bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of Enhancing NISA on Income Stabilization and Support
Authors: Spriggs John , Nelson Toby
Published: July 2005

Dynamic stochastic simulation is used to explore the effects of enhancing Canada's NISA program (a resource‐neutral farm income support program) by increasing the size of contributions matchable by the government. The government matching contributions are a subsidy to farmers, part of which is potentially available as disposable income and part of which must remain in the producer's stabilization account, becoming available only on retirement (or upon exit from farming). It was found that progressive enhancements to the program: (a) yielded diminishing marginal gains in year‐to‐year income stability for farmers; and (b) resulted in a declining proportion of the government contribution being available as disposable income.
La détection précoce des difficultés financeères des entreprises laitières québécoises
Authors: Paillat Nicolas , Perrier Jean‐Philippe , Parent Diane , Levallois Raymond , Pellerin Et Doris
Published: July 2005

La demande importante d'investissements pour assurer la pérennité des entreprises agricoles rend ces dernières paradoxalement plus fragiles. Identifier les critères qui permettent de déceler de façon précoce les difficultés financières serait donc d'une grande utilité pour les agriculteurs.

De la banque de données Agritel, les données de 67 entreprises saines et de 41 entreprises qui ont connu des difficultés financières en 1992 sont utilisées. Les donnèes des annèes 1988 à 1992 sont utilisées. Des modèles de règression logistique et d'analyse discriminante ont été adoptés. Pour cette dernière, un modèle d'analyse discriminante non paramétrique a également été employé.

Le contrôle des dettes, tant à court terme qu'à moyen et long termes, apparaît essentiel. Des dettes à court terme èlevées caractérisent les entreprises défaillantes dès 1988. De plus, les entreprises doivent parvenir à des résultats technico‐économiques suffisants pour atteindre un niveau minimum de viabilité. Enfin, les excès d'actifs non productifs doivent être contrôlés, car de telles immobilisations affectent la rentabilité de l'entreprise. Ainsi, trois dimensions doivent être considérées pour une détection efficace des difficultés financières.

Une analyse à partir de cinq ratios nous permet de prévoir des difficultés cinq ans avant leur apparition.
A Bug Is a Bug Is a Bug: Symbolic Responses to Contingent Valuation Questions about Forest Pest control programs?
Authors: MacDonald Heather , McKenney Daniel W. , Nealis Vince
Published: July 2005

Symbolic responses are one of many issues attending contingent valuation studies. The problem is that many objects that are the subject of contingent valuation surveys can act as symbols for larger issues. In this paper, we want to compare the attitudes of residents of five communities with two different forest pests, jack pine budworm and gypsy moth. Jack pine budworm affects commercially important forests in Canada, while gypsy moth generally affects recreational areas and has less commercial significance. All of the respondents were asked about both insects; however, not all of the communities had direct experience with both insects. The purpose is to examine whether respondents would differentiate their willingness to pay for control mechanisms between these different defoliators. The implication is that all bugs are alike and generally noxious, a notion that would not necessarily sit well with resource managers who have to deal with insect outbreaks. Respondents did not differentiate strongly between insect control programs that would impact their community and those that would not. While not conclusive, the results do suggest symbolic responses to this particular issue. This is further evidence that willingness‐to‐pay results from contingent valuation studies need to be cautiously interpreted as pseudo market values.
Saskatchewan Wheat Pool's Transformation from Co‐op to Public Corporation: The Farmers’Reaction
Authors: Painter Marvin J.
Published: July 2005

In 1996, Saskatchewan Wheat Pool (SWP), the largest grain handling and agricultural marketing cooperative in Canada, changed its ownership structure to become a new‐generation co‐op. Traditionally, co‐ops sell shares to members, and the ownership structure provides one vote per member, regardless of how many shares the member owns. In 1996, Saskatchewan Wheat Pool issued to its farmer members one Class A voting, nontransferable share. They also issued to each member a number of nonvoting Class B shares equal to the value of their co‐op equity, which could be traded publicly on the Toronto Stock Exchange. The transition to a new‐generation co‐op has not been unopposed. There have been members who have suggested that SWP is no longer a real co‐op and that it is no different from any other public corporation.

The study uses two surveys of SWP farmer members, one completed prior to going public and one after, to compare how the members felt about the changes. The October 1995 survey results indicate significant opposition to the change in SWP's ownership structure. A majority of farmer members wanted SWP to remain a traditional co‐op and not to make the change to public corporation. SWP forged ahead with the change, indicating that it was necessary for the future competitiveness and well‐being of the company. The November 1996 survey results indicate that many farmer members have changed their minds. These results show far greater support for the new Saskatchewan Wheat Pool.
The Brazilian Cattle Sector: Status, Prospects and Controversies
Authors: Faminow Merle D.
Published: July 2005

The cattle sector in Brazil (and in other countries of South America) is substantial in terms of size and potential impacts in world markets. Due to the sheer magnitude and potential of the Brazilian cattle sector, it merits our attention. A trend to more productive cattle systems, new rules for trade in livestock products and more effective control of hoof and mouth disease in some areas of Brazil could cause it to become a more formidable beef exporter. Brazil also warrants attention because of the controversial practice of deforestation for cattle production in the Amazon rain forest. A vocal environmental lobby has decried cattle production in the Amazon, but this practice continues. This paper reviews the status, prospects and controversies of the beef sector in Brazil, with a special focus on deforestation and cattleproduction in tropical ecosystems.
Community Attributes Influencing Local Food Processing Growth in the U.S. Corn Belt
Authors: Henderson Jason R. , McNamara Kevin T.
Published: July 2005

This paper examines local and regional attributes associated with growth in the food processing industry. The paper uses industrial location studies to develop a model of food processing plants’growth. Ordinary least squares (OLS) models are estimated to analyze which local, regional and state attributes are associated with county level growth, measured by a change in the number of establishments. The results suggest that food processing growth is associated with factors similar to those influencing the location of footloose manufacturing plants. However, growth in food processing sectors is associated with different local attributes depending on a firm's industry type (demand‐oriented, supply‐oriented, footloose).
Consumer Demand For Butter, Margarine and Blends: The Role of Purchase and Household Characteristics
Authors: Gould Brian W.
Published: July 2005

A U.S. household panel is used to estimate a model of household purchases of butter, margarine and butter/margarine blends. The econometric model accounts for the discrete purchase decisions process and the censored nature of disaggregated commodity demand. Observed market prices are “quality” adjusted for the three commodities investigated based on household and purchase characteristics. Over 90% of the reaction to a price change is found to occur with respect to the decision whether or not to consume.
Index Models and Land Allocation Reconsidered
Authors: Lence Sergio H. , Hart Chad
Published: July 2005

In contrast with previous index model land applications, this article shows that the land allocation problem is a portfolio model with two constraints, namely, investable funds and land. The two‐constraint model implies a drastic reinterpretation of what previous studies have quantified as diversifiable and systematic risks in agricultural production. The article also argues that the constant marginal‐rate‐of‐product‐substitution (MRPS) technology implicit in financial portfolio models is unlikely to hold in a production context such as the land allocation problem, and that the index model must be modified accordingly. Farm‐level data are used to illustrate and test the hypotheses advanced. Empirical results indicate that most of the risk for corn and soybeans is diversifiable, and that corn and soybeans are characterized by decreasing MRPS. The MRPS effect is found to be large from an economic standpoint and implies that crop diversification may be optimal, even for risk‐neutral farmers.
Risk and (Re‐)organization in Agriculture: The Economics of Back grounding Cattle in Saskatchewan
Authors: Karantininis Kostas A. , Ian McNinch T. , Brown William J.
Published: July 2005

The beef system in western Canada is currently undergoing restructuring. To increase the number of animals a feedlot finishes, their portion of the production process is being narrowed to the final 136 kgof weight gain. This results in a stage of production known as backgrounding, where calves are grown before entering the feedlot. This paper explains the reorganization that is occurring in the context of transaction cost economics, which explains this evolution as a process in which the governance structure involved in contracting has minimized the transaction costs. New methods of marketing these backgrounded cattle are being developed, which may increase the profitability of these operations. This paper measures the impacts of five different marketing options on the backgrounding enterprise's risk and returns. Thirteen enterprises are modeled, using various levels of capital and labor intensities, live stock numbers, sizes of calves fed and average daily gains. These models are simulated from 1978 to 1994 using costs of production and prices of cattle. Profits per head calculations allow the comparison of the enterprise efficiencies. The marketing alternatives are then evaluated using mean‐variance rule(E‐V) and stochastic dominance methods of risk analysis.
Feeder‐pig Producers and Finishers: Who Should Contract?
Authors: Parcel Joseph L. , Langemeijer Michael R.
Published: July 2005

The purpose of this study is to determine the minimum level of contract payments required to produce hogs under a production contract. Required payments needed for contract growing to be preferred to independent production for the average‐profit, slightly risk‐averse, feeder‐pig producer and for the high‐profit, moderately to strongly risk‐averse, feeder‐pig producer are found to be similar to those currently offered by contractors. Feeder‐pig finishers with average profit levels would either have to be strongly risk‐averse or expect economic profits to fall to zero to prefer contracting over independent production. Low‐profit feeder‐pig finishers who are moderately to strongly risk‐averse would prefer contracting. Feeder‐pig finishers who historically have experienced above‐average profits would require payments substantially above current contract rates to prefer contracting.
Who Will Market Western Canada's Grain?
Authors: Veeman Michele
Published: July 2005

Invited Paper

In this review paper, the intense current debate on the appropriate role of the Canadian Wheat Board in the domestic and export marketing of prairie wheat and barley is overviewed. The role, functions and powers of the board, a legislatively specified marketing institution, have changed over time. Numbers of broad socio‐economic influences are affecting the environment in which this body operates and are likely to affect the marketing of prairie grains in the future. These include changes in communication technology, the increasing integration of national economies across international boundaries and associated pressures for decreased protection and less market regulation for agriculture, among other sectors. These forces tend to favor continuation of the gradual deregulation of the market structure for prairie grains, a process that has been occurring in Canada since feedgrain marketing policy changes were instituted in the mid‐1970s. Recent studies of the performance of the statutory grain marketing system involve economic arguments, use quite different assumptions and consequently arrive at conflicting conclusions. Despite the focus on economic arguments, political influences and social attitudes have considerably influenced the institution and development of the board. Both economic and political forces will continue to have a major impact on the extent and timing of future deregulation of Canadian grain marketing.
Regional Economic Impacts of Sustainable Development Activities: The North American Waterfowl Management Plan Introduction
Authors: MacMillan James A.
Published: July 2005

A framework for economic impact analysis of sustainable development activities is used to assess the North American Waterfowl Management Plan (NAWMP). Significant employment and income impacts are generated in rural Manitoba communities and Canada. In addition, positive annual net farm income changes have been generated. In Manitoba, the government share of total revenue required is 15%. U.S. sources provide 64%; non‐government sources provide 8.4%; and the Government of Canada provides 12.6%.
The Simple Analytics of Transferable Production Quota: Implications for the Marginal Cost of Ontario Milk Production
Authors: Chen Kevin , Meilke Karl
Published: July 2005

Using a competitive dynamic optimization model, the difference between unused and used industrial milk quota values is shown to give an exact measure of the annual rental rate of production quota. Knowledge of the rental rate of production quota and output price can be used to impute the marginal cost of industrial milk production. However, if there is a transfer tax on production quota sales, the imputation of the equilibrium rental value of quota depends on the elasticity of demand and supply for quota as well as the level of the transfer assessment. The marginal cost of Ontario milk production is estimated for each year from 1980–81 to 1994–95, based on unused and used quota values. However, the imputed marginal cost estimates are not totally satisfactory. The results suggest that caution should be exercised in using the difference between unused and used quota prices as a measure of the rental rate of industrial milk production quota.
South Korean Hotel Meat Buyers' Perceptions of Australian, Canadian and U.S. Beef
Authors: Unterschultz James , Quagrainie Kwamena K. , Veeman Michele , Kim Renee B.
Published: July 2005

This study conducted in November 1995 evaluates Korean attitudes towards Canadian beef relative to competing beef from the United States and Australia using a stated preference methodology. Executive chefs and purchasing managers from major 4‐star and 5‐star hotels in South Korea were interviewed. Koren buyers (chefs and purchasing managers) strongly prefer beef from the US with quality similar to US prime. For a comparable high quality beef product from Canada or the US the estimated model predicts there is a 28% chance of the aggregate group choosing Canadian beef versus a 49% chance of this same group choosing US beef. It will generally require significant price cuts or other major marketing efforts to influence non‐Korean chefs and Korean purchasing managers to purchase Canadian beef versus US beef.
Water Use in the Canadian Food Processing Industry
Authors: Dupont Diane , Renzetti Steven
Published: July 2005

A number of studies have examined water use at the farm level, but water use by food processing firms has received relatively little attention. In light of current concerns regarding water conservation, the objective of this paper is to bridge this gap in our understanding of water use in the agri‐food sector. Four aspects of water use (intake, treatment prior to use, recirculation and discharge) are examined for the Canadian food processing industry and three of its subsectors. Price and output elasticities are estimated using plant‐evel data from a 1991 survey of water‐using firms. Results indicate that all aspects of water use are sensitive to economic factors. Implications for government policies are identified.
Interdisciplinary Agricultural Research in Canada
Authors: Klein K. K. , Smith E. G. , Zentner R. P.
Published: July 2005

The activities and accomplishments of agricultural economists conducting interdisciplinary research in association with other agricultural scientists in Canada are reviewed and evaluated. Agriculture and Agri‐Food Canada instituted an interdisciplinary research program with the placement of agricultural economists at Research Centres in the early 1970s. University‐ and government‐employed agricultural economists have produced a large number of important studies for the benefit of the agricultural industry in Canada. However, less than 3% of the articles published in this journal since its inception in 1952 report on interdisciplinary research. Interdisciplinary research in agriculture has been hampered by organizational weaknesses and inherent difficulties associated with conducting this type of research.
A Growth Accounting Analysis of Cost Efficiency in Milk Production for Six Northern States in the United States
Authors: Cocchi Horacio , Bravo‐Ureta Boris E. , Cooke Stephen
Published: July 2005

This paper reports on the use of a growth accounting approach to calculate and decompose cost efficiency indices into technical change, regional competitive advantage stemming from spatial effects, and economies of size. Dairy farm data for Connecticut, Maine, Vermont, Michigan, New York and Pennsylvania for the years 1968, 1970, 1977, 1980 and 1988 are utilized in the analysis. The results show that technological change yielded a 1.8% average annual rate of cost reduction over the period studied. In addition, medium and large farms were, on average, 12% to 20% more efficient than small farms. Pennsylvania had a distinct competitive advantage (13.8%), while Maine exhibited a clear competitive disadvantage (−18.2%) in producing milk relative to New York.
A Methodological Evaluation of Empirical Demand Systems Research
Authors: Cozzarin Brian P. , Gilmour Brad W.
Published: July 2005

This paper examines recent demand systems literature from a methodological standpoint. A survey of the empirical demand systems literature has been assembled that includes 66 articles from 19 separate journals. The paper classifies empirical demand studies according to different methodological paradigms to ascertain if there is a pattern in the demand systems literature and to determine the implications of that classification. The results indicate that the bulk (67%) of demand systems research is implicitly falsificationist (for at least part of the research program). The remainder of the research program follows a conventionalist doctrine.
Agricultural Taxation in Canada: An Overview and Assessment
Authors: MacNevin Alex S.
Published: July 2005

This paper provides an overview of tax policy issues that arise with the taxation of the Canadian agricultural sector. The scope of the paper encompasses the federal income tax, the goods and services tax (GST), payroll taxes, provincial sales taxes, provincial and municipal property taxes, and excise taxes. The paper focuses primarily on measures that apply only to farmers or, in a few instances, to small business owners. The paper identifies numerous areas where additional in‐depth research is required and some of the considerations that should be addressed in such analyses.
Impacts of Trade and Agricultural Policies on the World Malt and Malting Barley Market
Authors: Satyanarayana Vidyashankara , Wilson William W. , Johnson D. Demcey , Dooley Frank J.
Published: July 2005

Major changes have been occurring in agricultural policies affecting world malt and malting barley production and trade. This paper analyzes effects of these changes on international trade and competition. A spatially disaggregated linear programing model of the world malt and malting barley sector is constructed and used to analyze effects of changes in European Union supply, European Union restitutions, the U.S. Export Enhancement Program subsidy regime, and import tariffs on malt and malting barley. Policy changes are found to generate substantial changes in trade flows and competitiveness between producing and exporting regions.
Quota Transfer Assessments and Efficiency
Authors: Hennessy David A. , Roosen Jutta
Published: July 2005

In order to fund production/marketing quota redistributions or reduce the amount of quota outstanding, regulators often tax quota asset market trades. This assessment is shown to impede the transfer of quota to more efficient producers if rental markets are prohibited. Inefficient producers will produce too much, and the magnitude of cost inefficiencies will increase with the size of the assessment tax. Possible remedies to the problem are also discussed.
Effects of Product Origin and Selected Demographics on Consumer Choice of Red Meats
Authors: Quagrainie Kwamena K. , Unterschultz James , Veeman Michele
Published: July 2005

A multinomial nonlinear nested logit model is used to test data from a stated preference questionnaire to examine the potential effect of identified product and consumer characteristics on the probability of afresh meat product being purchased. The target market of the study is western Canada, and the questionnaire is directed to randomly selected households in major cities in this region. Fresh beef products from Alberta are generally preferred by these consumers over fresh beef products from other parts of Canada. For pork, consumers are indifferent between products of Alberta and those of other Canadian origin. However, fresh beef and pork products from Canada are preferred to products from the United States. The results support origin branding of Alberta beef, but not Alberta pork. Consumer age, household income and family size all have an effect on meat choices.
A Reexamination of Price Dynamics in the International Wheat Market
Authors: Mohanty Samarendu , Meyers William H. , Smith Darnell B.
Published: July 2005

This paper examines price relationships in the international wheat market for the years 1981–93 using a cointegration and error correction approach. Price series are found to be first‐differenced stationary and cointegrated. Our results provide evidence that the United States, Australia, the European Union and Argentina react to Canada's pricing decisions, whereas Canada does not respond to any other price changes except Australia's. Similarly, the United States also plays a strong role in the pricing of other exporters (except Canada) and its pricing decision is affected by changes in Canadian and Australian prices. The remaining exporters such as the European Union and Argentina respond to the U.S. and Canadian price changes but do not have any influence on other prices. Overall, our results suggest that there is no distinct price leader in the international wheat market.

Nous examinons les rapports deprixjouantsur le marché international du blé durant la période 1981–1993, suivant une démarche de co‐intégration et de correction des erreurs. Nous avons constaté et vérifié que les séries de prix se révélent stationnaires lorsqu‘exprimées en première différence et qu‘elles sont cointégrées. Nos observations démontrent que les États‐Unis, I'Australie, I'Union européenne et I'Argentine réagissent aux décisions de tariflcation prises au Canada et que de son côté, le Canada ne réagit à aucun autre changement du régime de tarification sauf à celui de I'Australie. De même, les États‐Unis jouent également un rôle important dans la tarification des autres exportateurs (le Canada excepté) et ses décisions de tarification sont sensibles aux changements affectant les prix canadiens et australiens. Le reste des exportateurs, notamment I'Union européenne et I'Argentine, sont en mesure de réagir aux changements des prix appliqués aux États‐ Unis et au Canada, mais Us n‘ont aucune influence sur la tarification des autres exportateurs. Toutes ces observations nous amènent à conclure qu'il n'y a pas vraiment de leader dans l'établissement des prix du blé sur le marché international.
Technical Efficiency and Farmers' Attitudes toward Technological Innovation: The Case of the Potato Farmers in Quebec
Authors: Amara Nabil , Traoré Namatié , Landry Réjean , Remain Robert
Published: July 2005

The research reported in this paper uses a deterministic statistical frontier production function to estimate the Quebec potato farmers' technical efficiency. Also, the relationship between technical efficiency and conservation technologies adoption is estimated. Results show that the average potato farm is 80% efficient, implying that some improvements in technical efficiency are still possible. In addition, farming experience and the adoption of conservation technologies are both significant variables for improving technical efficiency. Furthermore, efficient farmers are more likely than others to invest in conservation practices.

Cette recherche utilise une fonction de production frontière déterministe pour: i) estimer I'efficacité technique des producteurs de pommes de terre du Quebec et ii) établir la relation entre cette efficacité et la velléité des producteurs à adopter des technologies et des pratiques culturales conservatrices de l'environnement. Les résultats montrent qu'en moyenne, les producteurs de pommes de terre du Québec sont efficace à 80%. Ceci signifie qu'une amélioration du niveau d'efficacité technique demeurepossible. De plus, I'expérience agricole et I'adoption de technologies conservatrices de I'environnement se sont avérées des variables significatives pour expliquer les différences des niveaux d'efficacité technique des fermes. Par ailleurs, les fermiers efficaces semblent plus portés que les autres à investir dans technologies et des pratiques culturales conservatrices de I'environnement.
Competitive Behavior in the U.S. Food Retailing Industry
Authors: Park Timothy , Weliwita Ananda
Published: July 2005

We develop a model to examine competitive conditions in the U.S. food retailing industry for the years 1967 to 1992 and the effect of financial leverage on industry cost conditions. Changes in total current liabilities contributed to increases in costs while increases in long‐term debt were associated with lower costs. The impacts of key technological and market developments on shifts in the competitive index are assessed. The estimated index of market power was low, although significantly different from the perfect competition benchmark of zero from 1983 to 1992. The slight decline in competitive conditions was associated with mergers and acquisitions activity in food retailing.

Nous avons élaboré un modèle mathématique pour examiner: 1) les conditions de concurrentialité agissant dans le marché au détail des aliments aux États‐Unis durant la période s'étendant de 1967 à 1992 et 2) l'effet du poids financier sur les conditions de cout du secteur. Les modifications de I'endettement total courant contribuent a accroître les coûts, tandis que les accroissements de I'endettement à long terme auraient plutôt I'effet inverse. Nous examinons I'impact des développements dans les domaines de la technologie et du marché sur les fluctuations de I'indice concurrentiel. L'indice estimatif de pouvoir sur le marchéétait has bien que signiflcativement différent de la marque repére de zéro (situation de concurrence parfaite) pour les années 1983–1992. La légére baisse des conditions de compétitivité est expliquée par les nombreuses fusions et acquisitions survenues dans le marché au détail des aliments durant cette période.
A Note on the Profitability of Wheat‐ethanol‐feedlot Production in Alberta
Authors: Freeze Brian S. , Peters T.
Published: July 2005

A risk analysis of the economics of alternative wheat supplies to a small ethanol‐beef feedlot facility was conducted, based on historical data from an 18‐year period (1978–96). Alternatives simulated were Black, Dark Brown and Brown soil zone locations in Alberta growing either Hard Red Spring (HRS) wheat, Canadian Prairie Spring (CPS) wheat or irrigated Soft White (SWW) wheat to supply a 10 ML per year ethanol plant. The plant would use the coproduct of wet distillers grains in the finishing of approximately 14,000 steer calves per year. Three valuation scenarios were considered: selling ethanol at its market price, inclusion of current Alberta tax incentive levels for ethanol sale, and sale of wheat to the Canadian Wheat Board as opposed to sale to an ethanol plant. Ethanol facility and total net revenues were highest for the CPS‐Dark Brown soil scenario due to its relatively high ethanol yields per tonne of feedstock, and high grain yields per hectare. An integrated feedstock‐ethanol‐livestock operation selling ethanol at current subsidy (tax incentives) levels will lose money approximately half to two‐thirds of the time over the long run. Without subsidies, an integrated facility would lose money two‐thirds to three‐quarters of the time.

Nous avons réalisé, à partir de données recueillies durant une période de 18 ans (1978 à 1996), une analyse de risque des aspects économiques de diverses provenances de blé pour une petite exploitation éthanol‐parc d'engraissement. Les options simulées consistaient en emplacements situés dans les zones de sols noirs, brunfoncé et bruns de I'Alberta, produisant soil du blé roux vitreux deprintemps (BRVP), du blé de printemps des Prairies canadiennes (BPPC) ou du blé blanc tendre (BBT) sous irrigation pour alimenter un atelier d'éthanol d'un volume de fabrication de 10 millions de litres par année. L'atelier hypothétique utiliserait le co‐produit des drêches de distillerie humides pour engraisser quelque 14 OOOjeunes bouvillons par année. Trois scénarios de valorisation étaient envisagés: vente de I'éthanol au prix de marché, inclusion des incitatifs fiscaux actuels de I'Alberta pour la vente de I'éthanol et vente du bléà la Commission canadienne du blé par opposition à la vente à un atelier de production d'éthanol. Les revenus nets tirés de I'atelieret les revenus nets totaux les plus élevés de l'exploitation étaient obtenus dans le scénario BPPC‐sol brunfoncé en raison des rendements d'éthanol relativement élevés par tonne de blé et des bons rendements grainiers par hectare obtenus dans cette combinaison. Selon les résultats obtenus, un atelier intégré blé‐éthanol‐parc d'engraissement écoulant son éthanol au niveau de subvention actuel (incitatifs fiscaux), perdrait de I'argen d'environ la moitié aux deux tiers du temps. Sans ces subventions, il ne rentrerait dans ses dépenses qu'unefois sur trois ou unefois sur quatre seulement.
Status of Benefits Transfer in the United States and Canada: A Review
Authors: Bergstrom John C. , De Civita Paul
Published: July 2005

Benefits transfer refers to the use of existing benefit estimates in a different but similar context compared with the original study that generated the benefit estimates. Benefits transfer techniques include fixed value transfer, expert opinion and value estimator models. Although benefits transfer techniques are subject to a number of conceptual and empirical limitations, these techniques are widely applied by government agencies as input into economic assessments of public policies and projects.

Le concept d'estimation des avantages économiques par transposition de données connues s‘applique à I'utilisation de données obtenues dans un certain contexte a un contexte distinct mais semblable par rapport à celui de l'étude originale. Il y a essentiellement trois variantes de cette démarche: à partir de valeurs fixes, de jugements experts ou de modèles estimateurs de valeurs. Bien que ces techniques soient exposées à un certain nombre de limites conceptuelles et empiriques, elles sont largement utilisées par les organismes gouvernementaux comme intrants pour l'évaluation economique de leurs programmes et de leurs projets.
Structural Econometrics of First‐price Auctions: A Survey of Methods
Authors: Perrigne Isabelle , Vuong Quang
Published: July 2005

Over the past decade, the structural analysis of auction data has attracted considerable attention. The structural approach relies on the hypothesis that observed bids are the equilibrium bids of the gametheoretic auction model under consideration. In this paper, we survey econometric methods that have been recently developed for estimating first‐price auction models within the private value paradigm. In particular, we focus on two important issues. A first question is to know whether the structural elements of the model, mainly the underlying latent distribution of bidders private values, are identifiable from observations, usually the observed bids. A second issue concerns the estimation of the underlying density. This can be performed through different methods ranging from parametric to nonparametric ones. After a brief review of basic auction models, we first consider the simple first‐price auction model with‐ in the symmetric independent private value paradigm with a nonbinding reserve price. In a second part, more advanced models are considered allowing for a binding reserve price, affiliation among private values, and asymmetry among bidders. The conclusion presents some future lines of research.

Depuis une dizaine d'années, I'analyse structurale des mécanismes en jeu dans la conduite des enchères suscite une attention considérable. Cette démarche structurale sefonde sur I'hypothèse selon laquelle les offres observées constituent les offres à l'équilibre d'un modèle d'enchères basé sur la théorie des jeux. Dans le présent exposé, nous pas sons en revue les méthodes économétriques qui ont été mises au point ces derniéres années pour construire des modéles d'enchéres au premier prix dans le cadre du paradigme des valeurs personnelles. Nous nous intéressons en particulier à deux questions importantes: la première est de savoir si les éléments structuraux du modèle, essentiellement la distribution latente sous‐jacente des valeurs personnelles des enchérisseurs sont identifiables à partir des observations, c'est‐à‐dire habituellement les offres observées. La deuxième question concerne l'estimation de la densité sousjacente. Elle peut se faire par différentes méthodes allant des paramétriques au non paramétriques. Après une brève revue des modèles d'enchères de base, nous considérons d'abord le modèle d'enchère, simple au premier prix dans le cadre du paradigme des valeurs personnelles indépendantes symétriques, assorti d'un prix minimum non liant. Dans la seconde partie, nous examinons des modèles plus avancés, autorisant unprix minimum liant, Vaffiliation parmi les valeurs personnelles et I'asymétrie parmi les enchérisseurs. En conclusion, nous proposons quelques avenues de recherches futures.
Testing the Competitiveness of a Multistage Food Marketing System: The Canadian Chicken Industry
Authors: Fulton Murray , Tang Yongmei
Published: July 2005

This paper develops a model for testing competitive behavior in multistage food marketing systems and applies this model to the Canadian chicken industry for the period 1965–66 to 1995–96. The empirical results suggest that the departure from competition in the chicken retailing and processing sectors is statistically significant over the entire time period and for the period in which supply management has operated. However, the rejection of perfect competitive does not enable us to identify in which sector the market power lies. The results of this paper provide support for the view that higher retail prices in Canada are not entirely due to the restriction of supply at the farm level by marketing boards. The presence of market power at either (or both) the processing or retailing level is also likely to result in higher retail prices.

Un modèle pour tester le comportement concurrentiel dans les systèmes de commercialisation multipaliers des aliments est appliqué au secteur canadien du poulet sur la période 1965–1966 à 1995–1996. Les résultats empiriques révélent l'existence d'un écart significatif par rapport à l'état de concurrence parfaite dans les secteurs de la vente au détail et de la transformation du poulet sur toute la période d'examen, ainsi que pour celle au cours de laquelle le régime de gestion de I'offre a été en vigueur. Cet écart ne permet toutefois pas de mettre le doigt sur le secteur qui a un pouvoir sur le marché. Notre observation conforte l'opinion voulant que les prix au détail plus élevés enregistrés au Canada ne sont pas entiérement dus à la restriction par les offices de commercialisation de I'offre au niveau de la production. Ils peuvent également être le resultat de l'existence d'influences sur le marché au niveau de la transformation, de la vente au détail ou des deux à la fois.
Impact on Western Grain Rail Rates from an Elimination of the Legislated Rate Cap
Authors: Vercammen James
Published: July 2005

The Canadian government is currently reviewing grain transportation legislation to determine whether an elimination of the rail rate cap for western grain is a desirable option. In this paper, a spatial optimization model is constructed and calibrated for the province of Saskatchewan. The purpose is to compare current rates with simulated rates in an unregulated environment where Canada's two railways freely compete. In the Nash equilibrium of the unregulated pricing game, average rail rates range from 4% higher to 25% higher than the current average rate, depending on the assumed value for the trucking cost parameter. Reductions in railway variable operating cost because of productivity gains associated with further deregulation will dampen and possible reverse these predicted rate increases. However, any form of collusive behavior between the two railways would serve to increase the overall rate markup.

Le gouvernement canadien est présentement en cours de révision de sa législation du transport des grains pour décider du bien‐fondé de l'élimination éventuelle du plafond des tarifs ferroviaires pour le grain de l'Ouest. Nous avons construit et étalonné un modéle d'optimisation spatiale pour la province de Saskatchewan, dans lequel les tarifs actuels sont comparés à des taux simulés correspondant à un cadre non réglementé autorisant la libre‐concurrence des deux compagnies ferroviaires du pays. Dans l'équilibre de Nash d'un jeu de tarification libre, les tarifs ferroviaires sont de 4 à 25 %plus élevés que les tarifs moyens actuels, selon la valeur attribuée au paramètre des coûts de transport routier. Les réductions des coûts de fonctionnement variables des chemins de fer résultant des gains de productivité associés à une déréglementation plus large risque de freiner, voir même renverser, la hausse des tarifs prédite. Par ailleurs, une collusion éventuelle entre les deux sociétés ferroviaires, sous quelque forme que ce soil, pourrait contribuer à hausser leur marge béneficiaire globale.
The Impact of Bank Mergers on Canadian Farm and Rural Communities
Authors: Turvey Calum G. , Sparling David , van Duren Erna
Published: July 2005

This paper initiates a discussion on the probable impacts of bank mergers on farms and rural commu‐ nities in Canada. Motivated by the early 1998 merger announcements by four of Canada's largest banks, this paper identifies the economic drivers behind merger activity, and then addresses specific issues related to agriculture. Although the proposed mergers were canceled by the end of 1998, our research and analysis indicates that the overall effect would not have been grossly negative and in many aspects would have been positive. Subsequent attempts to merge banks are likely, and the discussion and analysis of this paper provide a basis to analyze and discuss the merger issue.

Nous examinons les impacts éventuels des fusions bancaires sur les fermes et sur les collectivités rurales au Canada. Inspirés par les projets de fusion fails au début de 1998 par quatre des principales banques du pays, nous dégageons les forces économiques sous‐tendant ces projets, pour ensuite nous arreter sur les questions qu'elles impliquentpour le secteur agricole. Même si ces projets n'ontpas eu de suite dans l'immédiat, nos recherches et notre analyse montrent que les conséquences génerales de telles fusions n'auraient pas été catastrophiques et que même, sur de nombreux aspects elles auraient été positives. Comme d'autres tentatives de fusion bancaire verront très probablement le jour, la présente analyse apporte d'ores et déjà une base d'examen de toute la question.
Reinsuring Agricultural Risk
Authors: Turvey Calum , Nayak Govindaray , Sparling David
Published: July 2005

This paper develops a basic economic model for evaluating the critical factors affecting crop insurer risks and for computing reinsurance premiums. The model shows how insurer risks and returns are determined by the individual yield risks of insureds, loading factors, administrative costs, buffer accounts and, importantly, the distribution of insureds across crop types and crop growing regions. Based on these factors, an approach toward computing actuarial reinsurance premiums is presented, with examples.

Nous présentons un modèle économique de base pour évaluer les facteurs critiques agissant sur les risques du fournisseur d'assurance‐récolte et pour calculer les primes de réassurance. Le modéle montre dans quelle mesure les risques et les profits de l'assureur sont déterminés par les risques de rendement particuliers de l'as suré, les facteurs de charge, les frais d'administration, les fonds de tampons et, surtout, la répartition des assurés par type de récolte et par région de culture. À partir de ces éléments, une démarche de calcul des primes actuarielles de réassurance est présentée, exemples à l'appui.
Diffusion of Wheat Varieties in Three Agro‐climatic Zones of Western Canada
Authors: Walburger A. M. , Klein K. K. , Folkins T.
Published: July 2005

Diffusion patterns of all major bread wheat varieties released in western Canada over the period 1950–92 are analyzed. Agronomic, quality and disease attributes of each variety are examined to explain diffusion patterns. It is found that the pattern of diffusion is affected most by yield, days to maturity, test weight, lodging and bunt. The relative importance of these attributes varies somewhat by agroclimatic region within the prairie provinces.

Nous avons analysé le tableau de répartition territorial de toutes les grandes variétés de bléà pain mises au commerce dans l'ouest du Canada entre 1950 et 1992. Nous en avons également cherché l'explication d'après les caractères agronomiques, qualitatifs et sanitaires de chaque variété. Le rendement grainier, la précocité de maturation, le poids à l'hectolitre et la résistance à la verse et à la carie se sont révélés les déterminants principaux de la diffusion variétale, bien que leur importance relative ait varié quelque peu selon les différentes zones agroclimatiques des provinces des Prairies.
Factors Affecting Spring Wheat Variety Choices: Comparisons between Canada and the United States
Authors: Dahl Bruce L. , Wilson William W. , Wilson Wesley W.
Published: July 2005

The demand for high‐quality hard wheats has been increasing in the 1980s and 1990s. In this article, factors affecting the varieties planted of hard red spring wheat in Canadian producing regions and North Dakota are compared. Differences exist in the development and release of varieties, which affect the supply and quality of hard wheats produced. Wheat areas in the Canadian provinces are more con‐ centrated in the top variety than those in North Dakota. However, in recent years, there appears to be a tendency toward increased varietal concentration in North Dakota and less in Canada. Econometric models are developed to compare and contrast factors affecting variety choice. In Canada, agronomic factors including relative yields are significant variables affecting variety choice. In North Dakota, agronomic factors generally have less effect on adoption rates, but economic variables are important. Varieties in North Dakota and Manitoba have shorter life cycles and reach their maximum utilization by farmers earlier than in Alberta or Saskatchewan. The longer varietal life cycles and higher concen‐ tration of the dominant variety suggest end‐use variability should be lower in Canada than in North Dakota.

La demande de blé vitreux de haute qualité s'accroît depuis une vingtaine d'années. Nous comparons id lesfacteurs déterminant le choix des variétés de ble deprintemps roux vitreux dans les régions canadiennes de production et au North Dakota. On observe, dans les modalités de création et de mise au commerce des variétés, des différences qui influent sur l'offre et sur la qualité des blés produits. Ainsi au Canada, les surfaces emblavées dans la variété la plus recommandée étaient plus concentrées qu'au North Dakota, bien que, ces dernières années, la tendance semble s'inverser. Des modèles économétriques ont été construits pour comparer et confronter les facteurs jouant sur le choix variétal. Au Canada, lesfacteurs agronomiques, notamment les rendements relatifs, ressortaient comme les variables significatives du choix variétal, alors qu‘au North Dakota leur importance était secondaire à celle des variables économiques. Les variétés adoptées au North Dakota et au Manitoba avaient un cycle de vie plus court et atteignaient leur sommet d'utilisation plus vite qu‘en Alberta ou en Saskatchewan. La plus longue durée du cycle de vie des variétés et les plus fortes concentrations de la variété dominante indiquent que la qualité du grainproduit devrait être mains variable au Canada qu'au North Dakota.