A desktop evaluation of the environmental and economic performance of model dairy farming systems within four New Zealand catchments

The environmental and economic performances of low, medium and high input dairy farming systems were evaluated for model farms within catchments in Waikato, Taranaki Canterbury and Southland. These four catchments, predominantly under dairy landuse, are part of a long term systems study of farm productivity and catchment-specific environmental issues. Within each catchment, environmental and economic performance indicators were derived for model farms by using the farm systems modelling tool UDDER and the OVERSEER™ nutrient budgeting programme. Our analyses indicated that high input systems, currently defined as farms within the top quartile of farm inputs, either as imported feed or fertiliser nitrogen (N), were often the least profitable, as defined by Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT). These high-input systems consistently had the greatest environmental emissions of N and greenhouse gases, and the greatest energy consumption, on a per hectare and a per kg milksolids basis. The most profitable farm input system depended on payout and the catchment under study. Evaluation of the whole-farm system using these modelling tools demonstrated the relatively large contribution that stock wintering made to N emissions from farms within the two South Island catchments. Where reductions in N losses are sought, it would seem prudent to initially target mitigations at this part of the farm system. Keywords: dairy farming, environmental emissions, farm systems modelling, OVERSEER™ nutrient budgets, UDDER farm systems tool

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Resilience Assessment of Swiss Farming Systems: Piloting the SHARP-Tool in Vaud

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su10124435 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 10 (12) ◽

pp. 4435

Author(s):

Florence Diserens ◽

John Choptiany ◽

Dominique Barjolle ◽

Benjamin Graeub ◽

Claire Durand ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Farming Systems ◽

Resilience Theory ◽

External Shocks ◽

Agricultural Systems ◽

Self Evaluation ◽

Climate Resilience ◽

Trade Offs ◽

Farm Systems ◽

Farm System

Farm systems are exposed to predictable and unpredictable shocks and stresses. Such events may affect the functioning of farm systems and threaten their capacity to provide food in adequate quantities and sufficient quality. The capacity of farm systems to recover, reorganize, and evolve following external shocks and stresses is analysed within the framework of resilience theory. The SHARP (self-evaluation and holistic assessment of climate resilience of farmers and pastoralists) tool was developed to assess the resilience of farm systems to climate change in a participatory way. The SHARP was originally designed for developing countries. This paper outlines the process and changes made to adapt the tool for use in the Swiss farming context, including the challenges and trade-offs of the adaptation. Its first application in the Canton of Vaud provides insights on the levels of resilience to climate change for farmers in Switzerland. The results showed that of twenty-five farmers, “environment” and “market” are two groups of farm-system components where the farm systems are least resilient. The paper provides preliminary comments on agricultural systems in the west of Switzerland that could be explored further.

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Nitrate leaching and growth of cereal crops following cultivation of contrasting temporary grasslands

The Journal of Agricultural Science ◽

10.1017/s0021859601008802 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 136 (3) ◽

pp. 271-281 ◽

Cited By ~ 40

Author(s):

J. ERIKSEN

Keyword(s):

Nitrate Leaching ◽

Current Knowledge ◽

Residual Effect ◽

Farming Systems ◽

Grassland Management ◽

Dairy Farming ◽

Residual Effects ◽

Cereal Crops ◽

N Losses ◽

N Use

Intensive dairy farming with low N use efficiencies may have adverse environmental impact through nitrate leaching. The residual effects of six different temporary grasslands (1994–96) on yield and nitrate leaching in the following cereal crops (1997–99) were investigated on a loamy sand in central Jutland. The grasslands were unfertilized grass–clover and fertilized ryegrass subject to cutting or continuous grazing by dairy cows with two levels of N in feed supplements. In the first year there was sufficient residual effect of the grazed grasslands to obviate the need for supplementary fertilizer, but in the following years gradually more fertilizer N was required to obtain optimal yields. Nitrate leaching decreased as a function of time after cultivation of grassland, but grassland management had little effect on the subsequent nitrate leaching (6 to 36 kg N/ha in unfertilized plots). Application of cattle slurry to cereals influenced nitrate leaching more than the history of the grassland and caused the annual mean nitrate concentration to exceed the EU Drinking Water Directive upper limit in most cases. Presumably, large differences in N-input during the grassland phase of the crop rotation had relatively little effect on the subsequent N release because of variable N losses during grazing. Possibilities for further improvement of the utilization of grassland N following cultivation are limited when the current knowledge has been implemented. If the N use efficiency of dairy farming systems is to be further improved the utilization of N during the pasture phase is crucial.

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Nitrogen cycling in high-input versus reduced-input arable farming.

Netherlands Journal of Agricultural Science ◽

10.18174/njas.v38i3a.16588 ◽

1990 ◽

Vol 38 (3A) ◽

pp. 265-282 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

H.G. van Faassen ◽

G. Lebbink

Keyword(s):

Spring Barley ◽

Farming Systems ◽

Animal Manure ◽

Organic N ◽

Net N Mineralization ◽

High Input ◽

N Losses ◽

Inappropriate Use ◽

Growing Seasons ◽

Arable Farming

A comparison was made between a high-input and two reduced-input farming systems using a rotation of winter wheat-sugarbeet-spring barley-potatoes on a calcareous silt loam soil. Nitrogen balance sheets for the growing seasons of 1986-1988 showed N deficits of 0-170 kg/ha, suggesting substantial N losses to the environment. The uncertainty about actual N losses mainly depended on the uncertainty of estimated net N mineralization. Periods with much rainfall in 1987 and 1988, inappropriate use of animal manure and soil compaction may partly account for the heavy N losses in all three farming systems. Potential rates of N-cycling processes were studied over the years to observe effects of changes in management. To increase the efficiency of mineral and organic N inputs, and to decrease N losses, soil inorganic-N concentrations should be kept low, especially during periods when losses are likely to occur. (Abstract retrieved from CAB Abstracts by CABI’s permission)

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Measuring the cost of environmental compliance for Waikato dairy farmers - a survey approach

Journal of New Zealand Grasslands ◽

10.33584/jnzg.2015.77.476 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 77 ◽

pp. 159-166

Author(s):

T.O.R. Macdonald ◽

J.S. Rowarth ◽

F.G. Scrimgeour

Keyword(s):

Qualitative Data ◽

Management Practice ◽

Dairy Farm ◽

Environmental Compliance ◽

Dairy Farmers ◽

The Past ◽

Farm Systems ◽

The Cost ◽

Farm System ◽

Survey Approach

The link between dairy farm systems and cost of environmental compliance is not always clear. A survey of Waikato dairy farmers was conducted to establish the real (non-modelled) cost of compliance with environmental regulation in the region. Quantitative and qualitative data were gathered to improve understanding of compliance costs and implementation issues for a range of Waikato farm systems. The average oneoff capital cost of compliance determined through a survey approach was $1.02 per kg milksolids, $1490 per hectare and $403 per cow. Costs experienced by Waikato farmers have exceeded average economic farm surplus for the region in the past 5 years. As regulation increases there are efficiencies to be gained through implementing farm infrastructure and farm management practice to best match farm system intensity. Keywords: Dairy, compliance, farm systems, nitrogen, Waikato

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Ammonia volatilisation from grazed, pasture based dairy farming systems

Agricultural Systems ◽

10.1016/j.agsy.2021.103119 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 190 ◽

pp. 103119

Author(s):

Andrew P. Smith ◽

Karen M. Christie ◽

Matthew T. Harrison ◽

Richard J. Eckard

Keyword(s):

Farming Systems ◽

Dairy Farming ◽

Grazed Pasture ◽

Ammonia Volatilisation

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Towards the integrated assessment of New Zealand pastoral farm systems

Journal of New Zealand Grasslands ◽

10.33584/jnzg.2016.78.526 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 78 ◽

pp. 103-108

Author(s):

M.B. Dodd ◽

D.R. Stevens

Keyword(s):

New Zealand ◽

Integrated Assessment ◽

Complex Adaptive System ◽

Natural Capital ◽

Resource Owner ◽

Farm Systems ◽

Complex Adaptive ◽

Land Use And Management ◽

Farm System ◽

The Impact

Land use and management change is a feature of New Zealand farm systems, driven by a range of factors including volatile markets and exchange rates, variable weather and climate patterns, continuous policy evolution and the inherent innovation of New Zealand farmers. Yet the common indicators used to evaluate the impact of change appear to be limited to the link between productivity (of land/labour/capital) and profitability. However, if farm system "owners" seek truly sustainable systems they should consider a wider set of indicators to guide investment. Sustainability is considered in terms of the ability of the pastoral farm system to fulfil its primary purpose in the long-term, i.e. "to derive value from the natural capital of a land and water resource that is sufficient to support the objectives of the resource owner" and fulfil secondary objectives considered important by other stakeholders (e.g., product and environmental quality). The objective of this study was to develop an integrated assessment framework for sustainability indicators that was useful for guiding change decisions at the farm system scale, a key determinant of regional economic, environmental and social outcomes. The approach is based on the fundamental properties of a complex adaptive system: existence, effectiveness, freedom of action, security, adaptability and coexistence, applied to six key system drivers (financial, environmental, social, cultural, technological and regulatory). This framework could support decision-making in terms of the investment of human, natural and financial capital at the farm system scale and contribute to larger scale information imperatives (e.g., value chains, catchments). Keywords: integrated assessment, pastoral farm systems, sustainability, systems properties

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ANALISIS POTENSI EKONOMI DI SEKTOR DAN SUBSEKTOR PERTANIAN, KEHUTANAN DAN PERIKANAN KABUPATEN JEMBER

Jurnal Ekonomi Pembangunan ◽

10.22219/jep.v15i2.5361 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 15 (2) ◽

pp. 137

Author(s):

Ahmad Rizani

Keyword(s):

Economic Performance ◽

Research Result ◽

Large Contribution ◽

Economic Potential ◽

Ratio Model ◽

Economic Activities ◽

Location Quotient ◽

Growth Ratio ◽

Agriculture Sector ◽

Estate Crop

This study aims to examine the economic potential in the sector and sub-sector of agriculture, forestry and fishery of Jember Regency. In addition, this study also identifies and determines the leading sectors and sub-sectors in Jember Regency to provide an overview of the leading economic activities that can be developed in increasing the economic potential in Jember District. Analyzer used in this research include analysis of Shift-Share, Location Quotient (LQ), and Growth Ratio Model (MRP). From the research result, it can be seen that: (1) shift-share analysis shows Jember Regency economy during 2010-2015 period increased by Rp2,412.3 billion. The improvement of economic performance in Jember Regency can be seen from positive sector of agriculture sector, forestry and fishery; (2) Based on the analysis of Location Quotient (LQ) sector and the leading sub-sector in Jember Regency there is 1 sector and 1 sub-sector having average LQ> 1 or sector and subsector of the (potential) ie agriculture, farming, and plantation sub-sector; (3) Growth Ratio Model (MRP) analysis shows that the dominant sectors of growth and large contribution include estate crop sub-sector, agriculture and hunting services sub sector, forestry and logging sector, and fishery sector; (4) weighted results based on Shift-Share, Location Quotient (LQ) and Growth Ratio (MRP) analysis were obtained by the highest ranking sub-category of the most potential weighted crops sub-sector.

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