traditional sectors of agriculture" contracted, equestrian centres and other 'country pursuits' businesses expanded. Amongst farm businesses, 'dairy and mixed' farms were the largest category, accounting for 21 percent of holdings, followed by 'cereal crops' and industrial (17 percent) and 'meat farms' (16.5 percent).  

As for the age demographic, the average age for a farm manager was found to be 47.5 years, (47 years for men and 51 years for women). MSA elaborated that most people in the farming sector fall into the age groups of 50-54 years for men and 60+ years for women. MSA explained the discrepancy, "Despite the decline in existing facilities overall, through transfers between spouses, a significant number of older women are succeeding their husbands as farm managers at the time of his retirement."

France's total farmed area contracted by 0.5 percent over the year, though average farm size increased from 49.1 ha to 49.4 ha.