The Cost Function Structure of Dutch Dairy Farms: Effects of Quota abolition and Price Volatility

This paper investigates potential impacts on milk production of Dutch dairy farms if feed prices increase, milk prices decrease and milk quotas are abolished. A quadratic cost function is estimated using panel data on individual dairy farms of the Dutch FADN. Marginal costs and revenues are evaluated to show the heterogeneous farm-level impact of changing prices on potential production developments. The main finding is that potential increases in milk production when quota are abolished, are offset by a decreasing marginal revenue due to lower milk prices, and increasing marginal costs due to higher feed prices.