A guide to farming in France and farms for sale in France
France, being such a massive country with vast expanses of agricultural land, has always been known as something of a paradise for farmers. The French people are very proud of their national produce and the emphasis on locally produced meat, dairy products and vegetables all adds up to a nation for whom farms and farmers have a high standing. Farmers and the farming profession (including, of course, wine producers) are a respected and revered part of French culture, and a high degree of legal and financial protection for farmers is built in by the government.
As with most properties, farms in France are cheaper and represent better value for money than in the UK, where good agricultural land can be ridiculously expensive due to scarcity. The diversity of the terrain throughout the length and breadth of the country means that many different types of farming are possible, ranging from dairy farming in the north to vineyards and olive farms in the south. This means that farmers from abroad can continue to work within their established skills and knowledge, or branch out into a new and exciting area of the profession. (Best Non Constructible Land for Sale in France in 2011.)
Grants and subsidies can be available to help you to purchase a farm in France (Property grants available in France), but you will need to meet the criteria to qualify. You (usually) need to be under the age of 35 (unless you have children, in which case there is an additional allowance of one year per child), and you have to provide proof of qualifications in farming or of several years experience or employment in agriculture. In the case of French farmers/residents, a national diploma in agriculture must be obtained. The young farmer must also spend at least six months working away from home on a farm in training, although this can be relaxed a little for those who have families.
The help available varies from year to year, and also from department to department, so always check out the situation with DDAF (equivalent to Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries). Grants reflect and can be dependant on, the type of land covered by the farm, the amount of animals kept and the amount of land owned as well as the region. Certain regions, for example, the Limousin (Limousin Property Guide), which needs to boost its population and is largely dependant on farming families to do so, remove the age restriction to allow older farmers to qualify for grants. Grants may also be available to allow for the purchase of essential equipment. It is also helpful to farmers to know that should land bordering their farm come up for sale, the agriculture body SAFER rules that they should have first chance to buy it.
Farming subsidies are, of course, partly governed by the Common Agricultural Policy, as agreed by the European Parliament. France is currently the largest beneficiary of farming related subsidies from the EU, and is fiercely protective of them. The French government has a proven track record of offering grants and subsidies to farmers, and anyone involved in farming in France or considering a move to France in order to farm, would be well advised to keep a close eye on what's on offer. Things move and change quite rapidly, and you have to have your eye on the ball to catch the best of the offers.
For example, pig farmers in France are currently being invited to register requests for subsidies of up to 17,000 Euros to convert their pig accommodation from stalls to "loose housing", as long as they fulfil the requirement of having a minimum 20 sows or 60 pigs, and apply before the 21st November 2012. The move is designed to bring French pig farmers in line with new European and National standards.
In view of the fact that 2011 has been a very dry year, a one off drought (sécheresse) payment has been introduced for those registered as farmers who have been affected by this. This includes those who have land associated businesses such as equestrian premises who would be equally affected. Although claims for this year are now closed, it is encouraging that such schemes are in place to help farmers, in the event that this happens again. The money may not be paid to you in cash. As is so often the case in France, it is subtracted from your Taxe Foncière bill (Taxe Foncière and Taxe d'Habitation - property tax in France).
In short, it is difficult to lay down one law for all regarding subsidies and grants, as there are so many variations to take into account. However, such help absolutely exists, and the best way to get it is to contact your local authority to find out if you meet the criteria.
The price of land to rent is again subject to regional variations. However, to give you an idea, in Brittany it is currently around 120 Euros per hectare per month. However, the quality of the land is another factor. In hilly areas much of the overall acreage may not be useable except perhaps for sheep, and so will have a lower value than good arable or pasture land.
France is not immune to the current global crunch, and as a consequence farmers have become creative and looked to ways to capitalise on what they have and to diversity to earn extra cash. One popular method of doing this is to offer gite (Gites for sale) or B&B accommodation to visitors, and these businesses have enjoyed considerable success (Owning Gites and Chambres d'Hotes (B&Bs) in France). Many French farms have an abundance of extra buildings or outbuildings that can be converted into accommodation for guests.
If you do fancy becoming a farmer in France, the choice of farmhouses and farm property is enormous. All over the country there are farms for sale of all different sizes and types, with possibly the most available in the Limousin, a paradise for farmers with its plentiful rainfall, temperate climate and lush grasslands. Below is a small selection of farms that are currently on the market.
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French properties with vineyards
Best Businesses for Sale in France in 2011
Buying a Business in France
Life in France
Joanna Simm moved to the Languedoc area of south-west France in October 2004 having found her property through French Property Links.
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