Influence Of Farm Size Research Articles

Average and heterogeneous effects of smallholder farm sizes on dietary diversity in northern Ghana

AbstractThe relationship between farm size and dietary diversity has recently gained attention among development practitioners and policymakers. To study this issue, we utilized cross‐sectional data from 900 farm households in Northern Ghana. The analysis employs three econometric approaches—ordinary least squares, two‐stage least squares, and instrumental variable (IV) quantile regression. We subjected our estimates to Conley‐Hansen‐Rossi bound tests to assess the validity of total farmland under household control as an IV for farm size, which serves to illustrate the robustness of the causal inferences linking farm size to household dietary diversity. The results show that a 1‐ha increase in cultivated land improves household dietary diversity score by 3.221 units. The effect of cultivated land on dietary diversity is enhanced by market information, use of improved seeds, chemical fertilizers and herbicides, and overall household asset value. In conclusion, the results indicate that farm size increases household dietary diversity when moving along the dietary diversity distribution. This highlights the importance of considering the influence of farm size at different points along the conditional dietary diversity score distribution, as relying solely on mean effects may obscure important counteracting effects.

Which farms drill during drought? The influence of farm size and crop type

ABSTRACT Excessive groundwater extraction is exacerbated by worsening droughts under climate change. Among agricultural users, well-drilling activity is not evenly distributed. The number, diameter and depth of new agricultural wells were analysed in this study in relation to farm size and land cover class during California’s 2012–16 extreme drought. The results show smaller farms drilled at higher rates, whereas larger farms drilled at comparatively greater depths and with wider wellbores. Sections dominated by permanent crops drilled at 2.4 times the rate of those dominated by annual crops, and at 24.7 times the rate of forest and rangeland dominated sections.

Brazilian farmer perception of dynamic capability and performance over the adoption of enterprise resource planning technology

The study investigates the perceptions of the effects and impacts on the performance of agricultural and livestock farms based on the view of obtaining dynamic capabilities by the adoption of enterprise resource planning (ERP) technology. The dimensions for measuring farmers’ perceptions of ERP adoption were technological, organizational and environmental and their diffusion and the impacts measured on dynamic capabilities were on internal operations, costs, sales and natural resources. A total of 502 farmers directly involved in managing the production, located in the main agricultural areas of Brazil were interviewed. The results indicated that the perception of obtaining dynamic capabilities in the farms by adopting the ERP was significant, but with lower levels in costs and natural resources. The influence of farm size on ERP adoption and its perception on farm performance was not significant. The proposed model proved to be adequate and can be validated and compared with other producing regions.

Influence of farm size and insured type on crop insurance returns

AbstractIn this article, we empirically examine the impact of farm size and insured type on returns from crop insurance participation in four regions using unit‐level crop insurance contract data. Our quasi‐panel empirical model provides guidance on whether larger producers are riskier than smaller producers and whether cash producers are riskier than landlords. In our sample, we did not find evidence that large producers obtain higher returns from insurance participation than their smaller counterparts. In fact, we found evidence of the opposite that larger producers in Iowa and Nebraska receive less than their smaller counterparts. Our farm size results suggest that any legislation limiting crop insurance participation from large producers would negatively influence the insurance pool, driving up premiums and consequently administrative and operational subsidies and per‐acre premium subsidy dollars. We did find evidence that cash insured types get more back in insurance than landlords in both Montana and Oklahoma, suggesting the possibility of moral hazard in input usage. Our results also highlight spatial differences in crop insurance outcomes.

Effect of improved seed technology adoption on small-scale sorghum farmers’ productivity in Kebbi State, Nigeria

Abstract. The study examined the effect of improved seed technology adoption on small-scale sorghum farmers’ productivity in Kebbi State, Nigeria. Multistage sampling technique was employed in determining the sample size from the sample frame, 240 respondents were sampled using proportionate sampling technique. Data for the study were collected using structured questionnaire containing open and closed ended questions. The data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple regression analysis. The results indicated that the sorghum farmers adopted Samsorg-5, Samsorg-14 and Samsorg-17 improved seeds with Samsorg-5 accounting for 64.6% level of adoption, thus ranking first. The multinomial logit regression model showed that the probability of adopting one or two improved sorghum varieties increased with the farmers’ educational level, sex, farm size and labour usage in the study area. The results further revealed that the average cost of Samsorg seeds was negative and statistically significant at one percent probability level across the groups which implies that the probability of adopting any of the improved sorghum varieties reduced with its cost. The results also indicated that Samsorg-5, Samsorg-14 and Samsorg-17 improved seeds positively affected farmer’s production and productivity at 5% levels of probability. This indicated that a percentage increased in the use of these improved seeds led to an increase in the production and productivity of sorghum farmers in the study area. Also, the influence of farm size and fertilizer on output and productivity were positive and statistically significant at 1% levels of probability. The results further revealed that, the topmost constraints faced were inadequate extension services and low level of formal education at 92.1% and 56.7% ranking 1st and 2nd, respectively. Therefore, the study recommended an action-oriented plan to reach the small scale farmers with adequate information on agricultural practices to promote adoption of improved seeds in order to increase their level of productivity. Agricultural policies should be directed at making inputs available at subsidized rate, on time and at the required level. Credit facilities should be made accessible at single digit interest rate to enable them efficiently utilize inputs in order to increase their productivity level.

Landowners’ motivation for adopting perennial energy crops: drivers, barriers and neighbourhood effects

Uptake of energy crop production is slow, even though the returns are competitive with traditional crops, suggesting the existence of barriers to adoption. Danish farm-level data from 2006 to 2013 are used to identify incentive mechanisms and potential barriers to uptake. The results identify land quality, existing farm activities and local markets as important conditions. The influence of farm size and the decisions of neighbouring farmers suggest more subtle barriers: learning costs, uncertainties about future markets and start-up costs. The study thus points towards some of the underlying barriers for the uptake of energy crops and potential new policy directions.

The Influence of Farm Size on Gendered Involvement in Crop Cultivation and Decision-making Responsibility of Moldovan Farmers

Abstract This research describes the influence that farm size has on gendered involvement in crop cultivation and decision making about what crops to grow where, irrigation and marketing among small and medium-sized farmers in Moldova. Findings reveal that overall crop cultivation is characterized by gendered patterns that vary according to farm size. Overall men have much more input into decision making than do women but women on small farms have more input in decisions than do the women on medium-sized farms. However, women on medium-sized farms are more involved in the diverse range of cultivation activities in terms of labour.

Escherichia coli O157 prevalence in different cattle farm types and identification of potential risk factors.

Although the prevalence of Escherichia coli O157 on cattle farms has been examined extensively, the relationship between this pathogen and farm type has been established only rarely. A large-scale study was designed to determine the prevalence of E. coli O157 in the Flemish region of Belgium on farms of dairy cattle, beef cattle, mixed dairy and beef cattle, and veal calves. The effect of various factors on the occurrence at the pen level also was evaluated. In 2007, 180 farms were randomly selected based on region, farm size, and number of animals purchased and were examined using the overshoe sampling method. When possible, overshoes used in areas containing animals in three different age categories (< 8 months, 8 to 30 months, and > 30 months) were sampled on each farm. In total, 820 different pens were sampled and analyzed for the presence of E. coli O157 by enrichment, immunomagnetic separation, and plating on selective agar. Presumptive E. coli O157 colonies were identified using a multiplex PCR assay for the presence of the rfb(O157) and fliC(H7) genes. The statistical analysis was carried out with Stata SE/10.0 using a generalized linear regression model with a logit link function and a binomial error distribution. The overall farm prevalence of E. coli O157 was 37.8% (68 of 180 farms). The highest prevalence was found on dairy cattle farms (61.2%, 30 of 49 farms). The prevalences on beef, mixed dairy and beef, and veal calf farms were 22.7% (17 of 75 farms), 44.4% (20 of 45 farms), and 9.1% (1 of 11 farms), respectively. A significant positive correlation between age category and E. coli O157 prevalence was found only on mixed dairy and beef farms and dairy farms. No influence of farm size or introduction of new animals was demonstrated.

Trends in Somatic Cell Counts, Bacterial Counts, and Antibiotic Residue Violations in New York State During 1999–2000

Milk quality data on a month-by-month basis from March 1999 to December 2000 were studied from five of the largest milk plants operating in New York State. The analyses focused on bulk tank somatic cell count (SCC), bacterial counts in the form of plate loop count (PLC), and antibiotic residue violations in the pool of milk of New York State, their mutual relation, and the influence of farm size. The average SCC was 363,000 cells/ml, the average PLC was 24,400 bacteria/ml, and the average number of antibiotic residue violations in the pool of milk was 3.9 per 1000 producers. Each month between 72 and 88% of the milk pool had SCC levels in compliance with the European Union (EU) requirements (SCC<400,000 cells/ml).The findings in this study suggest that larger farms had lower SCC and PLC but more antibiotic violations. However, the larger farms contribute most to the SCC and PLC of the total pool of milk. Farms with high SCC also had higher PLC and more antibiotic violations. Measurable improvements in overall quality of the pool of milk in New York state would most likely occur by targeting incentives, education, and training programs for any farms with very high SCC and for larger farms with SCC between 400,000 and 750,000 cells/ml.

The Geography of Farm Size a Preliminary Survey

M^ / -ANY writers on agriculture have discussed aspects of the size of farms. A topic of major interest has been the influence of farm size on the efficiency of agricultural production, and the respective merits of large and small farms have been debated by many authors.1 Of equal interest have been the changes which have taken place in the size of farms over a long period of time. This subject has attracted in particular students of the agricultural history of England.2 A wider field of study has been that of the impact of very large farms such as the hacienda or plantation on social and political life.3 Though there is a considerable literature on the size of farms in different parts of the world, the geography of farm size has received little more than inci-