Setting up a smallholding in France – Part 4

Making a living?

If your plans involve  young family, you will no doubt hope to make a decent income.  It is of course, also possible for one partner to keep on a well paid city career and commute to and fro each week, and if a mortgage is involved it will be almost essential at least in the first years.   But unless you have an independent income you will need to think about your options for employment, and consider the difference in salaries and job expectations.  It stands to reason that cheaper housing will probably reflect higher unemployment  as it does the world over… so do be realistic.

If, you aim  to earn a living from small farming there are a number of hurdles which you will need to negotiate, starting with registration at the MSA.

The MSA is a kind of DSS and Farmers Union all rolled into one.   They will take huge sums of cash from you to get you into the health, education and social services systems of the agricultural world, and will then repay you in training, support,  subsidies and pensions.   For folk under 40years of age, this may qualify you as a ‘jeune agricuteur‘ or young farmer, and in France, this qualifies you for a range of benefits and rebates on your outgoings and general taxes.   Be aware however, that to receive a pension at the end of your career, you will need to have paid in a certain number of years contributions and that wont be possible if you  a) don’t earn enough and/or   b) aren’t young enough to get the necessary years in.

The MSA (Mutualite Sociale Agricole) are very helpful to serious budding farmers, you can opt into a part time system and even opt out if you change your mind after a year, but if you are caught selling a few lambs, eggs and veg on a regular basis, or marketing crops you haven’t stipulated, you will be in serious trouble, and they wont be so understanding!  Equally to breed and grow livestock/crops commercially requires a fair degree of training which is only sensible really,  and follows EU guidelines on Animal Welfare and Food Safety.