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The Effect of Land Fragmentation on the Technical Inefficiency of Dairy Farms

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  • Tracy Bradfield
  • Robert Butler
  • Emma Dillon
  • Thia Hennessy
  • Paul Kilgarriff

Abstract

Exploiting the link between land identification and farm accountancy data, we use a uniquely detailed database to conduct a robust analysis of land fragmentation and its effect on technical inefficiency on dairy farms in Ireland. Using a stochastic production frontier model, our results show that the number of parcels, the average distance between parcels and the main farm, and the portion of land separate from the main farm all increase technical inefficiency. Such inefficiency can be reduced through increased parcel area, reduced travel distances, advisory services contact, intensive practices and hired labour. Our findings support the need for policy to improve land and labour mobility, providing evidence to support incentives to promote the transfer and long‐term leasing of agricultural land.

Suggested Citation

  • Tracy Bradfield & Robert Butler & Emma Dillon & Thia Hennessy & Paul Kilgarriff, 2021. "The Effect of Land Fragmentation on the Technical Inefficiency of Dairy Farms," Journal of Agricultural Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 72(2), pages 486-499, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:jageco:v:72:y:2021:i:2:p:486-499
    DOI: 10.1111/1477-9552.12413
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    2. Ölkers, Tim & Kirchner, Ella & Mußhoff, Oliver, 2023. "Terrorism and land use in agriculture: The case of Boko Haram in Nigeria - a replication attempt of the paper by Adelaja & George (2019)," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 134(C).
    3. Onofri, Laura & Trestini, Samuele & Mamine, Fateh & Loughrey, Jason, 2022. "Understanding the Agricultural Land Leasing Market in Ireland: A Transaction Cost Approach," 96th Annual Conference, April 4-6, 2022, K U Leuven, Belgium 321211, Agricultural Economics Society - AES.
    4. K Hervé Dakpo & Laure Latruffe & Yann Desjeux & Philippe Jeanneaux, 2022. "Modeling heterogeneous technologies in the presence of sample selection: The case of dairy farms and the adoption of agri‐environmental schemes in France," Agricultural Economics, International Association of Agricultural Economists, vol. 53(3), pages 422-438, May.
    5. Bradfield, Tracy & Butler, Robert & Dillon, Emma J. & Hennessy, Thia & Loughrey, Jason, 2023. "The impact of long-term land leases on farm investment: Evidence from the Irish dairy sector," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 126(C).
    6. Georgina Milne & Andrew William Byrne & Emma Campbell & Jordon Graham & John McGrath & Raymond Kirke & Wilma McMaster & Jesko Zimmermann & Adewale Henry Adenuga, 2022. "Quantifying Land Fragmentation in Northern Irish Cattle Enterprises," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(3), pages 1-16, March.
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    8. Valtiala, Juho & Niskanen, Olli & Torvinen, Mikael & Riekkinen, Kirsikka & Suokannas, Antti, 2023. "The relationship between agricultural land parcel size and cultivation costs," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 131(C).
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