Agricultural Economics Commons^™

Can Generative Ai Make Farming Decisions? Current Status And Future Pathways: A Case Study In Row Crop Production With Chatgpt, Nipuna Chamara, Yufeng Ge, Joe Luck, Yu Pan, Saleh Taghvaeian, Cory Walters, Christopher Proctor, Daran Rudnick, Daren Redfearn

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

The agricultural decision-making process is experience-based, knowledge-dependent, time-sensitive, complex, and driven by historical data. Planting, fertilization, irrigation, and chemigation are key categories in farm decision-making, and currently there is no one-shot decision-support tool that covers all these activities. Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) models are more advanced than traditional machine learning and deep learning models. These models have been trained on vast amounts of data from the internet, allowing them to accept unstructured data in various forms and generate human-like text, solutions to problems, and scenario predictions. Given this capability, we became interested in exploring the potential of generative AI in …

The “One Big Beautiful Bill” Will Deepen The Farm Crisis, Not Solve It, Rebecca Schewe, Rick Welsh

Center for Policy Research

The One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) promises billions in new farm subsidies, but most of that money won’t go to the farmers who need it most. This brief describes how the OBBB’s changes to agricultural subsidy programs will disproportionately benefit large farms and non-farming investors, accelerating farm loss and consolidation across the United States. The authors argue that without reforms, the OBBB will inflate land values, raise barriers for new and small farmers, and further fuel absentee farmland investment. The authors also identify four reforms policymakers should enact to prevent these devastating consequences, including tightening payment limits and closing loopholes, …

Farmers Markets As Community Infrastructure: Evidence From A Three-Year Statewide Data Project In Utah, Jaclyn Pace, Roslynn Mccann, Blue Cook, Steven Price, Lorali Smith, Dianna Parkynn, Joshua Cafferty

Outcomes and Impact Quarterly

Utah farmers markets play a critical role in food access, small business viability, and community connection, yet limited statewide data document their impact. The Utah Farmers Market Network (UFMN) and Utah State University (USU) Extension conducted a mixed-methods evaluation (2023–2025) and found that farmers markets make valuable contributions to the community.

Agricultural Productivity Under Energy Development: Insights From California, Wai Yan Siu, Sherzod B. Akhundjanov

ODU Articles

This paper examines how agricultural productivity patterns in Kern County, California, a leading region for both agricultural production and oil and gas development, co-vary with the spatial and temporal expansion of hydraulic fracturing and associated energy infrastructure. Using parcel- and county-level analyses, we characterize how agricultural productivity differs across proximity to energy development and across spatial scales. The results reveal spatially heterogeneous and scale-dependent patterns: parcel-level evidence indicates lower Enhanced Vegetation Index-based vegetation productivity within the 20-mile proximity zone around fracking wells, while county-level results show heterogeneous crop-specific yield changes during the post-expansion period. Together, these findings highlight the importance …

Tractors On The Mall: Unraveling The New Deal, Political Shifts, And The 1980s Farm Crisis, Tracy M. Neblina

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

In the 1980s, Midwestern farmers faced an economic crisis that rivaled the Great Depression. Agricultural policy in the 1970s and 1980s led to a boom and bust for many of the nation’s farmers, causing the decline in rural communities in the middle of the country. During this period, more efficient agricultural production, shifting federal policy, high inflation, and devalued farmland led farmers in the Midwest to face incredible economic hardships, loss of land, changes in their communities, and challenges to their sense of purpose and identity. The Farm Crisis of the 1980s furnishes an extraordinary opportunity to investigate a confluence …

Commodity Diversification, Technological Innovation, And Market Dynamics: Insights Into Beef Cattle Production And Feeder Cattle Basis In The United States, Nik Berg

All Theses

The beef cattle industry plays an important role in the agricultural economy, contributing to both domestic food supply and global trade. The United States is one of the world's largest producers of beef, with production systems varying widely across regions largely due to differences in available resources and market structures. Market conditions, technological advancements, and policy interventions shape the way producers operate, making research into these factors essential for both industry stakeholders and policymakers.

Producers are continuously adapting to changing economic conditions, environmental challenges, and evolving consumer preferences. By analyzing these factors, researchers can provide insights to support informed decision-making …

Western Australia’S Agricultural R&D Ecosystem, Ross Kingwell

Farm Systems and Economics published reports

• Decades ago, the agricultural R&D ecosystem in Western Australia (WA) was fairly simple with few funders and some key providers of R&D services such as the Department of Agriculture, CSIRO and the University of Western Australia.
• Since then, the agricultural R&D ecosystem in WA has increased in complexity with more R&D providers and a greater injection of industry and private funding.
• These changes have occurred against a backdrop of the total investment in agricultural R&D declining as a share of agriculture’s gross value of production.
• State and federal governments have reduced their share of the total investment in agricultural R&D. …

Fractured Inheritance: Quantifying The Economic Impact Of Heir’S Property On Arkansas Farmers, Makenzie Mcjunkins

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Heir’s property arises when the original owner still holds the title despite their passing, and ownership is distributed among their heirs. This was driven by barriers to retaining land ownership and access to legal support in predominantly African American populations in the early 20th century. This approach allowed land to remain in the original owner's name while granting continued ownership to future generations without formal paperwork. Additionally, allowing limited land access, land management, and disparities in capital access compared to property with direct ownership rights. This analysis examines how modern heir’s property impacts agricultural returns. This study develops a conceptual …

A Case Study On Readiness Of Engineers In Agricultural Technology Start-Ups, Katie Marie Mowat

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

This dissertation explores the perceptions of practicing engineers regarding the skills necessary to be workforce-ready at agricultural technology (ag-tech) start-ups in the Midwestern United States. A qualitative case study methodology is leveraged, combining both interview and job description data. Given their uniqueness, the study divides the ag-tech start-up industry into two subcases: livestock and cropping systems. The Work Readiness Integrated Competence Model (WRICM) is used as the theoretical framework for this study and informs the conceptual framework and analysis processes. The study identified skills that fit into thirteen distinct categories, which are further grouped into four overarching resource groups. Skills …

Estimating The Carbon Footprint Of Sheep Production In Western Australia, Tafesse Estifanos, Christophe D'Abbadie, Johnny Machon, Amir Abadi Abadi Ghadim, Gus Manatsa, Paul Mattingley, Ross Kingwell, Kevin Foster

Farm Systems and Economics published reports

Western Australia’s broadacre mixed farming systems combine cropping and sheep production and are the largest component of the state’s agricultural sector. The south west Western Australia (WA) agricultural area hosts about 98% of the state's sheep flock. The sheep industry contributed $1.5 billion to the state’s economy in 2021-22 and accounts for about a quarter of on-farm greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Most sheep industry emissions (over 80%) come from methane produced by the sheep. Despite this environmental impact, only 9.9% of Australian sheep producers have estimated their emissions, which limits the industry's ability to monitor and manage carbon footprints effectively. …

Suas Agricultural Aerial Application Operational Field Test, David Thirtyacre, Joseph Cerreta, Scott S. Burgess

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

One of the most promising uses of aerial applications by a sUAS is on small farms where traditional crewed aerial applicators were not practical due to the limited size of the operations. This controlled field test aimed to assess the feasibility and cost-effectiveness of using a sUAS spreading system compared to the traditional manual application of weed killer and fertilizer on cranberry bogs in Western Washington that were less than 10 acres. The aerial application took place over two separate days as scheduled by the farmer for maximum product efficiency. A total of sixty-three flights were necessary to apply the …

Next In Line: Exploring Owner, Business, And Family Characteristics And Farm Succession Planning, Tucker Lane Bittick

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

The growing average age of the American farmer raises concerns about who will be involved in the future agricultural economy. Efficient succession in family farms keeps farm values high, and farms that plan for succession have an incentive to invest more resources into the farm. Knowing what factors on family farms are common when succession occurs could help encourage earlier succession planning. The research questions were: “Are family, business, and owner characteristics significantly related to the presence of a farm succession plan on farms in the Midwest?” and “Are family, business, and owner characteristics significantly related to principal operators’ preference …

Economic Impact Of Cervid Farming In Kentucky, Hunter Groves

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Cervid farming, an agricultural endeavor, has gained prominence in Kentucky in recent years. The main objectives of this study were to estimate the economic contribution that the breeding sectors have on the state, measure the economic contribution of high-fence cervid hunting on the Commonwealth, and investigate the combined economic impact that the industry brings to the economy. The research provided a contextual background and explained the concept of cervid farming and the history of cervid farming. A literature review explored the existing body of knowledge on cervid farming from around the country and identified the gaps within current research. Methodologically, …

Analyzing The Accuracy And Trading Strategy Potential Of Private Analyst Projections Of Usda Wasde Reports, Emmie Noyes

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This thesis investigates the economic impact of private analyst forecasts on trading strategies in agricultural commodities markets. The primary objective is to assess whether private forecasts of world ending stocks contained in the USDA’s WASDE report provide valuable information for forming profitable trading strategies. The study utilizes panel regression models to analyze the relationship between private forecast accuracy and strategic returns derived from trading strategies based on these forecasts. The research employs unbalanced panel data spanning from January 2011 to April 2021, integrating monthly and yearly indicators to capture temporal patterns. The dataset includes observations from multiple firms, allowing for …

The Effects Of Cover Crop Adoption On Yield Distributions Under Extreme Drought, Emory Johnson

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Increased frequency and severity of extreme weather events due to climate change negatively impact agriculture output. Of particular concern is the adverse impact of droughts on corn and soybean yields, as these crops represent a significant portion of cash crop receipts in the United States. Cover crops are one practice that has gained attention due to their agronomic benefits and their potential to reduce downside production risk for producers. This study focuses on the impact of cover crop adoption on corn and soybean yields during drought conditions. We use cover crop adoption data from the Operational Tillage Information System, RMA …

Navigating Challenges For Locally Produced Food, Paul Cook

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

There is much interest in locally produced food and the benefits it can have on communities across the state of Kansas. By interviewing city managers, we have identified some of the unique factors and challenges that city officials face when considering their community’s local food systems. Through interview and survey data, we sensed that there is a desire for more local food in communities but lack of resources, lack of policies and the nature of large commodity agriculture in Kansas appear as challenges. Ad-hoc groups coming from schools, churches, and committees at the county level make up the majority of …

Quantifying Demand And Willingness To Pay For Local Food Production, Mario Ortez, Taylor Thompson, Valerie Kilders, Nicole Olynk Widmar

Department of Agricultural Economics Faculty Publications

The location of production and processing has had an increasingly prominent role in discussions regarding food systems today. Acknowledging the increasing importance, we study consumer preferences for and perception of local products with a particular focus on how willingness to pay (WTP) for local origin indication differs across products, types of designations, and rurality of the individual's geographic location. Using data collected through an online survey, we focused on Indiana residents’ preferences for sweet corn and Barbecue (BBQ) sauce with the sample representing both rural and urban consumers across all twelve economic growth regions in the state. Results reveal significant …

Waterbird-Perceived Damage, Control Measures, And Economic Implications For Rice Production In The Brazilian Cerrado, Demetrio Luis Guadagnin, Alexandre Afonso Meyer, João Augusto Rossi Borges, Fernanda Maia Justo

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Waterbirds have the potential to inflict economic damage to crops. However, is rice (Oryza sativa) production in the Brazilian Cerrado significantly affected by waterbirds? This study aimed to assess the extent of waterbird damage on irrigated rice production in Central Brazil. We conducted surveys of waterbird populations in rice agroecosystem habitats throughout the cultivation cycle and analyzed the expenses associated with waterbird-induced yield losses and the control measures employed by farmers. The 2 most prevalent waterbird species observed were Dendrocygna viduatta and D. autumnalis, comprising 68.6% of all recorded waterbirds. These species were more frequently encountered and …

Analysis Of The Effects Of Nafta On Rural Farmers In Mexico: Agriculture And Immigration, Kevin Xavier Garcia-Galindo

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

This research paper examines the effects of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) on agricultural workers in rural Mexico and immigration rates from those regions. The paper aims to investigate the validity of claims regarding the impact of NAFTA on immigration and agriculture, which are often interconnected. By focusing on the rural farming communities of Mexico, the study incorporates ethnographic perspectives to complement existing academic research on NAFTA. The research question explores how NAFTA affected agricultural workers in rural Mexico and its implications for immigration patterns. Through a comprehensive literature review and interviews with individuals involved in rural farming, …

Ireland V. United States: Agricultural And Environmental Sustainability Policies, Lauryn O'Grady

Accounting Undergraduate Honors Theses

The United States and Ireland have varying practices to achieve similar objectives in regard to environmental sustainability. While the European Union has maintained and updated a uniform policy throughout its existence--the Common Agricultural Policy--the United States instead created short-term solutions to a long-term problem. Not only does the United States tend to solve issues in the short-term, the policies between agricultural production and environmental sustainability are not necessarily aligned or remotely relative to the other. While the United States’ new Global Food Security Strategy implements parts of both agricultural and environmental sustainability, much of the history was not based off …

Economic Contribution Of Agriculture And Food To Arkansas’ Gross Domestic Product 1997-2021, Leah English, Jennie Popp

AAES Research Reports and Research Bulletins

Agricultural production, processing, and retail industries are major contributors to Arkansas’ GDP. Agriculture contributes to the state economy through direct agricultural production, value-added processing, and agricultural retail activities. The Agriculture and Food Sector, which is comprised of agricultural production, processing, and retail industries, promotes economic strength through various interactions with other industries. The use of non-agricultural goods and services as inputs into the agricultural sector promotes diversified growth in Arkansas’ economy and thus plays a vital role in maintaining economic stability throughout the state. This report 1) compares the relative size of the Agriculture and Food Sector in Arkansas with …

Financial Benchmarks For Diversified, Direct-Market Produce Farms, Michael Sciabarrasi

UNH Cooperative Extension

No abstract provided.

High Tunnel Construction Cost Calculation Workbook, Shannon Rauter, Melanie Stock, Brent Black, Dan Drost

All Current Publications

The cost of building a high tunnel fluctuates over time with supply prices. This Excel workbook accompanies the USU Extension fact sheet, "Constructing a Low-cost High Tunnel" by Black, Drost, Rowley, and Heflebower (2011) and allows users to input local supply costs. The workbook then calculates the cost to build a USU low-cost high tunnel with several design options according to high tunnel length and door structure. It also provides an example calculation based on April 2022 pricing for reference.

Are Some Analysts Superior At Forecasting World Grain Supplies?, Emmie M. Noyes

Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness Undergraduate Honors Theses

Whether agriculture is how you make your living or simply a means of putting food on your table, the prices of agricultural commodities and products affect us all. When buying and selling agricultural commodities, both farmers and firms use futures markets. Futures markets help minimize price risk, which is important to both sides of the transaction.

Recently, private analysis firms have started to forecast the information contained in the USDA’s WASDE report. This is relevant because future prices react to new information contained in WASDE reports. These firms will release their information a few days before the WASDE comes out …

The Last Leg: A Social Sustainability Assessment Of Ovine Agriculture, Sydney Golding

International and Global Studies Undergraduate Honors Theses

Post-war agricultural transformations and the rise of Sustainability discourses have dictated the trajectory of sector industries. The implications of agriculture in lateral policy schemes have neglected the careful consideration of the social health of farmers in decision-making processes, creating a greater divide between the interests of the state and our once revered providers. This study aims to capture the complexity of social matters in agriculture within the specific context of sheep farming in the United Kingdom and the United States and how the concurrent systems have adapted considering the impacts of relevant contemporary historical contexts. The principles of Janker, Mann, …

Essays On Socioeconomic Shocks And Policies In Agriculture, Wilman Iglesias

Department of Agricultural Economics: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The three chapters of this doctoral dissertation estimate the responses of agricultural productivity, production value of agriculture, and crop supply to some external shocks and policies. Using unique panel datasets for Colombia and the United States, this research provides new insights regarding the responsiveness of agriculture to some socioeconomic effects and related market policies. Chapter 1 studies the impact of armed conflicts in rural areas on legal agricultural productivity in Colombia by using a production function that includes violence shocks such as the forced intra-national displacement of the rural population from 1995 to 2017. Chapter 2 investigates the effect of …

Measuring Racial Equity In New Hampshire’S Food System, Olivia Saunders, Jennifer Wilhelm

UNH Cooperative Extension

No abstract provided.

Food Security Strategy In Nigeria: Is There Need For A Shift In Paradigm?, Abubakar D. Akpa

Economic and Financial Review

The paper highlights the problem of food security in Nigeria under a rapidly increasing population and declining crop productivity and sheds light on strategies that can guarantee self-sufficiency, wealth, and employment generation.

The paper concludes that policy thrust must be on production, processing and storage to minimise post-harvest losses and enhance farmers’ incomes, foreign exchange earnings and achieve food security objectives.

Rural Infrastructure And The Challenge Of Food Security In Nigeria, Idris A. Ayinde

Economic and Financial Review

Rural infrastructure, therefore, implies “the basic physical and organisational structures and facilities. In same vein, rural infrastructure are those forms of physical, social, human and institutional capital, which enhances rural dwellers better performance in the aspect of production, processing and distribution activities, as well as improving their overall quality of life.

Transforming The Agricultural Value Chain For Food Security In Nigeria: Any Role For Public-Private Partnership?, Stanislaus A. Ukeje

Economic and Financial Review

In the food sector, public-private-partnership (PPP) has the potential, not only to reduce the risk that farmers face, but also to improve the agricultural business environment. As the agricultural and rural sectors are the habitat of the poor, the best value chain strategy should be one that embodies poverty reduction, which can be achieved by increasing the incomes of smallholder farmers and rural dwellers.