EDF: Cost of Production Comparison

EDF logo_dairyfarmer_congress_2014Benchmarking for dairy farms from all over Europe is the goal of EDF. One of their core projects is the annual EDF Cost of Production Comparison. It is conducted by the Scientific Team for Analysis and Research (EDF STAR) in close co-operation with the farms and advisors of the EDF network.

What we do?

Within the Cost of Production Comparison we annually analyse and compare the economical and technical performance of about 250 individual dairy farms from all over Europe. Our analyses are based on the farms’ accounting data that we collect annually from every individual EDF farm with the help of the national representatives of EDF STAR. They collect the data directly from the individual farms and forward it to the EDF STAR Coordination Centre, where farm individual key figures are calculated and compared. From their national representatives participating farms then receive detailed information – the EDF Farmbook – about their individual cost of production in comparison to other dairy farms of the EDF network as well as additional economic analyses carried out by the scientific team.

What the benefit is?

Participating farms will gain detailed information about the performance of their dairy enterprise. The analyses and the different EDF key figures calculated from the farms’ accounting information give an impression on their strong and weak points.
Since dairy markets are becoming more international, it is increasingly important to know about the competitiveness of the own business within the country and within Europe. The advantage in knowledge from the EDF Cost of Production Comparison helps to actively shape the farms’ future in dairying.

First-hand information

Moreover, taking part actively in the EDF Cost of Production Comparison not only gives the chance to compare figures with dairy farms from all over Europe, but also learning directly from them is possible (first-hand information). The national EDF meetings as well as the international EDF Congress can be used to get in touch with farms from different regions and countries to discuss key figures and learn about their way of dairy farming.
How are others doing the same things? Are there more successful strategies than the own farm strategy? These are the interesting questions participants will learn more about by discussing with each other. Participants will take home new ideas and international knowledge that can be used to improve the own farm business.

Interested in participating? Please contact your national representative of EDF STAR or the EDF STAR Coordination Centre: edf(a)vti.bund.de