Is Organic Farming Risky? An Evaluation of WFRP in Organic and Conventional Production Systems

Abstract Farm-level data from the Farm Financial Management Database (FINBIN) are used to evaluate the effectiveness of Whole Farm Revenue Protection (WFRP) insurance in diverse farming operations. A panel of diverse Minnesota farms is used to establish actual production history and compute hypothetical performance over three years. This study characterizes the relative riskiness between organic and conventional farms and their comparative insurance performances by avoiding potential adverse selection issues in other studies. Empirical evidence is provided to dispute past empirical findings suggesting that organic farms are riskier than conventional farms, as measured by lower loss ratios.

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

Applied and Environmental Microbiology ◽

10.1128/aem.02664-07 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 74 (17) ◽

pp. 5444-5450 ◽

Cited By ~ 41

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.

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

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su12104271 ◽

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.

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Differences in the Financial Management of Conventional, Organic, and Biodynamic Farms

Scientia Agriculturae Bohemica ◽

10.1515/sab-2015-0024 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 46 (3) ◽

pp. 106-111

Author(s):

Eliška Vlašicová ◽

Z. Náglová

Keyword(s):

Organic Agriculture ◽

Financial Management ◽

Value Added ◽

Economic Research ◽

Organic Farms ◽

The Czech Republic ◽

Conventional Farms ◽

The Individual ◽

State Subsidies ◽

Biodynamic Agriculture

Abstract The financial management of conventional, organic, and biodynamic farms was evaluated and compared. It is a highly specific issue filling in the gap namely in the area of economic research of biodynamic agriculture. Biodynamic agriculture is a less widespread concept of agriculture, the management of which meets the requirements of organic agriculture. Organic agriculture has still been gaining in importance in the Czech Republic, the number of organic farms has been growing, and availability of organic products has increased, too. Of the Czech farms receiving subsidies from the EU or state subsidies in 2007-2012, a total of 389 were selected for analysis (273 of which were conventional farms, 112 organic farms, and 4 farms were engaged in biodynamic agriculture). Subsidies, Total Costs, Operating Revenue, Profit and Gross Value Added indicators were selected for evaluation. The individual indicators within groups of companies were compared by means of a t-test. The analysis revealed significant differences in the economic indicators of individual types of farms. It was observed that organic enterprises have better economic results than conventional and biodynamic businesses. Subsidies help all types of farms achieve better results. We may hence assume dependence of these farms on subsidies.

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

Agronomy ◽

10.3390/agronomy11071266 ◽

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.

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A survey of commercially available broilers originating from organic, free-range and conventional production systems for cooked meat yields, meat composition and relative value

10.31274/rtd-180813-15713 ◽

2007 ◽

Author(s):

Ryan Lon Husak

Keyword(s):

Production Systems ◽

Free Range ◽

Meat Composition ◽

Relative Value ◽

Conventional Production ◽

Cooked Meat

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Comparison of Prevalence, Antimicrobial Resistance, and Occurrence of Multidrug-Resistant Salmonella in Antimicrobial-Free and Conventional Pig Production

Journal of Food Protection ◽

10.4315/0362-028x-69.4.743 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 69 (4) ◽

pp. 743-748 ◽

Cited By ~ 39

Author(s):

WONDWOSSEN A. GEBREYES ◽

SIDDHARTHA THAKUR ◽

W. E. MORGAN MORROW

Keyword(s):

Antimicrobial Resistance ◽

Production Systems ◽

Multidrug Resistant ◽

Resistance Pattern ◽

Swine Production ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Conventional Farms ◽

Resistance Patterns ◽

Conventional Systems ◽

On Farm

Conventional swine production evolved to routinely use antimicrobials, and common occurrence of antimicrobial-resistant Salmonella has been reported. There is a paucity of information on the antimicrobial resistance of Salmonella in swine production in the absence of antimicrobial selective pressure. Therefore, we compared the prevalence and antimicrobial resistance of Salmonella isolated from antimicrobial-free and conventional production systems. A total of 889 pigs and 743 carcasses were sampled in the study. Salmonella prevalence was significantly higher among the antimicrobial-free systems (15.2%) than the conventional systems (4.2%) (odds ratio [OR] = 4.23; P < 0.05). Antimicrobial resistance was detected against 10 of the 12 antimicrobials tested. The highest frequency of resistance was found against tetracycline (80%), followed by streptomycin (43.4%) and sulfamethoxazole (36%). Frequency of resistance to most classes of antimicrobials (except tetracycline) was significantly higher among conventional farms than antimicrobial-free farms, with ORs ranging from 2.84 for chloramphenicol to 23.22 for kanamycin at the on-farm level. A total of 28 antimicrobial resistance patterns were detected. A resistance pattern with streptomycin, sulfamethoxazole, and tetracycline (n = 130) was the most common multidrug resistance pattern. There was no significant difference in the proportion of isolates with this pattern between the conventional (19.5%) and the antimicrobial-free systems (18%) (OR = 1.8; P > 0.05). A pentaresistance pattern with ampicillin, chloramphenicol, streptomycin, sulfamethoxazole, and tetracycline was strongly associated with antimicrobial-free groups (OR = 5.4; P = 0.01). While showing the higher likelihood of finding antimicrobial resistance among conventional herds, this study also implies that specific multidrug-resistant strains may occur on antimicrobial-free farms. A longitudinal study with a representative sample size is needed to reach more conclusive results of the associations detected in this study.

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