scholarly journals Technical Efficiencies and Yield Variability Are Comparable Across Organic and Conventional Farms

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (10) ◽  
pp. 4271
Author(s):  
Amritbir Riar ◽  
Lokendra S. Mandloi ◽  
Ramadas Sendhil ◽  
Randhir S. Poswal ◽  
Monika M. Messmer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Technical Efficiency ◽  
Formal Education ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Germination Rate ◽  
Decisive Role ◽  
Central India ◽  
Organic Production ◽  
Organic Farms ◽  
Conventional Farms ◽  
Management Factors

Cotton is essentially a smallholder crop across tropical countries. Being a major cash crop, it plays a decisive role in the livelihoods of cotton-producing farmers. Both conventional and organic production systems offer alternative yet interesting propositions to cotton farmers. This study was conducted in Nimar valley, a prominent cotton-producing region of central India, with the aim of categorically evaluating the contribution of management and fixed factors to productivity on conventional and organic cotton farms. A study framework was developed considering the fixed factors, which cannot be altered within reasonable limits of time, capacity and resources, e.g., landholding or years of age and/or practice; and management factors, which can be altered/influenced within a reasonable time by training, practice and implementation. Using this framework, a structured survey of conventional and organic farms operating under comparable circumstances was conducted. Landholding and soil types were significant contributors/predictors of yield on organic farms. In contrast, landholding was not the main factor related to yields on conventional farms, which produced the highest yields when led by farmers with more than five years of formal education and living in a joint family. Nitrogen application, the source of irrigation (related to timely and adequate supply), crop rotation and variables related to adequate plant population (seed source, germination rate and plant thinning) were the main management factors limiting cotton yields among conventional and organic farms. Both organic and conventional farms in the Nimar valley exhibited a similar pattern of variation in cotton yields and technical efficiency. This study highlights the enormous scope for improving cotton productivity in the region by improving technical efficiency, strengthening extension services and making appropriate policy interventions.

scholarly journals Organic Farming Lessens Reliance on Pesticides and Promotes Public Health by Lowering Dietary Risks

Agronomy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 1266
Author(s):  
Charles Benbrook ◽  
Susan Kegley ◽  
Brian Baker
Keyword(s):  
Organic Farming ◽  
Environmental Impacts ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Crop Protection ◽  
Organic Food ◽  
Dietary Exposure ◽  
Organic Production ◽  
Pesticide Use ◽  
Organic Farms ◽  
Conventional Farms

Organic agriculture is a production system that relies on prevention, ecological processes, biodiversity, mechanical processes, and natural cycles to control pests and maintain productivity. Pesticide use is generally limited or absent in organic agroecosystems, in contrast with non-organic (conventional) production systems that primarily rely on pesticides for crop protection. Significant differences in pesticide use between the two production systems markedly alter the relative dietary exposure and risk levels and the environmental impacts of pesticides. Data are presented on pesticide use on organic and non-organic farms for all crops and selected horticultural crops. The relative dietary risks that are posed by organic and non-organic food, with a focus on fresh produce, are also presented and compared. The results support the notion that organic farms apply pesticides far less intensively than conventional farms, in part because, over time on well-managed organic farms, pest pressure falls when compared to the levels on nearby conventional farms growing the same crops. Biopesticides are the predominant pesticides used in organic production, which work by a non-toxic mode of action, and pose minimal risks to human health and the environment. Consequently, eating organic food, especially fruits and vegetables, can largely eliminate the risks posed by pesticide dietary exposure. We recommend ways to lower the pesticide risks by increased adoption of organic farming practices and highlight options along organic food supply chains to further reduce pesticide use, exposures, and adverse worker and environmental impacts.

Burning Nettle, Common Purslane, and Rye Response to a Clove Oil Herbicide

2006 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 646-650 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nathan S. Boyd ◽  
Eric B. Brennan
Keyword(s):  
Weed Management ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
Organic Production ◽  
Management Tool ◽  
Vegetable Production ◽  
Clove Oil ◽  
Organic Farms ◽  
High Concentrations ◽  
Common Purslane

Weed management is often difficult and expensive in organic production systems. Clove oil is an essential oil that functions as a contact herbicide and may provide an additional weed management tool for use on organic farms. Burning nettle, purslane, and rye responses to 5, 10, 20, 40, and 80% v/v clove oil mixture applied in spray volumes of 281 and 468 L/ha were examined. Log-logistic curves were fitted to the nettle and purslane data to determine the herbicide dose required to reduce plant dry weight 50% (GR50) and 90% (GR90). A three-parameter Gaussian curve was fitted to the rye data. The GR50 and GR90 were largely unaffected by spray volume. Nettle dry weight was reduced by 90% with 12 to 61 L clove oil/ha, whereas 21 to 38 L clove oil/ha were required to reduce purslane biomass to the same level. Rye was not effectively controlled by clove oil. Clove oil controls broadleaf weeds at high concentrations, but its cost makes broadcast applications prohibitive, even in high-value vegetable production systems.

Economic and social impacts of organic production systems

2007 ◽  
Vol 87 (5) ◽  
pp. 1037-1044 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. J. MacRae ◽  
B. Frick ◽  
R. C. Martin
Keyword(s):  
Production Systems ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Social Impacts ◽  
Organic Production ◽  
Weather Extremes ◽  
Organic Farms ◽  
Goods And Services ◽  
The Face ◽  
Potential Benefits ◽  
Organic Farming Systems

Given relatively low adoption levels to date, the potential benefits of organic farming systems are not yet very visible. However, there is growing evidence in the literature that adoption of such systems produces multiple environmental, social, and financial benefits that can solve pressing agricultural problems in Canada. Compared with their duration as conventional operations, most organic farms in North America perform better under organic management. This outcome is usually a product of lower input costs, more diversified production and marketing channels, resilience in the face of variable market conditions, higher premiums, and a better capacity to adapt to weather extremes. However, the performance of farming systems including some horticultural and animal production systems, for which our ecological understanding is limited, is still frequently inferior. The data on social impacts are less conclusive, but there is some evidence that when a community has many sustainable (including organic) producers , there are positive shifts in community economic development and social interaction. The reasons appear to be related to the need to hire more labour, the increased demand for local goods and services, and a greater commitment to participation in civic in stitutions. Key words: Organic agriculture, economic performance, social benefits

scholarly journals Transmission of Yersinia pseudotuberculosis in the Pork Production Chain from Farm to Slaughterhouse

2008 ◽  
Vol 74 (17) ◽  
pp. 5444-5450 ◽  
Author(s):  
Riikka Laukkanen ◽  
Pilar Ortiz Martínez ◽  
Kirsi-Maarit Siekkinen ◽  
Jukka Ranta ◽  
Riitta Maijala ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Yersinia Pseudotuberculosis ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Production Capacity ◽  
Organic Production ◽  
Production Chain ◽  
Pork Production ◽  
Conventional Farms ◽  
High Prevalence ◽  
Conventional Production ◽  
On Farm

ABSTRACT The transmission of Yersinia pseudotuberculosis in the pork production chain was followed from farm to slaughterhouse by studying the same 364 pigs from different production systems at farm and slaughterhouse levels. In all, 1,785 samples were collected, and the isolated Y. pseudotuberculosis strains were analyzed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. The results of microbial sampling were combined with data from an on-farm observation and questionnaire study to elucidate the associations between farm factors and the prevalence of Y. pseudotuberculosis. Following the same pigs in the production chain from farm to slaughterhouse, we were able to show similar Y. pseudotuberculosis genotypes in live animals, pluck sets (containing tongue, tonsils, esophagus, trachea, heart, lungs, diaphragm, liver, and kidneys), and carcasses and to conclude that Y. pseudotuberculosis contamination originates from the farms, is transported to slaughterhouses with pigs, and transfers to pluck sets and carcasses in the slaughter process. The study also showed that the high prevalence of Y. pseudotuberculosis in live pigs predisposes carcasses and pluck sets to contamination. When production types and capacities were compared, the prevalence of Y. pseudotuberculosis was higher in organic production than in conventional production and on conventional farms with high rather than low production capacity. We were also able to associate specific farm factors with the prevalence of Y. pseudotuberculosis by using a questionnaire and on-farm observations. On farms, contact with pest animals and the outside environment and a rise in the number of pigs on the farm appear to increase the prevalence of Y. pseudotuberculosis.

scholarly journals ASSESSING THE NEED FOR ORGANIC PRODUCTION COURSES IN HORTICULTURE CURRICULA

HortScience ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 40 (3) ◽  
pp. 877d-877
Author(s):  
C.R. Rom ◽  
H. Friedrich ◽  
K. Harper
Keyword(s):  
Production Systems ◽  
Organic Production ◽  
Southern Region ◽  
Land Grant ◽  
Organic Farms ◽  
Land Grant Universities ◽  
Outreach Programs ◽  
Certified Organic ◽  
Organic Produce ◽  
National Organic Program

Higher education curricula should be alert to trends in production and science, and responsive to needs of producers and consumers in our society. A recent trend has emerged nationally and internationally for the production and consumption of certified organic produce which is increasing at a significant rate. Following the creation of the National Organic Program and formal federal regulations for certification which govern production, it has been questioned whether horticulture programs in land grant institutions have adjusted curricula appropriately to train producers, consultants, extension specialists, teachers and research scientists to be engaged in organic production systems. According to USDA statistics, several states in the southern region have significantly fewer certified organic farms and certifying agencies than the northeast, Midwest or western regions. A review horticulture and crops programs at 36 land grant universities (1862 and 1890) in 14 southern region states indicated although several institutions had research and outreach programs for sustainable and organic production, there were only three classes on organic gardening, two classes on organic crops production, and one field-based organic production course that could be identified in existing curricula. It appears that with the growth of the organic industry worldwide that students in programs in the southern region may be under-served in this educational area. Further, it may be questioned whether the lack of production and certifying agencies in the southern region is associated with the lack of science-based education provided by the land grant universities. A recent survey of faculty indicated a perceived need for stand-alone coursework on organic, sustainable, and ecologically-based production systems.

scholarly journals Organic and Conventional Grape Growing in Italy: a Technical Efficiency Comparison Using a Parametric Approach

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Federica Cisilino ◽  
Fabio A. Madau ◽  
Roberto Furesi ◽  
Pietro Pulina ◽  
Brunella Arru
Keyword(s):  
Technical Efficiency ◽  
Stochastic Frontier Analysis ◽  
Stochastic Frontier ◽  
Focused Attention ◽  
Parametric Approach ◽  
Organic Farms ◽  
Frontier Analysis ◽  
Network Database ◽  
Conventional Farms ◽  
Efficiency Comparison

Several studies have focused attention on the differences between organic and conventional farms in terms of efficiency, and controversial findings have resulted from these applications. One source of controversy concerns the assumption about the frontier(s) adopted for the comparison: a common frontier or two separate frontiers for organic and conventional methods? This paper aims to estimate technical efficiency in Italian grape farming. A stochastic frontier analysis (SFA) was applied to a sample of 531 farms (440 conventional and 91 organic farms) collected from the Farm Accountancy Network Database. Among others, a test for evaluating whether a unique or separate frontier was performed. The findings suggest that organic and conventional farms would lie on a common frontier and that organic farms have greater capacity than conventional farms in using their own technical inputs (efficiency amounts to 83.6% and 77.8%, respectively). A number of implications derive from these findings.

scholarly journals Social Values in Stimulating Organic Production Involvement in Farming—The Case of Poland

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (15) ◽  
pp. 5945
Author(s):  
Karol Kociszewski ◽  
Andrzej Graczyk ◽  
Krystyna Mazurek-Łopacinska ◽  
Magdalena Sobocińska
Keyword(s):  
Organic Farming ◽  
Social Values ◽  
Family Health ◽  
Research Problem ◽  
Organic Production ◽  
Organic Farms ◽  
Agricultural Producers ◽  
Main Research ◽  
Demand Growth ◽  
Conventional Farms

The main research problem discussed in this paper involves evaluation of the motives of agricultural producers for pursuing and developing organic production. The aim of this study is to identify and evaluate the role of social values in stimulating decisions of involvement in organic production. Analytical observations were conducted on the basis of responses to surveys on a nation-representative sample in Poland (350 conventional farms and 70 organic farms in 2011; 260 conventional farms and 65 organic farms in 2019). Analyses were conducted in relation to the potential and perspectives for development of organic farming. They were focused on identifying the original motives for such decisions (incentives and disincentives). This allowed for effective evaluation of both the trend and the pace of the studied processes. The development potential of organic farming in Poland was estimated at 5–15% of the total number of farms. The most important factors encouraging farmers to take up production are associated with social values (care for the natural environment and family health). A significant chance for the development of organic production is the expected demand growth, which is also related to social values: the increasing environmental awareness and environmental change of consumption patterns.

scholarly journals Gender-differentiated stochastic meta-frontier analysis of production technology heterogeneity among smallholder cassava farmers in Ghana

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 140-154
Author(s):  
Arnold Missiame ◽  
◽  
Patrick Irungu ◽  
Rose Adhiambo Nyikal ◽  
◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Technical Efficiency ◽  
Production Technology ◽  
Formal Education ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Economic Activities ◽  
Technology Gap ◽  
Frontier Analysis ◽  
Technology Heterogeneity ◽  
Cassava Production ◽  
Analyse Data

This paper assesses the differences in technical efficiency of, and the cassava production systems employed by, male-managed (MMF) and female-managed (FMF) cassava farms in the Fanteakwa District of Ghana. The study employs the translog stochastic meta-frontier model to analyse data obtained from 300 randomly selected smallholder cassava farmers and finds an average metafrontier technical efficiency (MTE) of 0.06 and 0.03 among MMF and FMF respectively. The technology gap ratios (TGR) are 0.25 and 0.04 for the MMF and FMF respectively. The results suggest that both MMFs and FMFs are technically inefficient. However, the production technology operated on MMFs is relatively superior to that operated on FMFs, as shown by the relatively higher TGR for MMFs. The results also reveal that proximity to markets, extension access, off-farm economic activities and formal education are the major contributors to the technical efficiency of the farmers.

scholarly journals Economic Results of Winter Wheat and Winter Rye Production in Organic Farms – a Case Study

2019 ◽  
Vol 19(34) (2) ◽  
pp. 248-255
Author(s):  
Marcin Żekało
Keyword(s):  
Winter Wheat ◽  
Organic Production ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Winter Rye ◽  
Selling Price ◽  
Gross Margin ◽  
Organic Farms ◽  
Accounting Data ◽  
Conventional Farms

Studies on the economics of agricultural production in organic farms are carried out on a small scale but deliver important information about the situation of organic agricultural producers. The aim of this paper is to examine the economic and production results of organic farms cultivating winter wheat and winter rye in relation to the results of conventional farms (by way of case study). The paper used actual accounting data collected in the Agrokoszty system and Polish FADN and direct interviews with organic farmers. For detailed comparison of the economic results the methodology of calculating gross margin was used. When compared to conventional farms, the winter wheat and winter rye production results were weaker in organic farms, and a lower yield of grain was demonstrated. The selling price of organic grain was more favourable only for winter wheat. The surveyed farmers indicate the will to continue organic production. However, it is necessary to develop the organic product market and for further financial support for this production sector.

scholarly journals Technical efficiency and its determinants for Czech livestock farms

2019 ◽  
Vol 65 (No. 4) ◽  
pp. 175-184 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vladimír Kostlivý ◽  
Zuzana Fuksová
Keyword(s):  
Organic Farming ◽  
Technical Efficiency ◽  
Stochastic Frontier Analysis ◽  
Stochastic Frontier ◽  
Organic Farms ◽  
Conventional Agriculture ◽  
Frontier Analysis ◽  
Conventional Farms ◽  
Farm Accountancy Data Network

Organic farming has become an important part of Czech agriculture. The aim of this study is an evaluation of the technical efficiency of Czech organic farms and determining the main factors, including subsidies, which affect the technical efficiency of both conventional and organic farms. The Farm Accountancy Data Network Czech Republic (FADN CR) database provides sufficient panel data for this kind of research focusing on types of farming with livestock production. The methodological tool used to achieve the aim of this paper is the parametric stochastic frontier analysis, “True” Random Effects model, supposing farms heterogeneity and time variant determinants of inefficiency. The results of the research verified differences in the technical efficiency of organic and conventional agriculture related both to the different farming methods and to the production conditions. The type of farming and the economic size of farms influence the farms’ profitability, economic performance and comparability with conventional farms. The technical efficiency of organic farming is growing over the long term. Farms with growing technical efficiency show a decline in the proportion of operating subsidies to production, irrespective of their classification in quartiles by the technical efficiency estimate.

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