Hi Tot.
We where in a similar situation 5 years ago when looking to purchase a farm also with 20 hectares which was a working farm growing cereals, we decided after being advised not to rent out the land due to the to many complications which renting land out brings.
We went to the chamber of agriculture at cahors and was told that no experience or qualifications where needed, i worked in metal all my life and had just retired at 60 so was ready for a change.
To be on the safe side we enrolled on a 2 week course at the agriculture college at limoges which they ran with english translators twice a year, a very intense course but a lot of valuable information was learned.
Moving on 5 years we are really enjoying the farming experience using contractors to do most of the work,you do not make a fortune out of it but a feeling of being part of the farming community opens a lot of doors.
Word as spread that we are thinking of retirement and now we have got a few local farmers knocking on our door looking to rent our land, land i have been told will be in big demand due to the changes in the farm subsidies next year giving smaller farms more money.
We will not be renting our land out and have started to look at the best way forward for us and the land.
I hope there is some advise within my reply.
Do you know who owns the DPU's for your land, these are what pays the subsidies,the answer to this will make a big difference on how easy the road forward is for you, please let me know and i will help as much as i can.
Regards
Michael.