Agricultural Performance Research Articles

A coupled turbine-interaction wind farm parameterization in the Weather Research and Forecasting model

The wind farm parameterization in the mesoscale numerical weather prediction (NWP) model is a valuable approach to exploring the performance and atmospheric impact of the large-scale wind farm. However, the sub-grid interactions between turbines are not resolved in the current parameterization method. In this study, we propose an improved wind farm parameterization by coupling a novel sub-grid wind turbine interference model. It is incorporated in the state-of-the-art Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model. To verify the model, the coupled model is applied in a real offshore wind farm in China for comparing the model performances with the original parameterization. The findings demonstrate that the proposed approach improves the wind simulation and has minimal sensitivity to horizontal grid resolution, hence strengthening the model’s robustness. Additionally, it is discovered that the sub-grid interaction reduces the turbine-produced turbulence and shortens the wake length by more than 30% compared to the original parameterization. Importantly, the power output prediction of turbine cells is modified, approximately resulting in a 1 % reduction of the entire wind farm relative to the original model. The effects of sub-grid turbine interaction are effectively captured in the proposed model and it is recommended for further wind farm simulations.

Gorilla tropical optimization algorithm solution for performance enhancement of offshore wind farm

AbstractThis article describes a technique for improving the performance of an offshore wind farm (OWF), which includes a permanent magnet synchronous generator (PMSG) driven by a variable‐speed wind turbine (VSWT) and connected to the grid through a high‐voltage direct current transmission system (HVDC). Under various network disturbances, the gorilla tropical optimization (GTO) metaheuristic method is used to fine‐tune the proportional‐integral (PI) controller gains for VSC‐based PMSG‐VSWT and VSC‐based HVDC transmission systems. This study compares several strategies for extracting the maximum power from a system while maintaining stability under symmetrical and unsymmetrical fault circumstances. Compared to different algorithms, GTO provides better results and improves system recovery and stability after disturbances. As a consequence, dynamic and transient stability may be enhanced. MATLAB/Simulink is used to implement the control mechanism.

Effect of Locally Adapted Conservation Tillage on Runoff, Soil Erosion, and Agronomic Performance in Semiarid Rain-Fed Farming in Ethiopia

An on-farm field experiment on a locally adapted conservation tillage method was undertaken to evaluate its effect on soil erosion, surface runoff, and agronomic parameters. It was conducted on five farmer fields with 3–14% slopes in the Rift Valley and the Eastern escarpment of Ethiopia’s central highlands region for two cropping seasons. The treatments were conventional tillage (CT), repeated ploughing performed with a traditional ox-drawn plough named ‘Maresha’, and minimized contour ploughing (MT) at most twice with a locally adapted sweep-like attachment assembled to Maresha. Surface runoff and soil loss in the MT system were 30 to 60% and 49 to 76% lower than those in the CT system on 3 to 14% slopes, respectively. Despite the wide variation in surface runoff, limited differences in soil water content for the depth from 0 to 20 cm were observed between the treatments. Significant differences (p < 0.05) in grain yields (kg ha−1) of 246 and 323 in the 1st and 2nd growing seasons, respectively, were recorded between the MT and CT treatments. The results of this study demonstrated that the MT system can significantly reduce surface runoff and soil loss while improving crop yields in rainfed smallholder farming systems of Ethiopia.

Technology Assessment Using Satellite Big Data Analytics for India's Agri-Insurance Sector

Over half of India's employment is attached to the agriculture sector and their survival is dependent on the performance of farms. The uncertainty in the performance of farms due to weather fluctuations and other risks is tackled by providing insurance cover. However, policymakers’ choice of administrative measures for estimating crop loss has resulted in inaccurate data collection, opened vulnerability to the politicization of the process, and created bottlenecks to operate at scale. These problems have led to skewed timelines for data collation, lack of confidence in the data produced by the agri-insurance providers, and caused long-drawn delays in settling claims made by farmers. In this article, we present a case study on the assessment of using satellite big data as a technology deployed in Northern India to solve the aforementioned problems between the stakeholders in the agri-insurance claim settlement process. Satellite big data based analytics provides an independent data source and decision-making platform for the agri-insurers to conduct an assessment for calculating the indemnity payments. The results showcase how transparency brought in by the satellite big data analytics curbs the plausible exploitation of the claim settlement process and leads to increased efficiency and efficacy in settling farmer claims.

Financial literacy for farmers – the case of vineyard farmers in Kosovo

Summary One of the key factors influencing agricultural development and farm performance is access to finance. There are several factors that influence access to finance, including financial management capacity, which is linked to financial literacy. The paper analyzes the factors which determine farmers’ financial management behavior, in the case of Kosovo, based on a structured farm survey focusing on the vineyard sector. The findings suggest that half of the interviewed farmers did not keep records regarding costs and incomes. The likelihood to keep financial records is linked to several household and farm attributes. Market-oriented farmers who had contracts were more likely to keep financial records than those who did not. Policymakers through public advisory services as well as financial institutions should address the need to improve financial literacy among farmers.

Does short food supply chain participation improve farm economic performance? A meta‐analysis

AbstractMany researchers, policy makers, and food activists view Short Food Supply Chains (SFSC) as attractive levers for improving farm income and the sustainability of farming systems. However, the empirical evidence documenting the association between SFSC participation and farm economic performance has been mixed. In this study, through a meta‐analysis using a logistic regression, we identify key factors to explain differences between studies that find better economic performance in SFSC and those that do not. Our meta‐analysis consists of 48 studies published in English and French from 2000 to 2022 that examine the economic performance of farms engaged in SFSC. Based on far more empirical evidence than previous reviews, we find that the relationship between SFSC participation and farmer income remains ambiguous. More specifically the findings indicate that the reported effect of SFSC on a farm economic performance varies depending on location and the indicator used to capture the economic performance of farms. Studies conducted in Europe are more likely to report higher farmer income as are studies that use profit satisfaction metrics rather than measures of gross or net income. We also emphasize the need to interpret the reported results cautiously because few are based on causal inference methods. Furthermore, the very few studies that account for selection bias often do so with inadequate corrections.

Technical efficiency of U.S. Western Great Plains wheat farms using stochastic frontier analysis

ABSTRACT Technical efficiency (TE) is an important measure of farm performance. This study measured the TE of wheat farms across six states in the U.S. Western Great Plains based on production and farm management-specific variables. Significant factors positively influencing efficiency were insecticide use, farm size, and tillage. Alternatively, government payments, crop insurance, off-farm income, and crop share rates had negative effects on efficiency. Kansas and Oklahoma farms were more efficient than Nebraska and Wyoming farms in the sample. Average TE score of 0.56 indicates a substantial gap between average producers and the most efficient ones located near the TE frontier. Benchmarking the highly efficient farms provides best-management practices enabling less-efficient farms move closer to the efficient frontier. Extension specialists and collaboration among farms could transfer the skills and techniques through workshops, webinars, fact sheets, and social media pages.

Temporal and inter-farm variability of economic and environmental farm performance: A resilience perspective on potato producing regions in the Netherlands

In the context of resilience and sustainability of farming systems it is important to study the trade-offs and synergies between economic and environmental variables. In this study, we selected food production, economic and environmental performance indicators of farms in three potato producing regions in the Netherlands: Flevoland, Zeeland and Veenkoloniën. We studied the period 2006 to 2019 using farm accountancy data. We used threshold regressions to determine gradual development and year-to-year variation of those indicators. Subsequently we applied a sparse Partial Least Square (sPLS) regression to study the response of performance, gradual development and year-to-year variation under different conditions regarding weather, market and farm structure. sPLS-model performance was at best moderate. Best model performance was attained for Veenkoloniën, a region with relatively little inter-farm variability and relatively stable economic prices. Model results were very sensitive to the selection of response variables. We found that food production, economic and environmental performance levels and gradual developments were primarily determined by input intensity levels. How these performance levels were determined by input intensity, i.e. positively or negatively, differed per case study. Year-to-year variability was determined by average yearly weather conditions and weather extremes. Overall, we conclude that the method applied to the data we had available mostly provided insights that confirm existing knowledge at case study level. sPLS can be seen as a filter and projector of high-dimensional data that accentuates patterns in the data. In the context of resilience of farms, while using a relatively small dataset, the applicability of our methodology seems limited to a rather homogeneous farm population in a stable economic environment. Researchers intending to apply this method to (arable) farming systems should be well aware of the influence they can have on the results through their selection of response variables.

Correction to: Effect of use of tsetse repellant collar technology on the farm performance and household welfare of small‑scale livestock farmers in Kenya

Correction to: Effect of use of tsetse repellant collar technology on the farm performance and household welfare of small‑scale livestock farmers in Kenya

The impact of market-oriented cooperation on food production performance in small-scale farms in rural China

IntroductionSmall-scale farmers in developing countries can significantly contribute to sustainable food production through market-oriented cooperation (MOC). MOC allows farmers to access machinery services and specialized labor, but it also carries economic costs that may impact food production performance in small-scale farms. This study attempts to uncover the association between farmers' MOC participation and food production performance in small-scale farms in rural China, using a sample of 650 rice farmers in Jiangsu province.MethodsWe applied the stochastic frontier analysis to calculate the technical efficiency that indicates the production performance of small-scale farms. The treatment effect model is employed to detect the effect of farmers' MOC participation on technical efficiency, and the multivalued treatment effects model is used to explore the relationship between farmers' intensity of MOC and technical efficiency.ResultsThe results show that farmers' MOC participation significantly increases technical efficiency of small-scale farms, with an inverted U-shaped correlation between MOC participation intensity and technical efficiency. A heterogeneity analysis based on production phases reveals that farmers tend to adopt MOC in machinery-driven phases with higher priority than in labor-driven phases. MOC in labor-driven phases, such as seedling and spraying, presents negative effect on technical efficiency.DiscussionThese findings highlight the crucial role of MOC in food production performance in small-scale farms, and provide insights for designing MOC strategies in different production phases in order to facilitate sustainable food production in developing regions. This research addresses the need for solutions to improve food production sustainability under agricultural transformation in developing countries. It also touches on the challenges and opportunities that producers face in adopting new practices and participating in the modern food supply chain.

An Analysis of Production, Economic and Social Performance of Capsicum Growers under Protected Cultivation

The study was conducted in Karnataka regarding constraints and suggestions of protected cultivation among horticulture crop growers in the agricultural year 2019-20. With respect to practice wise production performance, cent per cent of the capsicum growers have fully adopted soil testing practice, irrigation, drainage and supporting system. More than three-fourth of the growers and more than half of the capsicum growers fully adopted pinching and recommended spacing /specification of bed respectively. About economic performance of capsicum growers the average operating cost of cultivation was Rs. 3, 85, 000, gross returns were Rs. 10, 80, 000, net returns were Rs. 6, 95, 000 and B:C ratio was 2.80 were found. The realized crop yield of capsicum under protected cultivation was 36000 kg/ac, which is 47.22 per cent higher than the open field yield (19500 kg/ac). With respect to social performance of the capsicum growers, more than four-fifth of the growers were consulted by the others for information and guidance for cultivation of crops under protected cultivation, eighty per cent of the growers purchasing capacity was increased, two-third of them were recognized by villagers/neighbours because of performance in farming.

An analysis of the broiler value chain and economics of broiler production in Senegal: status quo after two decades of import restrictions

PurposeThis study analyzed the state of broiler production in Senegal after nearly two decades of poultry import restrictions. It provides a synopsis of the Senegalese broiler value chain and evaluates the performance and economics of different broiler farm types.Design/methodology/approachA multi-stakeholder workshop and interviews were conducted with key informants to investigate the structure and activities of the Senegalese broiler value chain. The typical farm approach (TFA) was used to construct and analyze “typical” farms that represent the most common broiler production systems in Senegal.FindingsThe current situation in the Senegalese broiler value chain is favorable for hatcheries, feed mills, producers and poultry traders. However, the slaughterhouses are not faring well. The farm economic analysis demonstrates that typical medium-scale broiler farms are performing well, due to the use of high-quality feed, chicks and good husbandry. Additionally, the analysis revealed that feed and day-old chick (DOC) costs are the most significant in conventional broiler production in Senegal. Despite the high costs of feed and DOCs, broiler production is profitable for typical farms.Research limitations/implicationsAthough this study provides detailed insights into broiler farm economics in Senegal, it does not include typical integrated large-scale broiler farm-types. Based on our findings, we can predict that such farm types may be more efficient and have lower production costs due to the use of high-quality inputs (chicks and feed), and economies of scale. However, future studies will need to verify this prediction.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, only a few unpublished studies on broiler farm economics in Senegal exist. These studies only provide a basic analysis of the cost of production and profitability, with little consideration of various production systems. Contrastingly, this study provides a detailed economic analysis of different types of conventional broiler farms in key production regions.

The relative financial performance of African American farms in the United States since the Great Recession

AbstractUsing data from the 2009–2020 Agricultural Resource Management Surveys, we compare the financial position and performance of African American farms to that of other U.S. farms. The results suggest that, relative to others, the average African American farm has lower total value of production, net cash farm income, government payments, assets, and debts. We obtained mixed results regarding financial performance, with African American farms having lower profitability, liquidity, and efficiency than others but higher solvency. To our knowledge, this study is the first to provide a contemporary overview of the status of African American farms using detailed, farm‐level financial data.

Effect of use of tsetse repellant collar technology on the farm performance and household welfare of small-scale livestock farmers in Kenya

Effect of use of tsetse repellant collar technology on the farm performance and household welfare of small-scale livestock farmers in Kenya

Farm performance and family livelihood of Bangladeshi vegetable farmers: does the use of modern agro-technologies matter?

Farm performance and family livelihood of Bangladeshi vegetable farmers: does the use of modern agro-technologies matter?

KINERJA PENDAPATAN PETAMBAK USAHA UDANG VANAME DI LAMPUNG SELATAN

Vaname shrimp is one of Indonesia's leading export fishery commodities. The purpose of this research is to analyze the income performance of vannamei shrimp farming. Income performance was analyzed by analysis of farm income and R/C ratio. The results showed that the income of vannamei shrimp was IDR 53 269 214. Meanwhile, the performance of the vannamei shrimp business on average the R/C ratio of vannamei shrimp farming showed that it was feasible to cultivate. Based on the results of labor and capital compensation, it can be concluded that the choice to cultivate vannamei shrimp is the right one.

Effect of neonatal immunoglobulin status on the outcomes of spring-born suckler calves.

Successfully rearing beef calves to weaning and beyond determines the economic performance of a beef farm. As such, it is important to understand the factors influencing performance outcomes. This study recorded the health events, mortality and growth rates of 674 calves born on 50 commercial beef farms in Great Britain using a postsampling questionnaire. All calves had a known postcolostral serum IgG status. Preweaning mortality in the study population was 1.5% (10/674 calves), while the treatment rate was 6.4% (43/674 calves). Serum IgG, calf sex and dystocia were significant predictors of whether a calf died and/or required treatment. Average daily liveweight gain was calculated for calves where weaning weights were provided (n = 513). Serum IgG and calf sex were consistent predictors of calf growth rates, while birthweight and whether the calf was born to a cow or heifer were predictive in a model where average daily liveweight gain was converted to a binary response variable using the mean average daily liveweight gain on the calf's farm of origin. Morbidity and mortality were lower than comparable studies, potentially due to limitations in the study design. Serum IgG and calf sex were significant explanatory variables that affected beef calf average daily liveweight gain. For every 5g/L increase in serum IgG, the odds ratio of dying and/or requiring treatment decreased by 0.86.

A head-driven model of turbine fence performance

This paper presents an analytic model for the analysis of co-planar turbine fences that partially span the width of a channel in which the flow is driven by a sinusoidally oscillating driving head. The thrust presented by the turbines reduces the flow rate through the channel leading to a solution for overall power that is dependent upon turbine resistance and flow blockage as well as on channel characteristics. We introduce a return parameter, in terms of power per turbine area, to assess optimum turbine fence deployment for a given channel. We find that the optimal deployment rests on a universal curve independent of the channel characteristics, and that these characteristics – namely the integrated channel bed friction and a modified channel Froude number – move the optimum along this curve. We find that blockage considerations play a large role in the performance of a tidal farm – its achievable power, optimal return, channel flow rate reduction and device thrust – and that the scales of blockage must be considered even when designing relatively unblocked farms. The impact of the channel characteristics on the optimal arrangement, alongside environmental constraints that may limit permissible flow blockage, are quantified and discussed.

DINAMIKA KELOMPOK STUDI PADA KELOMPOK TANI PAGUYUBAN BUMI MANDIRI DAN KELOMPOK TANI SRI TANGGULUN DI KABUPATEN SUBANG

Organic rice is one of the promising rice farming businesses to provide benefits for farmers. Improving the performance of organic rice farming can be supported by the provision of production facilities and the participation of members of farmer groups. The purpose of this study was to determine the dynamics of organic rice farmer groups. The research method used was a survey, the population in this study was 32 organic rice farmers, Peguyuban Bumi Mandiri Farmers Group and Sri Tanggulun Farmers Group. The data analysis design used in this research is descriptive and quantitative analysis methods. The results showed that in general the condition of group dynamics was in the good category. group cohesiveness obtained the largest average index in the good category. Tension in the group obtained the smallest average index with less category. Tensions within the group in organic rice farmer groups include conflicts within the group and competition with other groups.

FAKTOR YANG MEMPENGARUHI KEPUTUSAN PETANI DALAM MENERAPKAN TEKNOLOGI USAHATANI PADI ORGANIK DAN DAMPAKNYA TERHADAP PRODUKTIVITAS DAN PENDAPATAN (Kasus Pada Petani di Kecamatan Cibeber, Kabupaten Cianjur)

This study aims to analyze the factors that influence farmers' decisions on the application of organic rice farming and their impact on productivity and income. The respondent determination technique used is a census obtained with a size of 80 people, each of which is 40 people who apply and 40 people who do not apply organic rice farming. The analysis technique used is multiple logistic regression. The results of the study obtained that the performance of organic rice farming was characterized by a land area of 0.44 ha, organic rice farming activities started from the use of superior and certified seeds; land management; Basic and secondary fertilization; use of organic materials; planting seeds; weeding; irrigation; pest and disease control; harvest and post-harvest, all of which are done conventionally. Marketing of the produce is done at the farmer's place with a selling price of Rp. 5,000/kg. Farmers' motivation factors, ease of obtaining organic materials, farming experience, land area, grain selling price, availability of farmer's capital simultaneously significantly influence the decision to implement organic rice farming. Meanwhile, partially, the significant ones with the largest order are: the selling price of grain; farmer motivation; ease of obtaining organic materials; and land area. The application of organic rice farming has no significant effect on productivity gains. For farm land. organic rice yielded 6,977 kg/ha productivity. While the non-organic 6,937 kg/ha. The application of organic rice farming has a positive effect on income, namely Rp. 15.162.464 / ha with R/C = 2.25, while the non-organic is Rp. 14.458.496 / ha with R/C = 1.80.