Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons™

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

2004

Series

Agricultural and Resource Economics

Institution
Keyword
Publication

Articles 1 - 30 of 106

Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences

Management Practices In A Profitable South Dakota Beef Cow-Calf Operation: A Case Study, Carol J. Cumber, Jill Pravatiner Dec 2004

Management Practices In A Profitable South Dakota Beef Cow-Calf Operation: A Case Study, Carol J. Cumber, Jill Pravatiner

Economics Commentator

No abstract provided.

Go to article

Lake Mcconaughy: Who Gets The Water?*, J. David Aiken Dec 2004

Lake Mcconaughy: Who Gets The Water?*, J. David Aiken

Cornhusker Economics

Nebraska is in a drought of historic proportions. Because of this, water levels in Lake McConaughy near Ogallala are falling to near-record lows. This has led to an active debate regarding how water in McConaughy should be managed, and (in my opinion) unfair criticism of how the lake has been managed. This column takes a quick look at the water rights dimension of McConaughy water levels.

Go to article

Local And Regional Policy Implications Of Agriculture's "Multifunctionality", Thomas L. Dobbs Dec 2004

Local And Regional Policy Implications Of Agriculture's "Multifunctionality", Thomas L. Dobbs

Economics Commentator

No abstract provided.

Go to article

Community Capital: More Than Just Money, Cheryl A. Burkhart-Kriesel Dec 2004

Community Capital: More Than Just Money, Cheryl A. Burkhart-Kriesel

Cornhusker Economics

When you think of the word, capital, dollars or money probably comes to mind. What if I told you there were at least six kinds of capital within every community? Capital is more than just... capital. Cornelia and Jan Flora, in their recent book, Rural Communities: Legacy and Change (2003), identify several kinds of capital that are present in varying degrees in all communities. You might think of it as layers on an onion, with each layer relying on the next (Figure 1). These layers of capital are the building blocks or assets within communities. These common elements can be …

Go to article

Divided Culture: Integrating And Conservation Biology Agriculture, John Banks Dec 2004

Divided Culture: Integrating And Conservation Biology Agriculture, John Banks

SIAS Faculty Publications

Production agriculture, with its implied ecosystem simplification, pesticide and fertilizer use, and emphasis on yield, often appears to be at odds with conservation biology. From a farmer's perspective, the weight conservation biology places on wildlife may seem overly idealistic and naive, detached from economic and sociopolitical reality. In fact, these endeavors are two sides of the same coin, with a shared heritage in decades of population and community ecological theory and experimentation. Better integration of the two disciplines requires acknowledging their various goals and working to produce mutually beneficial outcomes. The best examples of this type of integrated approach result …

Go to article

Economic Analysis Prepared For The Environmental Impact Statement On Black-Tailed Prairie Dog Conservation And Management On The Nebraska National Forest And Associated Units, Martin Beutler Dec 2004

Economic Analysis Prepared For The Environmental Impact Statement On Black-Tailed Prairie Dog Conservation And Management On The Nebraska National Forest And Associated Units, Martin Beutler

Economics Staff Paper Series

This limited analysis resulted from a request by the Nebraska National Forest to provide some economic estimates to the value of changes in forage availability that would result from three proposed levels of rodenticide use in the management of black-tailed prairie dogs (BTPD) on the Nebraska National Forest (NNF) and associated units managed by NNF (i.e. Buffalo Gap National Grasslands, Ft. Pierre National Grasslands in South Dakota, and the Oglala National Grasslands in Nebraska.) The values of changes in forage availability were determined based on three alternatives of rodenticide use. These alternatives include: (1) limit use of rodenticides to only …

Go to article

Understanding The Economic Factors Influencing Farm Policy Preferences, Keith H. Coble, Thomas O. Knight, George F. Patrick, Alan E. Baquet Dec 2004

Understanding The Economic Factors Influencing Farm Policy Preferences, Keith H. Coble, Thomas O. Knight, George F. Patrick, Alan E. Baquet

Department of Agricultural Economics: Faculty Publications

A survey conducted in Mississippi, Texas, Indiana, and Nebraska elicited producers’ preferences for various farm policy changes. This permitted examination of the diversity of preferences that single-state studies have not allowed. Five policy choices, including deficiency payments, loan programs, crop insurance, export programs, and disaster payments were examined. Logit model results predicting producer preferences for each of the five dichotomous policy choices are reported. Explanatory variables based on expected utility theory such as risk aversion, price and yield variability, and price–yield correlation are significant in various models.

Go to article

Jefferson County Visitors Survey Dec 2004

Jefferson County Visitors Survey

Rural Initiative Program: Publications and Reports

Between the months of June and December, 2004, the Jefferson County Visitors Committee, with the assistance of the University of Nebraska’s Rural Initiative and Nebraska Cooperative Extension, conducted a survey of visitors to Fairbury and the Jefferson County area.

The survey was designed to provide information related to the activities and experiences of tourists and other visitors to the Jefferson County area, especially as related to the hospitality industry.

Go to article

The Market And Consumer Welfare Effects Of The Introduction Of Second-Generation Gmps, Amalia Yiannaka Dec 2004

The Market And Consumer Welfare Effects Of The Introduction Of Second-Generation Gmps, Amalia Yiannaka

Cornhusker Economics

The introduction of genetically modified products (GMPs) into the food system and the significant growth of organic agriculture are among the most notable features of the increasingly industrialized agri-food sector. They have both received considerable attention in the agricultural economics literature, with the main focus being on the optimal regulatory responses as they relate to the introduction of standards for, and labeling of, GM and organic food products.

Go to article

Development Of Land Rental Markets In Rural Zhejiang: Growth Of Off-Farm Jobs And Institution Building, Qian Forrest Zhang, Qingguo Ma, Xu Xu Dec 2004

Development Of Land Rental Markets In Rural Zhejiang: Growth Of Off-Farm Jobs And Institution Building, Qian Forrest Zhang, Qingguo Ma, Xu Xu

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

We employ survey data collected in 2001 in Zhejiang province to investigate patterns and determinants of land market development. Previous studies have noted the correlation between growth of off-farm jobs and rental-market development at the aggregate level, but failed empirically to demonstrate mechanisms at the disaggregate level. Our analyses find concrete evidence at the household level connecting developments in labour and land markets. Growth in off-farm jobs allow rural households to transfer labour out of farming and prompt them to relinquish land rights, generating a supply of land that drives rental activities. We also go beyond interactions between factor markets …

Go to article

South Dakota 2004 Custom Rates Survey, Burton Plueger Nov 2004

South Dakota 2004 Custom Rates Survey, Burton Plueger

Economics Commentator

No abstract provided.

Go to article

Women In Agriculture, Karrie Blake Nov 2004

Women In Agriculture, Karrie Blake

Cornhusker Economics

Although farm numbers continue to decline, women in agriculture are increasing their responsibility in decision making and management on the farm. According to the 2002 U.S. Agricultural Census the number of farms in Nebraska was 49,355, down 10 percent from 1997. However, the number of female principle operators in Nebraska was up from 2,948 in 1997 to 3,005 in 2002 according to the census. T his is a small increase compared to the 13 percent jump of women operating farms in the nation (209,784 in 1997 to 237,819 in 2002). Of those principal female operators in Nebraska, 1,568 have farming …

Go to article

Evaluating Multi-Peril Crop Insurance Coverage, Roger Selley Nov 2004

Evaluating Multi-Peril Crop Insurance Coverage, Roger Selley

Cornhusker Economics

Past issues of this newsletter have addressed the assessment of crop insurance needs (March 11 and November 11, 1998). The approach suggested was to identify the cash flow commitments for the year and then to prioritize those commitments. The latter step was suggested recognizing that: 1) insurance coverage may not be available to cover all commitments, 2) even if sufficient coverage is available, premiums increase substantially as coverage is increased, and 3) the more insurance purchased the more risk transferred to the insurance company and the less profit potential retained by the farm operation. In a more recent issue the …

Go to article

Relating Diet, Demographics And Lifestyle To Increasing U.S. Obesity Rates, Christiane Schroeter Nov 2004

Relating Diet, Demographics And Lifestyle To Increasing U.S. Obesity Rates, Christiane Schroeter

Agribusiness

Changes in the American lifestyle are putting more individuals at risk due to the declining quality of their diets. In the last 20 years, the readily available high-fat foods (e.g., "fast foods") combined with the decreased caloric requirements due to lower physical activity levels is assumed to be the major factor in the sharp rise in the prevalence of obesity. The typical away-from-home meal is less healthy than food at home, since it tends to contain more total fat and saturated fat, less calcium, fiber, and iron, and fewer servings of fruits and vegetables. Furthermore, due to the super-sizing trend …

Go to article

Crop Price Declines Could Trigger Revenue Insurance Indemnities, H. Douglas Jose Nov 2004

Crop Price Declines Could Trigger Revenue Insurance Indemnities, H. Douglas Jose

Cornhusker Economics

Two occurrences that could affect grain producers’ incomes this year have just come into play. The first is the establishment of the harvest price for the crop insurance revenue programs. The second is the counter cyclical payments for the farm commodity program.

Go to article

Sustained Growth In Nebraska, Saeed Ahmad, John Austin, Tom Doering, Ernie Goss, Bruce Johnson, Mike Lundeen, Donis Petersan, Franz Schwarz, Eric Thompson, Keith K. Turner Nov 2004

Sustained Growth In Nebraska, Saeed Ahmad, John Austin, Tom Doering, Ernie Goss, Bruce Johnson, Mike Lundeen, Donis Petersan, Franz Schwarz, Eric Thompson, Keith K. Turner

Economics Faculty Publications

National Macroeconomic conditions are favorable for future expansion of income, employment, and revenue in Nebraska. In particular, the U.S. economy is now in the heart of an expansion expected to persist over the three year forecast period. The principal engine of growth will be a sustained expansion in private sector investment and consumption demand. However, the rate of growth in the national economy likely will be moderate rather than rapid. At least three factors will act to moderate growth. The first is higher energy prices. Rapid growth in global demand is expected to keep prices for oil and natural gas …

Go to article

2004 Ballot Proposals, J. David Aiken Oct 2004

2004 Ballot Proposals, J. David Aiken

Cornhusker Economics

The November 2, 2004 general election ballot has eight ballot questions. Amendments 1-4 (all proposed amendments to the Nebraska Constitution) were adopted by the Nebraska Unicameral. Initiatives 417-420 (two constitutional amendments and two citizen-initiated statutes) are a four-part citizen initiative petition package supported by a gambling coalition. The eight proposals are briefly discussed in the order they will appear on the ballot.

Go to article

Assessment Of Biofuels In California And Potential For Future Utilization, Douglas Williams, James J. Ahern, Keith Ochwat Oct 2004

Assessment Of Biofuels In California And Potential For Future Utilization, Douglas Williams, James J. Ahern, Keith Ochwat

Agribusiness

This study analyzed the potential energy resources contained in the biomass residues from the leading crops and livestock in California. As compared with an earlier similar study by Knutson and Miller (1982), where a total of 24 million tons of biomass was reported having an energy value of 336,000 billion Btu’s, this current study showed a total of over 18 million tons (excluding 7.2 million tons of lumber mill and forest slash residues), which translates to almost 13 million tons of dry matter. The energy value of this biomass is 189,000 billion Btu’s, about 56 % of the 1982 value. …

Go to article

Poverty In Nebraska, Richard K. Perrin, Lilyan E. Fulginiti, Avinash Alok Oct 2004

Poverty In Nebraska, Richard K. Perrin, Lilyan E. Fulginiti, Avinash Alok

Cornhusker Economics

“Five Nebraska counties are among the nation's poorest 12 counties" (Lincoln Journal Star, July 18, 2004) Y" 'Some of the bigger ranchers here, they didn't like it at all being called the poorest,' said Van Diest, 68, (Loup County Commissioner, Wade) adding that he's been puzzled by how Loup County got the No.1 ranking." (Omaha World Herald, July 17, 2004). These comments were typical of those in response to a federal report released in July, 2004. Some people are indignant, others are puzzled. Which areas of Nebraska really are the poorest, how poor are they, and why? A clear understanding …

Go to article

2004 Hog Prices - The “Perfect Storm”?, Al Prosch Oct 2004

2004 Hog Prices - The “Perfect Storm”?, Al Prosch

Cornhusker Economics

In 2004 we’ve had the highest hog prices since 1997 (Figure 1). At the same time, we have had record hog slaughter. Perhaps the most telling comment for this year was made by Glen Grimes at the National Pork Board Educators Seminar in September. Glen stated that in all his years he has never seen anything like this. Supply has been up and price has been up more.

Go to article

Start-Up Strategies For Beginning Farmers, David J. Goeller Oct 2004

Start-Up Strategies For Beginning Farmers, David J. Goeller

Cornhusker Economics

Preliminary information from the U.S. 2002 Agricultural Census has recently been released. The chart groups U.S. census data for Nebraska farmers into three categories: under 34 years of age, 35 to 64 and over 65. The data indicates a 20 year trend of fewer farmers, older farmers and very few beginning farmers. A farmer is defined, for purposes of this census, as anyone producing or selling at least $1,000 of agricultural commodities annually. The average age of Nebraska farmers continues to rise. The average age in 1982 was 48.5 compared to 53.9 in 2002. The increase in average age is …

Go to article

Recognizing Agriculture's "Multifunctionality": Implications For Policy Making In The United States, Thomas L. Dobbs Oct 2004

Recognizing Agriculture's "Multifunctionality": Implications For Policy Making In The United States, Thomas L. Dobbs

Economics Commentator

No abstract provided.

Go to article

The Genius Of The Nation Versus The Gene-Tech Of The Nation: Science, Identity, And Gmo Debates In Hungary, Krista Harper Oct 2004

The Genius Of The Nation Versus The Gene-Tech Of The Nation: Science, Identity, And Gmo Debates In Hungary, Krista Harper

Anthropology Department Faculty Publication Series

Introduction In the late 1990s, Hungarian politicians, environmentalists, and agricultural lobbyists weighed the pros and cons of allowing genetically modified (GM) food and seeds to enter the Hungarian market. Starting around 1994, a small group of Hungarian environmentalists began researching GM issues. Initially, they feared that as a post-socialist country seeking foreign investment, Hungary would become prey to multinational corporations seeking an ‘emerging market’ with a lax regulatory environment. The terms of the debate were reframed over time, notably following 1998, when a number of European Union member states banned the imports of GM foods and when Hungarian expatriate geneticist …

Go to article

Public Universities And Private Industry: A Case Study, Jeffrey S. Royer Sep 2004

Public Universities And Private Industry: A Case Study, Jeffrey S. Royer

Cornhusker Economics

A report recently released by an external review panel evaluates a controversial five-year contract between the University of California, Berkeley, and Novartis, the Swiss pharmaceutical and agrochemical company now known as Syngenta. The report, which was written by a team of consultants from Michigan State University and released in early August, addresses a number of issues related to the increasingly complex relationship between public universities and private industry. Given the size of the agreement and that it involved an entire academic department, the Berkeley-Novartis contract quickly became a focus for concerns relating to the basic mission of land-grant universities and …

Go to article

Adding Value To South Dakota Corn: Opportunities In Food Markets, T. J. Hansen, Evert Van Der Sluis Sep 2004

Adding Value To South Dakota Corn: Opportunities In Food Markets, T. J. Hansen, Evert Van Der Sluis

Economics Commentator

No abstract provided.

Go to article

Cattle Market Outlook: Fall 2004 And Beyond, Dillon Feuz Sep 2004

Cattle Market Outlook: Fall 2004 And Beyond, Dillon Feuz

Cornhusker Economics

This past year has certainly seen some ups and downs in the cattle market. One confirmed case of a BSE positive cow in Washington State last December, following an earlier discovery of a BSE cow in Canada in May of 2003 has changed the North American beef industry. Trade flows have been dramatically altered and producers have become frustrated with how political this issue has become. Other issues in the beef industry: animal identification, packer ownership of cattle, country of origin labeling and environmental regulations have generated considerable debate. Some of these issues have a more direct impact on markets …

Go to article

Nebraska Farm Income A Near-Record High In 2003, Bruce B. Johnson Sep 2004

Nebraska Farm Income A Near-Record High In 2003, Bruce B. Johnson

Cornhusker Economics

Fueled by large value increases of both crop and livestock production, Nebraska’s net farm income surged in 2003 to $3.233 billion. Based on recently-released state estimates by Economic Research Service, USDA, this 2003 aggregate income level was the second largest on record for Nebraska; and was within only $150 million of surpassing the historical high-income year of 1996 (Table 1). Nebraska’s 2003 net farm income level was about 1.8 times its average of the preceding 10 years. This level for 2003 placed Nebraska third among the 50 states (only California with $8.4 billion and Texas with $5.9 billion had higher …

Go to article

Sales Of Livestock Insurance Scheduled To Resume, Darrell R. Mark Sep 2004

Sales Of Livestock Insurance Scheduled To Resume, Darrell R. Mark

Cornhusker Economics

USDAs Risk Management Agency (RMA) offered livestock producers in selected pilot states, including Nebraska, a new insurance product in 2003 called Livestock Risk Protection (LRP). It provided down-side price risk protection while allowing producers to take advantage of higher prices, similar to creating a floor price by purchasing put options. Premiums for LRP insurance changed daily and depended on current market prices and market volatility. Unlike put option premiums that change based on the current day’s futures trade, LRP premiums were determined using the previous days futures and options prices. Since LRP could be purchased until 8:00 p.m. based on …

Go to article

Adding Value To South Dakota Corn: Opportunities In Pet Food Markets, T. J. Hansen, Evert Van Der Sluis Sep 2004

Adding Value To South Dakota Corn: Opportunities In Pet Food Markets, T. J. Hansen, Evert Van Der Sluis

Economics Commentator

No abstract provided.

Go to article

Nebraska’S Retailing Patterns And Trends, Bruce B. Johnson Sep 2004

Nebraska’S Retailing Patterns And Trends, Bruce B. Johnson

Cornhusker Economics

Retail trade activity is a significant sector in the state’s economy. Per capita net taxable sales (not including motor vehicle sales) exceed $10,000 annually; and nearly one quarter (24 percent) of Nebraska’s non-farm workforce is employed in the wholesale/retail sector. Therefore, the patterns and trends of retailing over time are important economic indicators. We have followed Nebraska’s retailing activity for many years, and have compiled a comprehensive web page of tables and charts (accessible through the Departmental web site at http://agecon.unl.edu). The following are some highlights of the retail trade data and analysis.

Go to article

Next Last