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Changes in farm structure following conversion to organic farming in Denmark
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 30 October 2009
Abstract
Compared with conventional farms, organic farms are expected to be more diverse, less specialized and less intensive, and as a group contribute to a more uniform regional distribution of farm types. Data on farm size, crop distribution and livestock intensity prior to conversion and planned after conversion on 448 Danish farms, which began conversion to organic farming in 1997, are presented by addressing two questions: (1) what features characterize Danish farms that convert from conventional to organic farming; and (2) do farm types, stocking rates and crop distribution change with conversion? In 1997, dairy farms dominated among the converting farms in hectarage, and a large majority (80–97%) of the farmers of all farm types planned to continue with the same type of production system after conversion. Thus, the regional characterization pattern in organic farm types will be similar to that of conventional farms. Although the total number of livestock units on the converting farms is planned to increase by 6% following conversion to organic farming, they are well below average in stocking rates compared with all Danish farms both before and after conversion. Farmers also plan changes in crop distribution: a 20% decrease in the hectarage for cereal production; a doubling of the hectarage for grassland in rotation; a decrease in hectarage for set-aside, row crops and oilseed rape; and roughage and seeds unchanged. Planned changes in crop distribution differ between farm types. The need to include aspects of diversity and production intensity, on both the farm and the larger scale, in the evaluation of the future direction in organic farming is discussed.
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- Research Article
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- Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2002
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