More than two thirds of farms receive income from non-agricultural sources, since farming alone is insufficient to cover daily needs. Most of these gain 50-90% of their income from farming, but about one fifth of all farms derive over half of their income from a non-agricultural source. Alternatively, they are looking to boost their income with exotic crops, like melons, or unusual animals, like ostriches, yaks, bison or highland cattle, or are putting their farms to secondary uses, such as offering farmyard holidays or even llama trekking.

The number of farms where farming is the main source of income continues to fall.

The growing gap between farming and industrial incomes is discouraging young people from going into agriculture.

In recent years changes in society have created yet another problem for farmers: they are finding it more and more difficult to find wives. Women today have more chance to gain qualifications and this has opened up alternative kinds of work to them. Despite the fact that modern technology has helped to take some of the back-breaking labour out of farming, many women are unwilling to put up with the isolation of the countryside. No wives also means no children to inherit the farm.