Transition to self-sufficient mixed crop–dairy farming systems

Abstract

While plains favorable to agriculture are still dominated by specialized and intensive agriculture, self-sufficient mixed crop-dairy farming systems increasingly attract policy makers' and scientists' attention. Owing to their limited use of purchased inputs, they can contribute to reducing the environmental impact of agriculture. Furthermore, self-sufficient farming tends to be linked with a search for autonomy in decision-making, i.e., farmers developing their own technical reference framework. Such farming systems can thus also contribute to alternative development pathways of rural territories. In this paper, we analyze how ten intensive mixed crop-dairy farms have progressively evolved toward more self-sufficient and autonomous systems. Through formalizing farmers' transition in action, we identified 34 tools that the farmers implemented making them reflect on their farming system, shift socio-professional networks, reorganize work routines, and steer the evolution of their production practices. For example, they created temporary pastures in crop rotation, introduced rotational pastures, observed their herds to adjust their feed and keep the animals in good health, and they limited expenditures to manage their cash flow. Which tools were used and when they were used depends on what is meaningful to them at various stages of the transition. Our analysis of transitions in action has three original features: it is centered on the transition as perceived by the actors who experience and manage it; it proposes a long-term conceptualization of the dynamics of farming systems, based on the farmer's initiative and creativity; and it highlights tools implemented by farmers during the transition to self-sufficiency and autonomy.

Converting to organic farming as a way to enhance adaptive capacity

“…These results are in line with studies of farms transitioning towards more ecological practices, which showed that transitions were often initiated by farmers perceiving their current practices as problematic and actively looking for alternatives (Lamine and Bellon 2009;Coquil et al 2014;Chantre et al 2015). Changing practices is thus recognized as necessary to keep in tune with a changing economic and social context (Goulet and Vinck 2012).…”

“…2). However, over the short and medium term, organic farming was perceived as less risky, as milk prices were higher and more stable and consumer perception more supportive, and because at the farm level, it offers the opportunity to increase autonomy, especially regarding feed (Coquil et al 2014;Benoit et al 2017). Thus, in the context of low and variable prices for conventional milk, organic farming is perceived as an opportunity, offering better prospects for the future.…”

Supporting farmers’ management of change towards agroecological practices by focusing on their work: a contribution of ergonomics

“…The two-grain farmers were constantly exploring new possibilities and making decisions to make their agricultural work system move forward, and in so doing they were designing it. This has also been shown by Coquil et al (2014) who highlight farmers' creativity. The ergonomist then becomes a facilitator of the design process begun by the farmers and he/she can do so by questioning the iterations between their intentions (what is desirable, their goals) and a search for feasibility (what is possible, their difficulties).…”

How to implement biodiversity-based agriculture to enhance ecosystem services: a review

“…Demonstration, training programs, and brainstorming sessions are also important for designing and implementing agroecological management practices that are necessarily knowledge intensive (Coquil et al 2014;Lamine 2011;Van Keulen 1993). In this rationale, "scientists must improve their understanding of the farmer and his practice and vice versa" (McCown 2002).…”