Managing Sheep for Optimum Productivity in Astrebla Pastures in North-West Queensland.

1994 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 39 ◽  
Author(s):  
DH Cobon ◽  
PT Connelly ◽  
JV Bailey ◽  
PA Newman
Keyword(s):  
Management Program ◽  
Gross Margin ◽  
Wool Production ◽  
North West ◽  
Optimum Productivity ◽  
Gross Margins

A yearly management program for sheep in north-west Queensland has increased lambing percentage by > 20% compared with the district average. Greasy wool production of ewes over 4 years (1988-91) averaged 4.3 kg and wethers over 2 years (1990-91) averaged 5.7 kg. Managing sheep using this program increased wool production of the flock compared with the district average. The economic advantages of running breeding ewes or wethers was influenced by wool and sheep markets. During low wool prices ($2.82/kg net selling costs, 1990; $2.44/kg net selling costs, 1991) it was estimated that a 65% lamb weaning rate was needed for returns from the ewe and wether flock to be equal. Gross margins ($/DSE) for the ewe flock were 21.80, 17.07, 8.53 and 5.42 in years 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991 respectively and 5.82 and 5.01 for wethers in 1990 and 1991 respectively. Gross margin ($/DSE) of combined ewe and wether enterprises on properties representing the district, averaged 16.50, 14.20, 8.00 and 5.00 in years 1988, 1989, 1990 and 1991 respectively. The management program implemented at Toorak generated higher gross margins than the district average particularly during the years of higher wool prices.

scholarly journals Economic analysis of smallholder maize farmers: implications for public extension services in Eastern Cape

2020 ◽  
Vol 48 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
I. K. Agbugba ◽  
M. Christian ◽  
A. Obi
Keyword(s):  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Sampling Procedure ◽  
Land Acquisition ◽  
Smallholder Farmer ◽  
Eastern Cape ◽  
Gross Margin ◽  
Profitability Analysis ◽  
Household Heads ◽  
Multistage Sampling ◽  
Gross Margins

ABSTRACT This study sought to determine the economics of maize farmers in Amatole District, Eastern Cape. Multistage sampling procedure was used to select hundred and nine (109) smallholder farmers (homestead and irrigators). Descriptive statistics and gross margin analysis were used to determine the economics and profitability of maize in the study area. Findings indicated that majority (66 per cent) of them were men with an average age of 61 years old, majority (69 per cent) were married, with mean household size of 4 persons and household heads having some primary education. Moreover, majority (76 per cent) of the farmers depended on irrigation technology; majority (33 per cent) of the famers spent between 9 and 11 years of experience in farming; majority (89 per cent) of the respondents in the study area were dependent on farming as their major occupation and livelihood. Pertaining to land acquisition, majority (48%) of the farmers believed that the traditional or community leaders set rules and regulations regarding land acquisition. From the profitability analysis, smallholder farmer irrigators generated significantly higher yield, total revenues and gross margins more than the homestead gardeners at 5, 10 and 5 per cent levels, respectively. Moreover, homestead gardeners spent more money in purchase of inputs and this may have contributed to their low gross margins. On the other hand, smallholder-farmer irrigators who incur less input costs have higher chances of benefiting from price discounts and transport offer by input suppliers than the homestead gardeners. This results in smallholder farmer irrigators wielding more profits, thereby creating more income and wealth which is pivotal in the improvement of farmers' livelihoods. Keywords: Economics, profitability, Maize farmers, Extension service, Eastern Cape.

scholarly journals Estimating an Aggregate Economic Genotype to Facilitate Breeding and Selection of Strawberry Genotypes in Southeast Queensland

2014 ◽  
Vol 139 (3) ◽  
pp. 253-260
Author(s):  
Mark E. Herrington ◽  
Craig Hardner ◽  
Malcolm Wegener ◽  
Louella Woolcock ◽  
Mark J. Dieters
Keyword(s):  
Rank Correlation ◽  
Breeding Population ◽  
Breeding Program ◽  
Production Costs ◽  
Breeding Value ◽  
Linear Quadratic ◽  
Gross Margin ◽  
Economic Weight ◽  
Non Linear ◽  
Gross Margins

The Queensland strawberry (Fragaria ×ananassa) breeding program in subtropical Australia aims to improve sustainable profitability for the producer. Selection must account for the relative economic importance of each trait and the genetic architecture underlying these traits in the breeding population. Our study used estimates of the influence of a trait on production costs and profitability to develop a profitability index (PI) and an economic weight (i.e., change in PI for a unit change in level of trait) for each trait. The economic weights were then combined with the breeding values for 12 plant and fruit traits on over 3000 genotypes that were represented in either the current breeding population or as progenitors in the pedigree of these individuals. The resulting linear combination (i.e., sum of economic weight × breeding value for all 12 traits) estimated the overall economic worth of each genotype as H, the aggregate economic genotype. H values were validated by comparisons among commercial cultivars and were also compared with the estimated gross margins. When the H value of ‘Festival’ was set as zero, the H values of genotypes in the pedigree ranged from –0.36 to +0.28. H was highly correlated (R2 = 0.77) with the year of selection (1945–98). The gross margins were highly linearly related (R2 > 0.98) to H values when the genotype was planted on less than 50% of available area, but the relationship was non-linear [quadratic with a maximum (R2 > 0.96)] when the planted area exceeded 50%. Additionally, with H values above zero, the variation in gross margin increased with increasing H values as the percentage of area planted to a genotype increased. High correlations among some traits allowed the omission of any one of three of the 12 traits with little or no effect on ranking (Spearman’s rank correlation 0.98 or greater). Thus, these traits may be dropped from the aggregate economic genotype, leading to either cost reductions in the breeding program or increased selection intensities for the same resources. H was efficient in identifying economically superior genotypes for breeding and deployment, but because of the non-linear relationship with gross margin, calculation of a gross margin for genotypes with high H is also necessary when cultivars are deployed across more than 50% of the available area.

Modelling the risk of different joining times and lamb sale policies

2014 ◽  
Vol 54 (10) ◽  
pp. 1694 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. M. Robertson ◽  
A. F. Southwell ◽  
M. A. Friend
Keyword(s):  
Carrying Capacity ◽  
Simulation Modelling ◽  
Management Systems ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Gross Margin ◽  
Feed Resources ◽  
Systems Simulation ◽  
Gross Margins ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Stocking Rates

Month of joining and lamb sale strategy influence both the quantity and so value of lamb produced, and the feed required, so are important management decisions contributing to the profitability of sheep systems. Simulation modelling was used to evaluate the impact on gross margins of three lamb sale strategies for different months of joining and varying stocking rates. A flock of purchased Merino ewes producing crossbred lambs in southern Australia was modelled between 1971 and 2011. April joining produced higher gross margins than November or January only if the number of ewes per hectare was increased to potential carrying capacity. At the optimum stocking rate for each month of joining, three sale policies – a flexible lamb sale policy (where lambs were sold depending on seasonal conditions); selling lambs in December; or selling at 45-kg liveweight, all produced a similar mean gross margin, but the feed resources required were least using the flexible strategy (April-joined mean 195 ± 253 s.d. kg/ha for flexible compared with 219 ± 270 kg/ha if selling December or 1085 ± 459 kg/ha if sold at 45 kg). Mean gross margin differed between sale strategies by up to AU$66/ha if the optimal stocking rate was not used. These results suggest that the most advantageous lamb sale strategy will vary with both month of joining and stocking rate used, and should be considered when optimising sheep management systems.

scholarly journals Simulation-based Projections of Crop Management and Gross Margin Variance in Contrasting Regions of Southwest Germany

2015 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 79
Author(s):  
Phillip S. Parker ◽  
Evelyn Reinmuth ◽  
Joachim Ingwersen ◽  
Petra Högy ◽  
Eckart Priesack ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Global Change ◽  
Gross Margin ◽  
Simulation Based ◽  
Price Effects ◽  
Farmer Behavior ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Gross Margins ◽  
Agriculture Systems ◽  
Modern Tool ◽  
Southwest Germany

Crop simulation is a modern tool used to mimic ordinary and extraordinary agriculture systems. Under the premise of continuing foreseeable climatic shift we combine adaptive field-level management decisions with their effects on crop performance. Price projections are used to examine yield and price effects on gross margins of the predominant crops in two specific regions of Southwest Germany into the coming decades. After calibration and validation to historic records, simulated future weather is used to explore how farmer behavior and performance of wheat, barley, rapeseed and maize could develop under anticipated global change. This development is examined based on a comparison of historic and projected gross margin variance. Simulations indicate that when yield levels increase, the relative variability of gross margins may decline in spite of some increasing variability of yields. The coefficient of variance of gross margins decreases even more due to the independence of price and yield fluctuations. This shows how the effects of global change on yields could be offset by economic conditions. 

Cotton-based rotation systems on a sodic Vertosol under irrigation: effects on soil quality and profitability

2002 ◽  
Vol 42 (3) ◽  
pp. 341 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. R. Hulugalle ◽  
P. C. Entwistle ◽  
T. B. Weaver ◽  
F. Scott ◽  
L. A. Finlay
Keyword(s):  
Electrical Conductivity ◽  
Soil Properties ◽  
Soil Quality ◽  
Faba Bean ◽  
Irrigation Water ◽  
Soil Organic C ◽  
Gross Margin ◽  
Organic C ◽  
Exchangeable Ca ◽  
Gross Margins

An experiment was established in 1993 on a sodic Vertosol (Vertisol, Typic Haplustert) at Merah North, north–western New South Wales, to evaluate the sustainability of selected irrigated cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.)–rotation crop sequences. Crop sequences were selected following discussions with local cotton growers. The indices used to evaluate sustainability included soil quality, microbiology, yield and profitability. This paper presents data on soil properties [soil organic C, structure as air–filled porosity of oven–dried soil, exchangeable Ca, Mg, K and Na, pH, electrical conductivity (EC1:5) and EC1:5/exchangeable Na in the 0–0.6 m depth], lint yield and profitability (as gross margins/ha and gross margins/ML of irrigation water). The 6 cropping systems sown after minimum tillage were: continuous cotton (R1), long–fallow cotton (R2), cotton–green manured faba bean (Vicia faba L.) (R3), cotton–dolichos (Lablab purpureus L.)–green manured faba bean in the first year followed by cotton–wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) (R4), cotton–dolichos (R5), cotton–fertilised dolichos (with P and K removed by cotton replaced as fertiliser) (R6). In 1996, air–filled porosity of oven–dried soil was highest with R4 at the surface but lowest with R1 in the 0.15–0.30 m depth. In subsequent years, air–filled porosity of oven–dried soil was higher with R2 and R4 in the deeper depths, although differences between cropping sequences were small. Air–filled porosity of oven–dried soil increased between 1996 and 1998 in all treatments, and was probably caused by the change from intensive to minimum tillage in 1993, irrigation with moderately saline water and application of gypsum resulting in an increase in EC1:5/exchangeable Na. In general, differences in soil properties such as soil organic C, exchangeable Ca, Mg, K and Na, pH, electrical conductivity (EC1:5) and EC1:5/exchangeable Na between cropping sequences were far less than those which occurred with time. The key changes were decreases in pH, exchangeable sodium percentage, exchangeable cations and organic C between 1994 and 1996, and increases in air–filled porosity of oven–dried soil, EC1:5 and EC1:5/exchangeable Na between 1996 and 1998. A decrease in air–filled porosity of oven–dried soil occurred between 1998 and 1999 as a consequence of preparing land and sowing cotton under very wet conditions. R1 had the highest cumulative gross margin/ha and R3 had the lowest. R2 had the highest cumulative gross margin/ML of irrigation water and R3 again the lowest. Among crop sequences, R2 and R4 gave the best returns with respect to both land and water resources.

Gross margins in Australian mohair enterprises and relationships with farm inputs, productivity and mohair quality

2010 ◽  
Vol 50 (6) ◽  
pp. 573 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. A. McGregor ◽  
W. D. English
Keyword(s):  
Grazing Intensity ◽  
Financial Information ◽  
Average Price ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Fine Hair ◽  
Gross Margin ◽  
Phosphate Fertiliser ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
Gross Margins ◽  
Farm Inputs

In the absence of financial information on Australian mohair enterprises we aimed to determine the gross margins (per dry sheep equivalent, DSE) and their relationships with farm inputs, productivity and mohair quality in Australian mohair enterprises. Using established Victorian Farm and Sheep Monitor Project protocols we collected data for the financial years 2004–05, 2005–06 and 2006–07 from farmers in south-eastern Australia and made comparisons with data from wool enterprises of similar farm area. Over 3 years the financial returns from mohair exceeded that from wool in terms of $/DSE ($23.0 v. 11.3) and $/ha ($132 v. $116). This result was achieved despite the mohair enterprises grazing their goats far less intensively compared with the grazing intensity of sheep (5.9 v. 10.3–11.1 DSE/ha) and by using far less phosphate fertiliser than used in the wool enterprises (2.2 v. 4.6–6.1 kg P/ha). These differences were counterbalanced by higher prices for mohair compared with fine wool ($13.15/kg v. $8.35/kg clean fibre). Gross margin for the mohair enterprise did not increase as stocking rate increased. Income from mohair sales declined as the proportion of does in the flock increased. Increasing the proportion of does in the flock was associated with a decline in the average price of mohair ($16/kg greasy at 42% does to $8/kg greasy at 83% does in the flock). This decline was closely associated with the increasing proportion of the total amount of mohair coarser than 34.0 µm (either fine hair or hair) plus stained mohair. The variation in profitability between farms indicates significant scope for many mohair enterprises to increase profit. A focus on producing finer quality mohair will increase mohair profitability.

scholarly journals Role of Farmer Organizations in the Reinforcement of the Economic Capacities of Farmers in Mezam Division, Cameroon

2020 ◽  
pp. 80-91
Author(s):  
Kenette Fru Mbangari ◽  
Mathias Fru Fonteh ◽  
Guillaume Hensel Fongang Fouepe
Keyword(s):  
Primary Source ◽  
Gross Margin ◽  
North West ◽  
Secondary Sources ◽  
The North ◽  
Direct Observations ◽  
Farmer Organizations ◽  
Interview Guide ◽  
Source Data

This study was carried out from February 2018 to June 2019 in Mezam Division-Cameroon, under the auspices of the Program for the Improvement of Competiveness of Family Agro-pastoral Farms (PCP-ACEFA) and the North West Farmers’ Organization (NOWEFOR). The objective of the study was to assess the role of FOs in the reinforcement of the economic capacities of farmers in the region. Secondary sources data were reviewed while primary source data were gotten directly from farmrs in the field. Two hundred and eighty (280) farmers’ members of these FOs were interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire and 7 leaders were interviewed using an interview guide. In addition, direct observations were made. The data collected were analyzed using SPSS. The findings show that, 18.57% of the respondents who possessed agricultural equipments in their farms  from the support of SOS Faim/EC, 17.14%  as a result of MINADER  support, 20% as a result of ACEFA support and 44.28% coming from the farmers own capital. Beneficiaries of the aid hired 30% of workerss compared to 12.8% the non beneficiaries. The contribution of FOs in the development of the economic capacities of farmers was overall positive as 48.57% of the beneficiary farmers had a higher income than non beneficiaries. The beneficiaries’ respective mean annual gross margin for market gardening (263, 863), poultry (375,343) and piggery (64,615) are statistically higher than that of non beneficiaries. Conclusively FOs are pivotal for famers in the development process and the strengthening of the economic capacities of farmers.

scholarly journals Environmentally Sound Alternative Cropping Systems For Rice-Wheat Systems In North West India

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
SC Tripathi ◽  
Karnam Venkatesh ◽  
Raj Pal Meena
Keyword(s):  
Cropping Systems ◽  
Cropping System ◽  
Green Gram ◽  
Organic Carbon Content ◽  
Gross Margin ◽  
Available N ◽  
System Productivity ◽  
Gangetic Plains ◽  
Net Return ◽  
North West

Abstract Continuous cultivation of Rice-Wheat Cropping System (RWCS) in Indo-Gangetic Plains of India is showing declining factor productivity coupled with many environmental problems. Diversifying the RWCS is one of the environmental friendly options for sustaining food production.Four crop rotations involving maize and sorghum in summer, wheat/ potato/ mustard in winter followed by short duration green gram in late spring were studied to identify the most productive and economic combination from 2017 to 2020. Ranking of treatments by Tukey’s test of significance indicated that the maize-potato-wheat (16.49 t ha-1) combination was best in terms of system productivity calculated in terms of wheat equivalent yield (WEY). Maize-wheat-green gram crop sequence was most profitable by having higher Land Use Efficiency (LUE=87.67%) and net return (NR=1577.1 $ha-1). The gross margin comparison revealed that maize-based crop sequences earned higher gross returns (23.17%), net return (93.66%), and B: C ratio (23.7%) than sorghum-based crop sequences. Soil health parameters were improved under the maize-mustard-green gram system, which increased the organic carbon content by 28.65% and available N by 34.91%. Adoption of alternate cropping sequences instead of rice-wheat, in the Indo-Gangetic Plains of India could be more sustainable, profitable, and environment friendly.

scholarly journals Assessing Performance Impacts in Food Retail Distribution Systems: A Stochastic Frontier Model Correcting for Sample Selection

2014 ◽  
Vol 43 (3) ◽  
pp. 373-389
Author(s):  
Timothy A. Park
Keyword(s):  
Distribution Systems ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Sample Selection ◽  
Stochastic Frontier ◽  
Stochastic Frontier Model ◽  
Gross Margin ◽  
Food Retailers ◽  
Food Retailer ◽  
Gross Margins ◽  
The Impact

A key organizational decision for retailers is whether to self-distribute or rely on a wholesaler-supplied network and yet little is known about the impact of this strategic choice on store-level productivity. We estimate a stochastic frontier model for food retailers that accounts for selectivity effects linked to the choice of distribution strategy. We find that adoption of data-sharing technologies has a positive impact on store-level gross margins of stores in self-distributing chains. Technical inefficiency among U.S. food retailers leads to a gross margin that is around $5,000 less for a conventional food retailer and about $7,670 less for a supercenter.

scholarly journals Evaluation of Mungbean Varieties for Northwest Cambodian Lowland Rice Systems

Proceedings ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 18
Author(s):  
Campbell-Ross
Keyword(s):  
Rural Communities ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Crop Diversification ◽  
Production Environment ◽  
Smallholder Farms ◽  
North West ◽  
Farm Productivity ◽  
Gross Margins ◽  
Rice Monoculture

Small-scale agriculture is the economic, social and cultural foundation of Cambodian rural communities. Crop diversification is not widespread in these traditionally rice-producing smallholder farms. Rice monoculture has led to a decline in farm productivity and farming household income. Mungbean is emerging as a high-value opportunity for crop diversification in smallholder farms in north-west Cambodia. However, its expansion is being constrained by the low quality of varieties available to farmers. This study aims to evaluate the locally available varieties with others from Cambodia and the region by comparing the varieties’ agronomic and economic characteristics. The varieties from Cambodia, CMB-3 and CARDI-Chey, had superior agronomic and quality characteristics compared with the varieties available to farmers. This was reflected in the price estimate and income of both varieties which had the highest gross margins. Hence, the varieties currently available to farmers are unsuitable for continued cultivation in the modern mungbean production environment.

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