This study conducts a comparative analysis on the difference in profitability between organically cultivated ginseng and conventionally cultivated ginseng, based on their cultivation characteristics, in order to promote the production and consumption of organic ginseng. The production quantity of organically cultivated ginseng per 10 a was 40% less than that of conventionally cultivated ginseng for both four- and six-year-old roots. In the case of four-year-old roots, although the production cost of organically cultivated ginseng was 60% higher than that of conventionally cultivated ginseng, the net profit was higher by 70%, owing to its higher selling price. In the case of six-year-old roots, the production cost of organically cultivated ginseng was 10% higher than that of conventionally cultivated ginseng, but the net profit was lower by 10%, owing to a low selling price. The reduction in production costs must be supported by a reduction in land lease and labor costs by expanding the cultivation area, a reduction of pest control costs through the self-production of environmentally friendly materials, and an improvement in the certification of perennial crops that can reduce certification costs. A reduction in production costs can lead to a decrease in consumer prices, which, in turn, would promote an increase in consumption among general consumers. Moreover, as a measure to increase the production yield per unit area, the soil nutrient content must be increased by selecting high-quality planned sites and implementing planned site management in order to increase the proportion of organic fertilizers. Furthermore, these must be supported by improved cultivation methods, which suppress early defoliation, and enhanced cultivation technology. In addition to these methods, establishing producer cooperatives in order to expand production can stabilize supply, which can increase sales through export and processing companies. Moreover, uniformity in product quality through producer cooperatives can contribute to building consumer confidence.
This study was conducted to evaluate the milk productivity and nutrient balance in organic dairy farms located at Gochang-gun of Korea with different feed sources. The total number of organic dairy farms was 12 in 2012, 13 in 2013, and 14 in 2014. The numbers of farms and dairy herds were increased each year. The average milk yields in 2012, 2013, and 2014 were 25.5, 24.6, and 24.4 kg/d, respectively. The average milk fat contents in 2012, 2013, and 2014 were 3.5%, 3.6%, and 3.7%, respectively. The average milk protein contents in 2012, 2013, and 2014 were 3.3%, 3.4%, and 3.4% in 2012, 2013, and 2014, respectively. Although the average milk yield of organic dairy farms was 9 kg/cows/d less than the average milk yield of other dairy farms in Korea, milk fat and protein contents of organic dairy farms were higher than those of other dairy farms. Alfalfa hay, oat hay, corn silage, rye grass silage, Sudan grass silage, rice straw, and barley silage were commonly used as forage sources in organic dairy farms. The average silage intake (15.6 kg/cow/d) of organic dairy farms in 2013 was higher (P < 0.05), while the average hay intake (5.1 kg/cow/d) in 2014 was higher (P < 0.05) than that of other feed intake. Net energy for lactation (NEL) and metabolizable protein (MP) were calculated in accordance with NRC (2001). Net energy for lactation intake was higher (P < 0.05) while MP intake was lower (P < 0.05) than NRC recommendation values in 2013 and 2014. These results indicate that domestic organic dairy farms should use feed considering energy and protein balance recommended by NRC.
In order to provide basic data to predict changes of milk components in milk yield, this study was conducted to compare nutritive values of diets collected from organic dairy farms (ODF) and conventional dairy farms (CDF) of Chungnam and Jeonbuk in Korea. The contents of crude fat, crude fiver, neutral detergent fiber, and acid detergent fiber in diets of ODF were significantly (p<0.05) higher compared to those of CDF. The contents of crude protein and crude ash in ODF were also higher (p<0.05) than those of CDF. The contents of calcium, ferrum, and phosphorus in diets of ODF were similar to those of CDF. The contents of potassium, magnesium, and iodine in diets of ODF were higher (p<0.05) than those of CDF. The contents of total saturated and unsaturated fatty acids in diets of ODF were higher (p<0.05) compared to those of CDF. The contents of oleic acid, linoleic acid, and linolenic acid in diets of ODF were higher (p<0.05) compared to those of CDF. However, the contents of myristic acid, palmitic acid, and stearic acid in diets of ODF were lower (p<0.05) compared to those of CDF.
This study was carried out in order to evaluate the growth promotion effects on tomato crops and to assess the mineral nutrient concentrations of farm-made liquid fertilizers used in organic cultivation in South Korea. We hope that this study will help to develop of a standardized manufacturing technique for these organic liquid fertilizers. We collected 62 farm-made liquid fertilizers made from various raw materials including fish, seaweed, food scraps, plant and crop by-products, and other materials. Two groups of tomato seedlings were treated at different times, one at 20 days and the other at 40 days after sowing. We used both foliar and soil applications. These seedlings were treated using liquid fertilizers at various dilution rates (x1000, x500 and x100). When foliar application was used, seedlings after 20 days had a 20-30% increase in shoot fresh weight with 47-48 fertilizers and seedlings after 40 days had a 20-30% increase in shoot fresh weight with 17-32 fertilizers. When soil application was used, seedlings after 20 days had the same increase in shoot fresh weight with 30-31 fertilizers and seedlings after 40 days also saw the same increase with 6-7 fertilizers. Therefore, our studies showed that application of liquid fertilizers to seedlings 20 days after sowing was most effective and that foliar treatment was more effective than soil treatments. We also observed that the higher the concentrations of fertilizer, particularly when applied twice rather than just once, the higher the rates of growth, which promoted shoot fresh weight more than plant height. Our results imply that mineral nutrients in liquid fertilizers seem to be the probable cause for the growth promotion observed in this study. However, more study is required to determine exactly which mineral nutrients are most effective.
Organic agriculture seeks sustainable agriculture. Organic agriculture is based on circulating agriculture of a family farm unit. However, as of the end of 2016, only 33 out of the total organic farming farms were implementing Crop-Livestock cycling organic farming. The reason seems to be a matter of income after all. The optimal size combination refers to the scale by which family farms can maintain their quality of life while engaging in farming activities. In other words. it is a farm scale that maintains optimal income through stable labor costs. In the meantime, there has been no previous study on the optimal economical combination of Crop-Livestock cycling farming. Choi (2016) analyzed whether the economies of scope (EOS) were realized in the combined production by using the management data of the farmers who practiced Crop-Livestock cycling organic farming for four years. As a result, it has been revealed that the EOS measurement value is 0 or more so the economies of scope are being realized. Therefore, the purpose of this empirical analysis is to identify farm incomes under this circumstance. It is assumed that the optimum production is achieved by balancing the total income curve and the total cost curve in the optimal scale production range. The results of the analysis are as follows. First, the income after the conversion to Crop-Livestock cycling farming was 44,789,280 won, the sum of the seedling-livestock sector, which was 17,873,120 won higher when the non-Crop-Livestock cycling farming was assumed. The same is true for 2014 and 2015. The reason for this is that pig droppings were composted from organic seedlings, and the cost of selling pork was 150,000 won/per pig more expensive even though the manufacturing cost of organic feeds was higher than the purchasing cost. Secondly, this study simulated the result that the economic index varies when the farm size combination is changed by the farm size of 100% standard (S100) as of 2014. S130 is the increase in size from 100% of 2014, whereas S30 is the result of 3ha crop and 66 livestock (pigs). As a result of this simulation, Crop-Livestock cycling farming income decreased more than non-Crop-Livestock cycling farming as the farm size decreased, whereas the income decreased as the farm size increased. When the size was reduced below S50, the income tended to decrease. In this situation, EOS changed in the same direction. The results showed that when the farming size was reorganized and reduced to 50% compared to 2014, the income and income difference was the highest. At the same time, economies of scope (EOS) were the highest at 0.12985. In other words, it was found that the income of farm houses in a family farm unit sector was the best in the combination of 1.5ha crop agriculture and 110 livestock (pigs).
The purpose of this research is to analysis actual condition of promoting complex industrialization and changes after promoting, and then to classify organic farmer using cluster analysis based on delineated organic farmer’s changes factors. This study also aims to investigate differences in socioeconomic characteristics and behavioral intentions among classified groups of organic farmer’s changes. Data were obtained by questionnaire. From the factor analysis, four factors were derived as “Economics”, “Public benefit”, “Environment and philosophical values” and “Establishing management and the regional bedrock”. From the cluster analysis, three cluster were derived as “group that has a positive awareness of promoting complex industry”, “group that has a negative awareness of promoting complex industry” and “unstable management and a regional base”. And the three classifications were significantly different in the satisfaction and behavioral intentions.
Theoretically, it is said that economies of scope can be realized in the cropelivestock cycling organic farming. Thus, it is also used as the principle of organic farming. However, it is difficult to find the cases of the empirical analysis of it in Korea. In that sense, this study is meaningful in that it analyzed the agricultural data of case farms of obtaining the approval of both organic agricultural products and organic animal products and practicing cycling farming for 4 years and tested the hypothesis. This study measured economies of scope by using the actual measurement value and estimation value farming performance statistics for 4 years of case farms. This farmhouse conducted nutrient cycling in the farm like selfmanufacturing and injecting organic agricultural byproduct and wild grass as organic livestock feed and fermenting organic livestock manure to organic compost to return it 100%. The results can be summarized as follows: According to the result of cycling farming of combining and producing organic agriculture and organic livestock, economies of scope were found to be realized in this case farmhouse. That is, although not strong, EOS>0, there were economies of scope. The measurement value appeared as 0.0722, 0.00378, 0.04667 and 0.13127 in 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015, respectively. It was improved as time passes and the scale gets smaller. Therefore, in order to further improve economies of scope, there should be measures of reducing duplication costs between agriculture-livestock as low as possible and lowering the production cost of organic feed. That is, there is a need for the management strategy to adjust the import function and cost function according to the change in management paradigm and cropping system.
This study was conducted to investigate feeding management and milk production in domestic organic dairy farms and find out ways to overcome difficulties in organic dairy farms. The number of domestic organic dairy farms was 35, which representing 0.57% among 6,068 of total dairy farms in 2011. Eleven farms among 35 organic dairy farms were surveyed. Average total raising head was 142, composed of 69 milk cow, 13 dry cow and 60 heifer and calf. The ratio of cow replacement was 42.4% in surveyed organic dairy farms. Among surveyed farms, 14.3% showed under 20kg of milk production, 57.1% represented 25~30kg of milk and 28.5% produced more than 30kg of milk. Average milk fat percentage in surveyed organic farms was 3.3%, which was lower than 4.04% milk fat percentage of whole country (2010). Based on bacterial counts (5,775 CFU/ml) and somatic cell counts (192,500 number/ml), milk quality appeared excellent in surveyed farms. 90% of surveyed farms agreed that organic milk production increased income. Among reasons for switching to organic dairy farm, environment-friendly farm management was the highest reason (54.5%). However, 45.5% of surveyed farms suffered difficulty in supply of organic feed. Therefore, stable supply of organic feed will be necessary to expand organic dairy farm in the future.
The purpose of this study is to analyze the effects of abolishing the low-pesticide agricultural product certification on environmentally friendly farming. A survey was conducted to quantitatively analyze farming practices and factors that change farming practice. It was found that only 17.0% of low-pesticide fruit farmers said that they will change their farming practice into organic or pesticide-free farming. With regard to the factors of farming practice change, binomial logistic regression model was applied for the analysis. In the analysis, it was found that farmers who grow the low-pesticide agricultural product are more likely to change their farming practice into organic or pesticide-free farming, as their expected price of organic or pesticide-free products is high, their area size is small, price premium of lowpesticide agricultural product is low, the frequency of their training is high. It is necessary to enhance the direct payment system to enlarge organic and nonpesticide acreage, and pest management techniques for fruits should be developed for low-pesticide fruit farmers to change their practice into organic and nonpesticide practice. Dissemination of cultivation manual, introduction of insurance to farmers, improvement of certificate system, and advertising and marketing of environment-friendly agricultural products are useful to develop environmentfriendly agriculture.
This paper evaluates the technical efficiency of organic farm management practices and studies its main determinants in Hongdongmyeon of Hongsung county, Chungnam province. The analysis is performed in two stages. First, the efficiency is measured via the nonparametric “Data Envelopment Analysis” (DEA) technique. The DEA models are constructed not only to assess the overall technical efficiency of organic farming practices but also to evaluate the management efficiencies. In a second stage critical determinants of efficiency are determined using a Tobit model. In this analysis the focus is on technical and socio-economic variables. The analytical results show that technically efficient farms is about 13 percent and the mean technical efficiency is found to be 0.73 indicating that many farms are not operating at an efficient scale.
This study identifies the spectrum of different forms of sharing labor in farm houses following the increase in the production of organic produce and deals with the gender division of labor and every day life of the farm households. The increased labor burdens of organic farming give more work opportunities to wives, weakening the gender barriers. However, some of the farm households seeking for economic feasibility are strengthening the gender barriers by specialized work divisions, leading to outside order labor of harvest, sorting, and packaging in order to increase efficiency in agricultural management in extreme cases. Even in the alternative distribution system, farm households has become subject to the distribution system as it is shown that coop claimed the segmentation of sorting work. This is because the convenience of the customers goes before the advantages of producers. Jinju, seeking for economic feasibility, has established the springboard for growth by greenhouse through monoculture and specialization and are operating economic growth stably. Farm couples with this condition, where their incomes are relatively high, are attempting to recharge their energy during low seasons. It is expected that this will be a model case of conventionalization of organic farming. Significance of organic farming in this matter is discussed.
For developing standard method for diease, pest and weed control in environmental friendly ‘Ssam’ vegetable cultivation, this study was carried out to investigating agriculture material use in organic agriculture and no pesticide cultivation for lettuce, kale, leafy perilla and korean cabbage. The 28.6% of investigated farmer carried out seed sterilization by seed selection with salt solution and soaking in chitosan that not validated. For raising seedling periods, the 55.6% of farmer did not use environmental-friendly agriculture material for, diease control and the 50% of farmer used one time for. pest control. Therefore, the control of disease and pest could be achieved with one or two times use of environmental-friendly agriculture material. Seed sterilization was carried out by soil solar sterilization, one time per year in 71.4% of farmer. Weed was controled by black PE film for weed germination of furrow in many farmer, by man-power weeding for weed of ridge in 85% of farmer and by machine weeding and mulching in some farmer. During cultivation period, the major pest were Aphis gossypii in lettuce, Plutella xylostella in kale, Plutella xylostella and Phyllotreta striolata (Fabricius) in korean cabbage and Pyrausta panopealis (Walke) in leafy perilla. The many farmers used environmental-friendly agriculture material for control of pest over 10 times for spring season, and more used sold materials in market than home-made materials. In result, it needs to develop standardized method and validate cultivation methods for control of disease and pest, and seed sterilization treatment environmentalfriendly ‘Ssam’ vegetable.