An empirical investigation was conducted to study whether dairy farmers involved in horizontal arrangements (HA)

-The objective of this paper was to analyze financial management practices in dairy production systems. More specifically, we sought to identify which milk producers adopt financial management practices. We conducted 55 semistructured questionnaires in the Western Region of Paraná. The data were processed through descriptive and multivariate statistical analysis. The analysis of hierarchical clusters defined, based on variables related to financial management practices, two distinct groups. The first group included milk producers who do not adopt financial management practices (N = 49) and the second group described the milk producers who do adopt these practices (N = 6). We then used Common Factor Analysis, along with structural, technical, productive, and socioeconomic variables to define the three factors that best explained the variance between the clusters: factor 1 -structural; factor 2 -social; factor 3 -informational. Smaller dairy production systems, with lower production, managed by younger producers, and employing younger workers, are those adopting financial management practices. Therefore, the scarcity of resources is not a limiting factor in the adoption of financial management practices.

Milk production is an important economic and social activity in Brazil. Failure to meet institutional and market demands for quality and sustainability has led farmers, particularly small-scale farmers, to leave agriculture. The aim of this study was to assess and compare the sustainability of dairy farms in Paraná, Brazil. A semi-structured questionnaire was administered to 75 dairy farm operators. Sustainability indicators were generated on the basis of economic, environmental and social data using exploratory factor analysis. Factor scores were subjected to hierarchical clustering, which resulted in the formation of three groups of dairy farms. Groups 1, 2 and 3 had high, intermediate and low levels of sustainability, respectively. Group 1 comprised large-scale dairy farms with high productivity. Dairy farms with intermediate sustainability (group 2) had medium production capacity, and farms with low sustainability (group 1) had the smallest production scale and capacity. Large-scale dairy farms have greater economic, environmental and social sustainability and are, therefore, more likely to survive in the medium and long term.

Animal production systems and agribusiness Full-length research article Typology of dairy production systems that meet Brazilian standards for milk quality ABSTRACT-We aimed to compare the typology of dairy production systems (DPS) that meet Brazilian quality standards with that of non-compliant DPS. Semi-structured questionnaires were applied in 128 DPS located in Santa Izabel do Oeste, Paraná, Brazil (25°49'16" S and 53°29'04" W). In addition, milk quality reports of each DPS were analyzed. Dairy production systems were segregated into two groups: G1-DPS that were in accordance with Brazilian regulations on milk quality, and G2-DPS that did not comply with Brazilian regulations. Exploratory factor analysis was performed on structural, production, and technical variables. Two factors were defined: F1production scale and bargaining power, and F2-autonomy and production control. Groups 1 and 2 were evaluated according to their structural, production, and technical characteristics as well as their F1 and F2 values. A small fraction (6.25%) of DPS met the minimum quality standards for milk. Dairy production systems that comply with quality regulations have larger production scale, higher productivity, and greater autonomy and control of milk production. Consequently, they have better bargaining power with the industry for the marketing of milk.

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-Brazil is the fourth largest milk producer in the world. Besides its economic relevance, milk production has an important social function in Brazil. Dairy activity employs a large amount of people and contributes to regional development. But some drawbacks remain, such as poor labor conditions and problems for family succession. Labor conditions may be critical for successors to decide whether to remain in dairy activity. Paraná is the second largest milk producer in Brazil, mainly with smallholder family dairy systems. This paper aims to discuss labor conditions, family succession and structural features in Paraná's dairy activity. Our hypothesis is that family-based farms present poorer structure, poorer labor conditions and are less prone to family succession. The method comprised face-to-face interviews with 153 dairy farmers, in two groups: 117 family-based farms (Group 1) and 36 hired-labor farms (Group 2). Common factor analysis led to identify three factors: "structure", "labor conditions" and "individual conditions to family succession". Dairy farms in Group 1 present poorer structural and labor conditions, although being more prone to family succession, partially supporting our above hypothesis. Thus, structural features and labor conditions seem not to be the driving factors for the intent to family succession, which suggests the existence of other incentives. Results also indicate the need to improve labor conditions, especially for Group 1, since poor labor conditions may threaten family succession in the very long run. Efforts to improve family labor conditions are necessary to ensure long-term sustainability of dairy farming in Paraná State. Further studies could investigate social, market, technology and political features directing decision-making in family succession. Expanding the variables for labor conditions and structure, as well as including other social and behavioral factors, could put more light on the differences between dairy farms using and not using hired labor. Finally, a deeper investigation on reasons why family-based farmers do not promote better labor conditions is critical for the future of Paraná's dairy sector.

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Highlights:Farmers' organizations improve access to market information on milk quality. Farmers' organizations improve access to technical information. Buyer-seller relationships are strengthened by farmers' organizations. Farmers' organizations improve access to information on milk quality regulations.Semina: Ciências Agrárias, Londrina, v. 41, n. 1, p. 293-304, jan./fev. 2020Casali, M. et al. AbstractMilk production has great social and economic importance in Paraná, Brazil. However, dairy farmers have abandoned the activity over the past few years because of difficulties in meeting institutional and market demands for increased milk production and quality. Information asymmetry between dairy farmers and market agents may be contributing to this scenario. It occurs when one agent in a transaction has more or better information than another. Information asymmetry can encourage opportunistic behavior and negatively affect the relationship between parties. These problems can be minimized or resolved by horizontal collaboration, such as participation in farmers' organizations, cooperatives, or associations. The aim of this study was to assess the extent of information asymmetry among dairy farmers and investigate whether participation in farmers' organizations strengthens buyer-seller relationships and stimulates compliance with milk quality standards. A total of 204 semi-structured questionnaires were applied to head farmers of dairy production systems in Paraná. Two sets of variables were analyzed: variables related to socio-economic and production characteristics and variables related to transactions between farmers and the dairy industry and the head farmer's knowledge about milk quality regulations.The second set of variables was subjected to common factor analysis, which generated four factors: F1, knowledge about institutional requirements; F2, technical support from the buyer; F3, technical knowledge; and F4, level of trust in the buyer. Dairy farmers who did not participate in farmers' organizations operated under greater information asymmetry and were disadvantaged with regard to F2, F3, and F4 (P < 0.05). Participation in horizontal collaborations can help farmers survive and thrive in the dairy activity.