6348: Comparing risk perceptions and risk management in organic and conventional dairy farming: empirical results from Norway

Lien, Gudbrand; Flaten, Ola; Koesling, Matthias; Valle, Paul Steinar and Ebbesvik, Martha (2005) Comparing risk perceptions and risk management in organic and conventional dairy farming: empirical results from Norway. Livestock Production Science 95(1-2). Online at <http://doi:10.1016/j.livprodsci.2004.10.014>

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Summary

This study was conducted to explore organic and conventional dairy farmers’ perceptions of risk and risk management, and to examine relationships between farm and farmer characteristics, risk perceptions, and strategies. The data originate from a survey of conventional (n=363) and organic (n=162) dairy farmers in Norway. Organic farmers had the least risk averse perceptions. Institutional and production risks were perceived as primary sources of risk, with farm support payments at the top. Compared to their conventional colleagues, organic farmers gave more weight to institutional factors related to their production systems. Conventional farmers were more concerned about costs of purchased inputs and animal welfare policy. Organic and conventional farmers’ management responses were more similar than their risk perceptions. Financial measures such as liquidity and costs of production, disease prevention, and insurance were perceived as important ways to handle risk. Even though perceptions were highly farmer-specific, a number of socio-economic variables were found to be related to risk and risk management. The primary role of institutional risks implies that policy makers should be cautious about changing policy capriciously and they should consider the scope for strategic policy initiatives that give farmers some greater confidence about the longer term. Further, researchers should pay more attention to institutional risks.

Document Language:	English
Keywords:	Risk; Risk management; Dairy farming; Organic farming; Questionnaire; Multivariate analysis; ØKORISK
Subject Areas:	Animal husbandry > Production systems > Dairy cattle Knowledge management > Research methodology and philosophy > Specific methods > Surveys and statistics Farming Systems > Farm economics
Research affiliation:	Norway > NILF - Norwegian Agricultural Economics Research Institute Norway > NORSØK - Norwegian Centre for Ecological Agriculture Norway > NVI - National Veterinary Institute
Funding Part:	75-100%
Total budget (Euro):	0
Orgprints ID Number:	6348
Contact:	Flaten, Dr. Ola
Deposited On:	13 February 2006
EPrint Type:	Journal paper in on-line journal
Published?:	Published
Online at:	http://doi:10.1016/j.livprodsci.2004.10.014
Peer Review Status:	Peer-reviewed and accepted
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