Qualification of the adaptive capacities of livestock farming systems

Dedieu, Benoît

doi:10.1590/s1516-35982009001300039

Cited by 20 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…for a farm adapting to the operating environment) relative to the individual or worker impact of such flexibility, and whether one is at the expense of the other (Hill et al 2008), requires further investigation. As argued by Dedieu (2009), it is important to look at how farmers work with uncertainties rather than smooth them out, and here, we find the farm workforce a part of operational flexibility and a response option for constraints from climate or water and priorities for financial returns (external capital). These findings support the argument that limits to adaptation (for instance with respect to climate change) are constructed, rather than set, by resourcing limits and are strongly influenced by contested values (Adger et al 2009).…”

Section: Human Capitalmentioning

confidence: 68%

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A new framework to analyse workforce contribution to Australian cotton farm adaptability

Nettle

Kuehne

Lee

et al. 2018

Agron. Sustain. Dev.

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Farmers face many challenges, including climate variability, that require continual adaptation. However, studies of farm adaptation have paid limited attention to the farm workforce, despite changes in farm workforce organisation (i.e. the number, type and forms of employment on farm) being a significant feature of agricultural change globally. To effectively support farmers' adaptation, it is important to understand farmers' workforce strategies (i.e. how farm workforce organisation supports the needs and priorities of the farm), how workforce choices are made and the implications for adaptation. This paper progresses a framework for analysing farm adaptability, including the farm workforce. Bringing together theories of livelihoods analysis and strategic human resource management, the farm workforce strategies of 16 case study farms in the Australian cotton production sector are analysed. Cotton production is exposed to major resource constraints, such as irrigation water. We interviewed farmers and collected data on farm business performance, workforce organisation choices, human resource management practices and employees' experiences of work. We integrated data to characterise farm workforce decision-making and the relationship between workforce strategies and farm adaptability for each farm. A cross-case analysis explored differences between farms. A diversity of workforce strategies was found, involving combinations of workforce options, defined as 'core', 'contract' and 'casual' workers at different levels of skills and experience. Farm workforce strategies were found to influence and be influenced by sources of financial capital, irrigation water availability/holdings, farm remoteness, new farm infrastructure and human resource management practices. The farm workforce was a response option to provide production flexibility, yet high adaptability was associated with some negative consequences for managers and employees. We show for the first time the influence of farm workforce organisation dynamics in adaptation and negative consequences of high farm adaptability. 'Factoring-in' the farm workforce in sustainable development studies should therefore be a priority.

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Section: Human Capitalmentioning

confidence: 68%

“…the use of contractors, hiring experienced managers or utilising seasonal worker schemes), and methods to best recruit, select and manage employees. Many of these changes have been reported in both developing and developed agricultural economies (Errington and Gasson 1996;Findeis et al 2002;Dedieu 2009).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 96%

A new framework to analyse workforce contribution to Australian cotton farm adaptability

Nettle

Kuehne

Lee

et al. 2018

Agron. Sustain. Dev.

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“…The entry of a new generation of farmers and the year were indicated on the timeline. Triangles depict memorable events that farmers said had affected farm evolution, for example, disturbances affecting the system (Dedieu, 2009).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Paths to last in mixed crop–livestock farming: lessons from an assessment of farm trajectories of change

Ryschawy

Choisis

et al. 2013

Animal

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Mixed crop-livestock systems, combining livestock and cash crops at farm level, are considered to be suitable for sustainable intensification of agriculture. Ensuring the survival of mixed crop-livestock systems is a challenge for European agriculture: the number of European mixed crop-livestock farms has been decreasing since 1970. Analysis of farming system dynamics may elucidate past changes and the forces driving this decline. The objectives of this study were (i) to identify the diversity of paths that allowed the survival of mixed crop-livestock farming and (ii) to elucidate the driving forces behind such survival. We analysed the variety of farm trajectories from 1950 to 2005. We studied the entire farm population of a case study site, located in the 'Coteaux de Gascogne' region. In this less favoured area of south-western France, farmers have limited specialisation. Currently, half of the farms use mixed crop-livestock systems. The data set of 20 variables for 50 farms on the basis of six 10-year time steps was collected through retrospective surveys. We used a two-step analysis including (i) a visual assessment of the whole population of individual farm trajectories and (ii) a computer-based typology of farm trajectories on the basis of a series of multivariate analyses followed by automatic clustering. The European Common Agricultural Policy, market globalisation and decreasing workforce availability were identified as drivers of change that favoured the specialisation process. Nevertheless, farmers' choices and values have opposed against these driving forces, ensuring the survival of some mixed crop-livestock farming systems. The trajectories were clustered into five types, four of which were compatible with mixed crop-livestock systems. The first type was the maximisation of autonomy by combining crops and livestock. The second type was diversification of production to exploit economies of scope and protect the farm against market fluctuations. The other two types involved enlargement and progressive adaptation of the farm to the familial workforce. The survival of mixed crop-livestock systems in these two types is largely dependent on workforce availability. Only one type of trajectory, on the basis of enlargement and economies of scale, did not lead to mixed crop-livestock systems. In view of the current evolution of the driving forces, maximising autonomy and diversification appear to be suitable paths to deal with current challenges and maintain mixed crop-livestock systems in Europe.

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“…For this, concrete social sustainability criteria that can be generally used in livestock farms are required. For example, work duration (routine work and seasonal work) and efficiency (routine work per LU) and the room for manoeuvre (calculated time available, division of labour among workers; Dedieu, 2009) can be relatively easy to measure (a half-day of interview with farmers and a half-day to analyse the data and calculate the criteria).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A method for assessing work productivity and flexibility in livestock farms

Hostiou¹,

Dedieu²

2012

Animal

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Changes affecting livestock farming systems have made farm work a central concern for both the sector and for farmers themselves. Increased pressure on farms to be competitive and productive together with farmers' demand for greater autonomy, holidays or time to spend on private activities and the family converge to underline the two key dimensions of work -productivity and flexibility -required for the assessment of work organization. This paper proposes a method called the QuaeWork (QUAlification and Evaluation of Work in livestock farms) to assess work productivity and flexibility on a farm, and its use to identify how livestock management can contribute to work organization on dairy farms. The QuaeWork method was set up through an iterative process combining surveys conducted with farmers in two regions of France, discussions with different experts and literature review. The QuaeWork was applied on a sample of seven dairy farms in the southern Massif Central in France to identify patterns of how livestock management contributes to work organization. The QuaeWork was used to analyse work organization over the year through a systemic approach to the farm, integrating interactions between herd and land management, workforce composition, equipment facilities and combinations of activities through a characterization of 'who does what, when and for how long'. The criteria for assessing work productivity were work duration (routine work, seasonal work) and work efficiency (per livestock unit or hectare of utilized agricultural area). The criteria for assessing work flexibility were room for manoeuvre and adjustments to internal and external events. The three main patterns of livestock management practices to work organization were identified. In pattern-1, farmers used indoor stable feeding practices with delegated work, with moderate room for manoeuvre and efficiency. In pattern-3, farmers used simplified milking, reproduction and breeding practices to seasonalize work and make it efficient with consistent room for manoeuvre. The method suggests social sustainability criteria to assess work productivity and flexibility, which are important for making reasoned decisions on livestock farm changes, especially innovations. Researchers could usefully exploit the QuaeWork to integrate work objectives (productivity, flexibility) into technical and economic goals.

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Qualification of the adaptive capacities of livestock farming systems

Cited by 20 publications

References 12 publications

A new framework to analyse workforce contribution to Australian cotton farm adaptability

A new framework to analyse workforce contribution to Australian cotton farm adaptability

Paths to last in mixed crop–livestock farming: lessons from an assessment of farm trajectories of change

A method for assessing work productivity and flexibility in livestock farms

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