The paper illustrates synergies between the socio-economic and emergy evaluation of
agricultural activity by studying the dairy sector in Slovenia. Evaluation was performed on
nine farm types, ...representing the diversity of the country's dairy sector. Results indicate that
socio-economic evaluation favours larger conventional systems. Emergy analysis however,
favours organic farms, which better exploit local resources and put less stress to the local
environment. Socio-economic and emergy indicators show that small conventional farms are
the poorest performers overall. Analysis of emergy flows reveals a high dependency of all
farm types from the wider socio-economic system, suggesting a limited scope to improve
their sustainability.
The paper aims at assessing the economic effects of Slovenia s accession to the EU.For this purpose, a sector model of Slovenian agriculture APAS-PAM has been constructed.The methodological ...framework allows for assessment of market, income and competitiveness effects for ten key agricultural products with consideration of two accession scenarios (optimistic EUe and pessimistic EUp)that describe the whole range of possible accession effects.Slovenia s accession to the EU will not increase agricultural production significantly.Accession under the scenario of complete acceptance of the CAP mechanisms and quasi equal treatment by the EU (EUe)will not bring significant changes to aggregate production and income levels with moderate changes on commodity basis. Discrimination of the candidate countries in the field of direct payments and non-competitive down-stream sector assumed by the EUp subscenario will significantly deteriorate the income situation of domestic producers. This holds especially for cereal and beef production. For many commodities,the competitiveness of the food processing industry assuming different price levels for raw materials could have much greater impact on the economic situation of agricultural production than agricultural policy environment itself.;
The paper presents multiple criteria approach to deal with risk in farmer’s decisions. Decision making process is organised in a framework of spreadsheet tool. It is supported by deterministic and ...stochastic mathematical programming techniques applying optimisation concept. Decision making process is conceptually divided into seven autonomous modules that are mutually linked up. Beside the common maximisation of expected income through linear programming it enables also reconstruction of current production practice. Income risk modelling is based on portfolio theory resting on expected value, variance (E,V) paradigm. Modules dealing with risk are therefore supported with quadratic and constrained quadratic programming. Non-parametric approach is utilised to estimate decision maker’s risk attitude. It is measured with coefficient of risk aversion, needed to maximise certainty equivalent for analysed farms. Multiple criteria paradigm is based on goal programming approach. In contribution focus is put on benefits and possible drawbacks of supporting weighted goal programming with penalty functions. Application of the tool is illustrated with three dairy farm cases. Obtained results confirm advantage of utilizing penalty function system. Beside greater positiveness it proves as useful approach for fine tuning of the model enabling imitation of farmer’s behaviour, which is due to his/her conservative nature not perfect or rational. Results confirm hypothesis that single criteria decision making, based on maximisation of expected income, might be biased and does not necessary lead to the best - achievable option for analysed farm.
The paper presents multiple criteria approach to deal with risk in farmer's decisions. Decision making process is organised in a framework of spreadsheet tool. It is supported by deterministic and ...stochastic mathematical programming techniques applying optimisation concept. Decision making process is conceptually divided into seven autonomous modules that are mutually linked up. Beside the common maximisation of expected income through linear programming it enables also reconstruction of current production practice. Income risk modelling is based on portfolio theory resting on expected value, variance (E,V) paradigm. Modules dealing with risk are therefore supported with quadratic and constrained quadratic programming. Non-parametric approach is utilised to estimate decision maker's risk attitude. It is measured with coefficient of risk aversion, needed to maximise certainty equivalent for analysed farms. Multiple criteria paradigm is based on goal programming approach. In contribution focus is put on benefits and possible drawbacks of supporting weighted goal programming with penalty functions. Application of the tool is illustrated with three dairy farm cases. Obtained results confirm advantage of utilizing penalty function system. Beside greater positiveness it proves as useful approach for fine tuning of the model enabling imitation of farmer's behaviour, which is due to his/her conservative nature not perfect or rational. Results confirm hypothesis that single criteria decision making, based on maximisation of expected income, might be biased and does not necessary lead to the best - achievable option for analysed farm.
Formulation of fertilization plan is important task in agricultural production, but frequently performed by advisors without necessary information about individual plots and fertilisation practices ...applied by individual farmers. With increasing concerns for environment and sustainable production it is therefore important that fertilization planning is done by farmers. High fertilizers' prices also urge to their rational application, achievable only on the basis of plans for several years. In the article an electronic tool for fertilization plan formulation is presented. It is developed as a multi-criteria decision making model based on mathematical programming techniques. Hypothetical case illustrates its application as well as strengths and weaknesses of methodology applied.
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