Spatiotemporal dynamic evolution and influencing factors of family farms in urban agglomerations in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River

Family farms, considered the most desirable form of Chinese agriculture, play a pivotal role in promoting rural revitalization and agricultural modernization. The purpose of this study was to summarize the spatiotemporal evolution characteristics and influencing factors of family farms to better promote the development of modern agriculture. Using provincial demonstration family farms in the urban agglomeration in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River (MYR-UA) as the research object, this study applied the nearest neighbor index, kernel density analysis, multiscale spatial clustering analysis (Ripley’s K-function), and geographically weighted regression (GWR) model to reveal the spatiotemporal dynamic evolution and influencing factors of family farms. The results indicate that: 1) from 2013 to 2021, family farms exhibited annual increases, and their development stages could be divided into rapid, stable, and slow growth periods. 2) The spatial agglomeration pattern of family farms was significant, and the intercepted points at different time periods show the distribution characteristics of the entire dispersion and local concentration. The spatial evolution characteristics of different types of family farms are nearly consistent with those of the overall family farms. 3) The overall family farms and various types of family farms show a scale effect, which first strengthens and then weakens with the change in geographical distance. 4) The spatial pattern of family farms in MYR-UA is affected by both natural and social factors, of which, social factors had the greatest influence. Finally, based on the findings of the study, policy recommendations for promoting the high-quality development of family farms are proposed.