Identifying efficient dairy producers using data envelopment analysis

摘要: The objective of this research was to calculate the efficiency a group Pennsylvania dairy farms determine factors that contributed in production and business management. Data envelopment analysis (DEA) used estimate efficiency. Two models were developed measure efficient use physical (land, cows, labor) inputs produce (milk butterfat) outputs, economic (debt capital) (income) outputs. results showed about 29% producers our sample DEA-efficient demonstrated there no combination by best. In addition, method illustrated benefits DEA it is possible identify set inefficient can benchmark an effort achieve similar levels Finally, should not highest level production, but rather combine resources land, labor, debt capital which indeed may be less than maximum group.