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Scale Economies and Inefficiency of U.S. Dairy Farms

Abstract::
This study employs data drawn from the 2000 Agricultural Resource Management Survey, a U.S. Department of Agriculture-sponsored farmers' survey. The article estimates returns to scale relationships across dairy farms of different sizes and across different regions, incorporating variables hypothesized to influence farm performance. Results point to significant scale economies in U.S. dairy farms and underscore the importance of taking account of inefficiency when estimating scale economies. Contrary to previous research, the preferred cost function specification does not show a region of decreasing returns to scale. This finding helps explain why the average size of dairy farms has been increasing.
Author(s):
Mosheim, Roberto , Lovell, C.A. Knox
Subject(s):
dairy farming , economies of scale , agricultural economics , farm surveys , farmers' attitudes , farm size , agricultural policy , supply balance , Agricultural Resource Management Study , United States
Description:
Includes references
Source:
American journal of agricultural economics 2009 Aug., v. 91, no. 3
Language:
English
Year:
2009
Publisher:
Blackwell Publishing Inc
Collection:
Journal Articles, USDA Authors, Peer-Reviewed
File:
Download [PDF]   
Rights:
Works produced by employees of the U.S. Government as part of their official duties are not copyrighted within the U.S. The content of this document is not copyrighted.