bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Actuarial Effects of Unit Structure in the U.S. Actual Production History Crop Insurance Program
Authors: Knight Thomas O. , Coble Keith H. 
Published: July 2016

AbstractThis paper examines the effects of optional subdivision on APHP losses for wheat, corn, and soybeans. Thirty-seven state/crop programs are analyzed and the implications of the results are discussed in relation to newly developed crop and revenue insurance programs. The results illustrate the importance of incorporating actuarial experience into the premium rate structure and contract provisions of an insurance program.
Small Farms and Sustainable Development: Is Small More Sustainable?
Authors: D'Souza Gerard , Ikerd John 
Published: July 2016

AbstractA new, post-industrial, paradigm for agriculture is emerging under the concept of sustainable agriculture. The sustainability paradigm has emerged to solve problems created by the industrial model, primarily environmental pollution and resource base degradation. The role of farm size in this transformation to a more sustainable agriculture is the issue addressed. Using a descriptive approach, and relying on a survey of the literature including emerging paradigms and observations, we conclude that, from a sustainability perspective, the smallest effective size will be the most competitive size for farms, as for other knowledge-based enterprises of the future.
Alternatives for Small Farm Survival: Government Policies Versus the Free Market
Authors: Tweeten Luther G. , Amponsah William A. 
Published: July 2016

AbstractThis paper briefly outlines a topology of small farms and then considers the role of the government versus the market in key public policies such as commodity income support, environment, stability, research, and rural development. A number of options are explored for public policy to better serve small farms, including drastic alternatives such as graduated property taxes on farmland, with exemptions or lower rates for small farms. These and other alternatives are not necessarily recommended. Improved extension education and human resource development offer some of the most promising public policy opportunities to help small farmers.
A Comparative Static Analysis of Oklahoma's Vegetable Industry
Authors: Henneberry Shida Rastegari , Schatzer Raymond Joe , Beheisi Yousif El 
Published: July 2016

AbstractThe impact of hypothetical changes in yields, costs, and demand that might result from the organization of Oklahoma vegetable growers into cooperatives or other multifarmer marketing associations is estimated using a sector programming model. A comparative static analysis is used to evaluate the impact of these changes on planted acreage, growers' revenues, and consumers' and producers' surplus. The results of this analysis indicate that changes in demand are most effective in increasing revenues for Oklahoma growers.
Nonconstant Price Expectations and Acreage Response: The Case of Cotton Production in Georgia
Authors: Parrott Scott D. , McIntosh Christopher S. 
Published: July 2016

AbstractAn adaptive regression model is used to examine the relative importance of cash and government support prices in determining cotton production over time. The results show that the cash price is more important as a source of price information for cotton producers than the government program price. The cash price was shown to have a greater influence on acreage response in every year, including periods thought to be dominated by government commodity programs.
The Impact Of Sales Changes On Agribusiness Payrolls
Authors: Gunter Lewell F. , Wise James O. 
Published: July 2016

AbstractAgribusiness firms face substantial market risk associated with variations in farm production, output and input prices, exchange rates, and other factors. Some of the risk faced by agribusiness is passed through to the employees of the firm and to the communities where the firms are located, as employment levels are changed in response to these variations. An econometric analysis of the transmission of sales changes into payroll changes was performed for a sample of Georgia agribusiness firms. Transmission elasticities were found to be affected by firm type, size, age, and by the degree of use of part-time employees.
How Sensitive are Crop Yields to Price Changes and Farm Programs?
Authors: Choi Jung-Sup , Helmberger Peter G. 
Published: July 2016

AbstractA two-stage approach is used to estimate sensitivity of corn, wheat, and soybean yields to changes in prices and land idled. Estimated elasticity of demand for fertilizer per acre with respect to expected output price equals 0.47, 0.10, and 0.82 for corn, wheat, and soybeans. Upper estimates of the elasticity of yield with respect to fertilizer equals +0.58, +0.29, and +0.16 for corn, wheat, and soybeans. Yields are found to be quite insensitive to price changes. Fertilizer demands and yields are insensitive to land idled under farm programs.
Relevance of Policy Analysis: Needs for Design, Implementation and Packaging
Authors: Skees Jerry R. 
Published: July 2016

AbstractThis article challenges the traditional model of the economist as a humble technocrat who simply provides analysis given the preferences of policy decision-makers. Since decision-makers rarely reveal their preferences, it is important that the would-be policy research/analyst know the political economy and be willing to identify potential performance goals for society. Researchers who are willing to incur the transaction cost associated with becoming involved in useful policy research must learn to work within the imperfect policy process. Policy research that considers the importance of implementation and that acknowledges the institutions and the history will have the highest chance of being useful to policy-makers.
Pesticide Regulation Issues: Living with the Delaney Clause
Authors: Osteen Craig 
Published: July 2016

AbstractPesticide use is regulated within a complex legal framework that includes the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act; the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act; and other environmental laws. The framework includes risk-benefit rules for some decisions that permit full consideration of comparative performance, cost, and risks of a pesticide and its alternatives before decisions to permit or ban uses. The framework also includes risk-only standards, such as the Delaney Clause, that prohibit such comparisons and can have unintended and undesirable consequences by increasing health or environmental risks while increasing the cost of producing agricultural commodities.
Wetlands and Environmental Legislation Issues
Authors: Carriker Roy R. 
Published: July 2016

AbstractThe federal government program for wetlands regulation is administered by the United States Army Corps of Engineers pursuant to Section 404 of the Clean Water Act. Proposals for amending and/or reforming the Section 404 program are included in Congressional deliberations regarding Clean Water Act reauthorization. Specific issues of public policy include the definition of “waters of the United States”, criteria for delineation of jurisdictional wetlands, definition of activities exempt from regulation, mitigation and classification of wetlands, and issues of property rights.
The Trade and Environment Debate: Relevant for Southern Agriculture?
Authors: Marchant Mary A. , Ballenger Nicole 
Published: July 2016

AbstractThis paper introduces and briefly discusses the economics of two important trade and environment policy issues--international harmonization of environmental standards and the use of trade measures for environmental purposes. Both issues are likely to generate lively international debate among environmentalists, industry representatives, and trade negotiators over the next few years. As the international community seeks new multilateral rules in these areas, agricultural producers will want to know how they will be affected. Thus, this paper also examines the potential impacts of environmental policy on the competitiveness of commodities unique to the Southern region of the United States.
The Value of Planting Flexibility Provisions in the 1990 Farm Bill to Three Representative Texas Farms
Authors: Chien Ming-Che , Leatham David J. 
Published: July 2016

AbstractThe 1990 Farm Bill reduces deficiency payments but also provides more planting flexibility for program participants. In this study, a mean-standard deviation analysis is used to analyze the impacts of planting flexibility provisions on crop selection decisions, farm returns, and farm risk. Results show that gains from the added planting flexibility do not offset the mandatory loss in the deficiency payments for program participants. Planting flexibility will lead to an increase in corn and wheat planted in the Northern Plains and an increase in cotton planted in the Rolling Plains and Coastal Bend, Texas.
Interfiber Competition in Textile Mills Over Time
Authors: Zhang Ping , Fletcher Stanley M. , Ethridge Don E. 
Published: July 2016

AbstractCotton and synthetic fiber competition in textile mills between 1961-1990 was examined using a time-varying parameter regression model. Results indicate that the structure of demand for cotton is not stable and cotton's share responses to changes in the prices of cotton and synthetic fiber vary over time. Cotton and synthetic fiber competition in textile mill use is essentially between cotton and noncellulosic fiber. Cellulosic fiber is not a cotton competitor.
Subsidies, Endogenous Technical Efficiency and the Measurement of Productivity Growth
Authors: Lachaal Lassaad 
Published: July 2016

AbstractThe impacts of program subsidy on productivity growth is investigated in this study. Mundlak's concept of endogeneity is applied to technical efficiency and generalized within a dual framework. Technology is described by an aggregate cost function while technical efficiency is conditional on a vector of state variables. Empirical evidence from the U.S. dairy sector supports the hypothesis that protectionism, in the form of program subsidy, is the source of considerable technical inefficiencies.
Experimental Examination of a Thin Market: Price Behavior in a Declining Terminal Market Revisited
Authors: Nelson Robert G. , Turner Steven C. 
Published: July 2016

AbstractPerceived characteristics of thin markets are described and approaches to furthering their study are suggested. Design features of a laboratory thin market, patterned after a typical livestock marketing situation, are described. Price bias and variation from a “thick” private negotiation market with 22 traders is compared to that from a “thin” auction market with 8 traders. No systematic price bias was found in any of the markets. Price variation was actually lower in the thin auction market.
Examination of Alternative Heteroscedastic Error Structures Using Experimental Data
Authors: Mjelde James W. , Capps Oral , Griffin Ronald C. 
Published: July 2016

AbstractImpacts of alternative specifications for heteroscedastic error structures are examined by estimating various production functions for corn in Central Texas. Production- and profit-maximizing levels of inputs and the shape of the profit equation obtained from models not corrected for heteroscedasticity differed from those obtained from models corrected for heteroscedasticity. Using the profit-maximizing input levels for each production function gave essentially the same estimated yield and profit, regardless of the specification for heteroscedasticity employed. Differences of up to one-quarter to one-third are noted, however, in the amount of profit-maximizing levels of inputs used, depending on the heteroscedasticity correction.
The Structure of Farmers’ Perceptions of Ground Water Pollution
Authors: Elnagheeb A. H. , Jordan J. L. , Humphrey Vonda 
Published: July 2016

AbstractData from a 1992 Georgia Farm Practices survey are used to examine the structure of farmers' perceptions of ground water pollution and their support of regulations to protect ground water. Estimates of the influence of farm and farmer characteristics on pollution perceptions and support for pollution control were computed using a multiple-indicator model. Results show that the willingness to change farm practices to protect ground water is positively related to how an operator perceives the seriousness of the pollution problem. Regulatory policies that negatively affect farmers' income are likely to be opposed by farmers.
Pesticide Productivity: What are the Trends?
Authors: Teague Mark L. , Wade Brorsen B. 
Published: July 2016

AbstractObtaining estimates of pesticide productivity is an economic response to the growing public concern about the steady increase of pesticide use in the United States. This type of research indicates the cost of limiting pesticide use in terms of foregone output. Previous empirical studies give a “snap-shot”, or “average”, look at pesticide productivity. This research effort employs a random coefficient model to determine the trend of the marginal value product of pesticides in agriculture in the United States. Results show a distinct downward trend in two states, Iowa and Texas. California, however, shows no evidence of a downward trend.
Tradable Permits for Controlling Nitrates in Groundwater at the Farm Level: A Conceptual Model
Authors: Morgan Cynthia L. , Coggins Jay S. , Eidman Vernon R. 
Published: July 2016

AbstractNitrate contamination of municipal and domestic well water supplies is becoming an increasing problem in many rural and urban areas, raising the cost of providing safe drinking water. The objective of this paper is to describe a marketable permit scheme that can effectively manage nitrate pollution of groundwater supplies for communities in rural areas without hindering agricultural production in watersheds. The key to implementing this scheme is being able to link nitrate leaching from nitrogen fertilizer applied to crops at a farm to nitrate levels measured at a drinking water well.
Market-Based Solutions to Environmental Problems: Discussion
Authors: Woodward Richard T. 
Published: July 2016

AbstractThere is rapidly growing interest in the use of market-based (MB) instruments in environmental policy. The papers in this session discuss three relatively new areas for such policies: groundwater contamination, nonpoint source surface-water pollution and carbon sequestration. The papers point out the potential for MB policies in these areas, but significant challenges remain. This comment highlights challenges related to five issues: monitoring and enforcement, trading ratios, baselines, transaction costs, and risk and uncertainty. All these issues must be addressed before MB policies can take the full step from economic theory to regulatory reality.
America's Forgotten People and Places: Ending the Legacy of Poverty in the Rural South
Authors: Allen-Smith Joyce E. , Wimberley Ronald C. , Morris Libby V. 
Published: July 2016

AbstractThis study focuses on the longstanding impoverishment of the rural South and three of its subregions-Appalachia, the Mississippi Delta, and the Black Belt. The poor quality of life in rural Appalachia and along the Mississippi Delta has been publically acknowledged by programs and commissions for improving conditions. However, the more comprehensive Black Belt subregion that links parts of Southern Appalachia and the Southern Delta has not received such regional policy attention. While the South as a whole is more rural and impoverished than other U.S. regions, this is largely due to the poor conditions in the Black Belt. In addition to region and rurality, a third feature of the pattern is race. It is in the Black Belt that the South's poor socioeconomic conditions are most concentrated. Policy and program attention are needed for regional solutions that take rurality and race into account along with demographic and other subregional characteristics.
America's Forgotten People and Places: Ending the Legacy of Poverty in the Rural South: Discussion
Authors: Baharanyi Ntam , Zabawa Robert , Boateng Evelyn 
Published: July 2016

AbstractThese comments discuss the presentations by Christy, Wenner, and Dassie (“A Microenterprise-Centered Economic Development Strategy for the Rural South: Sustaining Growth with Economic Opportunity”) and Freshwater (“What Can Social Scientists Contribute to the Challenges of Rural Economic Development?”) in three sections. These are (1) a brief overview of the Southern Black Belt and its rural development needs, (2) an assessment of the microenterprise-Centered economic development strategy for the rural South, and (3) a quick review of what social scientists can contribute to the challenges of rural economic development. This approach also emphasizes the authors’ background at a historically black land-grant university, and the belief that as goes the Black Belt, so goes the rural South.
The Law of One Price: Developed and Developing Country Market Integration
Authors: Yang Jian , Bessler David A. , Leatham David J. 
Published: July 2016

AbstractThe Law of One Price (LOP) is important to models of international trade and exchange rate determination. This study investigates a variant of the LOP applied to developed and developing countries. The competing hypotheses are (1) that one price prevails in both developed and developing countries and (2) that one price prevails in developed countries and another single price in developing countries. Using data from an internationally competitive commodity (soybean meal), we found evidence favors the first hypothesis, although two large developing countries under study are active participants in regional trade integration, which may bias them against the first hypothesis.
Factors Affecting Wholesale Poultry Prices
Authors: Parceli Joe L. , Pierce Vern 
Published: July 2016

AbstractChanges in consumer demand for poultry meats can be characterized as evolving over time and following seasonal patterns. The focus of this study is on understanding factors affecting wholesale poultry prices. This information is needed so that poultry processors and poultry producers may better understand how consumer purchasing patterns affect price changes. Results suggest that seasonal differences between the price of cuts exist. Furthermore, own-cut and cross-cut flexibilities were unique to individual cuts.
U.S. Kiwifruit Industry Model: Annual Supply and Monthly Demand
Authors: Peterson Hikaru Hanawa , Willett Lois Schertz 
Published: July 2016

AbstractA dynamic econometric model of the U.S. kiwifruit industry provides a framework for empirical analysis of small-scale commodities, particularly those used by producers for diversification. Production and marketing processes are explained by annual and monthly components, respectively. Results confirm that plantings were speculative and that economic feasibility critically impacts acreage retention as the industry matures. Prices at alternative outlets and fruit quality in storage affect monthly shipments. Flexibilities of monthly f.o.b. prices imply elastic kiwifruit demand, and imports are found to be substitutes. The industry could increase its average annual gross revenue by marketing the crop earlier in the season.
The Dynamics of Feeder Cattle Market Responses to Corn Price Change
Authors: Anderson John D. , Trapp James N. 
Published: July 2016

AbstractA feeder-calf price model is estimated which incorporates elements of break-even budget analysis, including estimates of placement weights, slaughter weights, ration cost, and feed-conversion rates. From this model, a corn price multiplier is calculated which quantifies the corn/feeder-calf price relationship. Because the multiplier includes information on cattle weight, feed conversion, and ration cost, it also provides insight into how feeding programs are altered in response to corn price changes. Changes in feeding programs which occur in response to corn price changes are illustrated with dynamic simulation based on weight, ration cost, and price models presented here.
Marketing of Cotton Fiber in the Presence of Yield and Price Risk
Authors: Wojciechowski Jan , Ames Glenn C. W. , Turner Steven C. , Miller Bill R. 
Published: July 2016

AbstractAn expected-utility model and a chance-constrained linear programming model were used to analyze four marketing strategies and seven crop insurance alternatives for cotton marketing in Georgia. The results suggest that existing marketing tools and insurance alternatives can be used to reduce cotton producers' revenue risk. The optimal level of yield and price insurance coverage depends on an individual producer's risk aversion.
Factors Affecting Live Cattle Basis
Authors: Parcell Joe L. , Schroeder Ted C. , Dhuyvetter Kevin C. 
Published: July 2016

AbstractCattle producers and beef packers need to understand basis determinants as they develop price expectations and make pricing, hedging, and forward contracting decisions. This study empirically estimated factors explaining variability in monthly fed cattle basis. The five main results regarding live cattle basis are 1) corn price is an important determinant, 2) a change in the value of the Choice-to-Select spread positively affects basis, 3) changes in the levels of captive supplies have no significant statistical or economic impact on basis, 4) the June 1995 live cattle futures contract did not impact basis, and 5) both market fundamentals and seasonal components are important basis determinants.
Implications of Lawn Care and Landscape Maintenance Firm Profiles for Adoption of Pest-Management Practices
Authors: Hubbell B. J. , Florkowski W. J. , Oetting R. , Braman S. K. , Robacker C. D. 
Published: July 2016

AbstractFirm characteristics and managers' attitudes and opinions about pesticide safety were used to classify lawn care and landscape management firms into four categories and compare them using the logit procedure. Survey data obtained from 223 firms was used in the empirical investigation of the adoption of the IPM techniques. Results showed the need for continued transfer of new technology to independently owned firms, multidisciplinary assessment of IPM methods before their transfer to ascertain the economic viability of proposed methods, public investment in programs training workers in knowledge-based pesticide applications, possible assistance in obtaining capital, and investment in consumer education.
Growth in Agricultural Loan Market Share for Arkansas Commercial Banks
Authors: Ahrendsen Bruce L. , Dixon Bruce L. , Priyanti Atien 
Published: July 2016

AbstractChanges in commercial bank market shares of farm debt are decomposed into portfolio decisions, loanable funds availability and loan market size for 64 counties in Arkansas from 1986 through 1990. A seemingly unrelated regression model is hypothesized to identify county characteristics that are related to changes in commercial bank market shares. Regression results indicate that county differences in economic activity, the relative risk associated with agriculture, farm structure and regional location contributed to changes in commercial bank market shares. The results imply a market niche for rural commercial banks emphasizing agricultural loans in the presence of unlimited branch banking.
Environmental and Economic Impacts of Agricultural Policy Reform: An Interregional Comparison
Authors: Painter Kathleen M. , Young Douglas L. 
Published: July 2016

AbstractMathematical programming results revealed that moving toward more flexible agricultural policies would generate substantial economic and environmental gains in a North Carolina diversified cropping region. But in a Washington-Idaho dryland grains region, only the use of relatively new and sometimes problematic alternative cropping systems permitted environmental and economic gains under policy reform. In both regions, a recoupling policy, which links government payments to resource-conserving farming practices, was needed to protect environmental quality when market prices for program crops were high.