Automation and efficiency: A latent class analysis of Irish dairy farms

Abstract Automation has always played a significant role in the productivity and efficiency of agriculture. This paper explores automation on farms' technical (TE) an expanding dairy sector. We use representative sample Irish farms that includes detailed data automated technologies. apply latent class stochastic frontier model to assess technology heterogeneity amongst obtain their TE scores. identify two classes farms: smaller, less intensive larger, more farms. find differences between relation farm characteristics, input use, labour efficiency, Larger, produce closer frontier. Our findings also suggest heterogeneous effect depending classification. Specifically, adopting cluster removers scrapers is associated with higher In contrast, parlour feeders are positively TE. Finally, implications technologies discussed.