International audience ; Mixed crop-livestock farming is often quoted as an agronomic ideal that is a source of savings for the farmer and has a lower negative environmental impact. The complementarity between livestock and crop units should allow the shared use of production factors, and thus a reduction in the use of inputs. Beyond the concept, the objective of this study is to observe whether, in a production area, farms producing beef and crops show different productive and economic performances from specialised beef cattle grassland farms. Based on data from a sample of Charolais suckler cattle farms in central France, we observe that the so-called mixed crop-livestock farms are systematically larger than specialised grassland farms. The large size of the farms leads to a strong increase in equipment needs and induced expenses. These expenses are not shared between animal and plant production. In the end, we do not observe any difference in production cost per kilogram of live-weight produced or in income per worker between specialised grassland farms and mixed crop-livestock farms. The virtuous concept of mixed crop-livestock farming comes up against structural and socio-economic realities. In order to be able to benefit from potential economic advantages linked to diversification, new forms of structure for French livestock farms should be considered.
La production bovine allaitante européenne est surtout développée dans les zones herbagères plutôt défavorisées où peu d'alternatives existent. C'est le cas en France dans le Massif central, mais aussi en Espagne où elle s'est beaucoup accrue dans les montagnes sèches et au Royaume-Uni dans les collines d'Ecosse. Dans un contexte d'évolution à la hausse du coût des intrants et de stagnation des prix à la production, des stratégies bien différenciées depuis 2003/2005 ont été mises en évidence. En France et au Royaume-Uni, les éleveurs ont privilégié l'augmentation de la productivité de la main-d'oeuvre. Cela s'est fait avec peu de conséquences sur les performances techniques, mais surtout en mobilisant davantage d'équipements et de mécanisation. Ces investissements, essentiellement en France, se sont souvent accompagnés d'endettement. A l'inverse en Espagne et en Irlande, les éleveurs ont moins modifié leurs dispositifs de production et ont eu une conduite économe en particulier sur le plan des investissements. Les politiques incitatives de soutien sont différentes : les primes à la vache allaitante demeurent en France et en Espagne alors que seules les primes à la surface existent au Royaume-Uni. Dans cet espace européen avec des conditions pédoclimatiques extrêmement différentes, des structures de taille et de niveaux d'investissements divers, quels que soient les stratégies choisies par les pays, les revenus nets moyens des éleveurs restent autour de 15 k€ par Unité de Travail Familial avec des différences qui se réduisent entre pays. Ces revenus restent inférieurs à ceux des autres productions agricoles. ; European suckling cattle production is mainly developed in the rather disadvantaged grassland areas where few alternatives exist. This is the case in France in the Massif central, but also in Spain where it has increased greatly in the dry mountains and in the United Kingdom in the hills of Scotland. In the context of rising input costs and stagnating producer prices, well-differentiated strategies since 2003/2005 have been highlighted. In France and the United Kingdom, breeders have favored an increase in labor productivity. This has been done with little impact on technical performance but above all by mobilizing more equipment and mechanization. These investments, mainly in France, have often been accompanied by indebtedness. On the contrary, in Spain and Ireland, breeders have modified their production systems less and have been economically efficient, particularly in terms of investment. The support incentive policies are different: suckler cow premiums remain in France and Spain, whereas only the surface premiums exist in the United Kingdom. In the highly varied European area, with very different pedoclimatic conditions, different size structures and different levels of investment, irrespective of the major strategies chosen by the countries, the average net income of breeders remains around 15 k€ per FWU with a reduced differences between countries. These incomes remain lower than those of others agricultural productions.
La marginalisation progressive de l'agriculture de montagne constatée jusque dans les années 1970 a pu être globalement enrayée grâce au dynamisme des acteurs montagnards et aux politiques de soutien mises en place par les pouvoirs publics. Les exemples de réussites locales comme celles des montagnes du Beaufortain ou de l'Aubrac ne doivent cependant pas occulter les fortes disparités qui perdurent au sein et entre les différents massifs montagneux, ni le nécessaire soutien des pouvoirs publics qui ont mis en place depuis 40 ans différentes formes de soutiens spécifiques, ou bénéficiant majoritairement à l'élevage de montagne. A l'heure actuelle, en France, 16% des exploitations et 14% des surfaces agricoles sont situées en zone de montagne. La superficie des exploitations de montagne diffère peu de celles de plaine mais leur potentiel économique est plus faible, en lien avec la forte proportion de surfaces fourragères qui nourrissent respectivement 17, 23 et 48% du cheptel national de vaches laitières, de vaches allaitantes et de brebis. L'analyse des évolutions structurelles et productives des exploitations de montagne révèle une dynamique plutôt positive : la SAU montagnarde s'est relativement bien maintenue par rapport aux risques encourus et le nombre d'exploitations et d'actifs agricoles a diminué moins vite qu'en plaine. A l'heure actuelle, malgré les soutiens publics, le revenu des éleveurs reste nettement plus faible en montagne qu'en plaine et les disparités se sont renforcées récemment. A l'avenir, le renforcement prévu des soutiens publics permettra de combler une partie de ce différentiel, mais la revalorisation des aides ne doit pas masquer que les perspectives de l'élevage de montagne sont liées avant tout aux dynamiques des acteurs locaux qui disposent d'atouts pour réduire les coûts de production et surtout pour valoriser mieux les richesses de leurs terroirs encore insuffisamment exploitées dans certaines zones ; la qualité des produits, de l'environnement, des paysages et de la culture. ; The gradual marginalization of French mountain agriculture recorded into the 1970s could be globally eradicated thanks to the dynamism of the mountain stakeholders and support policies implemented by the government. The success stories of some mountain areas like Beaufortain and Aubrac should not overshadow the disparities that persist within and between mountain areas or the necessary public support, that have been running for 40 years in various forms of specific support or benefiting mainly mountain farming. Currently, 16% of farms and 14% of agricultural land are located in mountainous areas. The area of mountain farms differ little from those of the plain but their economic power is lower, in line with the proportion of forage that feed respectively 17, 23 and 48% of the national herd of dairy cows, suckler cows and sheep. The analysis of recent structural and productive changes in mountain farms reveals a rather positive trend: the mountain agricultural land and the number of farms and farm asset decrease was lower than in the plain. Currently, despite the supports, the income of farmers is much lower in the mountains than in the lowlands and the differences were increased recently. In the future, the planned increase of public support will be helpful to limit the differences of income. The initiatives of the mountain stakeholders will also have to be strengthened in order to decrease the production costs and optimize the use of their local resources; the specific qualities of their products, environment, landscape and culture and more generally their region.
Malgré une forte restructuration et les réformes successives de la politique agricole commune, le revenu des exploitations professionnelles spécialisées en bovins viande est, en moyenne, toujours l'un des plus faibles de l'ensemble des exploitations françaises. Le suivi d'un groupe constant de 69 exploitations d'élevage bovin allaitant charolais du nord Massif Central sur 15 ans (de 1989 à 2003) montre une forte progression de la taille de ces exploitations et du cheptel à main-d'oeuvre constante. Cette augmentation de la productivité du travail, réponse à la baisse constante du prix de la viande seulement en partie compensée par des aides, s'est accompagnée d'une évolution des systèmes de production (régression de l'engraissement des mâles et raccourcissement des cycles de production). La variabilité de ; Despite the successive reforms of the common agricultural policy and a strong reorganisation, the farm income of the professional suckler cattle farms remains, on average, always one of the lowest of all French farms. The monitoring of a constant group of 69 suckler cattle Charolais farms from the north Massif Central over 15 years (from 1989 to 2003) showed a high increase of the farm area and herd size with a constant workforce. This increase in the labour productivity, a response to the constant drop in the meat sale price only partly compensated by subsidies, was accompanied by an evolution of the farming systems (a decrease in the rate of fattened males and shortening of the production cycles). The variability of our sample is expressed by the size (area and herd), also by the specialisation rate (livestock or mixed crop-livestock farming) and by the choice of the production system (animals fattened or not). Overall, the average farm income per worker remained stable, with an increased dependence of the latter facing the subsidies. The average of the incomes is almost the same whatever the production system, but the scatter of the intra-system incomes is relatively significant. The income per worker always remains correlated with size criteria (herd and/or area) but with the following distinction: before the first CAP reform, the size of the livestock was important because of the outputs that it generated; after 1992, the size has an effect on the farm income by the subsidies that it makes it possible to perceive.
National audience ; Despite the successive reforms of the common agricultural policy and a strong reorganisation, the farm income of the professional suckler cattle farms remains, on average, always one of the lowest of all French farms. The monitoring of a constant group of 69 suckler cattle Charolais farms from the north Massif Central over 15 years (from 1989 to 2003) showed a high increase of the farm area and herd size with a constant workforce. This increase in the labour productivity, a response to the constant drop in the meat sale price only partly compensated by subsidies, was accompanied by an evolution of the farming systems (a decrease in the rate of fattened males and shortening of the production cycles). The variability of our sample is expressed by the size (area and herd), also by the specialisation rate (livestock or mixed crop-livestock farming) and by the choice of the production system (animals fattened or not). Overall, the average farm income per worker remained stable, with an increased dependence of the latter facing the subsidies. The average of the incomes is almost the same whatever the production system, but the scatter of the intra-system incomes is relatively significant. The income per worker always remains correlated with size criteria (herd and/or area) but with the following distinction: before the first CAP reform, the size of the livestock was important because of the outputs that it generated; after 1992, the size has an effect on the farm income by the subsidies that it makes it possible to perceive. ; Malgré une forte restructuration et les réformes successives de la politique agricole commune, le revenu des exploitations professionnelles spécialisées en bovins viande est, en moyenne, toujours l'un des plus faibles de l'ensemble des exploitations françaises. Le suivi d'un groupe constant de 69 exploitations d'élevage bovin allaitant charolais du nord Massif Central sur 15 ans (de 1989 à 2003) montre une forte progression de la taille de ces exploitations et du cheptel à ...
Cet article étudie les incidences de la réforme de la PAC sur les exploitations d'élevage de bovins allaitants en zones défavorisées, à partir de l'exemple du Charolais. Les auteurs présentent les premières adaptations réalisées en 1993 et proposent une typologie des situations par rapport aux principales mesures d'accompagnement de la réforme. Ces premières adaptations ont été surtout d'ordre structurel. Les systèmes d'élevage bovin ont été encore peu modifiés. Il pourrait en être autrement dans les années suivantes avec l'augmentation des aides compensatrices, mais les évolutions du marché seront les plus déterminantes. En revanche, on peut s'interroger sur la manière dont se poursuivra le développement de ce type d'exploitation avec les nouvelles contraintes qui interviennent dans l'utilisation du sol et l'augmentation des effectifs des troupeaux.
Surplus accounting is a method for evaluating trends in how a firm's productivity factors (intermediate inputs, capital, land, labour) are performing and how the productivity gains are redistributed between agents in the economy. Here the surplus accounting method was applied on a database of 164 Charolais-area suckler cattle farms running from 1980 to 2015. Over this 36-year period – with differences per sub-period – the cumulative productivity surplus (PS) increased at a low rate of +0.17%/year (i.e. cumulative volume of outputs produced increased slightly more than cumulative volume of inputs used). This timid increase in PS is linked to the constant expansion in labour productivity whereas other factor productivities have shrunk. The observable period-wide macrotrends are that commercial farm businesses struggle to protect their revenues, we also observe a slight fall in input prices, land rent and financing costs, and a huge climb in direct support-policy payments. The bulk of the cumulative economic surplus has been captured downstream – 64% downstream of the cattle value chain as a drop in prices, and 22% downstream of other value chains (chiefly cereals). It emerges that the productivity gains in beef cattle farming mostly benefit the downstream value chain (packers–processors, distributors and consumers), whereas it is mainly government money backing this drop in prices of agricultural output. Here we see the principal of the 1992 'MacSharry' reform at work, with a transfer from the taxpayer through direct supportpolicy payments through to the consumer via lower prices. The simple fact that farmers' incomes are stagnating is a clear indication that they are net losers in this distribution of productivity gains, despite the improvement in labour factor productivity.
Au cours des vingt dernières années, les réformes de la Politique Agricole Commune (PAC) se sont succédées avec, au départ, des aides attribuées en compensation de la baisse des prix garantis. Un soutien a été accordé aux élevages herbagers et/ou extensifs. Malgré cela, les revenus des exploitations d'élevages allaitants, bovins et ovins, sont restés, en moyenne, parmi les plus faibles de l'ensemble des exploitations agricoles françaises. Une des réponses à la PAC, mais également aux signaux du marché et aux aléas, a été un accroissement constant de la taille de ces exploitations et de la productivité du travail (de + 45 à + 60% en 20 ans selon les régions), accompagnée d'une simplification des pratiques, pour une quasi-stagnation des revenus par travailleur en euros constants. Ces observations réalisées sur le long terme, à partir des réseaux ovins et bovins allaitants de l'INRA de Clermont-Theix, amènent à se poser des questions sur les notions d'économie d'échelle, sur l'efficacité des systèmes de production et sur les évolutions futures des structures de ces exploitations. ; Over the past twenty years the Common Agricultural Policy reforms succeeded one another with, initially, subsidies provided to compensate the erosion of farm meat prices. Support was given to grassland or extensive farming systems. Despite this, the farm income of these farms remained on average among the lowest of all French farms. One response to the CAP, but also to market signals and hazards, has been a constant increase in the size of farms and labor productivity (by 30-80% in 20 years according to the regions) accompanied by a simplification of practices, for a near stagnation in the net income per worker, in constant euros. These observations from sheep and suckler cattle networks over the long term from the INTRA Clermont-Theix lead to questions about the economies of scale concepts, and about the direction of future agricultural policies.
National audience ; Over the past twenty years the Common Agricultural Policy reforms succeeded one another with, initially, subsidies provided to compensate the erosion of farm meat prices. Support was given to grassland or extensive farming systems. Despite this, the farm income of these farms remained on average among the lowest of all French farms. One response to the CAP, but also to market signals and hazards, has been a constant increase in the size of farms and labor productivity (by 30-80% in 20 years according to the regions) accompanied by a simplification of practices, for a near stagnation in the net income per worker, in constant euros. These observations from sheep and suckler cattle networks over the long term from the INTRA Clermont-Theix lead to questions about the economies of scale concepts, and about the direction of future agricultural policies. ; Au cours des vingt dernières années, les réformes de la Politique Agricole Commune (PAC) se sont succédées avec, au départ, des aides attribuées en compensation de la baisse des prix garantis. Un soutien a été accordé aux élevages herbagers et/ou extensifs. Malgré cela, les revenus des exploitations d'élevages allaitants, bovins et ovins, sont restés, en moyenne, parmi les plus faibles de l'ensemble des exploitations agricoles françaises. Une des réponses à la PAC, mais également aux signaux du marché et aux aléas, a été un accroissement constant de la taille de ces exploitations et de la productivité du travail (de + 45 à + 60% en 20 ans selon les régions), accompagnée d'une simplification des pratiques, pour une quasi-stagnation des revenus par travailleur en euros constants. Ces observations réalisées sur le long terme, à partir des réseaux ovins et bovins allaitants de l'INRA de Clermont-Theix, amènent à se poser des questions sur les notions d'économie d'échelle, sur l'efficacité des systèmes de production et sur les évolutions futures des structures de ces exploitations.
Cet article propose un cadre d'analyse de la production de biens environnementaux par des agriculteurs en situation d'incertitude sur les prix. La production de biens environnementaux contractée par des mesures agri-environnementales est considérée comme une activité sans risque dans le portefeuille d'activités d'un agriculteur. Les auteurs montrent que l'adoption d'une mesure agri-environnementale favorable à la biodiversité au détriment de la production bovine favorise l'intensification de cette dernière production, tandis que l'effet du niveau des paiements pour ce type de contrat sur le nombre d'hectares souscrits est ambigu. Ils montrent aussi qu'une augmentation de la variabilité de prix des outputs, et/ou une baisse du niveau d'une aide découplée, aura un effet positif (négatif) sur le nombre d'hectares dédié à la production de biodiversité en concurrence (complémentaire) avec la production bovine. Ces résultats sont illustrés à l'aide de frontières d'efficacité en mobilisant un modèle de programmation mathématique appliqué aux élevages allaitants des Monts du Cantal, en France. ; An analytical framework is proposed for analysis of environmental good production by farmers in the case of price uncertainty. Environmental good production contracted by means of agri-environmental agreements is treated as a riskless option in the farmer's production activities portfolio. It is shown that agri-environmental agreements aiming at biodiversity competing with beef production are likely to increase management intensity on the non-enrolled land, and that the effect of the payments for these agreements on the number of hectares enrolled is ambiguous. It is also demonstrated that an increase in the output price variability and/or a decrease in the level of decoupled subsidies will induce an increase (decrease) in the area enrolled in agreements aiming at biodiversity competing with (complementary to) beef production. The obtained results are illustrated by means of efficient frontiers generated using mathematical programming farm level models of suckler cow farms in Monts du Cantal, in France.
The European Union (EU) is the world's third largest producer of beef. This contributes to the economy, rural development, social life, culture and gastronomy of Europe. The diversity of breeds, animal types (cows, bulls, steers, heifers) and farming systems (intensive, extensive on permanent or temporary pastures, mixed, breeders, feeders, etc) is a strength, and a weakness as the industry is often fragmented and poorly connected. There are also societal concerns regarding animal welfare and environmental issues, despite some positive environmental impacts of farming systems. The EU is amongst the most efficient for beef production as demonstrated by a relative low production of greenhouse gases. Due to regional differences in terms of climate, pasture availability, livestock practices and farms characteristics, productivity and incomes of beef producers vary widely across regions, being among the lowest of the agricultural systems. The beef industry is facing unprecedented challenges related to animal welfare, environmental impact, origin, authenticity, nutritional benefits and eating quality of beef. These may affect the whole industry, especially its farmers. It is therefore essential to bring the beef industry together to spread best practice and better exploit research to maintain and develop an economically viable and sustainable beef industry. Meeting consumers' expectations may be achieved by a better prediction of beef palatability using a modelling approach, such as in Australia. There is a need for accurate information and dissemination on the benefits and issues of beef for human health and for environmental impact. A better objective description of goods and services derived from livestock farming is also required. Putting into practice "agroecology" and organic farming principles are other potential avenues for the future. Different future scenarios can be written depending on the major driving forces, notably meat consumption, climate change, environmental policies and future organization of the supply chain.
