Life Sciences Commons^™

Affordable Care Act 2016 Changes, Marilyn Schlake

Cornhusker Economics

Since enacted in 2010, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) has in some capacity affected nearly all individuals and businesses throughout the United States. With its sweeping legislation, insurance companies, health providers, employers and individuals alike have changed how they operate within the health industry. These changes will continue as more ACA regulations go into effect in 2016 and 2017. Understanding how these changes affect you and your family and business is important to successfully navigate through the evolving ACA regulations.

Mobile Broadband In Nebraska, Charlotte Narjes, Becky Vogt, Cullen Robbins

Cornhusker Economics

Mobile Broadband Coverage in Nebraska

• Is mobile broadband coverage available throughout Nebraska?
• Is there a difference between rural and urban areas with respect to mobile wireless speed?
• Should mobile wireless coverage be classified as broadband?

These are some of the questions that were answered by an August 2015 Nebraska Public Service Commission (PSC) report. The study, which began in October 2013, was part of the Nebraska Broadband Initiative efforts to facilitate the integration of broadband and information technology into state and local economics.

Managing Net Income Risk With Crop Insurance, Farm Bill, And Hedging, Cory Walters

Cornhusker Economics

Managing uncertain yields and prices before planting is a primary concern to producers, especially when financial ruin is at stake. To manage uncertainty, producers are presented with a complex set of financial tools from both public sources (crop insurance and Farm Bill) and private sources (commodity futures markets). Over time these tools and their relation have evolved. Prior to the mid-1990s, before crop insurance expanded, producers relied primarily on privately operated commodity futures markets and publicly funded government programs, such as the disaster assistance program and the loan deficiency program, to reduce income uncertainty. Since this time the U.S. government …

Rental Agreements For Cover Crop Grazing, Jay Parsons, Mary Drewnoski

Cornhusker Economics

Cover crops are becoming increasing popular throughout Nebraska and the surrounding region. As their name implies, cover crops cover the ground helping prevent soil erosion outside of the growing season for the primary crop. Below ground, cover crops also contribute to soil organic matter. Increasingly, people are looking at the above ground biomass produced by cover crops as a potential source of feed for cattle or other ruminant livestock. Technically, this would make them double cropped forages instead of cover crops but that is a topic for another day. For now, let's consider the fact that many of the crop …

Using Behavioral Economic Insights To Improve Program Design, Christopher Gustafson, Mazbahul Ahamad

Cornhusker Economics

The field of behavioral economics has added important tools and insights to economics that can be used to increase the effectiveness of interventions or research in diverse settings ranging from the United States to East Africa. In this article, we briefly contrast traditional economic tools and newer behavioral economic approaches before providing examples of how insights from behavioral economics into individual behavior can be used to improve the design of programs.

"The Only Thing That Is Constant Is Change": A Brief Overview On How Technology Has Changed Futures Markets Part Ii, Fabio Mattos

Cornhusker Economics

In our previous Cornhusker Economics (10/28/2015) we talked about the emergence of electronic trading in futures markets and new trading practices that came with it. In particular, we discussed spoofing and mentioned the trial in Chicago of a trader accused of "poofing" commodity futures markets. As I write this article, a "breaking news" alert, pops up on my computer screen which informs me that the trial is over and the jury has just reached a verdict. As the Financial Times reports, the trader was found guilty on 12 accounts, "Including intending to defraud other traders by flooding gold, corn, soybeans, …

The Only Thing That Is Constant Is Change: A Brief Overview On How Technology Has Changed Futures Markets In Recent Years Part I, Fabio Mattos

Cornhusker Economics

During this month of October, we have read in the news several articles about trading in futures markets related to recent practices that are becoming increasingly prevalent. A US presidential candidate suggested the creation of a tax on high-frequency trading (HFT), referring to it as unfair and abusive. The focus appeared to be on the large magnitude of order cancellations in some HFT strategies. We also read in the news that the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), the US derivatives regulator, filed a complaint against a Chicago-based proprietary trading firm that has allegedly been “spoofing” futures markets. Then the head …

Profitability Vs. Feasibility And The Paradox Of Purchasing Farmland, Larry Van Tassell

Cornhusker Economics

A student came to my office not too long ago excited about the opportunity to purchase 80 acres of farmland close to his family抯 farm. His father offered to let him use the family machinery and equipment in exchange for labor. The student had properly worked his cost-and-return estimates for field corn and was excited that the undertaking looked like a profitable venture. So we took a look at the annual principal and interest payments that would be due over a 20-year and 30-year loan life given the price of the land and his available 25% down payment. Sadly, the …

Working With Your Banker, Dave Goeller

Cornhusker Economics

Commercial ag bankers are in the business of making loans. But not just any loans. They want to make good loans. A good loan is somewhat subjective, but there are many factors that lenders evaluate to help them decide if you will be able to pay back both the principal and the interest, as well as maintain a mutually profitable, long term business relationship.

The Effects Of Fair Trade On Coffee Growers, Konstantinos Giannakas, Vahid Omidvar

Cornhusker Economics

Two and a half billion cups of coffee are consumed in the world annually making coffee the second-most traded commodity after oil and the caffeine contained in it the most widely consumed psychoactive drug. Coffee is produced in more than 60 countries and provides a livelihood for some 25 million coffeegrowing families around the world. Coffee consumption has been increasing over the past 50 years, but this increase has, for the most part, not been accompanied by increases in raw coffee prices and improvements of coffee growers?lives. After the International Coffee Association (ICA) dissolved in 1989, coffee production increased substantially …

Is Imported Beef A Complement Or A Substitute For Domestic Beef?, Sunil P. Dhoubhadel, Azzeddine M. Azzam, Matthew C. Stockton

Cornhusker Economics

United States beef imports have been a controversial issue since 1958, which marked the beginning of major U.S. imports of beef from Australia. From the onset, U.S. beef producers have always been concerned with unrestricted beef imports fearing they would depress prices in the domestic market. In response to these fears, the U.S. Congress enacted the 1964 Meat Import law (P.L. 88-482) limiting red meat imports to approximately 7% of the then current domestic red meat production. This system was replaced by a beef Tariff Rate Quota (TRQ). Historically, TRQ countries rarely fill their quotas. The table on the next …

Downstream Pollution: Do Gender And Emotion Matter?, Marianna Khachaturyan, Gary D. Lynne, Natalia Czap

Cornhusker Economics

Gender differences are a subject of interest to many disciplines, including economics when it comes to strategic behavior, environmental studies when it comes to environmental attitudes and behavior, and psychology when it comes, among many other topics, to differences in emotion expression and reaction. To study a number of questions related to conservation decisions in the context of downstream water pollution, including gender differences and effect of emotions, a laboratory experiment was conducted in the Experimental and Behavioral Economics Laboratory of the Department of Agricultural Economics at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. In total 216 students and members of the public …

Ethanol, Gasoline And Ethanol Prices, Richard K. Perrin

Cornhusker Economics

The price of crude oil took a steep dive last year, plunging from $95 per barrel just a year ago to the low $40-range by December, where they remain today (Figure 1). Goldman Sachs has recently suggested that it could drop further, even into the $20 range. Low oil prices mean low gasoline and ethanol prices.

A Historical Comparison Of Heifer Replacement Costs, Matthew C. Stockton, Roger Wilson

Cornhusker Economics

The value of heifer replacements is an interesting question which is affected by time (e. g. future cattle prices), animal longevity and the individual production and management system of the cow-calf producer. If we ignore the differences among producers we can study the effects that price and longevity have on the net value of replacement animals.

Community Capitals Framework As A Measure Of Community Development, Daniela Mattos

Cornhusker Economics

Social and economic changes are transforming rural and regional communities, making critical the understanding of the dynamics of community change. Community development practitioners and researchers share the interest in the study and design of policies and programs intended to change rural communities positively. Community Capitals Framework (CCF) has become one of the primary research approaches in community analysis and development. This framework was first developed by Cornelia and Jan Flora (2013) as an alternative strategic planning and measurement approach, and has been used by groups such as the North Central Regional Center for Rural Development, Great Plains IDEA Community Development, …

Increasing Ecosystem Services Benefits Through Spatially Coordinated Land Management: Role Of Transaction Costs And Communication In An Experimental Setting, Simanti Banerjee, Timothy N. Cason, Frans P. De Vries, Nick Hanley

Cornhusker Economics

The delivery of ecosystem services benefits from proenvironmental land use and land management activities on farmland can often be substantially enhanced if landowners are able to coordinate their decisions across space. For example, in the face of pollinator population collapse, greater crop pollination benefits will accrue if neighboring farmers commit to reducing pesticide usage, than if only a single farmer unilaterally curbs use, leaving bees vulnerable to pesticide drift from neighboring farms. Other examples which illustrate the importance of spatial coordination for generating environmental benefits across space are water quality improvement and biodiversity protection via reduction in habitat fragmentation.

Annual And Seasonal Price Patterns For Cattle, Kathleen Brooks

Cornhusker Economics

Annual average prices over the last 35 years for feeder steers (500-600 lb and 700-800 lb) and fed steers for Nebraska are shown in Figure 1. The U.S. cattle history has well documented 10 to 12 year cycles of rising and falling production with inverse price cycles. Historical prices within the cattle industry cycles for Nebraska can be seen from the figure with similar low prices during the bottom of the cycles in 1986 and 1996. In 1996, higher than average feed grain prices resulted in the narrowing of the spread between lighter weight and heavier weight steers. Cattle prices …

Determining A Cooperative’S Least-Cost Equity Position, Jeffrey S. Royer

Cornhusker Economics

A simple measure of interest coverage can serve as the basis for a valuable equity management and planning tool for both agricultural cooperatives and rural electric cooperatives (RECs). The timesinterest- earned ratio (TIER) can be used by a cooperative to determine the least-cost mix of debt and equity capital that satisfies a particular interest coverage requirement given the cooperative's rate of return on equity and average interest rate. Identifying the least-cost mix of debt and equity is important because if the cooperative uses too much debt in its capitalization, it may be unable to cover its interest expenses; if it …

Farm Program Payments And Protection Under Arc And Plc, Bradley D. Lubben

Cornhusker Economics

Earlier this year, Nebraska crop producers and local USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) offices worked through countless meetings, visits, and analyses to make farm program enrollment decisions regarding base acreage, payment yields, and the election between Agriculture Risk Coverage at the county level (ARC-CO), Agriculture Risk Coverage at the individual level (ARC-IC), or Price Loss Coverage (PLC). The decisions involved deciphering a complex set of farm programs and related crop insurance choices and relied at least in part on producer perceptions of yield and price directions and volatility through the 2018 crop year.

Cash Rent Increases When Is The Right Time To Give Up A Lease?, Tina Barrett

Cornhusker Economics

There has been considerable talk for many years about the increases in cash rent. This chart shows the data collected by Nebraska Farm Business, Inc. for the average cash rent paid in the prior 10 years. The average cost has doubled from $127.71 in 2005 to $258.11 in 2014 (peak of $274.74 in 2013) . The cost now accounts for 31% of the total cost of growing irrigated corn. It's no wonder that in times of narrowing margins, producers are considering ways to reduce this major expense.

Buy Fresh Buy Local Nebraska Connecting Farmers To Consumers For 10 Years!, Jim Crandall

Cornhusker Economics

The local food “movement” has gained strength nationwide as well as right here in Nebraska. The production and consumption of nearly table ready food has gained popularity and has an important economic impact for those farmers and businesses involved in that segment of agriculture. The past decade has seen substantial and growing interest in the promotion of local food systems throughout the United States. The increasing consumer demands for fresh local produce and other farm products are driven by the beliefs that local food production systems are more sustainable, healthy, and supportive of local economies. As a testament to rising …

Ripple Effect Mapping: A Tool To Document Change, Cheryl Burkhart-Kriesel

Cornhusker Economics

Do educational programs focused on community development produce real community change? And if so, how can you document that change? This seems to be the ultimate question for professionals working in this field. A relatively new technique, Ripple Effect Mapping (Kollock, Flage, Chazdon, Paine & Higgins, 2012), may have real potential in gleaning both intended and unintended consequences of the educational experience, a first step in long-term change.

Trends In Satisfaction With Jobs And Finances Observations From Nineteen Years Of The Nebraska Rural Poll, Randy Cantrell

Cornhusker Economics

The Nebraska Rural Poll has been conducted every year since 1996 and has dealt with many topics of concern to Non-Metropolitan Nebraskans. While important and sometimes controversial topics such as water resources, taxation and climate change draw the interest of the media, another set of questions often go largely unnoticed by readers. Those questions, many repeated in every Poll, inquire as to the respondents' level of "satisfaction"with an array of community amenities, such as infrastructure, environment, services and leadership. Other repeated Poll questions deal with the respondents?level of satisfaction with their current personal or household situation, including such items as …

The Roles Of Cost Sharing Rules And Well Sharing In Irrigation Inefficiency: A Case Study In Groundwater Pumping In Mexico, Karina Schoengold, Shanxia Sun, Juan Pablo Sesmero

Cornhusker Economics

Concerns about groundwater depletion in the High Plains Aquifer and other aquifers throughout the world have been well documented in the media and the scientific literature. A recent study found that groundwater use exceeds recharge in about one-third of the world's largest aquifers (Barringer, 2015). Thus, developing appropriate groundwater management policies that encourage conservation and preserve the long-run viability of aquifers is of paramount importance in many regions. However, policies and institutional arrangements in many areas may exacerbate aquifer depletion by encouraging groundwater consumption. Policies that subsidize the cost of energy inputs may increase groundwater extraction. Subsidized electricity or diesel …

Creating An Entrepreneurial Community, Charlotte Narjes, Rebecca J. Vogt

Cornhusker Economics

The Entrepreneurial Communities Activation Pro-cess (ECAP) is a holistic approach to help com-munities support innovation and entrepreneurship by understanding their unique characteristics, community assets and potential opportunities. As a result of engaging in the ECAP program, com-munities embrace visionary thinking, endorse en-trepreneurial leadership, build synergy and are able to leverage resources to attract and retain a working age population which will empower community economic growth.

What To Consider When Fertilizing Nebraska Sandhills Subirrigated Meadows For Hay Production, Matthew C. Stockton, Roger Wilson

Cornhusker Economics

With the ever changing value of hay and input costs, those producers who use their subirrigated meadows to produce hay may often wonder if they should apply fertilizer and, if so, how much and what type? The biological research needed to answer these queries has been completed decades ago, but because hay values and fertilizer prices are constantly changing, it becomes necessary to revisit the topic and answer these questions using current economic information. This analysis uses the classical approach where the value gained from increased production is at least as much as the cost of applying the additional fertilizer, …

Gender Inequality In The World And Its Implications, Marianna Khachaturyan, E. Wesley F. Peterson

Cornhusker Economics

Worldwide one in three women will be abused sexually or will encounter physical violence during her lifetime (Human Development Report (HDR), 2014). That amounts to about 1.2 billion women. Although gender-related abuse and violence exist everywhere, the issues that come to mind when contemplating gender inequality in high-income countries are usually related to job opportunities, career advancement, or wage disparities. In many developing countries, gender inequality is a much more severe problem; it is manifested in health disparities, limited access to education, and even in the violation of human rights.

Precision Agriculture Usage And Big Agriculture Data, Mike Castle, Bradley D. Lubben, Joe Luck

Cornhusker Economics

Agricultural producers have quickly adopted precision agriculture technologies in recent years. With the availability of global positioning system (GPS) signals and other technology, producers can track yields, steer and control equipment, monitor field conditions, and manage inputs at very precise levels across a field, offering the potential to substantially increase productivity and profitability.

Nebraska Broadband Initiative, Charlotte Narjes, Rebecca J. Vogt, Connie Hancock

Cornhusker Economics

The Nebraska Public Service Commission, Nebras-ka Information Technology Commission Community Council (NITC), University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL), Nebraska Department of Economic Development (DED) and Applied Information Management (AIM) have cooperatively led the effort to address the broadband planning needs of Nebraska’s communities. UNL has led the planning component and is the fiscal agent for the planning part of the grant.

National Agri-Marketing Association Annual Conference Professional Growth Opportunities For Unl Students, Caleb Nuehring, Rosalee Swartz

Cornhusker Economics

The National Agri-Marketing Association (NAMA) annual conference in April of each year is a highlight for Nebraska NAMA students. The students look forward to opportunities to network with professionals and attend sessions and workshops presented by internationally known speakers and experts.

NAMA is comprised of 23 professional chapters in six regions nationwide and has more than 3,500 professional and student members. NAMA members include professionals in agribusinesses, commodity associations, advertising and public relations agencies, as well as faculty, staff, and students from universities across the u.s. and Canada. At the state level, Nebraska's professional Cornhusker Chapter has nearly 70 members. …