飼料イネ多収技術の経済性分析

抄録

The use of paddy for feed production has become an important component in Japan as part of the strategy for adjusting rice production, reducing abandoned cultivatable land, and improving feed self-sufficiency. Forage rice production has been promoted as a feed crop that can even be grown in wet paddy. However, it is indispensable for farmers to earn a profit from forage rice production and utilization if they are to continue paddy production for feed. It is therefore important to reduce forage rice production costs through the use of high-yield technology as a key method for earning a profit.
Therefore, the purpose of this report is to clarify the effectiveness of strategies for improving profitability by introducing high-yield technologies such as high-yielding varieties, extensive use of manure, and a new harvester which reduces harvesting loss. We also calculate the cost of forage rice production and utilization that includes transportation, feeding, and compost management, in order to determine the effectiveness of a strategy to decrease costs through the use of grazing.
Introduction of high-yielding varieties for feed grade rice and the use of the new harvester improves forage rice production profit, compared to the use of common varieties for food rice and a conventional harvester. The effect profits of the introduction of high-yield technology using extensive use of manure depends on the selling price of forage rice and the repayment of the cost of the harvester. High-yield technology using large manure doesn’t necessarily improve profit in the case of low forage rice prices and high repayment costs associated with purchase of a harvester.
The use of forage rice for grazing reduces its utilization cost conspicuously. In particular the use of forage rice for grazing when cultivated with high-yield technology the extensive use of manure cuts the per unit production cost by half when compared to the cost of purchasing and utilizing imported hay.