Technology adoption and total factor productivity: Victorian wool producers 1999/2000

Many empirical studies have measured wool producers' productivity growth rate, in aggregate. However, few studies have measured productivity levels across individual wool producers and the impact that technologies have on producers' productivity. This study identifies technologies that contribute to higher productivity levels. The information can assist industry, government and individual producers to improve productivity and, hence, profitability and competitiveness. The results indicate that wool producers in the sheep industry had the highest productivity level on average compared to wool producers in the wheat and other crops, mixed livestock-crops, and sheep-beef industries for 1999/2000. Participation in the agriculture extension program Triple P had the largest positive impact on wool producers' productivity in 1999/2000. Dse and dse per hectare also had an impact. In turn, ensuring finances for changes on farm, information, and pasture establishment and maintenance are important for increasing dse per hectare, which then feeds through to increased productivity. The wool industry program, BESTWOOL 2010, had a positive impact on wool producer productivity in 1999/2000.