bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Gallican and Anglican: Henry Holden and John Cosin
Authors: Ian Doyle Anthony
Published: February 2017

The late lamented Antony F. Allison published in Recusant History, May 1995, a characteristically richly researched article, ‘An English Gallican: Henry Holden, (1596/7–1662), Part I (to 1648)’, but alas did not live to produce the sequel which he planned, a draft of which does not seem to have survived. Shortly after the appearance of the article I wrote to congratulate him on the recent publication of the second (multilingual) edition of what is now commonly called A&R2, and to tell him that the Articles proposed to the Catholics of England, signed T. H., Paris, 2 April 1648, of which the authorship he convincingly attributed to Holden, said by the latter to have been printed by 13 September 1648, and extant in a single imperfect copy dated by George Thomason 2 April, otherwise only known from contemporaneous manuscript and later printed summaries, had been re-published in 1946, without identification of the author, by the late Professor C. E. Whiting of Durham University. Whiting reported that the manuscript he copied was from the library of the late Canon Whitley of Bedlington (Northumberland) and had been made available to him by Major J. D. Cowen, F.S.A. In 1947 Cowen gave it to Ushaw College Library, as coming from his late aunt, Miss A. J. Thompson of Whickham (Co. Durham). In the 1950s or 1960s I was shown it by the then Librarian of Ushaw, Fr. Bernard Payne, and recognised an inscription at the beginning as in the distinctive hand of John Cosin, the eminent Anglican divine who, after being a canon of Durham Cathedral, Master of Peterhouse, Cambridge, Dean of Peterborough, and exile in France 1644–60, finally became Bishop of Durham, 1660–72.
A Letter from a Jesuit of Liège (1687)?
Authors: McCoog Thomas M.
Published: February 2017

In early 1687, an unnamed Jesuit enthusiastically wrote to a colleague at the Jesuit college in Fribourg about the influence of the Society of Jesus at the court of King James II, and of the wonderful progress of Catholicism in the kingdom. The letter merits re-publication:
Hilaire Belloc, Gilbert and Cecil Chesterton and the Making of Distributism
Authors: Mathews Race
Published: February 2017

Hilaire Belloc re-invented Manning's social teaching as a new political philosophy that shortly became known as Distributism. A tribute to his leadership by his close friend and fellow distributist, Gilbert Chesterton, reads that the world might one day wake up and find ‘a new democracy of distributists’:
The Revival of Music in the Post-Reformation Catholic Church in Scotland
Authors: Noden Shelagh
Published: February 2017

This article presents a narrative description of the state of music in the Scottish Catholic Church from the Reformation up to the publication of George Gordon’s collection of church music c.1830. For the first two hundred years after the Reformation, Scottish Catholics worshipped in virtual silence owing to the oppressive penal laws then in force. In the late eighteenth century religious toleration increased and several members of the clergy and other interested parties attempted to reintroduce singing into the worship of the Scottish Catholic Church. In this they were thwarted by the ultra-cautious attitude of the Vicar-Apostolic for the Lowland District, Bishop George Hay, who refused to allow any music in Catholic churches in case it should inflame Protestant opinion. Only after his retirement could the reintroduction take place, and the speed at which it was achieved bears witness to the enthusiasm and commitment of Scottish clergy and laity for church music. Research in this area is long overdue, and it is hoped that this article will form a basis for further investigations.
Dropping the debt: a new conundrum in Kant's rational religion
Authors: CLEM STEWART
Published: February 2017

In this article, I argue that Immanuel Kant fails to provide a satisfactory account of ‘moral debt’ inReligion within the Boundaries of Mere Reason.More precisely, he fails to answer the question of why we should assume that a debt exists in the first place. In light of recent scholarship on this area of his thought, I sketch some possible readings of Kant on the nature of moral transformation that suggest how he might account for this debt. I then argue that these accounts fail to justify its existence within Kant's project.
Prehistoric Economy in the Mount Carmel Area of Palestine: Site Catchment Analysis
Authors: Vita-Finzi C. , Higgs E. S. , Sturdy D. , Harriss J. , Legge A. J. , Tippett H.
Published: February 2017

This study is concerned with the exploitation of resources by human groups in the Carmel area over a period of about 50,000 years. To this end an attempt is made to evaluate the changing economic potential of the ‘catchments’ of individual sites, for this enables us to make a comparative analysis of hunting-gathering and agricultural economies.

Although the study of prehistoric sites is now usually complemented by some treatment of their setting, the situation in their immediate vicinity—the principal concern of the inhabitants—tends to be neglected or at any rate overshadowed by generalized statements regarding the physiographic, vegetational, climatic or kindred zones of which they form a (not necessarily typical) part. The difficulty that is encountered by attempts to harmonize the findings of the various specialists who nowadays contribute to archaeological studies may, in fact, be due to the limitations of a zonal approach, for the populations or phenomena with which each of them is concerned do not necessarily refer to a single ‘catchment’ area and may have little connection with the picture of the exploited territory that is imprinted on the site record.
A Note on Neolithic Settlement in the Clyde Region of Scotland
Authors: Scott J. G.
Published: February 2017

In 1934 Professor V. Gordon Childe wrote an important paper entitled ‘Neolithic Settlement in the West of Scotland’ (Childe, 1934), in which he sought to correlate the distribution of what are now known as Clyde chambered cairns (Scott, 1969a) with the incidence of the comparatively scarce light and well drained soils of the predominantly mountainous region in which the cairns are found. He visualized such soils as restricted to raised beach platforms, apparently having the so-called 25-foot beach in mind, and to alluvial gravels (1934, 22). He considered that such soils would have been more easily cultivated by primitive methods than heavier soils, and would indeed for that reason have been deliberately sought by incoming Neolithic settlers (1934, 23). He assumed that tombs would have been erected on slopes immediately adjacent to settlements (1934, 23), and consequently that such tombs could today be taken as indicators of settlement in the absence of other evidence.
The SAEA: After Twenty Years
Authors: Penn J. B.
Published: February 2017

I very much appreciate the invitation to participate in the meetings on this special occasion, the twentieth anniversary of the Association's founding. It is always a pleasure to return to the South and especially to participate in the work of the SAEA, for which I have strong interest and affinity.
An Analysis of U.S. Farm Income Policies: Historical, Market-Determined, and Sector-Wide Stabilization
Authors: McDowell Howard , Kramer Randall A. , Price J. Michael
Published: February 2017

This paper provides an economic analysis of the historical agricultural price and income support policy, a policy of market-determined prices and income, and a policy linking market-determined prices with sector-wide farm income stabilization in years of economic disaster. The analysis compares commodity prices, net farm income, and government expenditures over the period 1970 through 1982 based on estimates generated by USDA's Food and Agricultural Policy Simulator (FAPSIM). The historical policy generates the highest income and most stable prices. Market-determined income is lowest and has the greatest variability. Stabilization minimized income variability at intermediate income levels.
Incorporating Government Program Provisions into a Mean-Variance Framework
Authors: Perry Gregory M. , Rister M. Edward , Richardson James W. , Bessler David A.
Published: February 2017

E-V studies traditionally have relied on historical data to calculate returns and variance. Historical data may not fully reflect current conditions, particularly when decisions involve government-supported crops. This paper presents a method for calculating mean and variance using subjectively-estimated data. The method is developed for both government-supported and non-program crops. Comparisons to alternative methods suggest the approach provides reasonable accuracy.
Distortionary Impacts of the 1982 and 1986 U.S. Tax Codes on Capital Investments: A Case Study of Investment in Orange Groves
Authors: Moss Charles B. , Muraro Ronald P. , Boggess William G.
Published: February 2017

The 1980s have been a period of dramatic change for the income tax code in the United States. Although numerous modifications were considered in policy deliberations, two key goals, the reduction of the importance of tax considerations in investment decisions and tax simplification, emerged from the discussion and guided drafting of the 1986 Tax Reform Act. This study examines the importance of tax considerations in investment decisions under the provisions of the Tax Reform Act of 1986 and its predecessor, the Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 1982. The study then compares the tax liability under these tax codes with a nondistortionary tax scheme. Results indicate that the Tax Reform Act of 1986 reduced the distortionary effects of the tax code on capital investment decisions. However, a large portion of the reduction can be attributed to the change in the average tax rate.
Government Payments to Farmers and Real Agricultural Asset Values in the 1980s
Authors: Moss Charles B. , Shonkwiler J.S. , Reynolds John E.
Published: February 2017

This study determines the effect of government payments on real agricultural asset values using Bayesian vector autoregression. In developing the empirical model, special attention is focused on the informational content of government payments. The results indicate that government payments to farmers have little effect on real asset values in the long run. In the short run, an increase in government payments to farmers may be associated with decline in asset values.
Acreage Planting Decision Analysis of South Carolina Tomatoes: Nerlovian Versus Just Risk Model
Authors: Fu T. T. , Fletcher S. M. , Epperson J. E.
Published: February 2017

Factors which explain supply response behavior of South Carolina tomato growers were determined. Two well known supply response models were used for comparison: the Nerlovian structural model and the Just risk model. The Just risk model reflected the significance of the risk effect in both stable and unstable periods. An evaluation of forecasting power between the two models was indeterminate. Growers are apparently willing to invest in more information with increased market instability because growers were influenced by the Florida winter price of tomatoes in planting decisions during the period of instability.
Risk Attitudes and Farm/Producer Attributes: A Case Study of Texas Coastal Bend Grain Sorghum Producers
Authors: Ramaratnam S. Sri , Rister M. Edward , Bessler David A. , Novak James
Published: February 2017

An analysis of risk attitudes for a sample of grain sorghum producers in the Texas Coastal Bend is reported. Four alternative functional forms were estimated on data elicited by the direct elicitation of utility approach. The exponential functional form described most producers' utility preferences better than other utility forms. Relationships between exponential risk measures and both producer attributes and farm characteristics, including interactions among them, were identified as significant. Risk aversion was found to diminish with more experience in farming and to increase with more leasing of farm land. Risk aversion was also found to decline with larger farm size and to increase with higher dependency of farm operators on farm income.
Analyzing Tenure Arrangements and Crop Rotations Using Farm Simulation and Probit Analysis
Authors: Perry Gregory M. , Rister M. Edward , Richardson James W. , Grant Warren R.
Published: February 2017

Whole farm simulation analysis and econometric techniques are employed in an analysis of crop rotations and tenure arrangement strategies. The FLIPSIM model is used to analyze a representative Texas Upper Gulf Coast rice and soybean farm. Probit analysis is then used to determine the impact of net cash farm income, land tenure, and crop rotation on probability of survival. Results suggest that, although the simulation model is useful in providing information on the effect at the farm level of following the different strategies, probit results provide greater understanding into the returns and risk inherent to each strategy.
Measuring the Productivity of Capital in United States Agriculture
Authors: Gustafson Cole R.
Published: February 2017

The agricultural sector has operated in a period of high real interest rates for over half a decade. Some are concerned that this has limited capital availability and stagnated the historic capital for labor substitution occurring in the sector. This study proposes new procedures for estimating the aggregate production function of United States agriculture. Improvements include incorporation of total returns and revised measures of both durable and nondurable capital inputs. Results indicate increasing capital productivity has occurred, but encouraging further capital substitution may not benefit agricultural producers.
Wage Determination for Regular Hired Farm Workers: An Empirical Analysis for Georgia
Authors: Gunter Lewell F.
Published: February 2017

Regular hired farm workers, performing 150 days or more of farm work annually, became increasingly important in the 1970's. The number of regular hired workers in the United States increased by almost 50 percent during the decade, while the number of seasonal workers, operators, and unpaid family workers declined. Pricing of regular hired labor is investigated through estimation of three nested wage determination models in a case study analysis for Georgia. Micro-level data on individual workers were used to analyze the effects of general human capital, farm worker duties, local labor market conditions, and farm characteristics on wage rates.
A Methodology for Estimating Integrated Forecasting/Decision Model Parameters Using Linear Programming
Authors: Trapp James N.
Published: February 2017

A linear programming algorithm is used to estimate the parameters of a wheat storage decision model. This approach allows objective functions other than minimization of error squared to be used. It is demonstrated that by using a profit maximization objective function, an improved wheat storage decision model can be developed.
Household Solid Waste Associated With Food Consumption Activities
Authors: Saleh Abdullah A. , Havlicek Joseph
Published: February 2017

The quantity of solid waste arising from household consumption activities commands considerable public concern. Information about the level and composition of consumption residuals and their relationship to household consumption activities is scarce. Such information is quite basic to a better understanding of solid waste problems and to formulating policies aimed at coping with them.

This paper focuses on linking solid waste from food consumption activities to consumer behavior. The theoretical framework used in conceptualizing the solid waste generation process and its relationship to household consumption behavior is presented in Section II. A four - equation model involving relationships for total household food expenditure, value of food consumed at home, value of meals eaten away-from-home and total household solid waste generated by food consumption activities is set forth in Section III. Data and estimation are discussed in Section IV. The quantities of glass, metal, plastic and paper associated with selected food consumption activities and selected food expenditures, and the statistical estimates of the four-equation model, are analyzed in Section V. Some concluding remarks are given in Section VI.
Financial Implications of Waste Management Systems for Shellfish Processing
Authors: North Ronald M. , Lyda Fred M.
Published: February 2017

Shellfish harvesting, processing and marketing are components of an old, established industry in southeastern coastal areas. This traditional industry, with proven production records and established markets for its high-quality shrimp, is being subjected to difficult circumstances which could result in a significant restructuring of various segments of it. Processors are faced with very expensive control outlays required to reduce pollution levels in coastal waters. These pollution control problems are particularly perplexing for both old and new firms, since solutions lead only to higher processing costs in a competitive market, heavily influenced by international conditions.

Financial effects of effluent discharge guidelines are already being felt by processors in those states where early compliance dates are being specified by State environmental protection agencies. In many instances State standards are more stringent than those of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). In addition, alternative waste treatment methods have been rejected by some State agencies, resulting in higher costs for meeting specified effluent discharge guidelines.
Economic Impact of Mountain Pine Beetle on Outdoor Recreation
Authors: Michalson E.L.
Published: February 2017

This study estimates the economic impact of outdoor recreation as a contributor to total value of forest resources in an area which has been heavily infested by Mountain Pine Beetle. The area of study was the Island Park are in eastern Idaho's Targhee National Forest. Targhee is a popular recreation area west of Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. Recreationists use the area for both destination and non-destination purposes. The recreation opportunities of this area include water sports, hiking and related outdoor activities. It is classed as one of Idaho's major recreation areas.
Empirical Success Ratios in USDA Agricultural Utilization Research
Authors: Jones Harold B.
Published: February 2017

In assessing the prospective utility or value of a research program there are three important considerations: (1) potential impact the research will have on the scientific field involved, (2) probable benefits to industry or the public sector and (3) probability of success of projects in achieving these goals. Various studies have been made that emphasize the first and second objectives, i.e., trying to determine both scientific merit and economic value or return on investment in research projects and programs. This paper will be concerned with the latter objective; estimating the probable success of projects which were part of an organized agricultural research program conducted by USDA over a 25 year period.
Interregional Price Flexibilities: An Application to the Fed Beef Industry
Authors: Kalantar Jamal , Gum Russell L. , Menzie Elmer L.
Published: February 2017

Within spatially complex economic systems, it is given that change in a commodity's production in one region engaged in interregional competition will influence the price of that commodity in all trading regions. Mathematical programming models provide useful tools to predict such price alterations for specified production changes. Unfortunately, only running and analyzing many alternative formulations of such a model can generate an understanding of the relationships among regions involved in interregional competition. Specifically, this paper addresses itself to formalizing this process and providing quantitative measures summarizing the impact of regional changes in production upon prices in all regions. This paper is concerned with quantitatively estimating the influence of a change in fed beef production for given regions upon prices of fed beef for all regions of the United States. From estimates of these relationships, economic measures of isolation of regions and the impact of changes in import levels upon regional prices will be developed. Thus, unlike much previous research in the area of interregional competition in the beef industry, focused upon finding an “optimum” solution to a mathematical programming model, this research examines the basic economic relationships among regional production and regional prices implied by an interregional competition model.
Specification of the Impact of Socioeconomic Factors on Consumption of the Animal and Vegetable Sources of Protein
Authors: Adrian John , Daniel Raymond
Published: February 2017

Proteins are one of the basic and essential nutrients consumed by man. Both animal and vegetable sources provide proteins in the human diet. Many proteins derived from animal sources are nutritionally adequate because all essential amino acids are present. However, proteins from vegetable sources are often deficient in one or more essential amino acids. Therefore, vegetable protein must generally be supplemented with other proteins in order to provide good nutition. However, vegetable proteins can provide a satisfactory diet if the individual is judicious in selecting foods.

A study of 1955 data indicated that approximately 55 percent of the protein component of the American diet came from animal sources. A recent analysis indicated that red meats contributed approximately 30 percent of the animal source to total protein. Dairy products, poultry, and fish contributed the balance. Similarly, wheat flour provided approximately 15 percent of total vegetable protein intake with other cereals (rice, corn, barley and rye), legume seeds (beans, peas and soybeans), and nuts constituting the balance.
Effects of Increasing Panama Canal Toll Rates on U.S. Grain Exports
Authors: Fuller Stephen , Makus Larry , Gallimore William
Published: February 2017

Some believe Panama Canal toll rates will increase dramatically as Panama's sovereignty over the Canal becomes complete at the end of this century. This paper focuses on the ability of Panama Canal management to extract additional toll revenues from United States grain traversing the Canal and the impact of increased toll rates on export grain flows. Analyses show toll rates established by a revenue-maximizing Canal management would exceed historical and current rates. A monopolizing Canal operator would have moderately increased Pacific port exports in the mid-1970's; whereas, in the 1979-82 period, Pacific port flows would have exceeded historical level.
Economics of Purchasing Genetically Superior Beef Bulls
Authors: Clary G. M. , Jordan J. W. , Thompson C. E.
Published: February 2017

Net present value analysis is used to derive the marginal bid price for a beef herd sire from after-tax net revenues and cash flow influenced by genetic improvements. Marginal bid price represents the additional amount a producer could pay, above the present value of the current beef herd sire, for a sire expected to exhibit superior performance as reflected by increased average weaning weights of offspring.

An analysis of the profitability of purchasing a breeding bull for a commercial beef cow herd is presented as an application. Several alternative scenarios illustrate the impact of selected determinants on the marginal bid price of a bull.
Forecasting Rail Freight Traffic from a Statewide Economic Model
Authors: Jordan Jeffrey L. , Thompson Stanley R.
Published: February 2017

The purpose of this study was to develop a procedure for estimating future rail traffic that considers the relationship between the structure of a state's economy and rail freight traffic. The study expands the use of input-output models to include the forecasting of transportation demand. Georgia and Michigan case studies were used to test the forecasting capability of the input-output procedure. For Michigan's 1980 rail movements, the model predicted rail traffic to within 0.15 percent of actual traffic. For 1979 Georgia traffic, the model predicted within 4.3 percent of actual traffic. Various statistical tests indicate that the procedure was effective in forecasting rail freight traffic.
Dynamic Stochastic Simulation of Daily Cash and Futures Cotton Prices
Authors: Bailey DeeVon , Brorsen B. Wade , Richardson James W.
Published: February 2017

A dynamic model of daily cash and futures prices for cotton was developed using time series analysis. The time series model was included in a recursive Monte Carlo simulation model. Validation of the model was performed with a stochastic, dynamic simulation of the estimated model over the observation period 1975-1982 and with a static, deterministic out-of-sample forecast from December 9, 1981 through March 9, 1982. The model was then used to incorporate futures trading strategies into a policy simulation model.
A Discriminant Analysis of Grain Market Structure in Selected States of the South and Cornbelt
Authors: Dean Baldwin E. , Thraen Cameron S. , Larson Donald W.
Published: February 2017

Scherer's industrial organization model is modified to characterize the grain marketing system. The modified model identifies the important relationships between economic characteristics and the type of grain facilities found in three states; Alabama, Illinois, and Ohio. Multivariate linear discriminant analysis is used to identify the important basic supply, demand, and transportation variables within and among these states. It is concluded that the structural differences among selected grain marketing regions can be explained by regional differences in basic supply, demand, and transportation variables. The findings suggest that Scherer's industrial organization model can be adapted to explain the diverse structure of the grain marketing system in selected states.
Demand Interrelationships Among Fruit Beverages
Authors: Lee Jonq-Ying
Published: February 2017

In this study, both the Rotterdam model and the double logarithmic model were used to estimate the demand parameters for fruit beverages. The results show that: (1) under the conditions of block-independence and predetermined price changes, the Slutsky matrix for fruit beverages is symmetric and negative definite; (2) own-price elasticity estimates from both models are about the same; and (3) income elasticity estimates and cross-product relationships from the two models are not compatible.
Economic Thresholds Under Uncertainty with Application to Corn Nematode Management
Authors: Moffitt L. Joe , Hall Darwin C. , Osteen Craig D.
Published: February 2017

An economic threshold of agricultural pest management is derived. Results provide a method for researchers to use in making improved pest control recommendations to farmers without farm level decisionmaking. An empirical illustration for lesion nematode management in irrigated corn is given and directions for further research are indicated.
Soil Conservation or Commodity Programs: Trade Offs During the Transition to Dryland Crop Production
Authors: Lee John G. , Lacewell Ronald D. , Richardson James W.
Published: February 2017

Predicted crop yields and wind erosion rates from a multi-year/multi-crop growth simulation model provided input into a multi-period recursive QP model to evaluate erosion implications during the transition to dryland crop production on the Texas Southern High Plains. Three farm-program participation options were considered in this study. Participation in an extension of the current farm program resulted in an increase in net returns and wind erosion rates above nonparticipation. Imposition of a soil loss limit without consideration of a flexible base option can significantly reduce discounted present values. Increasing risk aversion across producers affects crop mix selection which can result in lower per acre wind erosion rates for this particular region.
Swine Breeding Systems: A Stochastic Evaluation with Implications for Emerging Technology
Authors: Massey Raymond E. , Williams Joseph E.
Published: February 2017

The after-tax net present value for 27 swine breeding systems composed of Duroc, Hampshire, and Yorkshire breeds were simulated and ordered using stochastic dominance analysis. The concept of the value of information was expanded to develop the concept of the willingness to pay to adopt a new technology. For producers not currently using the dominant system, estimates of the allowable present value cost of adoption are reported and used to explain diverse production practices.
Effects of an Export Subsidy on the U.S. Cotton Industry
Authors: Duffy Patricia A. , Wohlgenant Michael K.
Published: February 2017

In this study, the effects of an export subsidy for cotton are analyzed using a linear elasticity model. The study explicitly addresses the interaction of current domestic policies with the proposed export subsidy. An export subsidy may be a successful method of reducing the government costs of the cotton program.
Market Structure and Spatial Price Dynamics
Authors: Brorsen B. Wade , Chavas Jean-Paul , Grant Warren R.
Published: February 2017

A method was developed with time series models to test hypotheses about the relationship between market structure and spatial price dynamics. Long-run dynamic multipliers measuring the magnitude of lagged adjustment for spatial milled rice prices were calculated from the time series model and used as the dependent variable in a regression model that included a number of factors expected to influence price determination. Results show that price adjustments were slower as regional submarket concentration increased and were faster in the regions with a higher market share. Arkansas, the state with the largest market share, was consistently a price leader.
Effect of Generic Advertising on the Demand for Fluid Milk: The Case of the Texas Market Order
Authors: Capps Oral , Schmitz John D.
Published: February 2017

This analysis indicates that generic advertising expenditures,ceteris paribus, generated rightward shifts in demand for fluid milk in the Texas Market Order over the period January 1980 to September 1988. Generally, the results from this study are in agreement with previous research efforts which suggest that generic advertising can increase the demand for fluid milk. Importantly, in this analysis, the impacts of television and radio advertising have been effectively disentangled. Television advertising generates a response that wears off more quickly than radio advertising. Also, the long-run effect of radio advertising is about 1.75 times greater than the long-run effect of television advertising.
Estimating External Costs of Municipal Landfill Siting Through Contingent Valuation Analysis: A Case Study
Authors: Roberts Roland K. , Douglas Peggy V. , Park William M.
Published: February 2017

Much of the solid waste stream in the United States is generated by metropolitan areas, while associated landfills are often located in adjacent rural communities. Landfill disposal of municipal solid waste often creates external costs to nearby residents. Contingent valuation was used to estimate external costs of siting a landfill in the Carter community of Knox County, Tennessee. Estimates of annual external costs were $227 per household. Household income, size, years in the community, and distance from the proposed landfill and the respondent's education, sex, and perception of health risks were important in determining a household's willingness to pay to avoid having a landfill in the Carter community. Also, households whose (drinking water supplies were at risk of contamination were willing to pay $141 more than those who used piped city water or bottled water.
A Stochastic Dominance Analysis of Contract Grazing Feeder Cattle
Authors: Johnson Frank , Spreen Thomas H. , Hewitt Timothy
Published: February 2017

Contract grazing feeder cattle is an arrangement where cattle owned by one party graze forage produced on land owned by another party. The forage producer is paid a fixed price per pound gained. Stochastic dominance analysis is used to compare contract grazing and the more traditional system in which the same individual owns both the cattle and land.
Regional Impact of Urban Water Use on Irrigated Agriculture
Authors: Lee John G. , Lacewell Ronald D. , Ozuna Teofilo , Jones Lonnie L.
Published: February 2017

Linear programming and regional input-output models were applied to estimate the impacts of increased pumping costs for irrigated agriculture due to groundwater depletion principally caused by the expanding urban area of San Antonio, Texas. A biophysical simulator was used to estimate linear programming coefficients of crop yield by irrigation level and timing. The results indicate significant local (county) economic impacts from groundwater mining but insignificant regional impacts. A major improvement in irrigation efficiency would be required to offset the increased pumping costs and reduced water availability associated with increased lifts due to urban expansion.
A Discrete Stochastic Programming Model to Estimate Optimal Burning Schedules on Rangeland
Authors: Garoian L. , Conner J. R. , Scifres C. J.
Published: February 2017

Macartney rose is a range management problem on 500,000 acres of rangeland in Texas. Roller chopping followed by burning is an effective method of improving infested rangeland. However, uncertainty associated with implementing effective burns adversely affects economic feasibility of the treatment sequence. Discrete stochastic programming is used to determine optimal burning schedules under uncertainty. Optimal schedules and expected net returns vary with changes in the probability of a successful burn.
A Producer-Level Cross-Hedge for Rough Rice Using Wheat Futures
Authors: Zacharias Thomas P. , Lange Mark D. , Gleason William J. , Traylor Harlon D.
Published: February 2017

This study explores the potential of routine preharvest cross-hedging of rough rice using wheat futures contract prices. A numerical simulation approach combined with risk efficiency analysis evaluates a wide range of cross-hedging alternatives. Results establish that farm-level cross-hedging can be considered a viable marketing alternative.
Evaluation of Various Pest-Management Characteristics
Authors: Smith G. Scott , Wetzstein Michael E. , Douce G. Keith
Published: February 2017

Considering pest management in terms of a set of technology characteristics allows an investigation of various pest-management characteristics and how they relate to a total pest-management package. Employing restricted and unrestricted least squares in this investigation indicates the unique impact individual pest-management characteristics exert on net returns. A Stein-rule estimator is also employed in assessing this impact.
Price Determination in the U.S. Shrimp Market
Authors: Adams Charles M. , Prochaska Fred J. , Spreen Thomas H.
Published: February 2017

The monthly and quarterly price determination processes for 31–40 and 21–25 size classes of raw-headless shrimp were examined to determine price leadership between market levels. Causal relationships were assessed using Haugh-Pierce, Sims, and Granger methods. Price models at the retail, wholesale, and exvessel market levels were estimated. Economic factors analyzed were income, prices of competing products, landings and imports of raw headless shrimp, total retail supply, beginning stocks, and marketing costs.

Monthly prices generally exhibited unidirectional causality from exvessel to retail price. Quarterly prices were determined interdependently among market levels. Price responses between market levels were found to be symmetric with beginning stocks, landings, and imports of own-size shrimp the most important determinants of price.
An Analysis of Factors that Affect the Quality of Federal Land Bank Loans
Authors: Hardy William E. , Spurlock Stanley R. , Parrish Donnie R. , Benoist Lee A.
Published: February 2017

Financial conditions existing in agriculture are placing severe pressure on lenders as well as borrowers. Data from both good and foreclosed Federal Land Bank loans were analyzed to determine the most important characteristics leading to the failure of loans. The analysis was completed by comparing means through t-tests and the development of a discriminant model. The ratio of total debt service to total income, the debt to asset ratio, the ratio of total loan amount to appraised value, and the ratio of acres in security to acres owned were determined to be the most important discriminating variables.
A Microcomputer Analysis of Farm Financial Performance
Authors: Schnitkey Gary D. , Barry Peter J. , Ellinger Paul N.
Published: February 2017

This article describes the properties of the Farm Financial Simulation Model (FFSM). FFSM is a tool for analyzing the financial consequences of various managerial strategies and policy options that may be implemented in responding to farm financial stress. Various farm types from different geographical regions having differing enterprises, financial structures, tenure arrangements, and consumption patterns can be analyzed. The emphasis of FFSM is placed on modeling a farm's profitability, liquidity, solvency, and financial position and the model produces a coordinated set of financial statements and an extensive set of financial ratios over a four-year period.
Educating The Undergraduate Agribusiness Major
Authors: Vandeveer Lonnie R. , Guedry Leo J.
Published: February 2017

Undergraduate programs in agribusiness education have attracted much interest in recent years. Many university facilities have developed agribusiness educational programs and others are considering the development of such programs. As these programs evolve throughout the country, there are many questions which relate to the structure and future directions of these educational efforts. A review of the issues related to agribusiness program development is presented. A planning process that can be used to focus on the many agribusiness educational issues and provide insight into agribusiness program development is outlined.
Designing Graduate Education For Agribusiness Students
Authors: Phillips Travis D. , Couvillion Warren C. , Daughtrey Zoel W. , Burckel Daryl V.
Published: February 2017

For several years, universities in the U.S. have been struggling with defining and refining undergraduate and graduate agribusiness education programs. With the release of the recommendations of the National Agribusiness Education Commission, the search for the key ingredients of a Masters-level program has intensified.

Mississippi State University has been among those universities attempting to define the parameters of a “cutting edge” agribusiness program. Faculty interest within the College of Business and Industry and the Agricultural Economics Department to develop a joint program has precipitated intensive efforts to achieve this goal. A nationally recognized agribusiness group of six academic leaders served as a Cooperative State Research Service team to assess the University's potential, using the concept of an agribusiness institute as an integrating and management vehicle. Efforts in this direction have been aided by a USDA planning grant now moving into its second year. A survey of Mid-South agribusiness leaders indicates the interest of the industry in the development of the program. The final step is to address the logistical details required to convert the current Master of Agribusiness Management in the Department of Agricultural Economics to a jointly administered program of study.
Agribusiness And Extension: Characteristics Of Successful Programs To Serve A Rapidly Changing Clientele
Authors: Akridge Jay T.
Published: February 2017

The market for agribusiness extension activities and programming is diverse, intensely competitive, and national or international in scope. It is a market that agricultural economists cannot serve alone. Despite these complexities, a strong agribusiness extension effort is critical to the success of agribusiness research and teaching programs. Agribusiness extension opportunities include extending traditional agricultural economics research, small business management programs, economic/technical education programs, and management education. Keys for conducting successful agribusiness extension programs include understanding client needs, locating and employing the best instructional talent available, and flawless execution of the activity. Stimulating faculty interest in agribusiness extension is a major challenge. Most schools will have the opportunity to focus their traditional extension education efforts on the non-traditional agribusiness audience. A few schools will be successful in developing a new extension program emphasis in agribusiness management education. Both types of contributions are important for the long-run viability of the profession.
Assessing The Research Framework And Institutional Context For Rural Development Policy
Authors: McGranahan David A.
Published: February 2017

The economic context for rural development has changed markedly since the 1970s. While natural resource industries have continued to decline in importance as rural employers, the internationalization of markets, reorganization of industries, new production technologies, and the rapid development of new information technologies have eroded the competitive position of many rural areas with respect to other industries. In the South, as well as in the rest of the country, the critical rural issue for the 1990s is whether rural areas will be able to find niches to replace those they lost in the 1980s. Thus far, the new economy has been primarily an urban economy, and most rural areas have been left out. This has serious implications for rural development policy.
Assessing The Research Framework And Institutional Context For Rural Development Policy: Discussion
Authors: Allen Joyce E.
Published: February 2017

A discussion of rural development policy could focus on a number of issues surrounding the economic well-being of rural communities and rural residents. Research shows that rural America is experiencing many problems including widespread stagnation in job creation, reduced rates of population growth, substantial outmigration, and underdeveloped human resources (Brown et al.). According to Rasmussen, the first rural development efforts (e.g., improving physical characteristics of rural areas) met with quick and quantifiable success, but unemployment, persistent poverty, and inadequate housing may be more intractable.
Why Do Farmers Forward Contract In Factor Markets?
Authors: Haydu John J. , Myers Robert J. , Thompson Stanley R.
Published: February 2017

This study investigated farmers' incentive to forward purchase inputs. A model of farmer decision making was used to derive an optimal forward contracting rule. Explicit in the model was the tradeoff between the quantity of input to be purchased in advance, and the remaining portion to be purchased later on the spot market. Results indicated that the primary reasons farmers contract inputs are to reduce risk and to speculate on favorable price moves. A numerical example of fertilizer used in corn production indicated that the size of the price discount was the dominant factor in forward contracting decisions.
Measuring The Effect Of Capital Structure And Seasonality On Expected Returns And Risk: The Fresh Market Vegetable Case
Authors: Prevatt J. W. , Bauer L. L. , Kaiser E. H. , Rathwell P. J.
Published: February 2017

The effect of capital structure and seasonality of fresh market vegetables was examined via the Target MOTAD model. The level of capital indebtedness and the selection of either a fall or spring season resulted in significantly different levels of enterprise mixes, expected returns, risk magnitudes, rates of change of risk magnitudes, and operating capital requirements. The fall season demonstrated larger initial levels of risk and larger increases in the level of risk due to increases in indebtedness. The spring season showed larger increases in risk between the minimum risk point and the maximum expected return point (linear programming solution) on the risk-efficient frontier. Operating capital requirements were substantially higher for the fall season than for the spring season. The operating capital requirements of the spring season were significantly affected by the level of indebtedness and the magnitude of risk selected by the grower, while the larger operating capital requirements of the fall season were only marginally affected.
Regional Acreage Response For U.S. Corn and Wheat: The Effects Of Government Programs
Authors: Chembezi Duncan M. , Womack Abner W.
Published: February 2017

This paper presents findings from an analytical scheme that offers a promising alternative to traditional procedures of modeling acreage response. The scheme addresses the two-step decision process in which program and nonprogram planting decisions are modeled separately, conditional on the decision to participate. This provides a more realistic and intuitive portrayal of producers' decision making process. The model is applied at the regional level to assess the impact of farm programs on acreage response for corn in the Cornbelt and Lake States, and for wheat in the Northern Plains. The impacts of policy variable changes on participation and planted acreage are also analyzed.
Non-Tariff Measures And Industrial Nation Imports Of Agricultural Products
Authors: Clark Don P.
Published: February 2017

Trade coverage ratios were calculated to assess the 1989 incidence of non-tariff measures (NTMs) on imports of agricultural products by major industrial nations. Overall, 36 percent of all food items were found to be covered by one or more NTM in the European Community. Corresponding figures for Japan and the United States were 59 and 17 percent, respectively. Imports of agricultural products confront a wide variety of NTMs in markets of industrial nations. Results of the analysis were used to shed light on prospects for reaching agreements on agricultural reform issues in the Uruguay Round of multilateral trade negotiations.
Target current: a useful parameter for characterizing laser ablation
Authors: Krása J. , Giuffreda E. , Delle Side D. , Nassisi V. , Klír D. , Cikhardt J. , Řezáč K.
Published: February 2017

A current flowing between the ground and target exposed to the nanosecond laser radiation is analyzed to complete characteristics of laser ablation. Three phases of the target current are distinguished. During the ignition phase, the electron emission is driven by the laser pulse and the positive charge generated on the target is balanced by electrons coming from the ground through the target holder. At post-pulse times, a peaked waveform of the target current is typical for the active phase of the plasma and can give information on the material composition of the ablated surface layers. The afterglow phase is determined by a current of electrons flowing from the target to the ground. Experiment shows that the time-resolved target current is very sensitive to the actual composition of the surface layer of irradiated target and laser parameters.
IDENTIFYING A THRESHOLD FOR THE EXECUTIVE FUNCTION ADVANTAGE IN BILINGUAL CHILDREN
Authors: De Cat Cecile , Gusnanto Arief , Serratrice Ludovica
Published: February 2017

The literature exploring the executive function correlates of bilingualism is vast, but to date, few studies have concentrated on children, for whom the bilingual advantage appears even more inconsistent than for adults. We investigate a highly heterogeneous group of children (in terms of bilingual experience and socioeconomic status) and identify the critical threshold of bilingual experience from which an advantage can be observed at group level. The modeling methods adopted allow the use of fine-grained, continuous factors for age and socioeconomic status, thereby effectively controlling for their effect and isolating the specific effect of bilingual experience. We pioneer the use of Cox Proportional Hazard regression to analyze performance in the Simon task. This allows the modeling ofalldata points without transformation or outlier removal, and captures both accuracy and reaction time within the same analysis, while being able to handle multiple predictor variables.