bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Applying a Method of Paired Comparisons to Measure Economic Values for Multiple Goods Sets
Authors: Rosenberger Randall S. , Peterson George L. , Loomis John B. 
Published: July 2016

AbstractA method of paired comparison is adapted for use in estimating economic measures of value. The method elicits multiple binary choices for paired items in a choice set. Probability distributions and economic values are estimated nonparametrically and parametri-cally. The method is applied in an experimental context with a choice set composed of four private goods and several sums of money. The sample's median value estimates for the goods are generally not different than the market prices for these goods. People who are in the market for a good value it higher than those not in the market for the good.
Brazil's New Floating Exchange Rate Regime and Competitiveness in the World Poultry Market
Authors: Costa Ecio F. 
Published: July 2016

AbstractIn early 1999, Brazil devalued its currency, increasing its competitiveness in the poultry industry and capturing world market share. This paper discusses the devaluation and its effects on Brazil's trade, evaluates preliminary statistics on the impact of the devaluation on world poultry markets, and reports the results from a computable general equilibrium (CGE) simulation of the devaluation. The medium-run CGE results are compared to the short-run impacts reflected in the preliminary statistics.
Marketing Order Suspensions and Fresh Lemon Retail-FOB Margins
Authors: Richards Timothy J. , Kagan Albert , Mischen Pamela , Adu-Asamoah Richard 
Published: July 2016

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

AbstractMarkov chain analysis (one-step and long-run) is applied to the National Resources Inventory (NRI) database to evaluate changes in wind-based soil erosion rates over time. The research compares changes in soil erosion rates between NRI sample sites with and without applied conservation practices for a random sample of Great Plains counties. No significant differences between sites are found for half of the counties evaluated. The effectiveness and efficiency of conservation policies are thus questioned in light of these research results.
The 1995 Farm Bill: Opportunities and Challenges for Economists
Authors: Conley Howard H. 
Published: July 2016

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

AbstractIt appears the major private benefit from peer reviewed journals such as the Review of Agricultural Economics (RAE) is certification. To maintain public support for our journals, increased efforts are needed to demonstrate the social benefits from peer reviewed publications. Research cost considerations have led agricultural economists to emphasize applied disciplinary work using secondary data and to ignore the important work of careful data collection and reporting. Moreover, pressures to publish have led to more isolated research efforts ignoring other disciplines. Recommendations to improve the relevance of journal publications include more active efforts by journal editors to make applied journals such as RAE more accessible to the public.
Feedforward Neural Network Estimation of a Crop Yield Response Function
Authors: Joerding Wayne H. , Li Ying , Young Douglas L. 
Published: July 2016

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

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

‘We always plan too much and think too little. We resent a call to thinking and hate unfamiliar argument that does not tally with what we already believe or would like to believe.’– Joseph Schumpeter, (1947, pg. xi)My objective today is to put forth a call for each of you to rethink how we do applied policy analysis. I plan to justify the need for this rethinking using a variety of arguments. Some of my arguments will be familiar to most if not all of you, others may be unfamiliar to most if not all. I claim no originality for the basic theoretical arguments, they all appear in the literature. What 1 hope you find to be original and useful is the synthesis of these arguments. Furthermore, though in places 1 will point out the need for additional theoretical work, my primary goal is to convince practicing agricultural policy analysts to become more comprehensive in their analyses. In the grand tradition of presidential addresses, my remarks cover a rather broad range of issues at the expense of depth on any one issue. Nevertheless, I hope that my remarks will stimulate discussion and thought about how we as agricultural economists do applied policy analysis.