ENVIRONMENTAL AND CLIMATIC PRESSURES AS A FUNCTION OF FARM SIZE

The paper presents an assessment of the degree of implementation of environmental and climate protection functions by Polish farms and agricultural enterprises of different size and production scale. There are differences in views on this topic in the literature, with opinions dominating on the more positive role of small farms in climate and biodiversity protection. Farm analysis was made on the basis of Statistics Poland data on farm size classes established by agricultural land area in 2016. The results of the study did not confirm the view that the production systems implemented in small farms are more environmentally friendly and have a more positive impact on the climate than those on farms of a larger production scale. This is evidenced by the sowing structure: cereal dominated in small farms, exceeding the agronomically recommended 66%, while the share of structure-forming plants – legumes, industrial oilseed and catch crops – was low. Also, the implemented organisation of animal production (not carried out at all in more than half of the small farms) consequently leads to soil degradation due to a jeopardised balance of organic matter.