Gestion de l'entreprise agricole : perspectives et nouveaux enjeux

The new trends of agricultural policy claim for a strenghtening of the farm management function. Declining prices and reduced gross margins enforce a re-appraisal of past production methods at technical unit level (plot or animal), but also at farm level (type of investment, labor management). As economical result becomes more uncertain, risk estimation becomes strategic. Supply control at individual level (quota, set aside of land, extensive farming) is a rather new approach of agricultural system management. To produce for market implies changes in the farmer's decision-making process. The situation of agricultural population offers good chances for enlarging the size of farms, but capitalintensive farming increases the difficulty of investment planning. Farmers have no longer landmarks, and research workers are not ready to supply new ones ! The advisory services cannot help each producer in any specific situation. So, it's necessary to give priority to education and training for farmers, and to give them good and comfortable tools for decision-making.