Agricultural land‐use change and its drivers in Terceira Island, Portugal (2008–2013)

Abstract

AbstractThis work aims at analysing how compensatory direct payments regimes to farmers influence land‐use patterns and changes on agricultural landscape. For this purpose a case‐study examines land‐use changes in Terceira Island (Azores, Portugal) for the period of 2008–2013. It is specifically focused on the land‐use changes associated to maize for silage annually declared on the detailed land parcels by farmers which apply for direct payments under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). A total increase of 28 per cent is reported on arable crops area (mostly maize silage) for the period. This process should be related not only to the agricultural coupled support policy for arable crops but also to the relative prices of farm products and raw materials for animal feed. The access facilities to the land parcels appear to be another major farm‐related factor at local context. A logistic regression analysis is performed at the land parcel level and the occurrence of the agricultural land‐use ‘maize for silage’ is explained by a set of explanatory variables. The independent variables comprise biophysical factors and socio‐economic factors. Results indicate biophysical factors (average annual temperature, annual accumulated precipitation, slope and soil agricultural use capability), accessibility, farm typology, previous land‐use, arable crops aid, milk price and bovine meat price as key factors for maize silage land‐use occupancy on Terceira Island. These conclusions seem valuable for decision‐making on the implementation of coupled support schemes under agricultural policies and their impacts on spatial arrangements in land‐use dynamics and landscape change.