Generational succession in family farming in the extreme south of Brazil

This study aimed to understand the provisions that involve the dynamics of succession in rural family livestock establishments in the city of Jaguarão/RS. The research consists of a qualitative study based on the use of in-depth interviews as a data collection instrument. Thirty-one interviews were conducted, 29 of which with family farmers and two with agents of the official local rural extension service. Data were treated using the content analysis technique. The theoretical framework is centered on the analysis of the singularities of the family rancher and the question of generational succession, starting from the sociological perspective centered on Lahire's heritage of dispositions. The results highlighted that the reality and sociocultural context surrounding family establishments are factors that directly interfere in the social reproduction of these families. Two aspects are essential for generational succession: the enjoyment of the activity and the vocation to exercise such a profession. According to the results, there is no defined pattern of succession in family livestock. In establishments that have potential successors, the tendency is to continue with the livestock activity; in those where there is no prospect of succession, the paths indicated are the abandonment, sale and/or lease of properties