One argument often put forward for leaving the family farm to a son is that women are less capable that men with farm machinery and in particular its maintenance. Some have suggested, only partially in jest, that males possess a “tractor gene” which is not present or is, at least, much rarer amongst females. It is true that a number of studies have shown that males do score higher on mechanical aptitude tests than females. However, other studies have suggested that this is because women are just less interested in machines than men. Other research has suggested that women are more interested in people and men more interested in material things. Then, of course, there is the nature versus nurture question. I am inclined to leave the science to the psychologists and concentrate on how different aptitudes might have an impact on farm and estate succession planning.
It is safe to say that all types of production agriculture depend on machinery to some extent. Obviously, cropping depends on machinery heavily and a mechanical prowess is an absolute essential for a farmer who personally conducts the key cropping operations rather than relying on contractors or a share farmer. However, while there are plenty of women who are completely competent with machinery, for those who aren’t, there is no reason why they cannot participate in the farm business. Many women work with livestock and it has been argued that, on average, they have greater skills than men in this area. Similarly, women are at least the equal of men in budgeting, strategic planning and bookkeeping.
From an estate planning point of view, there is absolutely no doubt that women can own and administer real estate just as competently as men. Thus, in developing a farm and estate succession plan, there is no fundamental reason why women cannot inherit a share of the real estate regardless of whether they have the “tractor gene”. It is true that in many societies the general view is taken that farming is essentially a male pursuit. For more information on this score there is an interesting study undertaken by the University of New England’s Prof. Alison Sheridan & others. (Google:- Intergenerational farm succession: how does gender fit? )
In a situation where the bequeathing of a family farm is being debated, women and, indeed, non-farming sons are quite capable of inheriting shares in the farm real estate provided a viable lease and intra-family share trading framework are set up.
The bottom line in all this is that the existence or not of the “tractor gene” is not of overriding importance when one is contemplating how the farm real estate is to be owned and how farm and estate succession can be structured.
