Studies in Agricultural Economics

This paper aims to investigate the factors influencing the international beef market’s trade flows by applying the gravity model. We focus on the effects of trade networks, non-tariff measures, and natural disasters on the beef trade. This is the first study to incorporate network analysis eigenvector scores into the gravity approach with a view to examining the impact of trade network improvements on trade. Eigenvector centrality scores reveal the prominent role played by the European and Southern Common Market countries and show a well-connected beef network. The results of our gravity model show that beef trade increases more when an...

Access to finance poses a significant challenge for smallholder farmers, influencing the prospects for improving their livelihoods. Financial literacy stands out as a pivotal factor in overcoming this hurdle, playing a crucial role in attaining access to finance, maintaining creditworthiness and fostering economic stability. The objective of this study is to enable an understanding of the financial literacy level of smallholder farmers and to explore empirically the factors that can be associated with their financial literacy. The study is based on a field survey using structured questionnaires targeting 506 smallholder farmers located in different parts of Albania. Descriptive analysis and...

This study compares the impact of economic uncertainty, climate change, Covid-19, and the Russia-Ukraine conflict on 27 European countries (EU27) food prices. The author used panel data that combines cross section data from January 2019 – March 2023 and time series data from 27 European countries. The error correction model (ECM) and Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) were used to analyse the data. The domestic energy consumer price index, real broad exchange rate, climate change, and Russia-Ukraine armed clashes are the drivers of the short and long run rise in the EU27 domestic food consumer price index. New domestic cases of...

This research, focusing on Hungary, aims to analyse the comprehensive economic impact of proposed changes in daily weight gain and stocking density for broilers, as outlined in the European Food Safety Agency’s (EFSA) 2023 Scientific Opinion “Welfare of Broilers on Farm”. Hungary is a significant player in the Central and Eastern European (CEE) poultry industry and was the second-largest chicken meat producer and exporter in the CEE region in 2022. Utilising the dynamic econometric model AGMEMOD for impact assessment, we explore the economic repercussions on not only the broiler sector but also on the maize and pork sectors in Hungary....

Farm-level benchmarking and comparative analysis provide a basis for orientation on national, regional and global level. In the agri benchmark global network, we compare beef and sheep farms (as well as other branches) from more than 30 countries. In a partnership approach with researchers, producers and local experts, we collect and validated farm-level data using a standard operating procedure and a farm-level simulation model. In cow-calf farms, winter housing is associated with higher live weight production. Profitability is mainly driven by weaner prices and their variation and to a lesser extent by costs. In the EU, government payments play a...

The importance of Precision Livestock Farming (PLF) technologies in agricultural practices is widely recognised, yet the actual adoption rate remains low. To address this issue, research with several interconnected sub-studies was initiated across seven countries to encourage PLF technology utilisation. Initially, 15 farms received PLF tools to showcase their benefits. Despite successful deployment, challenges such as animal behaviour, sensor positioning, and internet connectivity affected operational efficiency. Concurrently, surveys were conducted to assess livestock producers’ attitudes and identify adoption barriers. Subsequently, a sophisticated cloud-based ICT tool was developed to integrate research outcomes. The findings have highlighted concerns regarding the cost, complexity,...

This paper presents the outcome from a case study analysis for a Canadian farm that does site-specific fertilisation (SSF), a precision farming approach which takes into consideration the spatial variability of soils. The economic results for three years of wheat and canola production are compared to a neighbouring farm, which is practicing conventional broadcast application of fertilisers. Since no additional investments in machinery are needed, the annual variable cost is 6 CAD/acre. In the standard case, the average profit is 30 CAD/acre. The rather pronounced difference in the effects from SSF application in wheat vs. canola leads one to question...