Self-employed farmers have benefited from a major change in the calculation of their retirement benefits since the beginning of the year. From now on, the amount of their basic pension is based on the twenty-five most favorable years of their professional career, breaking with the old system which took into account the entire career, often penalizing those with irregular income.
This development stems from a text adopted in 2023, whose implementing decrees were published at the end of December, paving the way for application as early as 2026. The stated objective of the public authorities is to bring the farmers' scheme closer to that of private sector employees and to better reflect the economic reality of professions subject to strong income variations.
A reform that was expected in a tense social climate
The new calculation method applies to all pensions awarded from January 1, 2026. For those awarded during the first two years of implementation, a review is planned at a later date to adjust the amount paid, if necessary. Agricultural unions welcome this progress, achieved after many years of demands, while emphasizing that the overall level of pensions remains a point of vulnerability for the profession.
The implementation of this measure comes at a time of great tension for the agricultural sector, marked by health, economic, and trade crises. For representatives of the sector, this reform is a positive sign, but insufficient on its own to address all the difficulties faced by farmers.
