Economic evaluation of extensification experiments - final report on Project AW/97/90
Pirringer, H.
Monatsberichte uber die Osterreichische Landwirtschaft 45(12): 887-894
1998
Document Number: 210500
An Austrian research project from 1990 to 1996 investigated the extent to which it was possible to reduce applications of chemical fertilizers and plant protection materials without unacceptable reductions in farm incomes. The experiment covered crops of summer and winter barley, grain maize, rape seed, winter wheat and peas in wet and dry areas with two intensities of N fertilizer and with and without plant protection chemicals. The extensive systems for all crops led to yield reductions for all crops. These averaged 8% in moist regions as against 4% in the dry regions. The main cost savings in the extensive systems were from the purchase of farm materials. Detailed comparisons for individual crops showed that some yield losses could be reduced by alternative husbandry methods. Generally income losses could be reduced by savings in variable costs and by EU support measures. The economic viability of extensive procedures is shown to depend on the relation between the yield loss and the cost savings which varies for crop and location. Extensive systems can also be made more competitive by measures such as changes in crop rotations. There is no standard recipe for an environmentally friendly system which will depend very much on local conditions.