Agricultural and Resource Economics Commons^™

Transgenic Crops And The Environment: Missing Markets And Public Roles, David E. Ervin, Sandra S. Batie

Economics Faculty Publications and Presentations

The rapidity of change has left scant opportunity for investigation of the consequences of adoption of transgenic crops on long-term ecosystem or economic system functioning. Economic theory suggests that, if the "Biotechnology Revolution" is left to market forces alone, there will be neglected public goods. Theory and limited empirical evidence suggests that there are significant incentives for private firms to discount and neglect certain environmental impacts and to develop products that meet mainly the needs of those able and willing to pay. Negative distributional impacts on rural societies and economies will not normally enter the private calculus nor will the …

Private Agro-Environmental Management: Green Business Rising, David E. Ervin, Frank Casey

Economics Faculty Publications and Presentations

This article focuses on the role of business environmental management (BEM) in the food industry. Types of BEM; Benefits of implementing the practice; Importance of giving producers flexibility; How private strategies and ventures may succeed. This article is adapted from a keynote address prepared for Challenging the Agricultural Economics Paradigm, a symposium honoring Luther G. Tweeten, Anderson Professor of Agricultural Marketing, Trade and Policy, September 10-11, 2000, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio.

Transgenic Crops: An Environmental Assessment, David E. Ervin, Sandra S. Batie, Rick Welsh, Chantal L. Carpentier, Jacqueline I. Fern, Nessa J. Richman, Mary A. Schulz

Economics Faculty Publications and Presentations

The report focuses on the environmental impacts of transgenic crops, and covers biosafety regulations in the US and EU, intellectual property rights, and market and trade developments.

The Role Of Soil Test Information In Reducing Groundwater Pollution, Ronald A. Fleming, Richard M. Adams, David E. Ervin

Economics Faculty Publications and Presentations

Testing soils for nutrients is expected to improve groundwater quality. However, it is unknown whether soil testing will improve groundwater quality sufficiently to decrease the demand for direct regulation of agricultural practices. Focusing on an irrigated agricultural region in eastern Oregon, the economic and environmental aspects of soil testing are assessed using a spatially distributed, dynamic simulation model which links economic behavior with the physical processes that determine groundwater quality. Results indicate that soil testing of all fields increases farm profits and reduces groundwater nitrate concentration. However, the benefits are small in terms of potential improvements in groundwater quality.

Will Business-Led Environmental Initiatives Grow In Agriculture?, Sandra S. Batie, David E. Ervin

Economics Faculty Publications and Presentations

This article was stimulated by a 1997 American Agricultural Economics Association annual meeting preconference designed by Batie and Ervin. The authors felt that there was considerable interest and activity in business-led environmental management (also caLLed corporate environmental management)-but most of the interest was found outside of the agricultural sector and the profession. The conference was a means to investigate the extent, motivation, and consequences of business-led poLLution prevention activities. The DuPont and the StahLbush Island Farms examples used in this article were drawn from discussions that took place at the conference and which were published in the proceedings. In the …

Leaner Environmental Policies For Agriculture, David E. Ervin, Elisabeth A. Graffy

Economics Faculty Publications and Presentations

Farmers and ranchers face a most troubling dilemma. Complex political forces have mapped two quite different paths to environmental management-a rollback of federal regulations or a buildup of traditional subsidies. In the words of a famous modern philosopher, "When you reach a fork in the road, take it!" But either choice poses risk for the industry and will not likely ameliorate nettlesome environmental problems. A third path could help the industry maintain competitiveness and meet environmental challenges. This path uses me latest science to identify agroenvironmental problems and emphasizes economically attractive technology to sustain environmental improvements.

A New Era Of Water Quality Management In Agriculture: From Best Management Practices To Watershed-Based Whole Farm Approaches, David E. Ervin

Economics Faculty Publications and Presentations

Why is reducing water pollution from agriculture such a stubbornly slow process? Despite several policy initiatives since the 1970s, farms and ranches rank as the primary contributors to impairments of the nation's surface waters [U.S.EPA, 1994b]. Emerging research also points to agricultural chemicals in many cases of groundwater contamination [Barbash and Resek; Mueller, et al.]. After a little reflection, the industry's negative distinction may not be surprising. Covering nearly half the U.S. land base, crop and livestock production inevitably alter natural vegetative cover, apply fertilizers, pesticides and irrigation water, and involve animal wastes. All of these processes can degrade water …

"Energy Resources", Harrison Scott Brown

Special Collections: Oregon Public Speakers

With: Salter, C. L. The urban enigma.

Is There A Case For In-Kind Income Transfers? An Analysis Of The Low-Income Housing And Food Stamp Programs, Judith A. Barmack

Dissertations and Theses

The primary objective of this research was to assess the equity and efficiency of in-kind income transfers. The analytical framework employed incorporated key concepts of the utility interdependence paradigm from economic welfare theory. This paradigm views income transfers as social goods and suggests that social as well as private benefits may be derived from the redistribution of income. This study attempted to assess some of the empirical implications of the utility interdependence argument through the investigation of the low-income housing and Food Stamp programs in Multnomah County, Oregon for FY 1973.

Data were drawn from agency files, published statistics and …