Estimation and projection of costs and margins in crop enterprises in the Republic of Ireland

End of project reportThis project reports on the farm level crop economics research conducted in the Rural Economy Research Centre (RERC), Teagasc during the period 2003-2006. The research conducted made current estimates and one year ahead forecasts for margins in each of the major crop enterprises in the Republic of Ireland. The enterprise specific information was based on information from the Teagasc National Farm Survey (NFS), supplemented by projections of price, cost and policy information from a variety of other sources. Yield projections were based on past trends and incorporate estimates of expected variability. In addition, the distribution of profitability amongst the population of crop farms has been examined to gain further insights into the farm level situation and outlook for tillage farms based on the results from the NFS data

TECHNICAL AND FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY IN SCOTTISH AGRICULTURE

This paper presents results of estimates of both the financial robustness and the technical efficiency of a representative sample of Scottish farms. Emphasis was placed on those factors that impact on long-term sustainability in order to identify those effects that may be characterised as having a high propensity to further increase the vulnerability of the sector. The aim was further one of providing focussed knowledge that might steer the policy decision making process towards potential targets of importance. Series of financial indicators were modelled to assess the financial health of each farm in the sample as well as predicting the future viability of each enterprise. Further, physical and financial data were employed to ascertain the technical efficiency of farms and possible sources of inefficiencies. On the strength of the findings, we concluded that farms that are characterised by being not being in Least Favoured Areas (LFA), specialised, large and with low indebtedness are those most likely to survive. However, although technical efficiency and financial distress indicators confirmed that while a significant proportion of farms were classed as being in financial distress, most of those being in LFA and mostly cattle or sheep farms, these same indicators effectively suggested that given the specialised nature of those farms, continued survival was possible, specifically where the debt ratio could be reduced to ideally zero while no significant attempt would be made at diversification of the agricultural enterprise. While some factors are rather fixed such as geographical location, in order to ensure continuity others can more easily be targeted for improvement, namely farm size, degree of specialisation, farmers' accumulated knowledge and financial health.technical efficiency, financial distress, risk measurement, diversification., Agricultural Finance,

Intensive versus Extensive Dairy Production Systems: Dairy States in the Eastern and Midwestern U.S. and Key Pasture Countries the E.U.: Determining the Competitive Edge

In recent years, significant structural and production system changes have been noted in the U.S. and European Union, as well as increased interest in pasture-based dairy systems. Technical efficiency, returns to scale, and farm characteristics are compared by size and production system in traditional U.S. dairy states and E.U. countries.U.S., EU Countries, Dairy Systems, Technical Efficiency, Returns To Scale, Size, Technology, Land Prices, Production Economics, Q12,

FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO FINANCIALLY SUCCESSFUL SOUTHERN RICE FARMS

The purpose of this study is to determine factors contributing to the likelihood of financial success among rice farms. The results showed that the ratio of government payments to total production value, tenure, crop diversification, cost control, education, yield, and debt-to-asset ratio were significant factors influencing at least one financial success measure. Key words: competitiveness, rice farms, farm success, farm profitability.competitiveness, rice farms, farm success, farm profitability., Crop Production/Industries,

ABSTRACTS OF SELECTED PAPERS

Teaching/Communication/Extension/Profession,

Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Livelihoods: A Synthesis

Agricultural and Food Policy,

ADOPT: a tool for predicting adoption of agricultural innovations

A wealth of evidence exists about the adoption of new practices and technologies in agriculture but there does not appear to have been any attempt to simplify this vast body of research knowledge into a model to make quantitative predictions across a broad range of contexts. This is despite increasing demand from research, development and extension agencies for estimates of likely extent of adoption and the likely timeframes for project impacts. This paper reports on the reasoning underpinning the development of ADOPT (Adoption and Diffusion Outcome Prediction Tool). The tool has been designed to: 1) predict an innovation‘s likely peak extent of adoption and likely time for reaching that peak; 2) encourage users to consider the influence of a structured set of factors affecting adoption; and 3) engage R, D & E managers and practitioners by making adoptability knowledge and considerations more transparent and understandable. The tool is structured around four aspects of adoption: 1) characteristics of the innovation, 2) characteristics of the population, 3) actual advantage of using the innovation, and 4) learning of the actual advantage of the innovation. The conceptual framework used for developing ADOPT is described.Adoption, Diffusion, Prediction, Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies,

An Examination of the Implications of Milk Quota Reform on the Viability and Productivity of Dairy Farming in Ireland

End of project reportThe aim of the project was to produce quality, scientific based policy advice on the most efficient means for the transfer of milk quota between dairy farmers. The main objective of the project was to identify milk quota transfer mechanisms that would ensure the viability of the maximum number of farmers in Ireland while still supporting an internationally competitive agricultural sector. During the course of the project the Irish Department of Agriculture introduced a new milk quota transfer scheme. The milk quota exchange scheme was launched in November 2006. At this stage the objectives of the project were altered to be more policy relevant. Rather than exploring the efficiency of various milk quota transfer models, the aim of the project was redirected to explore the efficiency of the scheme as it was operated in Ireland. The rationale for this change was to provide relevant and timely feedback to policy makers on the operation of the new scheme. While the MTR agreement guaranteed the continuation of the EU milk quota regime until 2014/15, it also made provisions for a review of the milk quota system to be conducted in 2008. Clearly any changes to EU milk quota policy would have implications for farmers in Ireland. A second objective of this project was to explore some policy scenarios that may transpire from the milk quota review and to estimate the implications for farmers in Ireland