Epsilon Archive for Student Projects

Abstract

Globally, grasslands are an important element in the agricultural production of feed, and some provide many important ecosystem services. In Sweden, the landscape has transformed during the past century, with semi-natural pastures decreasing drastically, affecting biological values negatively. This thesis explores dairy farmers’ view of the agricultural support system, and how agri-environmental support may affect dairy farmers’ management of their land with respect to grasslands and associated ecosystem services. Eight semi-structured interviews were conducted with dairy farmers and advisors within the application for agricultural policies and within crop cultivation. The result shows that some subsidies influence land management in some cases, but not all. Some dairy farmers refrain from applying for certain agri-environmental support because the criteria are too difficult to follow. The result also showed dairy farmers perceive that their grasslands contribute to several positive values such as reduced nitrogen leakage, nitrogen fixation, biodiversity, improved soil structure, and an open landscape. These values may in turn be connected to the ecosystem services such as nutrient retention, erosion control, supply of nutrients, soil fertility, biological control and aesthetic values. The farmers seemed to believe that the support system contributes to these values. The last part of the result showed the changes that the respondent farmers would like to see to the current support system. The changes that were raised were to not be as dependent on the support system, change the criteria for the compensation support, have an agricultural support system that benefits young farmers, and have support for the special values of their pastures that is easier to follow.
From these findings, the conclusion was made that the support system affects dairy farmers' land management to a certain point and that the respondent farmers were aware of the positive values of their grasslands. Dairy farmers are dependent on the support system but have an inquiry for a changed agricultural program that benefits both the farmers and their grasslands.