Agricultural Census Research Articles

Reflections from first-generation small-scale vegetable farmers

Renewal of the agriculture sector requires an influx of young farmers, either members of farming families or first-generation farmers. The latter face distinct challenges (Bloomfield, 2023; Magnan et al., 2023). This study seeks to understand some of their motivations and challenges in order to inform policy changes to support and encourage more first-generation farmers. Agriculture has long been regarded in Canada as not only economically but also culturally significant. Yet less than 1% of the population are recognised as farmers by the latest census data (Statistics Canada, 2021). In the last three decades alone, Canada has net lost nearly 150,000 farmers and the average age of a Canadian farmer is now 56. Only 8.5% of Canadian farmers were under 35 in the last Agricultural Census, compared to 20% in 1991, and that percentage has been declining steadily since 1931 (Clapp, 2023; Magnan et al., 2022; Qualman et al., 2018; Statistics Canada, 2006, 2022). In particular, the number of young people from farming families staying in agriculture is declining. Several reports, including that of the Royal Bank of Canada Climate Action Institute, show that a majority of farmers do not have a succession plan in place although, within the next decade, 40% will retire (Yaghi, 2023). People from non-farming backgrounds find it difficult to enter the profession due to barriers that include prohibitive costs and lack of training. To ensure that Canada can feed its growing population, we must address the farmer shortage by understanding the experiences of new—particularly young—farmers.

Economic and environmental factors determining spatial variation in soil liming in Poland

The aim of this research was to identify the key factors determining the level of soil liming in Poland. Spatial analyses were conducted using data from the 2020 National Agricultural Census. The study presents regional variations in selected parameters that characterise agricultural production quality and structural features, including the market connections of farms. The Classification and Regression Trees (C&RT) method was employed to identify the factors that most significantly influence the intensity of liming in the examined districts. These factors include the share of permanent grasslands, labour inputs, the percentage of farms engaged in commercial production, farm size, and the level of mineral fertilisation (NPK). The results indicate that regions with larger farms and higher NPK fertilisation tend to apply more lime. In contrast, areas with a higher share of permanent grasslands and labour-intensive activities show lower levels of liming. These findings suggest that improving agricultural practices, particularly in regions with small farms and limited fertilisation, could enhance soil liming efforts and align them with the European Green Deal's goals for sustainable agriculture.

Food-driven transformation of nitrogen fluxes with urbanization in China

Urbanization shifts populations from rural to urban areas, altering food consumption and production patterns, which impacts nitrogen cycles. However, the contributions of urbanization to nitrogen flux dynamics remain insufficiently understood. This study analyzes nitrogen flux changes in China from 1990 to 2020 using data from the National Bureau of Statistics and Agricultural Pollution Censuses, alongside CHANS models. Results show that rising food demand has driven a 75 % increase in fertilizer use and a 132 % rise in nitrogen pollution, with urbanization adding 1.4 million tonnes of nitrogen emissions. By 2050, urban food consumption is projected to rise by 48 %, driving a 45 % increase in nitrogen pollution. Applying multiple measures can reduce nitrogen consumption and losses, with rural areas offering greater reduction potential than urban areas, highlighting the need for targeted nitrogen management to address urbanization's environmental impacts effectively.

Concentración económica en la región pampeana, un análisis según zonas productivas (1988-2018)

The most complete tool to analyze the development of the social economic structure of Argentine agriculture is the National Agricultural Census. The data provided by the surveys of 1988 and 2002 allowed us to measure the process of economic concentration and elimination of small producers during the 1990s, decade during which a model and a dynamic was implemented in agribusiness that is projected into the 21st century. This article analyzes the recent information from the 2018 Census, with the aim of studying the magnitude of the concentration process in the different productive areas of the Pampas region. Those sub-zones are constructed based on the predominance of different activities in the production data collected by the censuses, and the evolution of the farms present in them is evaluated, classified according to size, with the idea of testing the Association between the setback of small farms and the type of activity they undertake. It is observed that throughout the 21st century the previous tendencies of greater concentration in the agricultural departments with respect to the cattle-raising areas have moderated, configuring a more homogeneous picture in terms of the decline of small production.

Assessing adaptive capacity to climate change of farmers in Gangetic Plains region, India

India has been identified as one of the most susceptible nations to the impacts of climate change. The present study made an attempt to examine the adaptive capacity of farmers living in the Gangetic Plains of India. This study creates an adaptive capacity index for four Gangetic Plains: the lower Gangetic plain, the middle Gangetic plain, the upper Gangetic plain, and the Trans Gangetic plain. It does this by using data from the 77th round of the national sample survey organisation (NSSO), the 2011 census, and the agricultural census of 2015–16, as well as an indicator approach. A total of 29 indicators covers six dimensions: physical resource capacity, financial resource capacity, human resource capacity, social resource capacity, livelihood diversity capacity, and information accessibility. The results show that the trans-Gangetic Plain region has the highest adaptive capacity, while the lower Gangetic Plain region has the lowest adaptive capacity to deal with climate change. Based on the cross-index analysis, the trans-Gangetic plain region had higher adaptive capacity due to higher physical resource capacity, financial resource capacity, human resource capacity, and information accessibility capacity. This paper suggests enhancing the adaptive capacity of farmers in the Gangetic Plains to facilitate the implementation of more effective adaptation measures. We can achieve this by improving the availability of accurate and timely weather information, upgrading irrigation facilities, increasing accessibility to institutional credit, establishing a robust extension service network to disseminate information on changing climate conditions and effective farm management techniques, and promoting livelihood diversification.

The Setting-Up Measure to Support Generational Renewal in Agriculture: The Italian Experience

Since the 1970s, the issue of ageing farmers and generational renewal in agriculture has consistently attracted the attention of policymakers. However, despite successive reforms of the European Union Structural Funds, efforts to encourage young people to enter the agricultural sector remain largely focused on agricultural and rural policies, specifically on the First Settlement scheme. This paper highlights the role of the European Union’s rural development policy in supporting and encouraging generational renewal in agriculture. A qualitative analysis of the Italian case examining some of the demographic changes that have occurred within the agricultural system at the regional level has been conducted. The analysis is based on the comparison of policy implementations in different programming periods. Using data from the General Censuses of Agriculture and the Italian Agricultural Payments Agency—supplemented by the Annual Implementation Reports of the Italian Rural Development Programmes—the research traces the evolution of initiatives supporting young farmers. The main findings reveal a notable decline in the number of young people in the primary sector over the last decade, together with an ageing population of agricultural farmers. Measures to support young farmers under the Common Agricultural Policy appear to be ineffective in countering the ageing trend. There is scope for integrated policies to enhance the attractiveness and profitability of rural areas and to ensure long-term sustainable generational renewal in the agricultural sector.

Crop Diversification in India (1990–2016): Implications for the Eastern and Northeastern States

This study utilises data from the Agriculture Census for 1990–1991, 2005–2006 and 2015–2016, employing the Herfindahl-Hirschman Index (HHI) to assess crop diversification in Indian states. The overall HHI declined from 1990–1991 to 2015–2016, indicating increased crop diversification nationally. However, the proportion of states exceeding the overall average HHI significantly decreased, indicating a shift towards specialisation or monoculture in some states. The analysis notes a decrease in the gross cropped area (GCA) under total food crops (TFC) and an increase in total non-food crops (TNFC). Despite the overall decline in TFC, high-value crops like horticultural produce, sugar crops, spices, and condiments have seen improvement. Focusing on the Eastern region (ER) and the Northeastern region (NER), the study reveals diversification in NER due to higher allocation of land to high-value crops, while economically disadvantaged states in the ER, such as Bihar and Odisha, show a trend towards crop specialisation, potentially affecting overall food security in the region. The study emphasises the need for government support to address persistent vulnerabilities in poverty, unemployment, and low yields in cereals, pulses, and oilseeds in these regions, recommending inputs, infrastructure development, insurance, and market linkages for perishable items to enhance food security.

A Farming System Approach to Exploring Drivers of Food Insecurity Among Farm Households in Developing Countries: The Case Study of Mozambique

Farm households, especially in developing countries, are among the most vulnerable to food insecurity and poverty. A farming system approach is largely recognized to play an important role in supporting strategies to improve food security and alleviate poverty among farm households. This paper aims at exploring the drivers of food insecurity among farm households in developing countries, using a farming system approach. It also aims to explore farm households’ perceptions regarding the causes of food shortages and the adopted coping strategies, and how these vary across farming systems. This analysis was based on data extracted from an agricultural census, which were analyzed through scatter plots and plot means with 95% confidence intervals. The results indicate that the factors analyzed (level of specialization, market integration, use of yield-raising and labor-saving inputs, farm size, population density, and rainfall) are important drivers explaining food insecurity among farm households, highlighting important differences across farming systems. The analysis also showed that farm households’ perceptions regarding the causes of food shortages are related with the abovementioned drivers of food insecurity. Our findings suggest that less specialized farming systems with better access to markets, using yield-raising and/or labor-saving inputs, are more likely to be food secure. The farming system approach proved to be a useful approach to explore food insecurity drivers and coping strategies as well as to support policymaking. Moreover, the use of an agricultural census data provides an easily attainable tool to access and analyze farm-level data for policy analysis and to explore and understand a range of issues affecting farm households in developing countries.

Livestock Changes in Brazil and Sustainable Intensification Challenges

The increasing global demand for animal products has impacted Brazilian cattle farming. This study aims to offer references for developing more sustainable livestock farming in Brazil. It analyzes the numbers of pasture areas, cattle herds, and stocking rates from 1970 to 2017, based on agricultural census data. Additionally, it compares pasture conditions using agricultural census data and satellite imagery for the years 2006 and 2017. The key findings include the following: (1) a 119.7% increase in cattle herds, with migration from the South and Southeast to the North and Central–West regions, which have lower land prices; (2) a 2.6% decrease in the pasture area for cattle (except in the North region); (3) a 3.8% decrease in areas in poor condition; and (4) a 125.5% increase in the stocking rate. Despite technological advancements improving productivity, most pastures (59.6%) are still underperforming, indicating potential for reducing the pressure on native vegetation. This study concludes that production areas are shifting between regions in Brazil, with livestock farming intensifying, marked by a decrease in pasture areas and degraded pastures, alongside an increase in cattle numbers and stocking rates. However, these changes are heterogeneous across the country. This analysis provides an overview of beef cattle nationwide, which is relevant for addressing production sustainability challenges.

Empowering women brings change: The role of female cadres in enhancing elderly care public goods in Chinese villages

Against the backdrop of globalization, the role of women in political and social governance has garnered increasing attention. This study utilizes large-scale random sample data from the agricultural census and employs various treatment effect models to explore the impact of female cadres on the provision of elderly care public goods in villages and the underlying mechanisms. The findings reveal that female cadres significantly enhance the provision of elderly care public goods within villages. This result remains robust even after conducting various robustness tests and addressing endogeneity issues. Further investigation reveals significant heterogeneity in the impact of female cadres on elderly care public goods provision. In the eastern regions, female cadres have a greater absolute effect, while in the western regions, their marginal impact is more pronounced. Additionally, female cadres play a more significant role in villages with weaker collective action strength. We also explore the heterogeneous treatment effects related to the propensity scores of female cadres within villages. The impact, initially insignificant in villages with lower scores, becomes significant, positive, and stable as scores rise. The positive impact also varies significantly with the proportion of female cadres in the village, indicating an optimal ratio for maximizing their positive effect. The study also unveils that female cadres positively influence elderly care public goods provision by enhancing collective economy and playing a role in poverty reduction. These findings offer rich policy implications for maximizing the role of female cadres in the provision of elderly care public goods.

Profitability and Cost Estimates for Producing Tropical Hibiscus in South Florida

Tropical hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis) is a bushy evergreen shrub or small tree native to the temperate regions of Asia and an economically significant crop in Florida. According to the 2017 Census of Agriculture, the market value of the ornamental industry in Miami-Dade County was $697 million, and approximately 25% of the production was in hibiscus. Demand for the cultivation of plants with minimal pesticides is rising due to concerns about potential adverse environmental and health effects. Integrated pest management, or IPM, is an alternative to conventional pesticide application. A broad-based approach, it integrates both chemical and non-chemical practices for sustainable control of pests. To help growers and other stakeholders determine the best approach to changing demands for pesticide management, this publication estimates the costs and returns of producing tropical hibiscus on an established nursery in south Florida using both traditional and IPM methods.

Exploring Diversification Strategies among Italian Farms

The multifunctionality model is receiving more and more attention from policymakers as a result of recent initiatives to build more resilient and sustainable food systems as well as the potential for increased farm revenue. This paper explores the role of multifunctional farming in the Italian agriculture viewed through the lens of an entrepreneurial strategy grounded on-farm diversification. Farm diversification strategies, which broaden the farm’s traditional boundaries to include additional activities at the farm level, help the evolution towards multifunctionality. A policy-driven transition towards multifunctional farming has been noticed in Italy during the past few decades, which has prompted a strategic reconfiguration of the farm’s business models. Drawing on the identified activity of portfolio diversification, this study provides an overview of the analyzed 49,429 Italian farms, by articulating diversification strategies into four entrepreneurial activities, which are related to on/off-farm/farm-related or farm-diverse diversification strategies. This article has attempted to verify the presence of farm types that responded to portfolio diversification management strategies through the use of a cluster analysis on data from the general census of Italian agriculture. Supporting new patterns in the adoption of business models focused on multifunctionality should be considered in European rural development policies.

Black Americans’ Landholdings and Economic Mobility after Emancipation: Evidence from the Census of Agriculture and Linked Records

Large and persistent racial disparities in land-based wealth were an important legacy of the Reconstruction era. To assess how these disparities were transmitted intergenerationally, we build a dataset to observe Black households’ landholdings in 1880 alongside a sample of White households. We then link sons from all households to the 1900 census records to observe their economic and human capital outcomes. We show that Black landowners, relative to laborers, transmitted substantial intergenerational advantages to their sons, particularly in literacy and homeownership. However, such advantages were small relative to the racial gaps in measures of economic status.

FEAtl: a comprehensive web-based expression atlas for functional genomics in tropical and subtropical fruit crops

BackgroundFruit crops, including tropical and subtropical fruits like Avocado (Persea americana), Fig (Ficus carica), Date Palm (Phoenix dactylifera), Mango (Mangifera indica), Guava (Psidium guajava), Papaya (Carica papaya), Pineapple (Ananas comosus), and Banana (Musa acuminata) are economically vital, contributing significantly to global agricultural output, as classified by the FAO’s World Programme for the Census of Agriculture. Advancements in next-generation sequencing, have transformed fruit crop breeding by providing in-depth genomic and transcriptomic data. RNA sequencing enables high-throughput analysis of gene expression, and functional genomics, crucial for addressing horticultural challenges and enhancing fruit production. The genomic and expression data for key tropical and sub-tropical fruit crops is currently lacking a comprehensive expression atlas, revealing a significant gap in resources for horticulturists who require a unified platform with diverse datasets across various conditions and cultivars.ResultsThe Fruit Expression Atlas (FEAtl), available at http://backlin.cabgrid.res.in/FEAtl/, is a first-ever extensive and unified expression atlas for tropical and subtropical fruit crops developed using 3-tier architecture. The expressivity of coding and non-coding genes, encompassing 2,060 RNA-Seq samples across 91 tissue types and 177 BioProjects, it provides a comprehensive view of gene expression patterns for different tissues under various conditions. FEAtl features multiple tabs that cater to different aspects of the dataset, namely, Home, About, Analyze, Statistics, and Team and contains seven central functional modules: Transcript Information,Sample Information, Expression Profiles in FPKM and TPM, Functional Analysis, Genes Based on Tau Score, and Search for Specific Gene. The expression of a transcript of interest can be easily queried by searching by tissue ID and transcript type. Expression data can be displayed as a heat map, along with functional descriptions as well as Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes.ConclusionsThis atlas represents a groundbreaking compilation of a wide array of information pertaining to eight distinct fruit crops and serves as a fundamental resource for comparative analysis among different fruit species and is a catalyst for functional genomic studies. Database availability: http://backlin.cabgrid.res.in/FEAtl/.

In This Issue: Open call papers on a wide range of food systems topics

First paragraph: On the cover of this fall 2024 issue is a family of happy strawberry pickers at Last Resort Farm in Monkton, Vermont (photo by farmner Eugenie Doyle). Such pictures may seem a bit cliché, but they serve to remind us of the tremendous value of getting out and getting a bit of dirt under our nails from time to time. I believe that as a part of self-care, agritourism can be particularly important during these turbulent times that are fraught with toxic politics, war, and environmental challenges that keep us on edge. It is easy for those of us involved in food systems work to forget that we are quite privileged to know farmers and local food businesses on a personal basis. And so, on this issue’s cover we take the opportunity to celebrate agritourism as a contributor to community development. Later in this issue, Chadley R. Hollas and colleagues take a close look at farm-based recreation and hospitality data in the U.S. Census of Agriculture and find the USDA definition wanting.

TRANSITION AND REGIONAL DIFFERENTIATION OF THE AREA STRUCTURE OF FARMS IN POLANDarea structure of farms, agrarian transformation, regional variation, panel models, succession

The aim of the study was to identify and assess the transformations and regional differentiation of the area structure of farms in Poland. The primary source of data was information collected from the Central Statistical Office (CSO) on the basis of the results of the 2002, 2010 and 2020 Agricultural Censuses and the CSO’s Local Data Bank. The research was carried out on a voivodeship basis. In the study, econometric models were constructed and subjected to detailed verification, the dependent variable being the average area of the farm in hectares of agricultural land. The dependent variable was compared with 16 independent variables, which were selected because of their information potential and discriminatory ability. To explain the reasons for this variation, it was decided to use a model for panel data with constant effects. Lagrange and Hausman tests were used to verify them. The analysis showed that in the period studied, the most important factor adversely affecting the level of the area structure of farms in Poland was the labor resources in agriculture. The factors that accelerated the changes in the area structure also included the rate of succession and the level of education of farm managers.

Innovative Social Groups in the Institutional Changes of the Russian Countryside

The article considers the formation of innovative social groups in the social structure of the Russian countryside, broadcasting the managerial style of thinking and lifestyle of an active subject of agricultural labor. The current model of the agricultural market was formed under the powerful institutional pressure of market reforms. These objective social processes transformed the mentality of rural residents, gave rise to various labor practices, including employment in the informal sector, from which innovative market models of behavior in the agricultural labor market emerged. Using the example of farms and rural entrepreneurs, innovative layers in the labor market are shown, the criteria for which are an increase in agricultural land, production growth using new technologies and digital equipment, access to export markets. The information base consists of data from large-scale panel studies of Rosstat 2011–2022 and the All-Russian agricultural censuses of 2006, 2016, 2021. Institutional changes in the agricultural labor market have been identified, within the framework of which innovative groups are being formed. The development of innovative technologies used in agriculture requires the involvement of highly qualified labor. However, there is an acute shortage of personnel in the agricultural labor market. The wages of a significant segment of jobs in the rural market do not ensure economic stability. The survival strategy remains the main factor in the socio-economic behavior of rural residents, which determines the employment of most of them in non-agricultural sectors in the agricultural labor market. The crisis of agricultural organizations and the arrival of high-tech capitalist forms of production in agriculture cause the migration of the rural population to cities. Despite significant government support for agriculture, there is a shortage of engineering specialties and skilled workers. All these processes hinder the emergence and development of new innovative groups in rural areas. The foreign experience of the functioning of an institutionalized system of information networks and consulting for farmers and small businesses in agriculture is also presented.

MORE MILK, FEWER FARMS, and REGIONAL CONCENTRATION: MAPPING TRANSFORMATIONS IN CALIFORNIA’S DAIRY INDUSTRY

ABSTRACT The transformation of California’s dairy industry is a prime example of structural change in agriculture. The state has been on the leading edge of changes in the geography of food and agriculture for 150 years, and many characteristics of modern large-scale agriculture emerged—or reached their culmination—in California. We examine the spatial transformation of dairy production in California as a window into the potential futures for the dairy industry both within California and elsewhere. We use data from county agricultural reports and USDA Censuses of Agriculture data to demonstrate, through a series of original maps and animations, the dramatic increase in production of milk, the rapid fall in the number of dairies, and the spatial redistribution of the industry over the past 40 years. These visualizations reveal illustrative spatial patterns and insights into rapid changes in the geography of dairy production—and agriculture more generally—within California. Based on these visualizations and analyses, we propose a framework for understanding the intersecting phenomena of dairy transformations in California: regional concentration, industry consolidation, and farm-level intensification. In explaining how these processes are nested, overlapping, and multiscalar, we offer an account of past and current trajectories, while examining the applicability and implications of these findings for other dairy-producing regions into the future.

Digital strategic collaborations in agriculture: a novel asset for local identity enhancement toward Agrifood 5.0

PurposeThe aim of this research is to elucidate the correlation between open innovation, digital strategies and networking in enhancing agricultural enterprises within the new perspective of Agrifood 5.0. As such, it contributes to making businesses more competitive, especially in the Italian agricultural sector, where small and medium-sized enterprises are highly fragmented. Numerous studies have asserted that the competitiveness of actors operating within a specific territory is closely linked to local identity and image enhancement. Agricultural organizations are undergoing a profound transformation, with technological assets emerging as catalysts for new synergies. Advanced technologies such as robotics, the Internet of Things (IoT) and automation (AI) are emerging as differentiating elements capable of further advancing the agricultural sector, transitioning it from Agrifood 4.0 to Agrifood 5.0. The empirical analysis of the research shows a positive correlation between a collaborative attitude and a propensity for innovation. Indeed, the data demonstrated that digital strategies and open innovation positively influence competitiveness in agricultural SMEs.Design/methodology/approachThe methodology employed in this study is mixed, incorporating both qualitative and quantitative approaches. The quantitative aspect involves analysis of the dataset from the Italian Statistical Institute (ISTAT) through logistic regression, while the qualitative component entails analysis of semi-structured interviews conducted with a sample of 174 agricultural cooperatives in southern Italian regions (Campania). This approach allows for a comprehensive understanding of the research topic, capturing both numerical trends and nuanced insights from interviews.FindingsAfter analyzing the data from the 7th General Census of Agriculture conducted by ISTAT, a clear understanding of the sector has emerged, revealing several potential research avenues. It is evident that innovation in the agricultural sector is often driven by the largest and best-capitalized production entities, primarily located in Italy. Conversely, smaller agricultural entities can benefit from networking as new technological assets act as catalysts for new synergies, innovation and competitiveness.Practical implicationsEnhancing the relational contribution within the network and humanizing a fragmented sector are crucial elements for promoting open innovation. Network structuring facilitates the transmission of managerial knowledge, contributing to an overall increase in the intellectual and relational capital of the agricultural sector. These factors, combined with open innovation, enhance the competitiveness of individual firms and elevate the brand of the entire sector, creating a conducive environment for transitioning toward Agrifood 5.0. This transition is characterized by increased interconnection, continuous innovation and overall prosperity. Specific studies on this topic are lacking in Italy, particularly in the southern regions. Therefore, this contribution focuses on investigating the Campania region.Originality/valueThe novelty of this study lies in its investigation of the relationship between agricultural enterprises and innovation in the context of enterprises networking strategies (i.e. associationism and/or cooperation), promoting competitiveness. The limitations of this study are related to the dimension of the sample selected and its relationship with other productive sectors.

Identifying Inconsistencies in Data Quality Between FAOSTAT, WOAH, UN Agriculture Census, and National Data

Identifying Inconsistencies in Data Quality Between FAOSTAT, WOAH, UN Agriculture Census, and National Data