Inhyrning av maskintjänster
ett alternativ till att använda egna maskiner vid vallskörd?
The economic conditions for Swedish dairy farmers are constantly changing. The numbers of
producers are declining and the economic conditions for dairy production are weakening
debilitating. To improve the economic situation for a farm a hired contractor is a possible solution since previous studies show that machinery cooperation may be beneficial for the farmers.
The aim of this study is to examine the possibility for farmers to cut costs by hiring a
contractor for harvesting silage. A comparison between using own machinery and hire a
contractor is the starting point of this study. Another aim is to discuss the farmer?s decision process when achieving today?s situation and to determinate what factors affect their decisions.
The study is based on cases selected from four farms that today have chosen not to or only to some extent, hire a contractor for harvesting silage. Two farm plans have been established for each farm, one with the present situation and one where the changes when a contractor is hired are considered. These farm plans are the starting point for the economic comparison between the farms. Each farm was visited and the farmers were interviewed. The interviews were divided into two parts where information about the farms current operation and underlying factors for the decision making, where collected.
The calculations of how the economic situation for the examined farms would change if a
contractor is hired when harvesting silage show only a marginal effect. For three of the farms would the calculated result differ from today?s situation with up to 6 000 SEK. One of the farms would get a significant detoriation in the economic result since current machinery is used for harvesting silage at neighbors and a change would lead to a decreasing income.
The most decisive factor for the examined farmers to use own machinery for the silage harvest is that they want to have control over the production process. A delayed of harvest time could affect the quality of the fodder is considered as the biggest threat with a change of production processes. Some kind of change of the current operation is however considered by two of the farmers in the future. They perceive a substantial advantage of the liberation of time they will face. This time may be used for some other income generating activity at the farm.