Agricultural Economics Commons^™

U.S. Drought Monitor, December 22, 2015, Richard R. Heim Jr.

United States Agricultural Commodities in Drought Archive

Drought map of U.S. for December 22, 2015 (12/22/15) plus: U.S. crop areas experiencing drought (map), Approximate percentage of crop located in drought, by state (bar graph), Percent of crop area located in drought, past 52 weeks (line graph) for: Corn, Soybeans, Hay, Cattle, Winter wheat.

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.

U.S. Drought Monitor, December 15, 2015, Richard Tinker

United States Agricultural Commodities in Drought Archive

Drought map of U.S. for December 15, 2015 (12/15/15) plus: U.S. crop areas experiencing drought (map), Approximate percentage of crop located in drought, by state (bar graph), Percent of crop area located in drought, past 52 weeks (line graph) for: Corn, Soybeans, Hay, Cattle, Winter wheat.

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 …

U.S. Drought Monitor, November 24, 2015, Richard R. Heim Jr.

United States Agricultural Commodities in Drought Archive

Drought map of U.S. for November 24, 2015 (11/24/15) plus: U.S. crop areas experiencing drought (map), Approximate percentage of crop located in drought, by state (bar graph), Percent of crop area located in drought, past 52 weeks (line graph) for: Corn, Soybeans, Hay, Cattle, Winter wheat.

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 …

U.S. Drought Monitor, November 17, 2015, Richard R. Heim Jr.

United States Agricultural Commodities in Drought Archive

Drought map of U.S. for November 17, 2015 (11/17/15) plus: U.S. crop areas experiencing drought (map), Approximate percentage of crop located in drought, by state (bar graph), Percent of crop area located in drought, past 52 weeks (line graph) for: Corn, Soybeans, Hay, Cattle, Winter wheat.

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.

U.S. Drought Monitor, November 10, 2015, Richard Tinker

United States Agricultural Commodities in Drought Archive

Drought map of U.S. for November 10, 2015 (11/10/15) plus: U.S. crop areas experiencing drought (map), Approximate percentage of crop located in drought, by state (bar graph), Percent of crop area located in drought, past 52 weeks (line graph) for: Corn, Soybeans, Hay, Cattle, Winter wheat.

"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, …

U.S. Drought Monitor, November 3, 2015, David Miskus

United States Agricultural Commodities in Drought Archive

Drought map of U.S. for November 3, 2015 (11/3/15) plus: U.S. crop areas experiencing drought (map), Approximate percentage of crop located in drought, by state (bar graph), Percent of crop area located in drought, past 52 weeks (line graph) for: Corn, Soybeans, Hay, Cattle, Winter wheat.

2016 Nebraska Crop Budgets, Robert N. Klein, Roger Wilson, Jessica Groskopf, Jim Jansen

Department of Agricultural Economics: Faculty Publications

1-Alfalfa, Fall Establishment, Dryland

2-Alfalfa, Roundup Ready® No-Till, Fall Establishment, Dryland

3-Alfalfa, Roundup Ready®, Fall Establishment, Dryland

4-Alfalfa, Establish Spring Seed with Herbicides, Dryland

5-Alfalfa, Roundup Ready®, Establish Spring Seed, Dryland

6-Alfalfa, Establish Spring Seed with Herbicides, Pivot Irrigated

7-Alfalfa, Roundup Ready®, Establish Spring Seed, Pivot Irrigated

8-Alfalfa, Fall Seeded with Subsequent Year Production, Gravity Irrigated, Canal

9-Alfalfa, Large Round Bale, Dryland

10-Alfalfa, Large and Small Square Bale, Pivot Irrigated

11-Alfalfa, Roundup Ready®, Large and Small Square Bale, Pivot Irrigated

12-Alfalfa, Large and Small Square Bale, Pivot Irrigated

13-Alfalfa, Large Square Bale, Canal Irrigated

14-Alfalfa, Roundup Ready®, Large Square Bale, …

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 …

U.S. Drought Monitor, October 27, 2015, Brad Rippey

United States Agricultural Commodities in Drought Archive

Drought map of U.S. for October 27, 2015 (10/27/15) plus: U.S. crop areas experiencing drought (map), Approximate percentage of crop located in drought, by state (bar graph), Percent of crop area located in drought, past 52 weeks (line graph) for: Corn, Soybeans, Hay, Cattle, Winter wheat.

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 …

U.S. Drought Monitor, October 20, 2015, Brad Rippey

United States Agricultural Commodities in Drought Archive

Drought map of U.S. for October 20, 2015 (10/20/15) plus: U.S. crop areas experiencing drought (map), Approximate percentage of crop located in drought, by state (bar graph), Percent of crop area located in drought, past 52 weeks (line graph) for: Corn, Soybeans, Hay, Cattle, Winter wheat.

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.

U.S. Drought Monitor, October 13, 2015, David Miskus

United States Agricultural Commodities in Drought Archive

Drought map of U.S. for October 13, 2015 (10/13/15) plus: U.S. crop areas experiencing drought (map), Approximate percentage of crop located in drought, by state (bar graph), Percent of crop area located in drought, past 52 weeks (line graph) for: Corn, Soybeans, Hay, Cattle, Winter wheat.

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 …

U.S. Drought Monitor, October 6, 2015, David Miskus

United States Agricultural Commodities in Drought Archive

Drought map of U.S. for October 6, 2015 (10/6/15) plus: U.S. crop areas experiencing drought (map), Approximate percentage of crop located in drought, by state (bar graph), Percent of crop area located in drought, past 52 weeks (line graph) for: Corn, Soybeans, Hay, Cattle, Winter wheat.

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 …

U.S. Drought Monitor, September 29, 2015, Eric Luebehusen

United States Agricultural Commodities in Drought Archive

Drought map of U.S. for September 29, 2015 (9/29/15) plus: U.S. crop areas experiencing drought (map), Approximate percentage of crop located in drought, by state (bar graph), Percent of crop area located in drought, past 52 weeks (line graph) for: Corn, Soybeans, Hay, Cattle, Winter wheat.

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 …

U.S. Drought Monitor, September 22, 2015, Eric Luebehusen

United States Agricultural Commodities in Drought Archive

Drought map of U.S. for September 22, 2015 (9/22/15) plus: U.S. crop areas experiencing drought (map), Approximate percentage of crop located in drought, by state (bar graph), Percent of crop area located in drought, past 52 weeks (line graph) for: Corn, Soybeans, Hay, Cattle, Winter wheat.

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.

U.S. Drought Monitor, September 15, 2015, Chris Fenimore

United States Agricultural Commodities in Drought Archive

Drought map of U.S. for September 15, 2015 (9/15/15) plus: U.S. crop areas experiencing drought (map), Approximate percentage of crop located in drought, by state (bar graph), Percent of crop area located in drought, past 52 weeks (line graph) for: Corn, Soybeans, Hay, Cattle, Winter wheat.

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.

U.S. Drought Monitor, September 8, 2015, Richard Tinker

United States Agricultural Commodities in Drought Archive

Drought map of U.S. for September 8, 2015 (9/8/15) plus: U.S. crop areas experiencing drought (map), Approximate percentage of crop located in drought, by state (bar graph), Percent of crop area located in drought, past 52 weeks (line graph) for: Corn, Soybeans, Hay, Cattle, Winter wheat.

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, …