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European Dairy Farmers’ Perceptions and Responses towards Development Strategies in Years of Turbulent Market and Policy Changes

Author

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  • Abele Kuipers

    (Expertise Centre for Farm Management and Knowledge Transfer, Wageningen University & Research, 6708 Wageningen, The Netherlands)

  • Agata Malak-Rawlikowska

    (Institute of Economics and Finance, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, 02-787 Warsaw, Poland)

  • Aldona Stalgienė

    (Institute of Economics and Rural Development of the Lithuanian Centre for Social Sciences, A. Vivulskio g. 4A-13, 03220 Vilnius, Lithuania)

  • Anita Ule

    (Department of Animal Science, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, SI-1230 Domžale, Slovenia)

  • Marija Klopčič

    (Department of Animal Science, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, SI-1230 Domžale, Slovenia)

Abstract

Farmers operate in a changing market, policy and social environment so questions arise as to how they experience these changes and react in their business orientation. This topic was examined in the period 2011 to 2016 in a strongly fluctuating product market and food policy environment, e.g., abolition of milk quotas in Europe. The study was based on unique panel data for 290 dairy farms in Poland, Slovenia, Lithuania and The Netherlands, questioned up to three times in 2011, 2013 and 2016. The conceptual framework was composed of Farmer goals, Resources, Opportunities and Threats (O&T), and Future expectations (performance) as continuous variables, and countries and strategy farmer groups as categorical variables. Data were analysed applying PCA, ANOVA, cluster and regression analyses. Dairy farmers seemed not to be motivated or educated to take strategic decisions that made the best use of their resources and to take opportunities and mitigate threats to achieve their personal goals. Farmer perceptions were strongly affected by country of origin, local environment and milk price, and less by the strategy group. The market situation is one of the dominant factors affecting the mind-set of farmers in Europe. Future expectations were evaluated highest in 2013 (period with ‘high’ prices), lowest in 2016 (price crisis) and intermediate in 2011 (moderate price period). The large dependence of farmers on the price of their product could be a sensitive issue for politicians, but also food chain members and farmers’ syndicates. They may anticipate a fluctuating attitude of farmers with respect to organisational and institutional plans and implemented measures, depending on the market situation and related policy context.

Suggested Citation

  • Abele Kuipers & Agata Malak-Rawlikowska & Aldona Stalgienė & Anita Ule & Marija Klopčič, 2021. "European Dairy Farmers’ Perceptions and Responses towards Development Strategies in Years of Turbulent Market and Policy Changes," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 11(4), pages 1-24, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jagris:v:11:y:2021:i:4:p:293-:d:525881
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Andrzej Parzonko & Anna Justyna Parzonko & Piotr Bórawski & Ludwik Wicki, 2023. "Return on Equity in Dairy Farms from Selected EU Countries: Assessment Based on the DuPont Model in Years 2004–2020," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-16, July.
    2. Lukáš Čechura & Zdeňka Žáková Kroupová & Irena Benešová, 2021. "Productivity and Efficiency in European Milk Production: Can We Observe the Effects of Abolishing Milk Quotas?," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 11(9), pages 1-21, August.

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