Since the 1980s, many parts of rural Australia have experienced persistent financial difficulties. However, there is a lack of account on how farmers have improved business performance while maintaining traditional farming culture. By focusing on dairy farmers in the Illawarra region in New South Wales, Australia, this study examines the evolution of family farming culture under global agricultural change. Dairy farming dominates Illawarra agriculture, and has been constantly pressured by neoliberal policy reform and adverse market conditions. This study draws on public data, semi-structured interviews, and participant observation. In recent decades, dairy farming has shown a trend of declining farm numbers. A long-standing culture of family farming has existed in the Illawarra and continues to shape farmers’ lifestyle and business. Farmer interviewees shared this culture, and continued farming partly for non-economic reasons. However, under economic pressures farmers both compromised some elements of this traditional farming culture, and drew on the strategic value of other elements.

中文翻译：

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奶农家庭农业文化：新南威尔士州伊拉瓦拉地区的个案研究

自1980年代以来，澳大利亚农村地区的许多地区都经历了持续的财务困难。但是，缺乏关于农民如何在保持传统农业文化的同时提高经营绩效的方法。通过关注澳大利亚新南威尔士州伊拉瓦拉地区的奶农，本研究考察了全球农业变革下家庭农业文化的演变。奶业在伊拉瓦拉农业中占主导地位，并受到新自由主义政策改革和不利的市场条件的不断压力。本研究借鉴了公共数据，半结构化访谈和参与者观察。近几十年来，奶牛养殖场呈下降趋势。伊拉瓦拉（Illawarra）存在着悠久的家庭农业文化，并继续影响着农民的生活方式和业务。农民受访者分享了这种文化，并部分出于非经济原因而继续耕种。但是，在经济压力下，农民既损害了这种传统农业文化的某些要素，又利用了其他要素的战略价值。