Comparative Evaluation of Farm Inputs and Services Networks in New York and Ontario

Abstract

Use, availability, and satisfaction of 22 farm business services by dairy farm households were compared among four neighboring regions in Ontario and New York to examine the effects of government support policy. The supply management policy applied to milk production in Ontario is associated with different input usage and greater perceived availability of farm inputs and services than more market-oriented policies in New York. Families in both countries tended to be more satisfied with supply and production services and less so with labor and loan services. Since availability of services is correlated with density of production and the level of returns, policy changes that result in fewer producers will ultimately cause satisfaction with farm input services to decline.