bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Excavation of a Beaker Settlement at Belle Tout, East Sussex, England
Authors: Bradley Richard 
Published: February 2017

Belle Tout is the second of a series of headlands where the South Downs meet the English Channel between Eastbourne and Brighton. Three kilometres to its east, the chalk downland comes to an end at Beachy Head, while Birling Gap immediately to the west provides direct access to the shoreline. Belle Tout, in between, is a gorse-capped plateau of virgin downland, 40 hectares in area with chalk cliffs rising to a maximum height of 84 metres (fig. 1).The even lines of the headland are only broken against the cliffs where a shallow valley runs down towards Birling Gap from the highest point at Belle Tout lighthouse. At a height of 40 metres this valley veers to the south and is cut by the present cliff edge. It was within the valley at this point that the Beaker site was discovered and excavated (NGR TV557956). The natural subsoil throughout is Upper Chalk save within this valley where the chalk is covered by a drift deposit of loam with patches of flint debris laid down under periglacial conditions. Under normal vegetation this surface loam would be acid, but a mildly alkaline reaction in the soil has been brought about by gorse roots penetrating to the underlying chalk.
Price and Value Effects of Pecan Crop Forecasts, 1971–1987
Authors: Shafer Carl E. 
Published: February 2017

AbstractPrice equations incorporating USDA October crop forecasts and June pecan stocks provided reasonable formulations for pecan price explanation and forecasting. USDA crop forecasts exceeded final reported production in 12 of the 18 seasons from 1970 to 1987, probably resulting in slightly lower prices and crop values. Large crop forecast errors in both direction and level in 1986 and 1987 confounded the price determination process. Nevertheless, producer prices may have been lower absent the October crop forecasts, which somewhat reduce buyers' uncertainty regarding supply. Early crop estimates provided a better explanation of price behavior than postseason revised production data.
Varietal Sales and Quality Differentiation: The Case of Certified Soybean Seed in the Southeastern U.S.
Authors: Houston Jack E. , Jeong Kihong , Fletcher Stanley M. 
Published: February 2017

AbstractVariation in annual soybean plantings contributes to uncertainty in supplies of and demand for soybean seed in the southeastern U.S. This study used an expenditure valuation approach in an hedonic analysis framework to estimate returns to soybean seed quality differentiation. Analysis of pooled cross-sectional and time series observations narrowed important quality characteristics to yield and disease resistance attributes. In general, unexpected environmental factors affect seed crops over time, and the demand for other performance attributes is less predictable than for expected yield attributes. The results also suggest that geographical location is not significantly related to sales of varietal soybean seed in the study area.
A Software Package for Teaching Farm Planning
Authors: Levins Richard A. , Johnson Dale M. 
Published: February 2017

Abstract“Finding Your Agricultural Advantage” is a collection of four programs—one to generate case studies, one to do “trial-and-error” solutions, one to display linear programming solutions, and one to maintain case study data files. The four programs can be used together or individually as instructor preferences dictate in teaching farm planning. A step-by-step method for teaching with the software is presented as an example of its use.
Budget Planner: User-Oriented Whole-Farm Budgeting Software
Authors: Hoag Dana L. 
Published: February 2017

AbstractBudget Planner is a whole-farm or enterprise budgeting software program that is simple to use for farmers, extension agents, and other budgeters who are sometimes inexperienced, but that also provides the detail necessary to be accurate. Program defaults eliminate repetitive questions that change little from budget to budget. Defaults can be temporarily overridden, or they can be permanently changed with a detailed modify program. The program leads a user through a sequence similar to that a producer might utilize. Input forms were created to enlarge the user clientele and eventually increase computer use by farmers and extension agents.
An Analysis of Lenders' Influence on Agricultural Producers' Risk Management Decisions
Authors: Knight Thomas O. , Lovell Ashley C. , Rister M. Edward , Coble Keith H. 
Published: February 2017

AbstractAgricultural lenders have a stake in and are in a position to influence their borrowers' management decisions. Risk management practice adoption is an area in which lenders might want to exercise this influence. This study employs logistic statistical models to estimate lenders' influence on crop producers' decisions regarding use of three alternative risk management practices: federal multiple-peril crop insurance, crop hail and fire insurance, and forward contracting. Results suggest lenders can exert significant influence on these decisions but that poor communication between lenders and borrowers likely reduces this influence.
Impact of Reverse Osmosis on Southeast Milk Markets
Authors: Schiek William A. , Babb Emerson M. 
Published: February 2017

AbstractThe Southeast is a net importer of milk and milk products. Milk must be imported from other regions at certain times of the year. Reverse osmosis (RO) is a new processing technology which could significantly reduce milk transportation costs between regions by removing half the water from raw milk prior to shipment. A network flow algorithm, which incorporates federal milk orders and solves for the least cost procurement pattern, was used to assess the impact of RO on southeast milk marketing orders under alternative raw product pricing scenarios.
A Further Look at the Effect of Federal Tax Laws on Optimal Machinery Replacement
Authors: VanTassell Larry W. , Nixon Clair J. 
Published: February 2017

AbstractSelf-employment taxes, “effective” marginal tax rates, and discounting schemes which allow for alternative purchase and disposal dates of machinery are incorporated into the traditional optimal replacement interval model. Empirical results indicate that these alterations decrease the optimal replacement intervals by up to three years from those obtained with traditional modeling assumptions. Inclusion of self-employment taxes decreases both the penalty attached to early replacement and the net present value (cost) of tractor ownership.
Testing for Aggregation and Simultaneous Bias in U.S. Soybean Export Equations
Authors: Arnade Carlos A. , Davison Cecil W. 
Published: February 2017

AbstractMost previous estimates of elasticities of export demand for U.S. soybeans have emanated from single import equations subject to aggregation and simultaneous equation bias. This analysis tests U.S. soybean export data for aggregation and simultaneous equation bias and divides the aggregate data into six market equations to reduce these biases. Elasticity estimates from the six equations are compared with elasticity estimates from single equation OLS and 2SLS estimations using the same aggregate data. Results suggest that distortions from unjustified 2SLS estimation may exceed those from aggregation bias.
Reduced Risk Rotations for Fresh Vegetable Crops: An Analysis for the Sand Mountain and Tennessee Valley Regions of Alabama
Authors: Zwingli Michael E. , Hardy William E. , Adrian John L. 
Published: February 2017

AbstractA mixed integer linear programming model was developed to simulate the decision environment faced by an entry-level vegetable producer contemplating production for the whole-sale market. The model included activities which permitted consideration of 13 vegetable crops within a spring, summer, and fall rotational system. Rotations were permitted within given bounds established by marketing, rotational, and price risk constraints. Rotations were generally stable with respect to markets and relative to crop mixes as target income and acceptable negative deviation levels were varied. Spring and fall broccoli and turnip greens and late spring-summer yellow and zucchini squash were dominant crops in the triple crop rotations in the Atlanta and Cincinnati markets.
Irrigation and Potential Diversification Benefits in Humid Climates
Authors: Vandeveer Lonnie R. , Paxton Kenneth W. , Lavergne David R. 
Published: February 2017

AbstractIncome variability and means for managing risk continue to receive much attention in farm management research. In this paper, irrigation is presented as a risk-management strategy that offers potential diversification benefits. Potential diversification opportunities largely result from a wider range of enterprise production activities. A portfolio analysis of dryland and irrigated farm scenarios indicates that income stabilizing and diversification effects of irrigation substantially modify the risk-return position of a typical farm in northeast Louisiana. Safety-first considerations along with Target MOT AD programming procedures also are used to evaluate the impact of irrigation on the farm's financial performance.
XLAYER: An Expert System Providing Management Advice to Commercial Layer Managers
Authors: Schmisseur Ed , Pankratz John 
Published: February 2017

AbstractXLAYER, an expert/knowledge-based microcomputer program, was designed and developed to diagnose layer management problems and recommend expert remedial management advice. The program also provokes management action by calculating the economic loss attributed to major management problems. It analyzes data generated by a commercially marketed layer performance financial microcomputer program and has demonstrated the ability to emulate poultry management experts in the diagnoses of 80 individual layer management problems. The program provides scarce expert poultry management advice to poultry layer managers regardless of size and scale of operation.
Monopsonistic Food Processing and Farm Prices: The Case of the West Alabama Catfish Industry
Authors: Kinnucan Henry , Sullivan Gregory 
Published: February 2017

AbstractIncreasing concentration in food processing has important economic implications for agricultural producers and consumers. This paper addresses the issue by focusing on a case where pure monopsony conditions appear to hold–catfish processing in West Alabama. Farm-level impacts of the market power imbalance are described via a six equation theoretical model. Results show price elasticity of farm supply governing the economic incentive to the processor for exploiting its market power: less (more) elastic supply implies greater (lesser) divergence between competitive and monopsony price. The theoretical model is operationalized using an indirect procedure recently suggested by Houck for estimating farm level supply elasticities. Based on these supply elasticities and historical prices, the model predicts a 12-35 percent potential reduction in prices received by West Alabama producers as a result of market power imbalance.
Financial Analysis of On-Farm Grain Drying
Authors: Kiker Clyde , Lieblich Mark 
Published: February 2017

AbstractArtificial drying of corn in the Southeastern Coastal Plain was shown to be financially feasible for average annual per farm production levels of greater than 10,000 bushels. Net present values for four types of drying systems were evaluated using simulation modeling in which weather conditions, yield levels, and prices were entered as stochastic variables. Scale of production and irrigation substantially influenced crop drying potential. Stochastic efficiency analysis was used to evaluate the riskiness of the investment.
A Mixed-Integer Programming Analysis of the Structure of a Florida-Based Cattle Feeding Industry
Authors: Moseley Anne E. , Spreen Thomas H. , Pheasant Jim W. 
Published: February 2017

AbstractFlorida is typical of many southeastern states in that it exports feeder cattle and imports carcass and boxed beef. The objective of this paper is to estimate the cost of retaining feeder cattle in Florida, feeding these cattle to slaughter weights, slaughtering them, and distributing the meat to retail outlets. A mixed integer programming model is developed. The optimal number and location of feedlots and slaughter plants are determined. The results indicate that at production levels exceeding 600,000 head, the cost of producing carcass beef in the State is comparable to the average for the United States.
Validation of Linear Programming Models
Authors: McCarl Bruce A. , Apland Jeffrey 
Published: February 2017

AbstractSystematic approaches to validation of linear programming models are discussed for prescriptive and predictive applications to economic problems. Specific references are made to a general linear programming formulation, however, the approaches are applicable to mathematical programming applications in general. Detailed procedures are outlined for validating various aspects of model performance given complete or partial sets of observed, real world values of variables. Alternative evaluation criteria are presented along with procedures for correcting validation problems.
A Target Motad Analysis of a Crop and Livestock Farm in Jefferson County, Florida
Authors: Zimet David J. , Spreen Thomas H. 
Published: February 2017

AbstractAn analysis of a typical crop and livestock farm in North Florida is presented. The analysis incorporates the potential competition and complementarity among crop and beef cattle enterprises. A Target MOTAD model is developed to account for risk in a decision framework.The results indicate that when income risk is ignored, peanuts, watermelon, and stocker cattle are the only enterprises included in the optimal solution. When income risk is heavily weighted, the optimal solution includes peanuts, watermelon, stocker cattle, cow-calf, and irrigated soybeans. The results suggest that the persistence of cow-calf production may be explained as a stabilizer of income.
Household Nutrient Demand: Use of Characteristics Theory and a Common Attribute Model
Authors: Eastwood David B. , Brooker John R. , Terry Danny E. 
Published: February 2017

AbstractA characteristics model, which assumes goods generate a common set of attributes but no unique attribute, is described. The model yielded two equations which were estimated. One was a set of hedonic price equations in which the price paid for each food purchased was a function of imputed attribute prices. This set of equations was estimated at the household level. Nutrient demand equations were estimated across households. Imputed prices, income, and household characteristics including location, size, education, age distribution, and race affected nutrient demand levels.
Modeling the Demand for Durable Inputs: Distributed Lags and Causality
Authors: Mui H. W. , Bradford G. L. , Ali M. M. 
Published: February 2017

AbstractVector-autoregressive-moving-average (VARMA) modeling was used to identify distributed lag relationships among farm tractor derived demand variables and to provide a basis for formally testing the hypothesis that the price of new tractor horsepower is exogeneous to its quantity demanded. Similar causality tests were used for a number of other explanatory variables, including the interest rate, price of diesel fuel, and price of used tractors. Results indicate that several lagged variables are significant causal factors and that the dynamic nature of the demand structure cannot be ignored when explaining tractor demand.
Beef Grading and Imperfect Competition
Authors: Rhodes V. James 
Published: February 2017

In September 1974, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that it planned to make major changes in its grading of beef. The changes would redefine criteria for eating quality, particularly requiring less marbling for each grade.The announcement was strategically timely: consumers had been restive over what they regarded as high prices for beef, while the poor 1974 corn crop made it economical to produce less fat in the beef carcass. Moreover, meat, packers and many cattle feeders had been demanding a grade revision which would permit shorter feeding, less waste fat and lower prodduction costs.
Estimating the Structure of Time Lags Between Wholesale and Farm Prices for Cottonseed
Authors: Ethridge M. Dean 
Published: February 2017

Previous analysis on annual wholesale marketing margins for cottonseed has indicated a need to establish the structure of short-period time lags between prices for cottonseed products and resulting farm prices for the gin-run seed. In particular, this would help assess large wholesale margins since the beginning of the 1972 crop year, when cottonseed oil and meal prices began an inflationary surge that has resulted in increases of over 100 percent.Objectives of this paper are: (1) to formulate and estimate the monthly, distribution of lagged response of cottonseed prices to changes in wholesale cottonseed product prices in the United States and (2) to use the estimation results in examining recent behavior of cottonseed prices and wholesale marketing margins.
Professional Diversity in Agricultural Economics: Salvation or Suicide?
Authors: Libby Lawrence W. 
Published: February 2017

The theme of my address isdiversityin the profession of agricultural economics. I address diversity as a response, a strategy, not as an end in itself but as a conscious approach by ag economists in land grant universities seeking a useful role in the future.I chose this theme because I am genuinely concerned about our future in the 1862 and 1890 land grants. I acknowledge up front that not all ag economists work in land grant universities but all have a stake in them as our primary reservoir of human capital. Most practicing ag economists have roots in a land grant university and depend on their products for “new blood” in business or government. My interest in diversity has been influenced by the writings of several prominent ag economists, reviewed briefly below, by recent conversations with Jim Hildreth, John Holt, and Jim Bonnen regarding the future of the land grants and by personal observations of the painful manifestations of tensions within departments in the South and elsewhere as faculty try to position themselves for an uncertain future.
Incorporating Subsistence into a Probit Analysis of Household Nutrition Levels
Authors: Cook Cristanna M. , Eastwood David B. , Cheng Ty 
Published: February 2017

AbstractPrevious nutrient demand and consumption analyses show that several economic and sociodemographic variables are often associated with intakes. However, most of the literature does not account for differences among individuals within households. This study reviewed possible definitions of nutrient differences with respect to nutritional needs. Nutrient levels defined by the Thrifty Food Plan were used as subsistence levels for households in the 1977-78 Nationwide Food Consumption Survey. Probit analysis showed that the usual variables found related to nutrient intakes did not differentiate among subsistence groups. Household life cycle and working female heads influenced whether the household was under its requirement level.
Incorporating Uncertainty in the Analysis of Optimal Beef-Forage Production Systems
Authors: Rawlins Richard B. , Bernardo Daniel J. 
Published: February 2017

AbstractA risk programming model was developed to evaluate the tradeoffs between risk and expected returns in beef-forage production systems. The specification represents nutrient and intake considerations when allocating forage among cattle enterprises; it also incorporates the various sources of risk facing livestock producers. Efficient ranch organizations were derived for a representative eastern Oklahoma ranch using MOTAD and Target-MOTAD formulations. Diversification of forage enterprises, introduction of cow-calf enterprises, and retained ownership of weaned calves were identified as important responses to reductions in acceptable levels of risk. Results also indicated efficient ranch plans to be sensitive to the risk criteria and producer's willingness to accept risk.
Impact of Reducing Federal Order Class I Differential on Representative Texas and New Mexico Dairy Farms
Authors: Outlaw Joe L. , Knutson Ronald D. , Schwart Robert B. , Holt John , Richardson James W. , Garis Dalton H. 
Published: February 2017

AbstractThe General Accounting Office (GAO) recommended that the USDA substantially reduce or eliminate the extent of price discrimination practiced under federal milk marketing orders. The purpose of this study was to quantify the impacts of alternative means of implementing the GAO proposal on the economic viability of Texas and New Mexico dairy farms. Five dairy farms were simulated for six years under the current dairy policy and five alternative proposals. Results of the analyses indicate that large New Mexico dairies can remain economically viable under all of the alternatives. On the other hand, federal order policy changes would accelerate the loss of equity for moderate size Texas dairy farms.
Functional Forms and Farm-Level Demand for Pecans by Variety
Authors: Okunade Albert A. , Cochran Mark J. 
Published: February 2017

AbstractRecent developments in the U.S. pecan industry appear to limit the utility of past research. The importance of pecan variety has emerged as an issue which could alter past results. The linear and double-log models previously fitted to all-pecans (averaged) data may be too restrictive and hence, are less useful for variety-specific analysis. Past research also analyzed price turning points using nominal data. This study investigated functional form and data-averaging problems by fitting separate flexible Box-Cox price-dependent models for all-pecans and each variety of pecans (1970/71-1988/89 deflated data). Results indicate: other nuts substitute for different pecan varieties, estimated all-pecans price flexibility is biased and clouds variety-specific flexibilities, and restrictive functional forms are inappropriate.
Effect of Debt Position on the Choice of Marketing Strategies for Florida Orange Growers: A Risk Efficiency Approach
Authors: Moss Charles B. , Ford Stephen A. , Castejon Mario 
Published: February 2017

AbstractThis study examined the relationship between debt position and choice of marketing instrument. Specifically, this study employed first and second degree stochastic dominance, and stochastic dominance with respect to a function to determine whether the efficient marketing instrument changes between debt positions. The results indicate that the choice of marketing instrument does vary with debt position in some marketing periods if the decisionmaker is moderately risk averse.
Efficiency Measures Using the Ray-Homothetic Function: A Multiperiod Analysis
Authors: Neff David L. , Garcia Philip , Hornbaker Robert H. 
Published: February 2017

AbstractRecent investigations have provided mixed assessments of farm firm efficiency. This analysis examined the efficiency of a homogeneous sample of central Illinois grain farms over a six-year period. A best-practice frontier was constructed using the ray-homothetic function, which allowed optimal farm output to vary with factor intensity. Efficiency measures were found to increase with temporal aggregation. The ray-homothetic approach was found to attribute high scale inefficiencies to larger sample farms in cases where the factor shares did not vary appreciably across farms. The findings suggest that policy recommendations regarding farm efficiency must be made with care.
A Target MOTAD Analysis of Sweet Potato Marketing
Authors: Bauer Larry L. 
Published: February 2017

AbstractDecisions regarding when to harvest and when to sell sweet potatoes are more complex than for other crops because yields continue to increase after the crop is initially ready for harvest, and sweet potatoes can either be sold at harvest or cured and stored for later sale. The optimum marketing decision, based on expected net revenue, is dependent on yield and prices and their variability, and on costs of storage. A marketing strategy is developed using Target MOTAD and data covering 21 years.