Table 1

Overview of farm types and interviewees

Farm typeFamily compositionCurrent generationStage in succession process and ownershipIntervieweesWork experiences
1Dairy farmParents (<65 years old, still working), one daughter (28) and two sons (26 and 25). Youngest son with girlfriend4thParents are owners and want to hand over in the next five years. Youngest son is the only potential successor but still not a member in the partnershipIncumbents: father, motherMother is not working on the farm anymore Youngest son works for a salary on the farm

Daughter works part-time outside the farm
Potential successor: youngest son
Non-successor: daughter
2Dairy farmParents (>65), eldest daughter (38, married with children) and three sons. The two youngest sons are married with children4thFarm was transferred seven years ago to the two youngest sonsIncumbents: parentsParents are retired
Successors: son 1 and son 2
One successor is also working outside the farm
Daughter does not work Non-succeeding son has own career

Non-successor: eldest daughter
3Dairy farmParents (<65). Three daughters, (21, 23 and 26); two are married with children. Youngest son (19) is single and still living at home with parents4thParents are working partners and owners Youngest son (19) will succeed parents in 10 yearsIncumbents: father, motherParents working on the farm
Potential successor: youngest sonSon still going to school and working part-time outside the farm. Daughters with own careers elsewhere
Non-successors: two daughters together and one daughter separately
4Dairy and crop farmParents (>65), three daughters (33, 35 and 36), married with children and one son (28) with girlfriend3rdPartnership agreement between parents and youngest son in place for past eight years. Parents want to retire very soon. Youngest son and partner will succeedIncumbents: father, motherFather is still working Girlfriend working unpaid Daughters having their own careers elsewhere
Potential successor: youngest son
Non-successors: two daughters together
5Veal farmParents (<65), three daughters and three sons. Daughters are married with children. One son (29) married with child. Other sons (21 and 19) are single2ndParents have their own veal farm and work together in a special business structure with eldest son (24) who also has a veal farm. Parents want to retire over 10 years Two other brothers can succeed the parents in businesses at different locationsIncumbents: father, motherParents work on the veal farm
Successor: oldest sonOldest son working on his veal farm
Non-successors: son 2 and son 3Other sons working elsewhere or still going to school
6Diversified (young cattle, B&B, art gallery; previously dairy)Parents (<65), three daughters and one son. Daughters are married with children. Son with girlfriend4thFather and mother want to retire over four years. Different partnership agreements in place: parents with son and one daughter for the bed and breakfast, father with his uncle for the young cattle farm. Son runs the bed and breakfast. Mother and daughter run the art galleryIncumbents: father, motherFather doing different farm-related activities
Successor: sonMother works in her art gallery
Non-successor: daughterSon manages B&B
7Dairy and pork farmParents (<65), one son (21) and one daughter (20) still living at home with parents3rdParents are owners and business partners and want to retire more than ten years from now. Son will succeed parentsIncumbents: parentsParents work on the farm Son and daughter still going to school and working on the farm in their free time
Successor: son
Non-successor: daughter
8Dairy farmParents (<65), four sons, one youngest daughter (all between 16 and 25 years old). All children still living at home except for one son3rdParental business partnership. Two potential successorsIncumbents: father, motherFather works only on the farm
Potential successors: son 1 and son 2Three sons work on the farm in free time
Non-successor: one sonOne potential successor still going to school. Other potential successor son working elsewhere

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