Productivity Growth in German Dairy Farming using a Flexible Modelling Approach

A random‐coefficients specification of an output distance function is used to measure and decompose productivity growth in German dairy farming. This specification can accommodate heterogeneity with respect to the technology employed by dairy farms, allowing for specialised and non‐specialised farms to be included in the analysis. The proposed modelling approach is favoured by the data when compared with the conventional translog specification of distance functions. The average total factor productivity growth rate for German dairy farms is estimated at 1.1%, with the technical progress component contributing most of this growth.     

Decomposition of Productivity Growth Using Distance Functions: The Case of Dairy Farms in Three European Countries

Within an output distance function framework, the Total Factor Productivity growth index is decomposed into four components (technical change, technical and allocative efficiency, and scale component). We estimate stochastic translog output distance functions using panel data from dairy farms over the period 1991–94 for three European countries (Germany, the Netherlands, and Poland). Results indicate that the change in the productivity growth index in Germany (+6%) and Poland (−5%) are mainly dictated by the technical change component. In contrast, the productivity growth index in the Netherlands (+3%) is influenced by allocative efficiency components.     

Scale Economies,Technical Efficiency,and the Sources of Total Factor Productivity Growth of Quebec Dairy Farms

Canada's average cost for milk production is among the highest in the world. This paper focuses on specific potential causes by estimating economies of scale and technical efficiency for a panel of Quebec dairy farms that spans the 2001–10 period. Additionally, this paper investigates the sources of total factor productivity growth. The stochastic frontier analysis, based on an input‐distance function, is used to estimate returns to scale relationships across dairy farms. The results show that there is significant economies scale to be exploited and that cost of production could also be reduced by improving technical efficiency. Accordingly, the paper indicates that input‐mix effect is the main source of total factor productivity growth. The results have important implications for Canada's supply management policy, and more specifically for the trading of production quota between dairy farmers, as well as for the delivery of targeted extension services.     

Cost Efficiency for Alberta and Ontario Dairy Farms: An Interregional Comparison

In this study, two non-homothetic translog stochastic meta-frontier cost functions—with and without local concavity imposed—are estimated using a nonlinear maximum likelihood estimation procedure to compare the cost efficiency of Alberta and Ontario dairy farms for the period 1984–96. The resulting cost efficiency estimates are not very sensitive to whether or not curvature is imposed. In contrast, the properties of the cost and input demand functions (e.g., elasticities) are sensitive to imposition of local concavity during estimation. The implication is that if an inappropriate model that does not satisfy the properties required by the economic theory is used, the estimated input demand functions may not be reliable. Average cost efficiency for the pooled sample, with local concavity imposed, is approximately 89%. This suggests some potential for improved performance in the sector. The results also suggest that Ontario dairy farms may be more cost efficient than Alberta dairy farms, but the statistical evidence is inconclusive.     

中国牛奶生产的全要素生产率分析

本文以国有及集体和个体奶牛场牛奶生产的随机投入距离函数,分析中国牛奶全要素生产率的增长及来源。总体上讲,中国牛奶生产全要素生产率的增长是比较温和的,国有及集体和个体奶牛场全要素生产率的年均增长率分别为0.25%和2.33%,主要来自于技术进步。国有及集体奶牛场的技术效率明显下降,而个体奶牛场的技术效率略有增长。中国牛奶生产的技术效率水平大约为80%～90%。推广新技术仍然是中国今后牛奶生产的优先政策。     

中国农业生产率的增长及收敛性分析

本文使用省级农产品成本收益面板数据,运用基于非参数的Malmquist指数方法重新估计了中国农业生产率的增长状况,并将生产率进一步分解为技术进步和技术效率,在此基础上检验了中国农业生产率的收敛性,并简要分析了实证结果的政策含义。     

美国农业生产率的增长与启示

农业总要素生产率ＴＦＰ(ＴｏｔａｌＦａｃｔｏｒＰｒｏｄｕｃｔｉｖｉｔｙ) ,指在一定地区和时期内农业生产的总产出与总投入之比 ,是反映农业的生产力水平和运营效率状况的综合指标。农业ＴＦＰ提高是科技进步、经营运作效率改善等各方面作用的综合结果 ,表明了生产效率的提高和农产品生产 (或供给 )能力的增加。短期看 ,农业生产率提高使生产者因生产效率的改善而增加收入 ;长期来看农业生产率的增长将带来农产品及食品加工业生产成本下降 ,进而带来食品价格下降 ,使消费者直接或间接受益。作为基础产业 ,农业生产率提高不仅带来食品价格…     

Productivity of New York Dairy Farms Measured by Nonparametric Malmquist Indices

The productivity of 70 individual New York dairy farms, decomposed into technical efficiency change and technological change components, was measured annually from 1985 to 1993 from output distance functions estimated using nonparametric programming methods. Technology is measured regressively only if it is regressive to all previous periods rather than just the immediate previous period. Productivity increase averaged 2.6 per cent annually, mostly from gains in technological improvements, since average efficiency decreased slightly. Twenty-five per cent of the farms failed to increase productivity sufficiently over the period to offset the decreased ratio of output to input prices.     

Energy Productivity Growth in the Dutch Greenhouse Industry

Profitability of Dutch greenhouse firms is largely dependent on energy costs, and policy makers focus on reducing the use of energy by these firms. This article uses Russell measures of TE to develop indicators of energy productivity growth. Results show that energy productivity grew by 2.8% annually in the period 1976–95, with technical progress being the key factor driving the process of productivity growth. From this we conclude that policies aiming at enhancing the adoption of technological innovations are more effective, if due attention is paid to measures for improving TE.     

Explaining the Decline in UK Agricultural Productivity Growth

This paper reports the results of a study of total factor productivity (TFP) growth in UK agriculture, from 1953‐2000. It shows that prior to 1984 TFP grew at 1.68% per annum and after that date at only 0.26%. International comparisons show that the UK has fallen far behind the leading EU countries. Yield growth declined even more and only labour productivity continues to grow rapidly. In part, the result is due to better data that incorporates more quality adjustment, but the real decline can be explained mainly by cuts in R&D, less patents, less growth in farm size and the demise of public extension. There are other negative factors, which have not been quantified, including asset fixity, convergence and ozone pollution, and a background argument that recent growth rates cannot be sustained.     

Establishing Indices of Genetic Merit Using Hedonic Pricing: An Application to Dairy Bulls in Alberta

This study investigates the use of hedonic pricing to identify the value of relevant production and type traits for dairy bulls in Alberta. A hedonic pricing model is estimated that considers semen price as a function of individual production and longevily characteristics for a sample of Holstein bulls. The results suggest that the most important characteristics used by Alberta daity producers in valuing dairy bulls are milk volume, protein and fat content, general conformation, body capacity and the popularity of the bull. For a given set of such characteristics, the probability that the bull's semen may be in short supply does not significantly affect the value. This methodology may be used to establish a method of forecasting semen prices for newly proven bulls. The valuation procedure may be easily updated and adjusted as producers'breeding objectives change over time because of the changing economic environment. The results of this analysis suggest that hedonic pricing may be a better method of placing a value on production and type characteristics for dairy bulls than the Lifetime Profit Index currently being used by the Canadian dairy industry.     

基于Malmquist指数的中国乳制品业全要素生产率分析

本文采用2002-2006年中国乳制品业的面板数据.通过非参数的Malmquist指数分析方法,对中国乳制品业全要素生产率(TFP)的变动情况进行了实证研究,并进一步将其分解为技术进步、纯技术效率和规模效率.结果表明,2002-2006年中国乳制品业TFP的年均增长率为11.4%,呈现出快速增长的特征,其中,技术进步为9.7%,技术效率为1.5%,技术进步构成中国乳制品业TFP增长的主要动力.分省份看,76.7%的省份乳制品业TFP增长的主要动力来自于技术进步;分不同企业规模和企业经济类型看,除集体企业外,乳制品企业TFP增长的主要动力均来自于技术进步.     

Dairy Demand, Supply and Policy in Korea: Potential for International Trade

Korea, like other Asian countries, has relatively low per capita consumption of dairy products and rapid demand growth. Tight import controls limit imports and the internal prices of dairy products are two to three times border prices. We find that dairy product demand (so far primarily fluid milk consumption) is elastic and has been sensitive to income growth and the modernization of the Korean economy represented by increased urbanization. Policy simulations and projections indicate substantial potential for import growth in manufactured dairy products, even if the growing fluid milk market is reserved for domestic producers and domestic milk prices rise somewhat.
Comme les autres pays asiatiques, la Corée consomme relativement peu de produits laitiers par personne et fait face à une croissance rapide de la demande. Les importations sont sévèrement restreintes et les prix intérieurs de ces produits sont deux à trois fois les prix à l'importation. Nous constatons que la demande pour les produits laitiers, encore essentiellement limitée au lait de consommation, est élastique et qu'elle a réagi à la hausse des revenus et à la modernisation de l'économic coréenne, marquée par l'intensification de l'urbanisation. Des études en simulation et les projections des planificateurs font état de possibilités importantes de croissance des importations de produits laitiers transformés, bien que le marché croissant du lait de consommation demeure réservé aux producteurs du pays et que les prix intérieurs manifestent actuellement une certaine hausse.     

Effects of Market and Regulatory Changes on Livestock Manure Management in Southern Alberta

A spatial model of intensive livestock production for a region in southern Alberta was used to evaluate the impact of economic factors and regulation on regional returns and optimal manure management. Under current conditions, profit maximizing application of manure met nitrogen requirements but phosphorus application was about three times the crop requirements. Higher commercial nitrogen prices did not significantly alter the optimal manure application, but reduced regional returns. With a phosphorus limit regulation, it was less costly to compost about half of the beef cattle manure to remove it from the region than to truck manure long distances to meet the regulation. A $0.91/t reduction in the costs of composting, or a subsidy to reduce costs, was required to meet the phosphorus regulation. The net costs of the subsidy were slightly less than that ofphosphorus regulation. Future research needs to explore the economic market and limitations of composting for manure management before any composting policy is initiated. Nous avons utilisé un modèle spatial de la production animale intensive dans une région du sud de l'Alberta pour évaluer l'impact de la réglementation et de facteurs économiques sur les rendements économiques régionaux et la gestion optimale du fumier. Dans les conditions actuelles, l'épandage de fumier effectué en vue de maximiser les profits a respecté les exigences en azote, tandis que la quantité de phosphore était trois fois supérieure aux besoins des cultures. Le prix élevé de l'azote commercial n'a pas modifié de manière significative l'épandage optimal de fumier, mais a diminué les rendements économiques dans la région. En raison de la réglementation sur le taux d'application limite du phosphore, il a été moins coûteux de composter environ la moitié du fumier de bovins pour l'éliminer de la région que de le transporter par camion sur de longues distances. Pour respecter la réglementation sur le phosphore, il faudrait diminuer le coût du compostage de 0,91 $/tonne ou offrir une subvention équivalente pour diminuer les coûts. Les coûts nets de la subvention étaient légèrement inférieurs à ceux de la réglementation sur le phosphore. Des recherches ultérieures devront être effectuées pour explorer le marchééconomique et les limites du compostage dans le cadre de la gestion du fumier avant d'élaborer toute politique sur le compostage.     

我国水稻生产率增长、技术进步与效率变化

水稻作为我国粮食产业中的重要品种,在我国已保持了20多年的快速发展,今后的进一步发展只能依靠提高生产率和科技进步水平。本文在这一现实背景下,运用基于DEA分析法的Malmquist指数对我国不同种类水稻,从生产率增长、技术进步和技术效率方面分析了其时序变动趋势和空间分布特征,并给出了研究结论。     

Economic Liberalization and Productivity Growth: Further Evidence From Bangladesh

The impact of economic liberalization reforms on the productive performances of manufacturing firms remains a contentious issue in the literature. This paper attempts to contribute to the debate by empirically estimating productivity growth of Bangladesh food manufacturing using firm level data before and after reform. Empirical results show that the share of output growth was accounted for by input growth in most sectors of this industry. In some sectors, the estimated rate of total factor productivity (TFP) growth is negligible or even negative. Decomposition of the TFP growth shows that technological progress plays a significant role in TFP growth across firms within the sub-sectors of this industry. Empirical results also show that the relative contribution of capacity realization to TFP growth is not substantial in inhibiting the industry's high and sustained growth. These dismal performances indicate that the industries responded a little to the implementation of economic reforms.