Participation in set aside: What determines the opting in price?

This paper analyses the decision facing Community farmers of whether or not to participate in the voluntary rotational set aside scheme. For each individual producer, an "indifference price" for cereals can be identified at which the expected profit from either opting in or out of the scheme is identical. An expected utility model is used to investigate the influence of various factors on the level of indifference price and hence the uptake of set aside. Empirical analysis, based on FBS farm level data, suggests that this price is relatively insensitive to the uncertainty faced by the farmer and the farmer's attitude to risk. It is, however, sensitive both to the key policy variables and to the farm's cost structure and yield. The results presented help explain the initial high take up of set aside in England.