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fertiliser (giga joule, GJ). The output is measured as total revenue in Dutch
guilders for the crops produced on the farm concerned. Differences
in energy efficiency at farm level could be caused by (1) differences in the
cropping plan and by (2) differences in output prices. To avoid these
disturbing effects, efficiency scores at crop level were assessed,
additionally. At crop level the efficiency scores for the indirect energy use
of chemical N (nitrogen) fertiliser were assessed given its direct link with
the MINAS case. The efficiency of indirect energy use for N fertiliser was
re-calculated per unit yield measured in physical units (kg) for the most
common crops grown in the Dutch Southwestern Clay Region (sugar beet,
winter wheat and ware potato).
The efficiency scores of the participants in the workshop were
calculated simultaneously with the scores of the other farmers in the Dutch
Farm Accountancy Data Network (FADN) data set. In this way, the
calculated efficiencies of the participants were based on the relative
distance to the same frontier used for the efficiency calculation of the other
farms.
3.5 Data
The analysis was carried out for arable farms located in the Southwestern
Clay Area of the Netherlands. In this study, data describing the production
activities of specialised arable farmers were from the FADN data set. The
analysis was done for the year 1997, the most recent relatively normal
weather year. Summary statistics of the full group of 57 farmers are given
in Table 2.1. Nine farmers from this group participated in the workshop.
Their characteristics are shown separately in Table 2.1. The table indicates
some differences between the workshop participants and the total group.
On average, the workshop participants were 10 years younger than the full
group of arable farmers and their farms were larger. Above all their Gross
Margins (DFL/ha) were significantly higher. An explanation for the latter
can be found in the higher percentage of vegetables in the cropping plan of
the workshop farms, which are characterised by higher gross margins.
Furthermore, the workshop participants applied relatively high doses of
chemical nitrogen and their application of organic nitrogen was, on
average, not lower, when compared with the total group. In line with these
observations, the workshop participants obtain higher yields for winter
wheat and ware potato but lower yields for sugar beet (the sugar
concentration in beets is negatively affected by high N dosages). In
conclusion, the workshop participants can be characterised as relatively
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