Zofia Koloszko-Chomentowska

The economic consequences of supporting organic farms by public funds: case of Poland

AbstractResearch proves that the financial support of agriculture is necessary in order to achieve sustainable economic development with other sectors of the economy. The aim of this paper is to assess the economic results of organic farms which benefit from public funds. The research issue was worked out on the basis of the data from organic farms in Podlasie voievodeship in the years 2008–2012. For the purposes of the analysis, farms were divided into area groups: group I – farms with an area up to 20 ha and group II – farms with an area above 20 ha. The following indicators are calculated: family farm income, current ratio, re-investment fixed assets rate, return on equity (ROE). Higher influence of public funds was observed in farms with an area of 20 ha of utilised agricultural area. The income per working person was almost double in larger farms while equity profitability was four times higher than in smaller farms. Only larger farms had the ability to reproduce their used assets. The organic farms ...

ECOLOGICAL AND ECONOMIC SUSTAINABILITY OF POLISH AND LITHUANIAN AGRICULTURAL HOLDINGS SPECIALIZING IN ANIMAL PRODUCTION

In the present article, an attempt was made to assess the environmental and economic sustainability of Polish and Lithuanian agricultural holdings specializing in animal production. The analysis covers the farms that participated in the FADN in 2006-2012. Assessment accounted for agroecological indicators (share of cereals in crops, stock density) and economic indicators (profitableness of land and labour). Analysis was conducted according to a classification into agricultural holding types: dairy cattle and granivores. In both countries, average stocking density in dairy holdings did not pose a threat to the natural environment. In the case of granivores holdings, such threats were present because standards specified in the code of good agricultural practice were violated significantly. From the perspective of economic equilibrium, holdings from this group achieved a better result than dairy cattle holdings. In Poland during the years 2006–2012, the average income of a family-owned agricultural holding per full-time worker in the family was 56 % greater than in dairy cattle holdings. In the case of Lithuanian holdings, the difference was still greater and amounted to 73 % to the benefit of granivores holdings. Keywords: sustainability, agricultural holdings, animal production. Article DOI: http://doi.org/10.15544/RD.2015.130

ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY OF FAMILY-OWNED AGRICULTURAL HOLDINGS IN THE PODLASKIE VOIVODESHIP

The subject of this paper is environmental sustainability assessment of agricultural holdings in the Podlaskie voivodeship, participating in the Farm Accountancy Data Network (FADN) in the years 2007–2012. The assessment was conducted based on agro-ecological indicators and environmental burden (material pressure). The analysis was conducted according to a classification into agricultural holding types: field crops, dairy cattle, and mixed holdings. The factor with the strongest impact on the agroecological sustainability of the studied agricultural holdings was the holding type. Field crop and mixed holdings achieved more favorable environmental sustainability indicators. Holdings specializing in dairy cattle breeding pose a threat to the natural environment due to their excessive number of livestock.

INFLUENCE OF THE COMMON AGRICULTURAL POLICY ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF FAMILY AGRICULTURAL FARMS IN THE PODLASKIE PROVINCE

Abstract Subject and purpose of work: We present the results of the research on the impact of the CAP on the development of family farms in the province of Podlasie. Materials and methods: The research covered farms included in the FADN system. The analysis concerns 2005 and 2014 and was carried out in groups separated due to the their condition and development opportunities: progressive farms, potentially progressive and non-progressive ones. The development opportunities were assessed on the basis of the surplus on self-financing, net investments and fixed asset replacement rates. Results: In all groups of farms the value of assets grew, and the growth rate of assets was the highest in the progressive farms. Only the progressive and potentially progressive farms had self-financing options. Conclusions: Budget transfers targeted at farms affected the intensification of activities related to their modernization, which resulted in the diversification of these entities. The most active recreation of fixed assets took place in the progressive farms. The market activity of potentially progressive farms increased and they are likely to become progressive farms in the future. The non-progressive farms are characterized by their permanent inability to develop.

Selected Effects of Financing Agriculture from a Regional Perspective

Abstract This paper contains an assessment of changes in the financial and property situation of agricultural holdings in different regions of Poland. In the years 2006-2013, growth of the level of income from a family-owned farm was registered in all regions, but capabilities of reproducing fixed assets and development capabilities varied. Favourable changes in the availability of fixed assets in farms were observed. Regional differences became apparent in the efficiency with which these assets were used. The greatest growth of the value of fixed assets per 1 ha of farmland was registered in the Pomorze and Mazury region. Farms in the Małopolska and Pogórze region were in the most difficult situation, characterized by a permanent inability to reproduce fixed assets and develop.

SPECIALIZATION AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF AGRICULTURAL HOLDINGS

In the present article, an attempt was made to assess the sustainability of agricultural holdings with diff erent directions of production. Agricultural holdings in the Podlaskie voivodeship registered in the FADN system in 2011–2012 were investigated. Assessment accounted for agroecological indicators (share of permanent grasslands, share of cereals in crops, soil coverage with vegetation, stock density) and economic indicators (profi tableness of land and labor). Analysis was conducted according to a classifi cation into agricultural holding types: fi eldcrops, dairy cattle, and granivores. Fieldcrop and granivore holdings achieved more favourable environmental sustainability indicators. Holdings specializing in dairy cattle breeding posed a threat to the natural environment, mainly due to their excessive stock density. Economic sustainability assessment showed that granivore holdings were assessed most favorably. In these holdings, holding income per full-time worker was 37% greater than in fi eldcrop holdings and 57% greater than in dairy cattle holdings.

ORGANIZATION AND RESULTS OF AGRICULTURAL HOLDINGS REALIZING INVESTMENTS SUBSIDIZED WITH PUBLIC FUNDS

In the present article, an attempt was made to assess the organization of production and economic results of agricultural holdings that realized investments subsidized with public funds, from the perspective of good agricultural practice. Agricultural holdings in the Podlaskie voivodeship registered in the FADN system in 2011–2012 were investigated. Assessment accounted for crop structure, stock density, production intensity, the value and structure of capital, and profi tableness of land, capital, and labour. Analysis showed that holdings benefi ting from subsidization of investments with public funds were characterized by greater production intensity and also achieved better economic results. However, they exerted greater pressure on the environment and posed hazards that mainly resulted from high stock density.