Continuité et changements de la politique agricole française

During the past ten years farming policy has been marked by considerable continuity especially regarding the basic options. Yet there has been a certain evolution in the texts. Priority has been given to young people setting up in farming while the means of controlling change in ownership of land have been tightened up. In order to reduce the consequences of investment in land, the authorities have decided to promote a new policy aimed at increasing the rented land market, in particular by land ownership groups (GFA). Aid has been introduced selectively for mountain areas. Since the energy crisis farming policy measures take ecological necessities much more into account. In the economic policy field priority has been given to stock-breeding both with regard to aid and to production and market organization. From the point of view of European policy a first attempt has been made at a common structures policy with development plans. Taxation in farming and relationships between farmers and their employees have come more and more in line with the rules laid down for other social and occupational categories. Finally participation policy has been stepped up particularly in forms of action that lead to an improvement in the farmer's level of knowledge.