bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Changes in Producers' Perceptions of Within-Field Yield Variability after Adoption of Cotton Yield Monitors
Authors: Rejesus Roderick M. , Marra Michele C. , Roberts Roland K. , English Burton C. , Larson James A. , Paxton Kenneth W.
Published: July 2016

This article investigates how information from cotton yield monitors influences the perceptions of within-field yield variability of cotton producers. Using yield distribution modeling techniques and survey data from cotton producers in 11 southeastern states, we find that cotton farmers who responded to the survey tend to underestimate within-field yield variability (by approximately 5-18%) when not using site-specific yield monitor information. Results further indicate that surveyed cotton farmers who responded to a specific question about yield monitors place a value of approximately $20/acre/year (on average) on the additional information about within-field yield variability that the yield monitor technology provides.
Analysis of Price Risk Management Strategies in Dairy Farming Using Whole-Farm Simulations
Authors: Neyhard James , Tauer Loren , Gloy Brent
Published: July 2016

Combinations of futures and options contracts on milk and feed were simulated to determine their influence on a representative dairy farm's ability to meet cash flow requirements and reduce the variance of net income. Compared with the reference scenario of selling milk and procuring inputs on a monthly cash basis, the risk management activities did not result in a significant change in either the level or variance of net farm income. The results suggest that on average the current marketing procedure of monthly cash milk pricing and monthly feed purchases (and pricing) produces a strong built-in natural hedge for dairy farmers.
Why Is the Journal of Agricultural & Applied Economics Not in the Major Citation Indices and Does It Really Matter?
Authors: Petrolia Daniel R. , Hudson Darren
Published: July 2016

Why is it that we care about citation indices? Like proverbial silverback gorillas, we beat our chests at every change in our “h-index” or grunt loudly at every e-mail alert of a new citation to our papers. What does it all really mean though? Is there some deeper significance to a citation index? Does having a journal in the index enhance its own or sponsoring association's reputation? Inquiring minds want to know.
The U.S. Tobacco Buyout: A Partial and General Equilibrium Analysis
Authors: Schmitz Andrew , Haynes D.J. , Schmitz Troy G. , Schmitz Evan D.
Published: July 2016

This article analyzes the impact of removing the U.S. tobacco program in both a partial and general welfare economics framework. In a partial-equilibrium framework, a consumer tax-funded quota buyout can result in producer gains, consumer losses, net losses resulting from higher prices, and deadweight losses. In a general-equilibrium framework, society can gain from the buyout resulting from considerable potential savings from reduced healthcare costs attributable to a reduction in smoking. Additionally, we present a model that addresses the addictive qualities of tobacco while considering the effects of the quota buyout. We also conclude that another possible effect of the buyout is an increase in worker productivity because employees who are able to quit smoking reduce the amount of smoking-related sick days taken.
U.S. Import Demand and Supply Response for Fresh Tomatoes, Cantaloupes, Onions, Oranges, and Spinach
Authors: Seale James L. , Zhang Lisha , Traboulsi Mohamad R.
Published: July 2016

Elasticities of import demand and supply often drive economic models, but few empirical estimates of these elasticities exist for vegetables and fruits. For those that do exist, most are outdated. Because elasticities change over time as income, prices, and market conditions change, outdated elasticity estimates may not be representative of changes in import quantities demanded or in acreages, yield, and quantities supplied. Moreover, import demand elasticities by country of origin for most vegetables and fruits are nonexistent. This article presents research that updates elasticity estimates for each of the selected product categories and includes production and trade implications.
Tax-Exempt Bond Financing for Beginning and Low-Equity Farmers: The Case of ‘Aggie Bonds’
Authors: Williamson James M. , Katchova Ani L.
Published: July 2016

The “Aggie Bond” program was established in the 1980s to provide beginning and low-equity farmers access to capital. The bonds, which pay tax-exempt interest, may be used by qualifying famers for purchases of farm real estate and equipment. Using Aggie Bond data collected from states and Census of Agriculture data spanning 25 years, we examine whether the program has had an impact on farm entrance, land ownership, and the size of operation. We do not find strong evidence that the program led to an increase in the proportion of beginning farmers; however, we find limited evidence the program helped beginning farmers become full land owners as well as increased the rate of growth in the proportion of beginning farmers who are full land owners.
Who Buys Food Directly from Producers in the Southeastern United States?
Authors: Maples McKenzie , Morgan Kimberly L. , Interis Matthew G. , Harri Ardian
Published: July 2016

To capitalize on potential opportunities presented by growing consumer demand for locally grown foods, farmers need insight into significant motivations and behavioral characteristics of consumers in their region. This article aims to evaluate the characteristics of southeastern urban consumers who purchased food directly from producers. Novel study findings include the impact of disease incidences that occurred in respondent and related family members, a more accurate understanding of U.S. agriculture, relatively higher levels of concern about U.S. food safety, and greater physical activity levels, which are significant motivators of increased likelihood to purchase direct from producers.
Extension's Role in Commodity Marketing Education: Past, Present, and Future
Authors: Riley John M.
Published: July 2016

Historically, market situation and outlook has often included some form of price forecast. Recent volatility in agricultural commodity markets is making price forecasts challenging and at times less reliable. In addressing this price volatility, changes in agricultural markets are highlighted along with price forecasts: pre- and postincreased market volatility. Given these recent challenges, the future of Extension agricultural commodity marketing is discussed.
Stochastic Corn Yield Response Functions to Nitrogen for Corn after Corn, Corn after Cotton, and Corn after Soybeans
Authors: Boyer Christopher N. , Larson James A. , Roberts Roland K. , McClure Angela T. , Tyler Donald D. , Zhou Vivian
Published: July 2016

Deterministic and stochastic yield response plateau functions were estimated to determine the expected profit-maximizing nitrogen rates, yields, and net returns for corn grown after corn, cotton, and soybeans. The stochastic response functions were more appropriate than their deterministic counterparts, and the linear response stochastic plateau described the data the best. The profit-maximizing nitrogen rates were similar for corn after corn, cotton, and soybeans, but relative to corn after corn, the expected corn yield plateaus increased by 12% and 16% after cotton and soybeans, respectively. Expected net returns increased for corn after cotton and soybeans relative to corn after corn.
Optimal Land Allocation and Production Timing for Fresh Vegetable Growers under Price and Production Uncertainty
Authors: Vassalos Michael , Dillon Carl R. , Coolong Timothy
Published: July 2016

Production timing is an essential element in fresh vegetable growers' efforts to maximize profitability and reduce income risks. The present study uses biophysical simulation modeling coupled with a dual crop (tomatoes, sweet corn) whole-farm economic formulation to analyze the effects of growers' risk aversion levels and price consideration (seasonal or annual price consideration) in expected net returns and production practices. The findings indicate that consideration of seasonal price trends results in higher expected net returns and greater opportunities to mitigate risk. Furthermore, risk aversion levels substantially influence production timing when seasonal price trends are considered.
The Role and Value of Natural Capital in Regional Landscapes
Authors: Bergstrom John C.
Published: July 2016

Several developments in recent years related to the use, valuation, and management of natural resources provide the motivation for this paper. First, increased urbanization during the economic boom times of the 1990s has led to acceleration of the conversion of natural and undeveloped areas to unnatural and built-up areas in many regions of the nation. As a result people concerned about the loss of nature and various associated benefits in their communities are pushing for public action to protect remaining natural and undeveloped areas. The push for these protective actions sets the stage for conflicts with other people who support continued allocation of natural and undeveloped areas to various types of urban-related development. Insight into the resolution of such conflicts can be gained through a better understanding of how natural capital contributes to quality of life in different regions.
Brazil's New Floating Exchange Rate Regime and Competitiveness in the World Poultry Market
Authors: Costa Ecio F.
Published: July 2016

In early 1999, Brazil devalued its currency, increasing its competitiveness in the poultry industry and capturing world market share. This paper discusses the devaluation and its effects on Brazil's trade, evaluates preliminary statistics on the impact of the devaluation on world poultry markets, and reports the results from a computable general equilibrium (CGE) simulation of the devaluation. The medium-run CGE results are compared to the short-run impacts reflected in the preliminary statistics.
Designing U.S. Corn Grades to Reflect End Use Value
Authors: Reimer Jeffrey J. , Hill Lowell D.
Published: July 2016

The 1986 U.S. Grain Quality Improvement Act introduced an explicit, economic purpose for grades—that they transmit information about end use value—but provided little guidance about what factors to include in grades. We determine which quality characteristics best reflect the processed value of U.S. corn in the case of a Japanese wet miller. Foreign material is the only grade factor closely related to processed value, but a large number of nongrade attributes, many of which reflect the intrinsic properties of corn, are found to vary substantially across shipments and to provide extensive information about value. Recommendations for U.S. grades are made.
Measuring Welfare Effects of an FMD Outbreak in the United States
Authors: Paarlberg Philip L. , Lee John G. , Seitzinger Ann H.
Published: July 2016

Questions have been raised regarding the economic costs of a foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreak in the United States. This analysis examines how welfare changes are measured and argues that they must be decomposed by groups. Producers with animals quarantined and slaughtered because of FMD measure their welfare change using lost sales. Producers not quarantined measure their welfare change using producer surplus. The change in national sales revenue is accurate when the supply elasticity is low. Welfare changes for consumers also must be decomposed because the change in aggregate consumer surplus hides important shifts in welfare among groups of consumers.
Determinants of the Strength of Strategic Adjustments in Farm Capital Structure
Authors: Escalante Cesar L. , Barry Peter J.
Published: July 2016

This study employs correlation relationships to measure the strength of trade-offs between business and financial risks as a representation of the strategic capital adjustment process. Under different business risk measures based on varying lengths of historical farm income data, results suggest that farmers tend to adopt a myopic perspective when contemplating risk-balancing plans. Cross-sectional regression results for two-time period models covering the decade of the 1980s and 1990s yielded important implications. The liquidity-constrained environment of the 1980s emphasizes the combination of risk-balancing plans, specialization, and market revenue-enhancing strategies. In the 1990s, risk balancing becomes compatible with risk-reducing crop diversification and insurance protection plans.
The Role of On-Site Time in Recreational Demand for Wilderness
Authors: Acharya Ram N. , Hatch L. Upton , Clonts Howard A.
Published: July 2016

Treatment of time in travel cost models has been a source of contention among economists. The debate persists because welfare estimates, which are the principal objectives of these studies, are highly sensitive to the treatment of time. The present study examines the dual role of on-site time using evidence from two wilderness areas in Alabama. The empirical results comply with the theoretical expectation that on-site time is both a source of utility and cost. The exclusion of on-site time from demand functions results in biased parameter estimates. In particular, it yields smaller own-price coefficients and higher welfare estimates.
The Legal Environment Facing Economic Agents in Production
Authors: Hipp Janie S. , Francis Harriet F.
Published: July 2016

Agriculture has seen a steady movement toward the increased use of contracts. Agricultural contracts now guide the interrelationships of parties throughout the modern production system, extending well beyond the livestock sector. With this predominance come new issues that require us to reexamine contract theory and the roles of the parties. This review examines legislation, regulations, and recent court rulings in seemingly unrelated areas that have specific relationships to the development of contracts in production agriculture: environmental law and labor law.
Web Delivery of a Monte Carlo Simulation Model: The Base and Yield Analyzer Experience
Authors: Richardson James W. , Outlaw Joe L.
Published: July 2016

The provision for producers to update base acres and payment yields in the 2002 farm bill afforded an opportunity to test whether it was feasible to deliver a complex simulation model directly to producers. A Monte Carlo simulation model for assessing the economic impacts of the alternative base and yield options on individual farms was developed and made available to producers via the World Wide Web. The experiences and challenges from this collaborative extension and research effort are described, as well as the issues educators might consider before delivering complex software to a national audience via the Web.
Design and Management of Teaching Programs With Survival In Mind
Authors: Connor Larry J.
Published: July 2016

Agricultural economics teaching programs are becoming stressed. They vary considerably because of different institutional settings and are conducted under changing college, university, and department trends and paradigm shifts. To ensure success, strategic marketing processes need to be used in analyzing programs: identifying potential students (clientele or customers), ascertaining what to offer (majors, minors, service courses, enrichment options, and distance education), finalizing the strategic plan, and executing the plan (with students, administration, industry, and disciplinary peers). Conclusions and recommendations for enhancing teaching quantity and quality are presented for the strategic marketing processes. Finally, some implications and conclusions for graduate education are discussed.
Forward Pricing Behavior of Corn and Soybean Producers
Authors: Davis Todd D. , Patrick George F. , Coble Keith H. , Knight Thomas O. , Baquet Alan E.
Published: July 2016

Forward pricing behavior of random samples of Indiana, Nebraska, and Mississippi crop producers was analyzed using Heckman's two-step limited information maximum likelihood estimation procedure. Producers who forward priced during the 1995–1998 period generally expected to forward price in 1999 using similar techniques. Probit models were estimated for cash forward contracts and taking a direct position in futures or options separately and combined. Results provide limited support for the hypothesis that forward pricing should be analyzed as an adoption decision. Variables reflecting risk attitudes do affect the decision to use forward pricing, while variables related to economic position affect the level of forward pricing.
Determinants of Timberland Use by Ownership and Forest Type in Alabama and Georgia
Authors: Nagubadi Rao V. , Zhang Daowei
Published: July 2016

Land use changes and timberland use by ownership and forest type in Alabama and Georgia between 1972 and 2000 are analyzed using a modified multinomial logit approach. Low average land quality, federal cost-share incentives, and favorable returns to forestry relative to agriculture were the main factors associated with timberland increase. Higher forestry returns helped increase industrial timberland but not nonindustrial private forests. An increase in hardwood forests at the expense of softwood and mixed forests was driven by increasing hardwood returns. Increasing softwood returns and tree planting assistance programs alleviated declines in softwood forests. Because factors influencing timberland use changes differ by ownership and forest type, treating all timberland as one major category may lead to incorrect predictions.
Marketing Order Suspensions and Fresh Lemon Retail-FOB Margins
Authors: Richards Timothy J. , Kagan Albert , Mischen Pamela , Adu-Asamoah Richard
Published: July 2016

In August 1994, the Secretary of Agriculture announced the termination of the marketing order and the associated flow-to-market, or prorate, controls for fresh California and Arizona (CA/AZ) lemons. Lemon growers and handlers have expressed concern over the impact of this decision on retail-FOB margins. This study presents an econometric model of fresh lemon marketing margins that tests for the presence of buyer and seller market power during previous periods of marketing order suspension. The results show that buyer and, to a lesser extent, seller market power cause retail-FOB margins to widen during periods of prorate suspension.
Toward a Value for Guided Rafting on Southern Rivers
Authors: Bowker J. M. , English Donald B. K. , Donovan Jason A.
Published: July 2016

This study examines per trip consumer surplus associated with guided Whitewater rafting on two southern rivers. First, household recreation demand functions are estimated based on the individual travel cost model using truncated count data regression methods and alternative price specifications. Findings show mean per trip consumer surplus point estimates between $89 and $286, depending on modeling assumptions and river quality. Magnitudes of these surpluses are very dependent on assumptions about the opportunity cost of time.
Ecosystem Management and the Florida Everglades: The Role of Social Scientists
Authors: Milon J. Walter , Kiker Clyde F. , Lee Donna J.
Published: July 2016

Recently many state and federal agencies in the U.S. have embraced an ecosystems management approach to environmental protection and regulation. This approach requires a high degree of cooperation between natural and social scientists to translate policy objectives into research hypotheses, models, and evaluation procedures to guide implementation decisions. An adaptive procedure to guide interdisciplinary research is described and illustrated with highlights of recent progress and pitfalls from the restoration initiative for the Everglades/South Florida ecosystem.
Financial Performance, Risk, and Specialization
Authors: Purdy Barry M. , Langemeier Michael R. , Featherstone Allen M.
Published: July 2016

A sample of Kansas farms was used to examine the impact of risk and specialization on mean financial performance. Mean financial performance was hypothesized to be influenced by risk, age of the operator, percentage of acres owned, financial efficiency, leverage, specialization, and farm size. Risk, age of operator, financial efficiency, and farm size had the largest impacts on mean financial performance. Specializing in swine, dairy, or crop production increased mean financial performance, while specializing in beef production decreased mean financial performance. Farms with both crops and a livestock enterprise (beef, swine, or dairy) tended to have less variability in financial performance.
Economic Analysis of Environmental Benefits of Integrated Pest Management
Authors: Mullen Jeffrey D. , Norton George W. , Reaves Dixie W.
Published: July 2016

Public support for integrated pest management (IPM) is derived in part from concerns over food safety and the environment, yet few studies have assessed the economic value of health and environmental benefits of IPM. An approach is suggested for such an assessment and applied to the Virginia peanut IPM program. Effects of IPM on environmental risks posed by pesticides are assessed and society's willingness to pay to reduce those risks is estimated. The annual environmental benefits of the peanut IPM program are estimated at $844,000. The estimates of pesticide risks and willingness to pay can be applied elsewhere in economic assessments of IPM.
Economic Returns from Reducing Poultry Litter Phosphorus with Microbial Phytase
Authors: Bosch Darrell J. , Zhu Minkang , Kornegay Ervin T.
Published: July 2016

Requiring that crop applications of manure be based on phosphorus content (P-standard) could increase poultry litter disposal costs. Microbial phytase reduces litter P content and could reduce litter disposal costs under a P-standard. For a representative Virginia turkey farm, phytase costs $2,500 and could increase value of litter used for fertilizer on the turkey farm by $390 and reduce supplemental P feed costs by $1,431. Based on assumed litter demand and supply, estimated litter export prices with phytase could exceed export prices without phytase by $3.81 per ton. Phytase net returns to the farm are an estimated $1,435.
An Experimental Economics Approach to Analyzing Price Discovery in Forward and Spot Markets
Authors: Krogmeier Joseph L. , Menkhaus Dale J. , Phillips Owen R. , Schmitz John D.
Published: July 2016

Laboratory experiments are used to generate data that facilitate investigation of pricing behavior in forward and spot markets. Results suggest a tendency for prices in a spot market to converge to levels higher than those in a forward market. The difference in these market environments is the supply schedule. Buyers in a spot market are aware that supply is inelastic and become relatively aggressive bidders. Forward markets have a relatively elastic supply schedule and buyers fare better. This may motivate firms to promote forward markets and/or vertically integrate in the procurement of inputs.
Fed Cattle Spatial Transactions Price Relationships
Authors: Schroeder Ted C.
Published: July 2016

Delineation of geographic markets for fed cattle is essential in monitoring price behavior and determining geographic markets. This study uses transactions data from 28 U.S. fed cattle slaughter plants to determine the extent of the geographic market for fed cattle. Results indicate a national market for fed cattle with prices across most plants cointegrated. In addition, price discovery originates predominantly at plants located in Nebraska, and typically one-third of the total price adjustment to spatial integration occurs in one day.
Analysis of Housewives' Grocery Shopping Behavior in Taiwan: An Application of the Poisson Switching Regression
Authors: Kan Kamhon , Fu Tsu-Tan
Published: July 2016

The purpose of this study is to empirically investigate Taiwanese married women's grocery shopping behavior in relation to their labor force participation status. In this study, focus is limited to their grocery shopping frequency which is meant to be a proxy for an input to household production, i.e., food at home. A Poisson switching regression model is developed to estimate parameters of married women's shopping behavior. The results show that the labor force participation status does have a great impact on time allocation behavior.
Costs of Improving Food Safety in the Meat Sector
Authors: Jensen Helen H. , Unnevehr Laurian J. , Gómez Miguel I.
Published: July 2016

Recently enacted food safety regulations require processors to meet product standards for microbial contamination in meat products. An analysis of the cost-effectiveness of several technological interventions for microbial control in beef and pork processing shows that marginal improvements in food safety can be obtained, but at increasing costs. The additional food safety intervention costs represent about 1% of total processing costs for beef and pork. Some interventions and combinations are more cost-effective than others.
A Distributional Analysis of the Costs of Foodborne Illness: Who Ultimately Pays?
Authors: Golan Elise H. , Ralston Katherine L. , Frenzen Paul D.
Published: July 2016

This paper traces the economic impact of the costs of foodborne illness on the U.S. economy using a Social Accounting Matrix (SAM) framework. Previous estimates of the costs of seven foodborne pathogens are disaggregated by type, and distributed across the population using data from the National Health Interview Survey. Initial income losses resulting from premature death cause a decrease in economic activity. Medical costs, in contrast, result in economic growth, though this growth does not outweigh the total costs of premature death. A SAM accounting of how the costs of illness are diffused through the economy provides useful information for policy makers.
Cropland Diversions and Rural Nonfarm Population Change
Authors: Sluis Evert Van der , Peterson Willis L.
Published: July 2016

Data from 100 farming-dependent counties in the U.S. are used to measure the impact of acreage reduction programs on the level of the rural nonfarm population. Results of a simultaneous equation model suggest that the programs had a negative influence on the number of rural nonfarm people, reducing the rural nonfarm population in these counties by an estimated 15-16% over the 1960-90 period.
Elements of Cattle Feeding Profitability in Midwest Feedlots
Authors: Lawrence John D. , Wang Zhi , Loy Dan
Published: July 2016

Conventional wisdom and earlier research have concluded that cattle feeding profitability is more determined by feeder and fed cattle prices than by animal performance. This study examined cross-sectional and time-series data from over 1600 pens of cattle in more than 220 feedlots in the upper Midwest where weather and lot conditions are thought to influence feedlot profitability. In addition to input and output prices and animal performance, other factors found to significantly impact cattle feeding profitability were sex, placement weight, facility design, and to a lesser extent placement season.
Price Discovery in Wheat Futures Markets
Authors: Yang Jian , Leatham David J.
Published: July 2016

This paper examines the price discovery function for three U.S. wheat futures markets: the Chicago Board of Trade, Kansas City Board of Trade, and Minneapolis Grain Exchange. The maintained hypothesis is that futures markets search more for information than cash markets to find an equilibrium price, thus greatly improving the price discovery function. The tests reveal the existence of one equilibrium price across the three futures markets in the long run, but no cointegration among prices in the three representative cash markets.
Political Economy of Right-to-Farm
Authors: Adelaja Adesoji O. , Friedman Keith
Published: July 2016

This paper investigates the motivations for local right-to-farm protection ordinances by estimating a logit model relating the adoption of these ordinances to various political, economic and demographic factors previously found to affect the likelihood of passage of farmland preservation policies. Results suggest that the probability of adopting right-to-farm policies increases with the size and political clout of the farm public and with incentives to promote right-to-farm. Adoption is not enhanced by environmental concerns, nor by factors known to encourage adoption of farmland preservation policies. These findings raise serious concerns about the long-run viability of protections afforded agriculture in urbanizing areas.
School Inputs and Educational Outcomes in North Carolina: Comparison of Static and Dynamic Analyses
Authors: Waiden Michael L. , Sisak Mark R.
Published: July 2016

The relationship between student achievement and school inputs has long been a subject of academic research. The general conclusion of past research is that school inputs, such as the number of teachers relative to pupils, has little impact on student academic outcomes. This paper provides a fresh look at this issue. Seventeen alternative measures of student performance in North Carolina school districts are related to a wide array of school policy inputs and socioeconomic characteristics of students and their families. Both static and dynamic analyses are performed. The key findings are (1) the school policy inputs significantly related to student achievement vary by the measure of student achievement used, (2) the joint contribution of school policy inputs to student achievement is relatively small, and (3) the results differ between the static and dynamic analyses; in particular, changes in the number of teachers relative to the number of pupils in the district have a much stronger association with student achievement in the dynamic analysis.
Assessing Changes in Soil Erosion Rates: A Markov Chain Analysis
Authors: Skaggs Rhonda , Ghosh Soumen
Published: July 2016

Markov chain analysis (one-step and long-run) is applied to the National Resources Inventory (NRI) database to evaluate changes in wind-based soil erosion rates over time. The research compares changes in soil erosion rates between NRI sample sites with and without applied conservation practices for a random sample of Great Plains counties. No significant differences between sites are found for half of the counties evaluated. The effectiveness and efficiency of conservation policies are thus questioned in light of these research results.
Economic Effects of a Ban Against Antimicrobial Drugs Used in U.S. Beef Production
Authors: Mathews Kenneth H.
Published: July 2016

Economic effects for three scenarios of antimicrobial drug use in livestock production—a no-ban scenario and two levels of bans—are examined through cost minimization and a partial equilibrium analysis. Results indicate that regulating antimicrobial drug use in livestock production would increase per-unit costs of producers previously using drugs and reduce beef supplies in the short run, reducing consumer surplus. Producers not previously using drugs would benefit from short-run price increases.
Student Numbers and Sustaining Courses and Fields in Ph.D. Programs
Authors: Davis George C. , Perusquia Ernesto
Published: July 2016

Many agricultural economics departments are concerned about the vitality of their Ph.D. programs. A particular problem is insufficient student numbers to justify teaching certain courses or fields. As a consequence, much faculty time can be spent debating alternative program structures without any real idea of the likelihood that a proposed program structure will succeed. This article presents a framework for deriving some analytical and empirical results for alternative Ph.D. program structures. A downloadable program is used to generate some representative results that will hopefully help others minimize speculations and time spent in committee or departmental meetings.
The 1995 Farm Bill: Opportunities and Challenges for Economists
Authors: Conley Howard H.
Published: July 2016

The 1994 congressional elections brought expectations of policy reform that extended to agriculture. This paper examines the role of economic analysis and how policymakers made use of it in developing the policies of the Agricultural Reconciliation Act, also known as the Freedom to Farm Act. Budget reduction pressures, other/secondary policy objectives, and a closed debate led to the system of fixed, declining payments to farmers that characterize an economist's solution, without the direct participation of economists, to interventionist government policy. Left unanswered are questions of political stability of the policy and whether the direct payments themselves are adequate or excessive.
Measuring the Quality of Imported Tobacco
Authors: Davis George C. , Hewitt William J.
Published: July 2016

Domestic tobacco producers have faced increasing competition from imported tobacco since the late 1970s. Much of the debate has centered on the unknown quality of imported tobacco. This study provides a discussion and clarification of the concept of quality, and demonstrates a method of measuring the average quality of imported tobacco. The results show that since 1977, imported tobacco has been steadily decreasing in average quality and moving toward lower quality producing countries and types of tobacco. The reasons for this decline are discussed along with the policy implications.
Structural Change in Higher Education: Implications for Agricultural Economics Extension; or Does Diffedence, Decadence and Dissonance Make a Difference?
Authors: McDowell George
Published: July 2016

Discussion of changes taking place in American agriculture followed by a review of the traditional model of extension suggests there is dissonance between what is needed to inform contemporary agriculture and what extension actually does. The paper further suggests that difficulty in packaging the newly needed information in ways that achieve the institutional maintenance objectives of extension explain a part of the system's decadence and reluctance to change. Since the intellectual problems of market failure, even political market failure, are within the domain of economists, diffidence by agricultural economists to those issues within the Land-Grant system can make a difference.
Factors Influencing Southern Dairy Farmers' Choice of Milk Handlers
Authors: Misra S. K. , Carley D. H. , Fletcher S. M.
Published: July 2016

Survey data of 2,538 dairy farmers located in 12 southern states were used to analyze the factors influencing farmers' choice of milk handlers. Results from a qualitative response model indicate that a combination of price and non-price factors contribute to dairy farmers' attitudes toward their milk handlers. Specifically, the decision to change milk handlers was significantly influenced by prices paid and deductions charged. However, non-price factors including field services, friendly personnel, and loyalty to a handler contributed to the longer term affiliation of dairy farmers with their milk handlers.
Commodity Policy, Price Incentives, and the Growth in Per-Acre Yields
Authors: Foster William E. , Babcock Bruce A.
Published: July 2016

We estimate the influence of policy-induced price changes and of technology supply on North Carolina flue-cured tobacco yields. The decline in land rent and effective output price that accompanied a 1965 policy change from acreage allotments to poundage quotas caused a 12 percent decrease in yields. Farmer yields were more responsive to yield-increasing technologies under acreage allotments than under poundage quotas. Annual yield growth was 0.5 percent under poundage quotas and 4.32 percent under acreage allotments. The growth rate decline is attributable to changes in relative prices and to a slowdown in the supply of available technologies.
Estimated Costs and Returns for Catfish Farms With Recirculating Ponds Along the Upper Texas Coast
Authors: Lambregts J.A.D. , Griffin W.L. , Lacewell R.D. , Davis J.T. , Clary G.M.
Published: July 2016

Cost, returns, and economies of scale for small, medium and large catfish farms with recirculating ponds are presented for the upper Texas coast. Internal rates of return are 0.150, 0.183 and 0.219, respectively. Total investment is higher than farms with static ponds but investment per unit production capacity is 7 percent to 16 percent lower. Average total cost per pound is between $0,565 and $0,541, (11 percent-20 percent lower than farms using current technology). These results have implications for regional comparative advantage of catfish production as well as incentive for adoption of new technology in conventional ponds.
A Conjoint Analysis of Waterfowl Hunting in Louisiana
Authors: Gan Christopher , Luzar E. Jane
Published: July 2016

Conjoint analysis, widely used in marketing research, offers an alternative resource valuation approach suited to outdoor recreation activities characterized as multiattribute. Design, implementation, and interpretation of conjoint analysis are reviewed in the context of recreation applications. Conjoint analysis is used in an analysis of waterfowl hunting in Louisiana. Using primary data collected from a survey of waterfowl hunters, ordered logit is used to estimate willingness-to-pay for recreation experience attributes.
Economic Returns to the Boll Weevil Eradication Program
Authors: Ahouissoussi Nicolas B.C. , Wetzstein Michael E. , Duffy Patricia A.
Published: July 2016

The economic viability of the Boll Weevil Eradication Program in Alabama, Florida, and Georgia is assessed based on a five-year survey of producers. Results indicate the program increases yield 100 pounds per acre. This implies a 19 percent internal rate of return for producers over a ten-year period.
Reflections on Relevance of Professional Journals
Authors: Robison Lindon J. , Colyer Dale
Published: July 2016

It appears the major private benefit from peer reviewed journals such as the Review of Agricultural Economics (RAE) is certification. To maintain public support for our journals, increased efforts are needed to demonstrate the social benefits from peer reviewed publications. Research cost considerations have led agricultural economists to emphasize applied disciplinary work using secondary data and to ignore the important work of careful data collection and reporting. Moreover, pressures to publish have led to more isolated research efforts ignoring other disciplines. Recommendations to improve the relevance of journal publications include more active efforts by journal editors to make applied journals such as RAE more accessible to the public.
Economics and Interdisciplinary Collaborative Efforts
Authors: Zilberman David
Published: July 2016

Research on environmental and resources issues is interdisciplinary by nature. For example, studying the economics of pesticides may entail working with both entomologists to address pest problems and toxicologists to address the human health problems associated with pesticide use. Interdisciplinary efforts require familiarity with the findings of other disciplines as well as direct collaboration with professionals in other disciplines. This paper presents a somewhat personal perspective on the issues that economists may encounter in interdisciplinary work. It also presents suggestions on how to increase the acceptance of economic thinking /theory by professionals in other disciplines. The paper starts with a theoretical discussion on relations between disciplines and between professions, followed by discussion of the issues affecting the relationships of agricultural economists with other professions.
Environmental Regulations as Constraints to Agriculture: A Discussion
Authors: Norris Patricia E.
Published: July 2016

Little doubt remains that agricultural operations will be increasingly constrained by environmental regulations. In that spirit, each of the foregoing authors has provided a general framework for a specific environmental issue as it impacts agriculturalists. I learned something from each paper (an important criterion). Rather than summarize the points made by the authors, I have chosen to address each paper separately and point out some specific issues which I feel were overlooked in the papers or which seem to follow directly from the discussions in the papers.
Environmental and Economic Implications of Alternative EC Policies
Authors: Liapis Peter S.
Published: July 2016

A net trade model that includes environmental variables is used to analyze economic and environmental implications of various EC policies. There are environmental benefits from CAP reform, but a fertilizer tax results in greater nitrate and phosphate abatement. The input tax also results in smaller drops in EC farm income compared to CAP reform.
Feedforward Neural Network Estimation of a Crop Yield Response Function
Authors: Joerding Wayne H. , Li Ying , Young Douglas L.
Published: July 2016

Feedforward networks have powerful approximation capabilities without the “explosion of parameters” problem faced by Fourier and polynomial expansions. This paper first introduces feedforward networks and describes their approximation capabilities, then we address several practical issues faced by applications of feedforward networks. First, we demonstrate networks can provide a reasonable estimate of a Bermudagrass hay fertilizer response function with the relatively sparse data often available from experiments. Second, we demonstrate that the estimated network with a practical number of hidden units provides reasonable flexibility. Third, we show how one can constrain feedforward networks to satisfy a priori information without losing their flexible functional form characteristic.
Pricing Strategy Under Monopoly Conditions: An Experiment for the Classroom
Authors: Nelson Robert G. , Beil Richard O.
Published: July 2016

This classroom experiment allows students to explore pricing strategies available to the monopolist. Students are given full information about their costs but know nothing about demand except that it is simulated by the instructor. They submit their price-asked and quantity-offered records on one day and receive the quantity-sold response from the instructor on the next day, continuing this routine until they discover the profit-maximizing price and quantity. One of the objectives is to demonstrate that search strategies based on economic principles (MC=MR) can be more efficient than trial-and-error.
The Poverty of Applied Policy Analysis
Authors: Boggess William G.
Published: July 2016

‘We always plan too much and think too little. We resent a call to thinking and hate unfamiliar argument that does not tally with what we already believe or would like to believe.’

– Joseph Schumpeter, (1947, pg. xi)

My objective today is to put forth a call for each of you to rethink how we do applied policy analysis. I plan to justify the need for this rethinking using a variety of arguments. Some of my arguments will be familiar to most if not all of you, others may be unfamiliar to most if not all. I claim no originality for the basic theoretical arguments, they all appear in the literature. What 1 hope you find to be original and useful is the synthesis of these arguments. Furthermore, though in places 1 will point out the need for additional theoretical work, my primary goal is to convince practicing agricultural policy analysts to become more comprehensive in their analyses. In the grand tradition of presidential addresses, my remarks cover a rather broad range of issues at the expense of depth on any one issue. Nevertheless, I hope that my remarks will stimulate discussion and thought about how we as agricultural economists do applied policy analysis.
Agricultural Industrialization: Implications for Economic Development and Public Policy
Authors: Drabenstott Mark
Published: July 2016

Industrialization is rapidly becoming a topic of great attention. Driven by fundamental economic forces, industrialization seems likely to advance more quickly in the coming decade to more industry segments. By changing the way agriculture does business, industrialization will also bring change to public policy and agricultural institutions. Commodity policy will increasingly be out of step with a product-oriented industry. And as industrialization blurs the lines between producers and processors, land grant universities and the extension service will face challenges assessing who their customers are.
Social Capital and Economic Cooperation
Authors: Robison Lindon J. , Hanson Steven D.
Published: July 2016

The socioeconomic movement is an effort to better explain human behavior by combining insights of economists and sociologists. This paper contributes to the socioeconomic literature by including the influence of relationships, values, and social bonds in the neoclassical economic model by introducing social capital coefficients. The usefulness of the resulting social capital model is demonstrated theoretically in a two-firm cooperative model and tested empirically using data from a survey of students who allocate their time between individual and joint projects.
Using Computer Technology to Enhance Agricultural Economics Teaching
Authors: Monson Michael J.
Published: July 2016

Computers are becoming an affordable and effective tool for assisting with classroom instruction. This paper describes experiences utilizing a hypermedia presentation system for a farm management course. Some advantages as well as drawbacks and issues associated with using microcomputer-controlled hypermedia in the classroom are presented. Hopefully, readers will find some assistance in planning the design and implementation of such techniques for their own classes.
Integration and Behavior in the U.S. Winter Market for Fresh Tomatoes
Authors: Jordan Kenrick H. , VanSickle John J.
Published: July 2016

Alternative hypotheses of market integration in the U.S winter market for fresh tomatoes were evaluated using a dynamic model of spatial price adjustment. The results showed that while Florida and Mexico were integrated in the same market, a price change in one area was not instantaneously reflected in the other. Lagged effects were important with long-run integration being supported for both Florida and Mexico and short-run integration for Mexico. However, the information flow, while relatively efficient, was not symmetric. Florida was found to be dominant in the price formation process with Mexico responding to changes in the Florida price.
The Effect of Market Concentration on Lamb Marketing Margins
Authors: Brester Gary W. , Mustek Douglas C.
Published: July 2016

The national four-firm concentration ratio in the lamb slaughtering and processing industry increased from 55 percent in 1980 to 70 percent in 1992. The effect of increasing lamb packer concentration on lamb marketing margins is examined. A relative price spread (RPS) model for farm-to-wholesale and wholesale-to-retail marketing margins was estimated using three-stage least squares (3SLS). The 3SLS results indicate that increased lamb packer concentration has had relatively small, positive effects on lamb marketing margins.
Stabilization Policies and Agricultural Impacts in Developing Countries: The Case of Bolivia
Authors: De la Barra Victor H. , Marchant Mary A. , Isinika Aida C.
Published: July 2016

This research examines the success of stabilization policies to control hyperinflation in Bolivia. Money demand functions for the hyperinflation and stabilization periods were econometrically estimated and statistically tested. We conclude that the demand for money in Bolivia changed after stabilization policies were implemented, indicating that the new government's objectives were met. Stabilization policies resulted in real economic growth for Bolivia's economy, including its agricultural sector, where agricultural export shares increased tenfold as stabilization policies corrected overvalued exchange rates.
Determinants of Participation and Consumption: The Case of Crawfish in South Louisiana
Authors: Yen S. T. , Dellenbarger L. E. , Schupp A. R.
Published: July 2016

This study investigates the determinants of crawfish consumption in South Louisiana using a generalized limited dependent variable model that accounts for both participation and consumption decisions. Income, Catholic, white, and household size increase the likelihood of crawfish consumption but not the conditional level of consumption. Education and employment status are among the other household characteristics that determine the conditional level of consumption.