Determinants of farm size expansion among eu farmers

This paper aims to identify the determinants of the intention to expand farm size under two different policy scenarios 1) baseline, that implies the current Health Check policy, and 2) a NO-CAP scenario, providing a full removing of all CAP payments. Results highlight that farm/farmer and household characteristics such as age, amount of SFP and land size are determinants of farm size expansion under baseline scenario. Otherwise, under NO-CAP scenario, farm specialisation and organisational variables became significant in explaining the farm size expansion.farm expansion; multinomial logit; stated intentions

Accounting for multiple impacts of the Common agricultural policies in rural areas: an analysis using a Bayesian networks approach

In evaluating the potential effects of the reforms of the Common Agricultural Policy, a particularly challenging issue is the representation of the complexity of rural systems either in a static or dynamic framework. In this paper we use Bayesian networks, to the best knowledge of the authors, basically ignored by the literature on rural development. The objective of this paper is to discuss the potential use of Bayesian Networks tools to represent the multiple determinants and impacts of the Common Agricultural Policies in rural areas across Europe. The analysis shows the potential use of BNs in terms of representation of the multiple linkages between different components of rural areas and farming systems, though its use as a simulation tool still requires further improvements.Bayesian Networks (BNs), farm-household, multiple outcomes, Agricultural and Food Policy, Q1, Q18,

The role of the Common Agricultural Policy in the spatial location of agricultural activities

The objective of this paper is to analyse and quantify the spatial dimension of the CAP effects in an area of Northern Italy. The analysis is based on survey information about stated intentions of farm-household in two CAP scenarios, treated through statistical analysis intended to identify the potential determinants of different farm reactions, focusing on explicit spatial variables (altitude, LFA, agrarian regions) among explanatory variables. Altogether, the study shows the relevance of explicitly addressing the spatial effects of policies and also the differentiated spatial effect of policy on different dimensions of agricultural activities. However, the work also highlights the limitation of the location-based representation of the spatial dimension compared with both non-spatial variables and more functional variables underlying the spatial dimension.Common Agricultural Policy, Spatial effects, Emilia-Romagna., Agribusiness, Agricultural and Food Policy, Community/Rural/Urban Development, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, Labor and Human Capital,

Determinants of farm size expansion among eu farmers

This paper aims to identify the determinants of the intention to expand farm size under two different policy scenarios 1) baseline, that implies the current Health Check policy, and 2) a NO-CAP scenario, providing a full removing of all CAP payments. Results highlight that farm/farmer and household characteristics such as age, amount of SFP and land size are determinants of farm size expansion under baseline scenario. Otherwise, under NO-CAP scenario, farm specialisation and organisational variables became significant in explaining the farm size expansion

Determinants of farm size expansion among eu farmers

This paper aims to identify the determinants of the intention to expand farm size under two different policy scenarios 1) baseline, that implies the current Health Check policy, and 2) a NO-CAP scenario, providing a full removing of all CAP payments. Results highlight that farm/farmer and household characteristics such as age, amount of SFP and land size are determinants of farm size expansion under baseline scenario. Otherwise, under NO-CAP scenario, farm specialisation and organisational variables became significant in explaining the farm size expansion

Farm Investment Beahviour in the EU: An Ex Post Analysis through Panel Data

Farm investment behaviour is the result of the complex interplay of several variables and is strictly connected to expectations by farmers. The main objective of this paper is to investigate the determinants of investment behaviour in EU farming systems, based on a panel analysis of 178 farm households in 6 EU countries. The analysis focuses in particular on the changes occurred between 2006 and 2009 in terms of stated intention to invest. The results confirm the role of major structural (location, farm size) and demographic (farmers age) variables in affecting farm investment as already known from the literature. However the panel analysis emphasises the changes in investment attitude occurred in the period 2006-2009, likely as a combined effect of the economic crisis and of the dynamics of agricultural costs and prices.JRC.DDG.J.5-Agriculture and Life Sciences in the Econom

Farm Investment Behaviour under the CAP Reform Process

The results of the study, based on survey analysis as well as on modelling of farm behaviour, can be summarised in four main outcomes: Similar to the results of the first Investment study carried out in 2006 and published in 2008 (Gallerani. et. al.), in the context of the present study (carried out in 2009) for about half of the farms decoupling did not result in any change. Among those farms showing some reaction, one of the more prominent effects is the increase in on-farm investment. The price trends in 2007/2008 and the ongoing economic and financial crisis have partially reshaped access to credit, perceptions of objectives, constraints and expectations. In particular, farms have witnessed a major reduction in access to credit, particularly the share of farms using short term credit, which dropped from more than 40% in 2006 to about 7% in 2009. The change in economic conditions has increased this role of the CAP, and the importance of CAP payments in covering current expenditures has become more evident. Prices confirm their role as the key variable for investment choices. The results of the modelling exercise confirm that farm and farm-household income and investment choices depend more on the price level than on the level of payment received. Altogether, the combined effect of the recent policy reform (decoupling and first pillar payment reductions), as well as price and cost developments tend to reinforce the role of policy for the economic and social sustainability of farming. Notably, policy areas such as income support, investment and credit management, market access, as well as transitory and cross-policy mechanisms, appear to be of particular importance. Uncertainty (and related risk-management instruments) seems to play an increasing role in the investment decision process.JRC.J.5-Agriculture and Life Sciences in the Econom

Cancer screening uptake: association with individual characteristics, geographic distribution, and time trends in Italy

In Italy, organized screening programmes invite the vast majority of the population for cervical and breast cancer, and about one half of the population for colorectal cancer. Programme activity and quality are closely monitored. Nevertheless, there is a vast spontaneous activity, both public and private, for which information on service and coverage is missing. To estimate actual population coverage for the three types of screening the extent of spontaneous screening needs to be known

MANUAL WORKERS ARE MORE LIKELY TO ADOPT UNHEALTHY HABITS

Background. In Italy, organized screening programmes invite the vast majority of the population for cervical and breast cancer, and about one half of the population for colorectal cancer. Programme activity and quality are closely monitored. Nevertheless, there is a vast spontaneous activity, both public and private, for which information on service and coverage is missing. To estimate actual population coverage for the three types of screening the extent of spontaneous screening needs to be known. Methods. PASSI is a national telephone-interview surveillance system that continuously collects information about behavioural health risk factors and the diffusion of preventive health interventions. From 2010 to 2013, more than 151,000 18- to 69-year-olds were interviewed. During 2013, 136 out of 147 Italian local health authorities participated in the survey. Information about screening includes: test uptake (Pap smear, HPV, mammography, faecal occult blood test, colonoscopy), date of the last test, provider of the last test (whether paid or for free, proxy of the organized screening programme), reason for not participating in screening, and screening promotion/recommendation received. Individual information on socio-economic characteristics is available. Results. Seventy-seven percent of the 25-64 year-old women interviewed said they had undergone a Pap smear or HPV test in the three years before the interview, 40% within the screening programme, 37% spontaneously and paying. Seventy percent of the 50-69 year-old women interviewed reported having had a mammography in the two years before the interview, 51% within the screening programme, 19% spontaneously and paying. Thirty-eight percent of the 50-69 year olds interviewed reported having undergone colorectal screening in the two years before the interview, 31% within the screening programme, 7% spontaneously and paying. All three screening programmes showed a decreasing North-South trend in coverage. From 2010 to 2013, coverage increased for all types of screening; the trend was stronger in the South; the increase was mostly due to the tests performed within the organized programmes. People with low education, economic problems, and immigrants from high migration pressure countries had lower coverage levels. In regions with well-implemented organized screening programmes, test coverage was higher and differences for socio-economic factors were smaller than in regions with incomplete programme activation