Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Sebastián Lozano Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Industrial Management, Engineering School, University of Seville, Spain Author-Name: Belarmino Adenso-Díaz Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Industrial Engineering, Engineering School, University of Oviedo, Spain Title: A DEA approach for merging dairy farms Abstract: This paper proposes a model for determining the most advantageous merger within a set of dairy farms. It uses data envelopment analysis (DEA) to estimate the total technical efficiency improvement that the merger would produce and for decomposing it into a learning effect and a pure merger effect. A design of experiments has also been carried to test the effects of various factors (the total number of farms, the standard deviation of herd size, the percentage of farms exhibiting increasing returns to scale, the standard deviation of the current technical efficiency of the farms) on different response variables (the percentage of farms involved in the merger, the reduction of herd size and the efficiency improvement obtained by the merger). The results show that the disparity in the herd size of the farms in a region and the percentage of farms that exhibit increasing returns to scale increase the number of farms that enter into the most advantageous merger. The disparity of herd size also increases the number of cows that are not needed after the merger. Finally, the expected efficiency improvement increases with the total number of farms. Keywords: dairy farming, land consolidation, learning effect, pure merger gains, technical efficiency Journal: Agricultural Economics Pages: 209-219 Volume: 67 Issue: 6 Year: 2021 DOI: 10.17221/418/2020-AGRICECON File-URL: http://agricecon.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/418/2020-AGRICECON.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/age-202106-0001.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlage:v:67:y:2021:i:6:id:418-2020-AGRICECON Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: V.T. Krishnaprasath Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Nehru Institute of Engineering and Technology, Anna University, Tamilnadu, India Author-Name: J Preethi Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Anna University Regional Campus, Coimbatore, Tamilnadu, India Title: Finite automata model for leaf disease classification Abstract: In this modern era, the detection of plant disease plays a vital role in the sustainability of agricultural ecosystem. Today, India being second in farming, well-timed information related to crop is still questioning. Indian Government's farmer portal is available for pesticides, fertilisers, and farm machinery. To alleviate this problem, the paper describes a model to validate the leaf image, predicting leaf disease and notifying the farmer in an effective way on the harvest failure to stabilise farming income. For specific consideration on the validation, a data set library with predefined, uniformly scaled, regular image patterns of leaf disease, is maintained. The research suggests that farmers utilising the model can predict the breakout of leaf disease predominantly acquiring 100% yield. Keywords: agriculture, automata model, image processing, plant disease, segmentation Journal: Agricultural Economics Pages: 220-226 Volume: 67 Issue: 6 Year: 2021 DOI: 10.17221/70/2020-AGRICECON File-URL: http://agricecon.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/70/2020-AGRICECON.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/age-202106-0002.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlage:v:67:y:2021:i:6:id:70-2020-AGRICECON Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Vera Teresa Foti Author-Name: Alessandro Scuderi Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Agricultural Food and Environment (Di3A), University of Catania, Catania, Italy Author-Name: Claudio Bellia Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Agricultural Food and Environment (Di3A), University of Catania, Catania, Italy Author-Name: Giuseppe Timpanaro Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Agricultural Food and Environment (Di3A), University of Catania, Catania, Italy Title: Biofortification of tomatoes in Italy: Status and level of knowledge Abstract: Biofortification is a strategy to reduce micronutrient deficiency in humans by fortifying food through natural processes, agronomic practices and genetic modification. In this study, we seek to shed light on what consumers understand by the term 'biofortified products' and thus to understand their level of knowledge about these products, as well as the reasons that dictate their purchasing choices and the relationship between consumption choices and lifestyles. The analysis focuses on vegetables and, in particular, on tomatoes with a high lycopene content. Research shows that consumers of biofortified food products are generally confused and uninformed, even though they show a high willingness to pay. This confusion seems to result, moreover, from the lack of a clear definition of a biofortified product, as well as from the lack of clear information on the specifics of biofortified products and the benefits they can bring. The future of biofortified products can, therefore, be improved by the creation of clear standards and reference definitions and better information and transparency that would benefit the consumer. Keywords: biofortified, consumer, food products, GMOs Journal: Agricultural Economics Pages: 227-235 Volume: 67 Issue: 6 Year: 2021 DOI: 10.17221/334/2020-AGRICECON File-URL: http://agricecon.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/334/2020-AGRICECON.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/age-202106-0003.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlage:v:67:y:2021:i:6:id:334-2020-AGRICECON Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: İbrahim Bozkurt Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Finance and Banking, Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, Cankiri Karatekin University, Cankiri, Turkey Author-Name: M. Veysel Kaya Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Economics, Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, Kirikkale University, Kirikkale, Turkey Title: Agricultural production index: International comparison Abstract: This paper investigates the influences of macroeconomic policies on agricultural production and other factors affecting it, based on panel data in a global sample for the period 2010-2017. Because spatial interactions in the agricultural production levels of countries are determined, spatial panel models are employed in the analyses. According to the analysis results, countries' financial, fiscal and monetary policies have an important effect on agricultural production. Besides, other important determinants of agricultural production are climatic conditions, land use and modern input use in agriculture. Our findings have important implications, especially for countries with low agricultural production. Keywords: crop output index, macroeconomic policies, spatial interactions Journal: Agricultural Economics Pages: 236-245 Volume: 67 Issue: 6 Year: 2021 DOI: 10.17221/29/2021-AGRICECON File-URL: http://agricecon.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/29/2021-AGRICECON.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/age-202106-0004.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlage:v:67:y:2021:i:6:id:29-2021-AGRICECON Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Jana Kostalova Author-Name: Jan Vavra Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Economy and Management of Chemical and Food Industries, Faculty of Chemical Technology, University of Pardubice, Pardubice, Czech Republic Title: Benefits of the LEADER method for Local Agenda 21 - Case study from their application in the Czech Republic Abstract: The basic characteristic and comparison of the community-led local development tools: Local Agenda 21, used in public administration generally, and of the LEADER method, used within Local Action Groups (LAGs), is presented in this paper. It analyses their application in the Czech Republic. It discusses the potential synergistic effects of the application of these tools in two rural locations - the areas of two towns (Chrudim and Litomerice), which are leaders in the application of Local Agenda 21 in the Czech Republic. Both towns are members of LAGs - LAG Chrudimsko and LAG Ceske Stredohori. This combination of Local Agenda 21 and LEADER method are mutually supportive. The conclusion discusses recommendations for the improvement of community-led development. Keywords: community-led local development, Local Action Group, public administration, sustainability Journal: Agricultural Economics Pages: 246-254 Volume: 67 Issue: 6 Year: 2021 DOI: 10.17221/407/2020-AGRICECON File-URL: http://agricecon.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/407/2020-AGRICECON.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/age-202106-0005.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlage:v:67:y:2021:i:6:id:407-2020-AGRICECON