Development of dairy farming in Yubetsu, Hokkaido

Takahashi Nao

doi:10.5996/newgeo.46.10

In Japan, dairy farming developed rapidly after the end of world War II. While raising a few cows was combined with rice and dry field crops in early years, specialized dairy farming has been developed since the 1970s. Hokkaido is the most productive dairy farming region in Japan, where approximately forty percent of the total number of cows are kept. Higashi district of Yubetsu town, our study area, is located in the northeastern part of Hokkaido facing the Sea of Okhotsk. Agriculture is the main economic activity. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the factors constituting dairy farming in the process of regional changes, and to discuss the regional characteristics of dairy farming in Higashi district.<br>The development of dairy farming in the study area is divided into the four stage of introduction, development, maturity, and reorganization. Rice growing was most dominant in Higashi district prior to 1964 despite low yields due to its cold weather. Since rice fieids raised the groundwater table, it was difficult to use the land effectively. In order to overcome such situation, farmers abandoned their paddy fields to become specialized in dairy farming. Since then, the number of dairy cows and the area planted in silage crops increased rapidly. Farm income increased, while its land holding pattern remained unchanged as each farmer owned scattered parcels. Mechanization of farming, which was assisted by government subsidies, helped them reduce their work load. During the period between 1978 and 1988, mechanization proceeded further and the total farmland expanded. Piped-line milkers were introduced. Although the scale of farming was enlarged, farmers continued to own fragmented parcels. After 1989, many households stopped farming and the number of cows decreased. Aged farmers began to retire and farm management types became differentiated.<br>Contemporary Higashi district is characterized by specialized dairy farmers and those who combine dairy farming and dry field farming. Small, fragmented cropland are due to the small number of abandoned farms, and to the existence of successors of family farming. Although this type of dairy farming is not viable, small scale dairy farmers continue to exist in Higashi district.

Development of dairy farming in Yubetsu, Hokkaido

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