Regional differentiation in own labour costs in various types of agricultural holdings

The work presents the result of research on the farmers’ own labour costs in the agricultural holdings selected according to their economic size or geographic location. The analysis was based on the FADN standard results, minimum subsistence figure and minimum standard of living. The research results have shown sharp differentiation of the possibilities to cover own labour costs on the agricultural holdings of different economic size. The minimum standard of living was found in the agricultural holdings falling under at least “medium small” size class, and the minimum subsistence figure was reached by at least “medium large” farms. Without subsidized operations, mainly EU direct payments, the minimum standard of living would be reached by the farms considered at least “medium large”. This proves that production factors engaged by agricultural holdings falling under lower economic size class and those beyond the scope of FADN observations are used ineffectively and do not provide support to farm family. Additionally, large regional differences were demonstrated as for the dependence of own work costs on the EU Common Agricultural Policy instruments, particularly direct payments. Agricultural holdings in Małopolska and Pogórze macroregions are the least dependent on the EU support, while those in Pomorze and Mazury macroregions are the most dependent