We investigate factors which may drive the number of agents who compete for a specific piece of farmland in the French region of Brittany by fitting count models to data originating from a local committee, the CDOA, which is responsible for guidance in delivering the necessary “authorisations to farm”. Results are analysed in the light of a conceptual framework which provides an explanation why the subset of farmers who actually apply for an authorisation to farm may differ from the whole set of potential applicants. Several results reflect the impact of an informal mediation by local farmer unions, which aims to lower potential conflicts and hence competition.