A survey of farmer priorities by Lincoln University shows minimising pollution is a top priority.
It has carried out two surveys, in 2006 and 2013, to make a comparison.
Farmers on properties with a net profit of less than $50,000 a year put minimising pollution and improving the condition of their property at the top of the priority list.
Farmers earning more than $100,000 in profits list having a comfortable living at the top.
Researcher Kevin Old said farmers from throughout the country were asked to rank the priorities.
He said a question about passing the farm on to family was ranked at the bottom.
"We were quite surprised that that was towards the bottom of the list.
"We sent this survey out to 2,000 farmers and we stratified them by regions, farm types and also farm sizes, so we got a fair coverage of the country and we got a 36 percent response rate, so about 800 survey responses, all commercial farmers or horticulturists or primary industry operators.
"We've found the vast majority of farms are still owned and operated by family members, having all the assets and making all the decisions."