Mutual assistance for better hay-making: evidence from farms in Saone-et-Loire

摘要

In Saone-et-Loire, 5 farms with suckling cattle decided to assist each other in order to acquire efficient equipment (large-width mower-conditioner, redder and window-rake, high-density press for rectangular bales) and to organize their harvesting operations so as to ted 10 to 20 ha per day. Relatively to an individual harvest with a round-bale press, this type is more economical (-220 F/ha) and speeds up (-40% besides travelling times) the various operations. A simulation over 30 years has shown that the risk of getting wet hay is similar for the two types of harvest but that mutual assistance makes it possible to cut at an earlier date (75% of hay baled before 1" July, instead of 55%). A number of conditions are however prerequisite for this type of organization: closeness, mutual trust, good planning, same attitude towards weather risks...