In a questionnaire study carried out in France by the Research Centre for the Study and Observation of Living Conditions (CREDOC), data obtained from agricultural workers on 500 farms were analysed. Topics investigated were general and working conditions on the farm, the nature and origin of personal income, professional status of persons interviewed, type of housing and household equipment, family environment and social life, health and care and educational status. Of the farms investigated, 43% had a land area of <20 hectares and produced subsistence earnings, 18% had a low income, but had >20 hectares of land, 9% had a low farm income and the total income was not known, 20% had a low income above the poverty threshold, 4% had an income exceeding the average income, 3% were large farms with a negative agricultural revenue, and in 4% of farms the income was not known. Of farmers with a low income, 75% had <20 hectares and experienced social isolation. 41% of the farms had diverse activities, but produced a low farm income, and these were mainly owned and run by older farmers. Poverty resulted in a reduction in social activity. Overall, 10% of farmers visited a cinema at least once per month and 57% invited their relatives and friends for dinner on a regular basis. However, only 3% of poor farmers visited a cinema each month and 29% entertained their friends of relatives fairly frequently. Only 16% of farm staff recognised that their income was very low, and 50% thought that they received average earnings. Most poor agricultural workers thought that their earnings were superior to those of poor urban households, due to a better domestic economy, self-sufficiency and the ownership of their houses.