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Economic Comparison between Pasture-Based Beef Production and Afforestation of Abandoned Land in Swedish Forest Districts

Author

Listed:
  • Karl-Ivar Kumm

    (Department of Animal Environment and Health, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, P.O. Box 234, SE-532 23 Skara, Sweden)

  • Anna Hessle

    (Department of Animal Environment and Health, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, P.O. Box 234, SE-532 23 Skara, Sweden)

Abstract

Large areas of agricultural land have been abandoned or are at risk of being abandoned such as small scattered fields and pastures in forest-dominated landscapes are unsuitable for modern mechanized agriculture and cost-efficient grazing. These areas have therefore become unprofitable to cultivate and graze. Spruce planting has been seen as the obvious alternative on these lands but is today questioned from landscape points of view. Now most abandoned land is left for natural afforestation. This study aims to compare the profitability in use of abandoned or marginal agricultural land in Swedish forest districts for spruce planting, natural birch afforestation, or organic beef cattle grazing large pasture-forest mosaics. The pastures consist of remaining semi-natural pastures, abandoned and marginal agricultural land, and adjacent forest land. Calculations of contribution to land, management, and risk suggest that, given present supports and environmental payments, organic beef production with herds of more than 20 suckler cows in large pasture-forest mosaics could be more profitable than forestry, except for in the most fertile areas of southern Sweden, where spruce planting has the highest contribution. Future tree breeding progress and possible decrease of livestock-related support and environmental payments would however increase the competitiveness of resumed afforestation relative to beef production.

Suggested Citation

  • Karl-Ivar Kumm & Anna Hessle, 2020. "Economic Comparison between Pasture-Based Beef Production and Afforestation of Abandoned Land in Swedish Forest Districts," Land, MDPI, vol. 9(2), pages 1-20, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:9:y:2020:i:2:p:42-:d:315850
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Kristina Holmström & Anna Hessle & Hans Andersson & Karl-Ivar Kumm, 2018. "Merging Small Scattered Pastures into Large Pasture-Forest Mosaics Can Improve Profitability in Swedish Suckler-Based Beef Production," Land, MDPI, vol. 7(2), pages 1-14, May.
    2. Hessle, Anna & Bertilsson, Jan & Stenberg, Bo & Kumm, Karl-Ivar & Sonesson, Ulf, 2017. "Combining environmentally and economically sustainable dairy and beef production in Sweden," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 156(C), pages 105-114.
    3. Schulp, Catharina J.E. & Levers, Christian & Kuemmerle, Tobias & Tieskens, Koen F. & Verburg, Peter H., 2019. "Mapping and modelling past and future land use change in Europe’s cultural landscapes," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 332-344.
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Alexander V. Prishchepov & Florian Schierhorn & Fabian Löw, 2021. "Unraveling the Diversity of Trajectories and Drivers of Global Agricultural Land Abandonment," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(2), pages 1-8, January.
    2. Martin Baláš & Josef Gallo & Marcin Czacharowski & Michal Pástor & Jaroslav Jankovič & Igor Štefančík & Ivan Kuneš & Hubert Hasenauer, 2024. "Administrative system of afforestation in the Czech Republic: A long journey to a new forest," Journal of Forest Science, Czech Academy of Agricultural Sciences, vol. 70(2), pages 41-63.
    3. Federica Isola & Sabrina Lai & Federica Leone & Corrado Zoppi, 2022. "Strengthening a Regional Green Infrastructure through Improved Multifunctionality and Connectedness: Policy Suggestions from Sardinia, Italy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(15), pages 1-22, August.
    4. Sabrina Lai & Federica Leone & Corrado Zoppi, 2020. "Spatial Distribution of Surface Temperature and Land Cover: A Study Concerning Sardinia, Italy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(8), pages 1-20, April.
    5. Dingde Xu & Zhuolin Yong & Xin Deng & Linmei Zhuang & Chen Qing, 2020. "Rural-Urban Migration and its Effect on Land Transfer in Rural China," Land, MDPI, vol. 9(3), pages 1-15, March.
    6. Karl-Ivar Kumm & Anna Hessle, 2023. "The Decline and Possible Return of Silvipastoral Agroforestry in Sweden," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(5), pages 1-17, April.
    7. Liudmila Tripolskaja & Asta Kazlauskaite-Jadzevice & Virgilijus Baliuckas & Almantas Razukas, 2021. "Natural and Managed Grasslands Productivity during Multiyear in Ex-Arable Lands (in the Context of Climate Change)," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 11(3), pages 1-13, March.
    8. Federica Isola & Federica Leone & Corrado Zoppi, 2022. "Mapping of Ecological Corridors as Connections between Protected Areas: A Study Concerning Sardinia, Italy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-31, May.
    9. Fuller, Madisen & Baker, Justin & Roberts, Zoey & Latta, Gret & Ohrel, Sara & Gower, Tom, 2023. "Projecting the spatial distribution of tree planting under different policy incentive structures," 2023 Annual Meeting, July 23-25, Washington D.C. 337099, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.

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