(A subsidy program for protecting livestock farmers from a sharp rise in feeding costs:)
1. Introduction
Japan does not have an advantage in the production of feeding crops because of its humid climate and mountainous geography. Thus, Japanese livestock farmers purchase mixed forage whose ingredients are largely imported from around the world1. The import prices of these ingredient crops fluctuate drastically, reflecting the volatilities of exchange rates and international crop markets. This is one of the biggest concerns for Japanese livestock farmers, as feeding costs account for nearly half of the total livestock production cost2. In order to protect livestock farmers against the instability of feed prices, the Japanese government developed a unique program called the Price Stabilization Program for Mixed Forage (PSPMF). This paper aims to outline the PSPMF system.
2. Production trends for mixed forage
Before discussing the PSPMF, it would be useful to briefly review the total production of mixed forage in Japan. As shown in Table 1, the total production of mixed forage grew to around 26 million tons in 1988. In 1998, it declined by nearly 2 million tons and has remained almost constant at around 24 million tons for the past 15 years.
Table 1 also shows that the mixed forage used to feed egg-laying hens and has accounted for the largest portion of the total production of mixed forage. However, this percentage displays a declining trend: it has recently reduced from more than half of the total production in 1965 to only one-fourth. In contrast, the percentage of mixed forage used to feed beef cattle increased from less than 10% to nearly 20% during the past quarter century.
Table 1. Production of mixed forage by purpose
Note a: The Japanese fiscal year starts on April 1 in the calendar year and ends on March 31 in the next year.
Source: Rakuno Keizai Tsushin Sha (2014)
3. Three funds for stabilizing mixed forage prices
The producers and distributors of mixed forage in Japan are categorized into three groups. The first group, consisting of multi-business type agricultural cooperatives, is called the Zen-noh Group. The second group, consisting of livestock-specific type agricultural cooperatives, is called the Chikusan Group, and the third group, consisting of private companies, is called the Shokei Group.
There had been various attempts to stabilize mixed forage prices before the establishment the PSPMF in 1975. For example, before 1975, each of the three groups had established its own fund to stabilize feed prices3. The funds are the Zen-noh Fund (established in February 1968), the Chikusan Fund (established in April 1968), and the Shokei Fund (established in March 1973). These funds collect money from livestock farmers and mixed forage producers when mixed forage prices are low and provide money to farmers when mixed forage prices are high.
In June 1973, the United States imposed an embargo on the export of soybeans. As a result, mixed forage prices increased so sharply that all three funds were on the verge of bankruptcy. Hence, in 1974, in order to protect mixed forage producers and livestock farmers, the Japanese government injected money into the three funds as an emergency measure.
From this experience, the government became aware of the need for a more systematic approach to mitigate unexpected sharp rises in feed prices. Thus, in 1975, the government created a new fund, the Fund for Extraordinary Compensation (FEC), and established the PSPMF. Since then, the Zen-noh Fund, the Chikusan Fund, and the Shokei Fund have been called the Funds for Ordinary Compensation (FOCs) to distinguish these three funds from the FEC. The function of the FEC is to provide financial support for the operation of the PSPMF by transferring money to the FOCs when the import prices of mixed forage ingredient crops surge to extraordinary levels.
4. The PSPMF system
While there have been occasional revisions to the PSPMF, the basic features of the system have remained the same since its creation in 19754.
Every time a livestock farmer purchases mixed forage, the farmer pays 600 yen per kilogram and the mixed forage producer pays 1,200 yen per ton to the FOCs. The FEC also collects money; in this case, the money is collected from mixed forage producers and the government (50% from all mixed forage producers and 50% from the government). Every year, considering the business conditions of the mixed forage industry, the government determines how much money the FEC should collect.
The weighted average of the import prices for the mixed forage ingredient crops is used as the index price for the PSPMF. For each quarter, the average of index price for the previous four quarters (i.e., one year) is calculated as the standard price. If the index price in the current quarter is more than the standard price, livestock farmers receive compensation to bridge the gap between the current index price and the standard price (note 5).
If the current index price is higher than the standard price, but lower than 1.15 times the standard price, livestock farmers receive compensation from the FOCs alone. If the current index price is higher than 1.15 times the standard price, livestock farmers receive compensation from the FOCs and the FEC as well. The FEC provides compensation to bridge the gap between the current index price and 1.15 times the standard price.
The record of payments of compensation since 1975 is shown in Table 2 and Fig. 1.
Table 2. Compensation under the PSPMFa
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Notes:
a. The Japanese fiscal year starts on April 1 in the calendar year and ends on March 31 in the next calendar year.
b. The first quarter starts on April 1 and ends on June 30. The second quarter starts on July 1 and ends on September 30. The third quarter starts on October 1 and ends on December 31. The fourth quarter starts on January 1 and ends on March 31.
c. PSPMF stands for the Price Stabilization Program for Mixed Forage.
d. FEC stands for Fund for Extraordinary Compensation.
e. FOC stands for Fund for Ordinary Compensation.
Source: Rakuno Keizai Tsushin Sha (2014)
Fig. 1. The weighted average of import prices of mixed forage ingredient crops and compensation under the PSPMFa
.jpg)
Note:
a. PSPMF stands for the Price Stabilization for Mixed Forage.
b. FEC stands for Fund for Extraordinary Compensation.
c. FOC stands for Fund for Ordinary Compensation.
Source: Shokuniku Co., Ltd (2015)
Notes
1. The Japan Livestock Dealers’ Association (2011) estimates that imported crops account for four-fifths of Japanese mixed forage (calculated on the total digestible nutrients (TDN) basis).
2. Rakuno Keizai Tsushin Sha (2014) estimates that feeding expenses account for around 40 to 60 percent of livestock farmers’ total production costs.
3. The Livestock Industry Promotion Corporation, a sub-government body and renamed in 1996 as the Agriculture and Livestock Industries Corporation, invested money in these three funds when they were founded.
4. The current version of the PSPMF was stipulated in 2013.
5. There are cases in which compensation is paid when the index price surged compared with the index price in the average of the previous two quarters (instead of the average of the previous four quarters).
References
Japan Livestock Dealers’ Association. 2011. Kachiki Torihiki no Chishiki (Textbook for Classes for Livestock Dealers), Tokyo: Gyosei.
Rakuno Keizai Tsushin Sha. 2014. 2015 Rakuno Keizai Nenkan (the 2015 version of Statistical Yearbook for the Dairy Industry), Tokyo: Rakuno Keizai Tsushin Sha.
Shokuniku Co.,Ltd. 2015. 2015 Sujidemiru Shokuniku Sangyo (the 2015 version of Outlook of the Meat Industry), Tokyo: Shokuniku Co., Ltd.
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Date submitted: May 31, 2015
Reviewed, edited and uploaded: June 1, 2015
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The Price Stabilization Program for Mixed Forage
(A subsidy program for protecting livestock farmers from a sharp rise in feeding costs:)
1. Introduction
Japan does not have an advantage in the production of feeding crops because of its humid climate and mountainous geography. Thus, Japanese livestock farmers purchase mixed forage whose ingredients are largely imported from around the world1. The import prices of these ingredient crops fluctuate drastically, reflecting the volatilities of exchange rates and international crop markets. This is one of the biggest concerns for Japanese livestock farmers, as feeding costs account for nearly half of the total livestock production cost2. In order to protect livestock farmers against the instability of feed prices, the Japanese government developed a unique program called the Price Stabilization Program for Mixed Forage (PSPMF). This paper aims to outline the PSPMF system.
2. Production trends for mixed forage
Before discussing the PSPMF, it would be useful to briefly review the total production of mixed forage in Japan. As shown in Table 1, the total production of mixed forage grew to around 26 million tons in 1988. In 1998, it declined by nearly 2 million tons and has remained almost constant at around 24 million tons for the past 15 years.
Table 1 also shows that the mixed forage used to feed egg-laying hens and has accounted for the largest portion of the total production of mixed forage. However, this percentage displays a declining trend: it has recently reduced from more than half of the total production in 1965 to only one-fourth. In contrast, the percentage of mixed forage used to feed beef cattle increased from less than 10% to nearly 20% during the past quarter century.
Table 1. Production of mixed forage by purpose
Note a: The Japanese fiscal year starts on April 1 in the calendar year and ends on March 31 in the next year.
Source: Rakuno Keizai Tsushin Sha (2014)
3. Three funds for stabilizing mixed forage prices
The producers and distributors of mixed forage in Japan are categorized into three groups. The first group, consisting of multi-business type agricultural cooperatives, is called the Zen-noh Group. The second group, consisting of livestock-specific type agricultural cooperatives, is called the Chikusan Group, and the third group, consisting of private companies, is called the Shokei Group.
There had been various attempts to stabilize mixed forage prices before the establishment the PSPMF in 1975. For example, before 1975, each of the three groups had established its own fund to stabilize feed prices3. The funds are the Zen-noh Fund (established in February 1968), the Chikusan Fund (established in April 1968), and the Shokei Fund (established in March 1973). These funds collect money from livestock farmers and mixed forage producers when mixed forage prices are low and provide money to farmers when mixed forage prices are high.
In June 1973, the United States imposed an embargo on the export of soybeans. As a result, mixed forage prices increased so sharply that all three funds were on the verge of bankruptcy. Hence, in 1974, in order to protect mixed forage producers and livestock farmers, the Japanese government injected money into the three funds as an emergency measure.
From this experience, the government became aware of the need for a more systematic approach to mitigate unexpected sharp rises in feed prices. Thus, in 1975, the government created a new fund, the Fund for Extraordinary Compensation (FEC), and established the PSPMF. Since then, the Zen-noh Fund, the Chikusan Fund, and the Shokei Fund have been called the Funds for Ordinary Compensation (FOCs) to distinguish these three funds from the FEC. The function of the FEC is to provide financial support for the operation of the PSPMF by transferring money to the FOCs when the import prices of mixed forage ingredient crops surge to extraordinary levels.
4. The PSPMF system
While there have been occasional revisions to the PSPMF, the basic features of the system have remained the same since its creation in 19754.
Every time a livestock farmer purchases mixed forage, the farmer pays 600 yen per kilogram and the mixed forage producer pays 1,200 yen per ton to the FOCs. The FEC also collects money; in this case, the money is collected from mixed forage producers and the government (50% from all mixed forage producers and 50% from the government). Every year, considering the business conditions of the mixed forage industry, the government determines how much money the FEC should collect.
The weighted average of the import prices for the mixed forage ingredient crops is used as the index price for the PSPMF. For each quarter, the average of index price for the previous four quarters (i.e., one year) is calculated as the standard price. If the index price in the current quarter is more than the standard price, livestock farmers receive compensation to bridge the gap between the current index price and the standard price (note 5).
If the current index price is higher than the standard price, but lower than 1.15 times the standard price, livestock farmers receive compensation from the FOCs alone. If the current index price is higher than 1.15 times the standard price, livestock farmers receive compensation from the FOCs and the FEC as well. The FEC provides compensation to bridge the gap between the current index price and 1.15 times the standard price.
The record of payments of compensation since 1975 is shown in Table 2 and Fig. 1.
Table 2. Compensation under the PSPMFa
Notes:
a. The Japanese fiscal year starts on April 1 in the calendar year and ends on March 31 in the next calendar year.
b. The first quarter starts on April 1 and ends on June 30. The second quarter starts on July 1 and ends on September 30. The third quarter starts on October 1 and ends on December 31. The fourth quarter starts on January 1 and ends on March 31.
c. PSPMF stands for the Price Stabilization Program for Mixed Forage.
d. FEC stands for Fund for Extraordinary Compensation.
e. FOC stands for Fund for Ordinary Compensation.
Source: Rakuno Keizai Tsushin Sha (2014)
Fig. 1. The weighted average of import prices of mixed forage ingredient crops and compensation under the PSPMFa
Note:
a. PSPMF stands for the Price Stabilization for Mixed Forage.
b. FEC stands for Fund for Extraordinary Compensation.
c. FOC stands for Fund for Ordinary Compensation.
Source: Shokuniku Co., Ltd (2015)
Notes
1. The Japan Livestock Dealers’ Association (2011) estimates that imported crops account for four-fifths of Japanese mixed forage (calculated on the total digestible nutrients (TDN) basis).
2. Rakuno Keizai Tsushin Sha (2014) estimates that feeding expenses account for around 40 to 60 percent of livestock farmers’ total production costs.
3. The Livestock Industry Promotion Corporation, a sub-government body and renamed in 1996 as the Agriculture and Livestock Industries Corporation, invested money in these three funds when they were founded.
4. The current version of the PSPMF was stipulated in 2013.
5. There are cases in which compensation is paid when the index price surged compared with the index price in the average of the previous two quarters (instead of the average of the previous four quarters).
References
Japan Livestock Dealers’ Association. 2011. Kachiki Torihiki no Chishiki (Textbook for Classes for Livestock Dealers), Tokyo: Gyosei.
Rakuno Keizai Tsushin Sha. 2014. 2015 Rakuno Keizai Nenkan (the 2015 version of Statistical Yearbook for the Dairy Industry), Tokyo: Rakuno Keizai Tsushin Sha.
Shokuniku Co.,Ltd. 2015. 2015 Sujidemiru Shokuniku Sangyo (the 2015 version of Outlook of the Meat Industry), Tokyo: Shokuniku Co., Ltd.
Date submitted: May 31, 2015
Reviewed, edited and uploaded: June 1, 2015