Farm size growth and participation in agri-environmental schemes: A configural frequency analysis of the Swiss case

This paper examines the relationship between farm growth and participation in agri-environmental schemes, using the example of meadow extensification scheines in Switzerland. As a result of small farm sizes in Swiss agriculture, theory would suggest that economies of scale are considerable for market production activities, so that for growing farms it would be rational to intensity. Configural frequency analysis is used to identify and describe combinations of farm Size development and proportion of meadows placed under agri-environniental schemes. In the Swiss case, growing arms are likely to reduce their participation, whereas shrinking farms have a growing share of their meadows under extensification schemes.