bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A Generalized Measure of Farm‐Specific Technical Efficiency
Authors: Dawson Philip J. , Lingard John , Woodford Christopher H. 
Published: July 2006

AbstractSingle measures of farm‐specific technical efficiency over time are calculated for rice farms in Central Luzon, the Philippines, from the residuals of a stochastic frontier production function. Panel data from the International Rice Research Institute's periodic “Loop Survey” are used. Results show a narrow range of efficiency between 84% and 95% across the twenty‐two farms, so that there is limited scope for increasing output by resource reallocation. A comparison is made with measures of technical efficiency using traditional covariance analysis.
A Bioeconomic Analysis of the Texas Shrimp Fishery and Its Optimal Management
Authors: Önal Hayri , McCarl Bruce A. , Griffin Wade L. , Matlock Gary , Clark Jerry 
Published: July 2006

AbstractOverfishing in the Texas shrimp fishing industry by time period and fishing area is investigated. An optimal harvesting pattern is determined using a multiperiod mathematical programming model where prices, fishing effort, catch, and resource dynamics are treated endogenously. These results are then compared with actual effort. The comparison indicates substantial excess effort in spring and early summer, especially in the bays and shallow offshore areas. The peak fishing season also occurs later in the fall in optimal harvest pattern than in practice. The results indicate both producers and consumers gain from reduced fishing effort because of improved size composition of the harvest.
Advertising, Information, and Product Quality: The Case of Butter
Authors: Chang Hui‐Shung , Kinnucan Henry W. 
Published: July 2006

AbstractThis study examines the roles of cholesterol information and advertising in explaining consumption trends for fats and oils, focusing on butter. Results suggest increased consumer awareness of the health effects of blood cholesterol has contributed to the secular decline in butter consumption in Canada. Although consumers' responses to negative information appear to outweigh their responses to positive information, the industry advertising campaign launched in 1978 by the Dairy Bureau of Canada has had a positive effect on butter demand.
Statistical Efficiency of Double‐Bounded Dichotomous Choice Contingent Valuation
Authors: Hanemann Michael , Loomis John , Kanninen Barbara 
Published: July 2006

AbstractThe statistical efficiency of conventional dichotomous choice contingent valuation surveys can be improved by asking each respondent a second dichotomous choice question which depends on the response to the first question—if the first response is “yes,” the second bid is some amount greater than the first bid; while, if the first response is “no,” the second bid is some amount smaller. This “double‐bounded” approach is shown to be asymptotically more efficient than the conventional, “singlebounded” approach. Using data from a survey of Californians regarding their willingness to pay for wetlands in the San Joaquin Valley, we show that, in a finite sample, the gain in efficiency can be very substantial.
Supply, Demand, and Effects of Alternative Policies on the U.S. Oats Industry
Authors: Brandt Jon A. , Kruse John R. , Todd Jackie 
Published: July 2006

AbstractOats are used as both a cover and a production crop. In the Corn Belt and Northern Plains, large year‐to‐year changes in the oats harvested‐to‐planted acreage ratio suggest specifying harvested rather than planted acreage equations. Oats demands for feed, food, seed, and stock use are simultaneously estimated in this study, and impacts of alternative policies on oats production, prices, and returns are simulated. Changes in corn and dairy policies associated with the 1985 farm bill are shown to have significant consequences for the U.S. oats industry.
A Stochastic Asset Replacement Model for Rejuvenated Assets
Authors: Smith G. Scott , Wetzstein Michael E. 
Published: July 2006

AbstractStochastic returns generated by a productive asset are investigated for the replacement problem with rejuvenation. Optimal replacement and rejuvenation conditions, given collinearities among multiple outputs, are considered for alternative levels of producer risk preference. This methodology is applied to a laying hen replacement problem. Results indicate that risk‐averse producers should consider less rejuvenation and shorter rejuvenation production periods. Also, replacement decisions should occur later in the year for peak production to coincide with high output prices.
Evaluating the Integration of Contiguous Discontinuous Markets
Authors: Dahlgran Roger A. , Blank Steven C. 
Published: July 2006

AbstractThis paper applies the concepts of structural models of markets, market integration, and market discontinuity to show that discontinuous markets alter the integration characteristics of continuous markets. When analyzing systems of contiguous markets, some of which are discontinuous, it appears that the continuous markets are less well integrated when the discontinuous markets are operating than when they are not operating.
Flexible Demand Systems with Serially Correlated Errors: Fat and Oil Consumption in the United States
Authors: Yen Steven T. , Chern Wen S. 
Published: July 2006

AbstractA flexible demand system proposed by Lewbel is used to estimate U.S. fat and oil demand from 1950 to 1986. Results suggest that the Lewbel model outperforms the Translog and AIDS and that correction for serial correlation is important. Findings also suggest that price and income effects, together with increasing public health concerns, primarily determine U.S. fat and oil demand.
Computer Use by Ohio Commercial Farmers
Authors: Batte Marvin T. , Jones Eugene , Schnitkey Gary D. 
Published: July 2006

AbstractAlthough computer technologies have evolved rapidly, farmers have been slow to adopt these technologies. This research identifies factors influencing farmers' adoption of computers and the number and type of applications for which the computer is used. Ohio commercial farmers were randomly sampled and analyzed using multinomial logit techniques. Results suggest that older farmers are less likely to adopt computers, less likely to find them useful, and make fewer applications of the computer in their business. Education level is positively associated with computer adoption and with increased numbers of applications made of the computer.
Dynamic Marketing and Retention Decisions for Cow‐Calf Producers
Authors: Schroeder Ted C. , Featherstone Allen M. 
Published: July 2006

AbstractOptimal calf retention and marketing activities for cow‐calf producers are examined using a expected utility‐maximizing discrete stochastic programming model. Steer, heifer, and corn prices are modeled as stochastic variables. The mathematical model is used to consider retention at weaning and yearling stages and marketing alternatives of cash, hedging, and options. Results show how calf retention decisions depend upon current profit, expected future profit distributions, pricing alternatives available, and the cow‐calf producer's aversion to risk.
Optimal Control of Generic Fluid Milk Advertising Expenditures
Authors: Liu Donald J. , Forker Olan D. 
Published: July 2006

AbstractOptimal expenditures of the New York State milk promotion program are determined for three markets. Spending level in New York City and Albany should be reduced by about 10%, while that for Syracuse should be increased three times. Further, there exists an optimal seasonal advertising pattern which reflects the seasonal pattern of the Class 1 differential. In addition, the optimal spending level and seasonal pattern of the state promotion program depends on those of the national program. Thus, coordination between the two promotional units is essential to achieve optimality.
Generalized Optimal Hedge Ratio Estimation
Authors: Myers Robert J. , Thompson Stanley R. 
Published: July 2006

AbstractA generalized approach to estimating optimal hedge ratios on futures markets is developed. The generalized approach is not difficult to apply and provides a framework for evaluating the appropriateness of conventional simple regression approaches to optimal hedge ratio estimation. In an application to storage hedging of corn, soybeans, and wheat, it is found that simple regression using price levels or returns leads to errors in optimal hedge ratio estimation but that simple regression using price changes provides reasonably accurate estimates.
Off‐Farm Labor Market Entry and Exit
Authors: Gould Brian W. , Saupe William E. 
Published: July 2006

AbstractThrough the use of a longitudinal data set, we determine those factors that are important to off‐farm labor market entry and compare them with factors affecting off‐farm labor market exiting. The model of labor market entry and exit takes into account the effects of changes in key economic variables over a four‐year period. The data are for married farm women in Wisconsin who must make labor allocation decisions among home production, farm production, and off‐farm employment. These decisions have important implications for the well‐being of the families involved (who have been increasing in number) and for their communities.
Valuing the Multidimensional Impacts of Environmental Policy: Theory and Methods
Authors: Hoehn John P. 
Published: July 2006

AbstractA theoretically consistent framework is developed for valuing the multidimensional impacts of environmental policy. Conventional benefit estimates are shown to be biased because of the presence of substitution and complementarity effects in valuing policy impacts. Procedures are developed for implementing a valid framework. Consistent with theory, empirical results indicate significant substitution effects in valuing environmental conditions across different geographic regions.
Distributional Effects of Household Linkages
Authors: Bernat G. Andrew , Johnson Thomas G. 
Published: July 2006

AbstractThe study uses input‐output models with disaggregated household sectors to demonstrate that important interhousehold linkages are ignored in standard input‐output models of both rural and urban regions. The results indicate that higher‐income households are not strongly linked to low‐income households and that, given equal changes in exogenous income, low‐income households will have much higher impacts on the local economy than high‐income households. In addition, significant differences in household linkages were found between rural and urban regions.
Modeling Agricultural Growth Multipliers
Authors: Haggblade Steven , Hammer Jeffrey , Hazell Peter 
Published: July 2006

AbstractAgriculture's potential as an engine of third world growth depends, in large part, on the size of the production and consumption linkages it stimulates in rural regions. Current estimates of agricultural growth multipliers within rural regions vary widely, not only because economic structures differ across regions but also because the array of fixed‐price models most commonly used embody widely differing basic assumptions. Among fixed‐price models, the semi‐input‐output formulation projects the most plausible multipliers. But even they overstate the magnitude of growth multipliers by 10% to 25% according to the price‐endogenous model developed here.
A Comparison of Video Cattle Auction and Regional Market Prices
Authors: Bailey DeeVon , Peterson Monte C. , Brorsen B. Wade 
Published: July 2006

AbstractThe number of cattle sold through video auctions has increased substantially during the past five years. The nation's largest video cattle auction offered over 450,000 cattle for sale in 1988. This study compares price differences between the nation's largest satellite video cattle auction and three large regional auctions. Prices for both the regional and video auctions were adjusted for quality differences, transportation costs, commissions, and days to delivery. Net prices paid by buyers and received by sellers in video auctions exceeded the prices for three major regional auction markets.
Market Integration, Efficiency of Arbitrage, and Imperfect Competition: Methodology and Application to U.S. Celery
Authors: Sexton Richard J. , Kling Catherine L. , Carman Hoy F. 
Published: July 2006

AbstractThis paper develops and applies a methodology to test for efficiency of interregional commodity arbitrage. Application of the methodology requires only time‐series data on prices for alternative cities, regions, countries, or product forms. Yet, the approach is capable of generating evidence on a number of market parameters including market integration, arbitrage efficiency, the magnitude of marketing margins, product substitutability, and competitiveness of markets. Estimation is based on a switching regression model with three regimes: efficient arbitrage, relative shortage, and relative glut. Results from application of the model to U.S. celery marketing indicated significant departures from efficient arbitrage for both California and Florida celery.
Government Intervention in Imperfectly Competitive Agricultural Input Markets
Authors: McCorriston Steve , Sheldon Ian M. 
Published: July 2006

AbstractThe frequent demands for protection by the fertilizer industry in many developed countries may have important implications for the agricultural sector. This paper provides a theoretical justification for government intervention in the fertilizer market in the form of an import tariff against foreign competitors. However, a superior policy would be for the government to counter the competitive distortion that exists in the market. An even better outcome is attained by using both policies simultaneously. Moreover, since the fertilizer industry undergoes continuous structural change, the extent to which optimal policies should vary is also investigated.
Labor Contracting and a Theory of Contract Choice in California Agriculture
Authors: Vandeman Ann , Sadoulet Elisabeth , de Janvry Alain 
Published: July 2006

AbstractWe present a model of labor contracts, where seasonality, the sensitivity of output to labor quality and work intensity, and the relative advantages of labor contractors in recruitment and growers in supervision of seasonal farm workers determine the choice of employment contract. Differences in the optimal means of extracting work result in lower wages paid under labor contracting than direct hiring. We derive and estimate the probability of labor contracting and wages as functions of worker and job characteristics using data on California farm workers and employers. From estimated expected wages, our results indicate that successful unionization or reducing the flow of undocumented workers into California agriculture both would reduce contracting and increase wages.
Long‐Run versus Short‐Run Planning Horizons and the Rangeland Stocking Rate Decision
Authors: Torell L. Allen , Lyon Kenneth S. , Godfrey E. Bruce 
Published: July 2006

AbstractReduced future forage production, diminished range condition, and reduced animal performance have been major factors considered when setting rangeland stocking rates. The relative economic importance of diminished current period animal performance versus intertemporal forage production impacts was investigated using a dynamic optimal control model. The model is applied to yearling stocker production in eastern Colorado. Results indicate that intertemporal grazing impacts to forage production are not that important; reduced weight gain during the current period drives the economic stocking rate decision. Further, ranchers have no economic incentive as profit maximizers to continually overgraze the range.
Optimal Control of Fish Growth
Authors: Cacho Oscar J. , Kinnucan Henry , Hatch Upton 
Published: July 2006

AbstractFish culture is an efficient means of protein production. However, in contrast to land animals, fish cannot be fed ad libitum because feed not consumed within a few hours is decomposed. This paper presents a bioeconomic model for determining cost‐effective feeding regimes for pond‐reared fish. The interplay among feed allowance, diet quality, and harvest date is explored. The optimal control model used is flexible, incorporates the effects of water temperature on fish appetite, and can be used to gain insight into efficient management of aquacultural production systems in different geographical regions.
Grain Policy in Chinese Villages: Yield Response to Pricing, Procurement, and Loan Policies
Authors: Rozelle Scott , Boisvert Richard N. 
Published: July 2006

AbstractThis paper assesses the effects of pricing, procurement, and loan policies on China's grain economy. A dynamic control model of the village leader is specified. Parameters of structural and control equations are estimated using time‐series cross‐section data. Simulation results show that pricing and procurement policies are not effective in raising yields, because of conflicting objectives of local officials. Loan policies can increase yields. The paper concludes that rural policies often have contradictory effects that can arise for a number of reasons. An important reason is the fact that local officials in a reforming economy have greater decision‐making discretion than higher‐level officials and execute policies to meet their own objectives.
Worker Turnover, Farm Labor Contractors, and IRCA's Impact on the California Farm Labor Market
Authors: Taylor J. Edward , Thilmany Dawn 
Published: July 2006

AbstractEmployer sanctions under the 1986 Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA) were intended to encourage U.S. employers to adjust to a smaller, more legal workforce. This paper presents findings of an econometric analysis of farm worker turnover as a vehicle to test IRCA's effectiveness. Our findings do not support the hypothesis that IRCA initially succeeded in reducing the reliance on new immigrants in California agriculture.
A Farm‐Level Analysis of Economic and Agronomic Impacts of Gradual Climate Warming
Authors: Kaiser Harry M. , Riha Susan J. , Wilks Daniel S. , Rossiter David G. , Sampath Radha 
Published: July 2006

AbstractThe potential economic and agronomic impacts of gradual climate warming are examined at the farm level. Three models of the relevant climatic, agronomic, and economic processes are developed and linked to address climate change impacts and agricultural adaptability. Several climate warming scenarios are analyzed, which vary in severity. The results indicate that grain farmers in southern Minnesota can effectively adapt to a gradually changing climate (warmer and either wetter or drier) by adopting later maturing cultivars, changing crop mix, and altering the timing of field operations to take advantage of a longer growing season resulting from climate warming.
A State‐Space Forecasting Approach to Optimal Intertemporal Cross‐Hedging
Authors: Vukina Tomislav , Anderson James L. 
Published: July 2006

AbstractCross‐commodity hedging between fishmeal and soybean meal is investigated. The approach uses successively updated out‐of‐sample forecasts to approximate subjective price expectations, and forecast error variance‐covariance matrices to measure risk. Forecasts are generated by state‐space models of vector‐valued time series. In a stationary environment, uncertainty reduces to the difference between the historical autocovariance of the random process and the variance‐covariance of out‐of‐sample forecasts. Results indicate that weakly risk‐averse agents can increase average marketing returns within acceptable risk levels by combining information from price forecasting models with an appropriate hedging strategy.
Testing Nonnested Models
Authors: Doran Howard 
Published: July 2006

AbstractApplied economic research often involves testing between nonnested models. In such situations informal criteria are often used in preference to readily available testing procedures. This article deals with regression‐based tests between nonnested models, showing the development of the J‐ and JA‐tests from the Cox principle. Testing between linear and log‐linear models is discussed as an example of how tests can be constructed when the dependent variables of competing models have a monotonic functional relationship. An empirical example is given to illustrate the procedures.
The Inconsistency of Land Values, Land Rents, and Capitalization Formulas
Authors: Clark J. Stephen , Fulton Murray , Scott John T. 
Published: July 2006

AbstractThis paper examines relationships that exist between farm income, land values, and capital asset pricing theory. Using two commonly referenced data sets, it is shown that land prices and land rents do not have the same time‐series representations, a necessary condition for the simple capital asset pricing theory to hold. This suggests that a fundamental rethinking of the way in which land prices are viewed and modeled is needed. More complex models that allow for rational bubbles, risk aversion, and future shifts in government policy or commodity prices may be required.
Aggregate Sources of Relative Price Variability Among Agricultural Commodities
Authors: Lapp John S. , Smith Vincent H. 
Published: July 2006

AbstractA measure of relative price variability among forty‐seven agricultural commodities is developed for the period 1962 to 1987. Econometric models are used to explore the effects of macroeconomic instability on relative price variability within the agricultural sector. The results show that these relative prices are more variable when actual and unanticipated inflation rates are higher. They may also be more variable during periods when real shocks to the macroeconomy are relatively large. Thus, monetary and fiscal events are not neutral with respect to the agricultural sector because macroeconomic instability appears to create instability and increased uncertainty in agricultural markets.
Effects of Irrigation‐Induced Technological Change in Bangladesh Rice Production
Authors: Ahmed Akhter U. , Sampath Rajan K. 
Published: July 2006

AbstractThis paper evaluates the welfare implications of the irrigation‐induced technological change in rice production, based on the conceptual framework of Hayami and Herdt and using a modified formulation of the problem. The analytical model used incorporates demand and supply shifts, provides exact measures of changes in consumers' and producers' surpluses, and examines the implications for distributive justice in terms of impacts on incidence and severity of poverty and inequality in income distribution. The results of the analysis suggest that irrigation‐induced technological change would significantly promote distributive justice.
The Determinants of the Migration of Labor out of Agriculture in the United States, 1940–85
Authors: Barkley Andrew P. 
Published: July 2006

AbstractThe flow of labor out of production agriculture is analyzed using a two‐sector model of occupational choice. A migration equation is specified and tested empirically using aggregate data for the United States. The economic determinants of the migration of all farm workers and farm operators are established. Farm labor is found to be responsive to changes in the returns to agricultural labor relative to nonfarm labor returns. Given this responsiveness, policies intended to increase farm income will affect the level of agricultural employment.
Imperfect Competition in Agricultural Markets and the Role of Cooperatives: A Spatial Analysis
Authors: Sexton Richard J. 
Published: July 2006

AbstractImportant characteristics of many agricultural markets are costly to transport raw products and relatively few processors, one or more of which is often a cooperative. This paper analyzes pricing behavior in these oligopsonistic, spatial markets and focuses specifically upon the conjecture that cooperatives may have a procompetitive effect on the behavior of rival non‐co‐op processors. The existence and magnitude of a procompetitive effect is shown to depend upon a number of structural and strategic factors including competitive relations among the non‐co‐op processors and a cooperative's membership and pricing policies.