Agricultural and Resource Economics Commons^™

Using An Equilibrium Displacement Model To Simulate The Impact Of An Environmental Meat Tax On Grain And Livestock Markets, Regan Gilmore

UCARE: Research Products

Research Question

What are the potential effects of imposing a hypothetical environmental tax on meat consumption, including beef, pork, and poultry, on the livestock and grain markets in the United States from farm to fork?

Faculty advisor: Azzeddine Azzam

This was the first half of my research project; the second half (with the results) is shown on the following poster: "Simulating the Impact of a CO2-equivalent Meat Tax on Grain and Livestock Markets" @ https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/ucareresearch/151/

The Association Of Southeast Asian Nations Agricultural Total Factor Productivity, 1961–2011, Lee Kottmeyer

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

This article estimates agricultural total factor productivity (TFP) growth in eight Southeast Asian nations over the time period of 1961-2011, using panel data. This study is concerned with investigating whether the recent slowdown in agricultural productivity growth exhibited by affluent societies extends to this region. Three approaches for measuring agricultural total factor productivity growth are used. First, a non-parametric Simple TFP, output, and input index is calculated. Second, a non-parametric nonstochastic Malmquist index is calculated using data envelopment analysis techniques. Finally, an econometric true fixed effects stochastic frontier model is estimated using a maximum likelihood procedure. Aggregate measures of TFP …

From Milpas To The Market: A Study On The Use Of Metal Silos For Safer And Better Storage Of Guatemalan Maize, José Rodrigo Mendoza

Department of Food Science and Technology: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

This project aimed to implement the use of metal silos to improve quality and safety of maize consumed by inhabitants of the highlands of Guatemala. This manuscript includes a literature review of the maize production chain in Guatemala, a survey about agricultural practices used in the region of study, as well as a characterization of the analyzed maize regarding its mycoflora, nutritional composition, and insect infestation. To better understand the current situation regarding agricultural practices and maize consumption, a survey was carried out. Sample consisted of 280 families representing 14 rural communities distributed in the townships of Todos Santos and …

The Potential Water Saved When Usa Households Pay A Water Bill, Wenfeng Li

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

A continuing problem for both American agriculture and our society is the shortage of usage water. This problem has become more acute as our population grows and as global warming and the demands of agriculture pushes government agencies to look for ways to save water. More efficient devices are now required and households have been asked to voluntarily restrict water usage. Although less wasteful irrigation methods have been introduced, the problem of inadequate water for agriculture has continued to grow.

Interestingly, there is one area where millions of gallons of clean water are potentially wasted each year that has been …

Broadband And Mobile Internet Services In Nonmetropolitan Nebraska: 2016 Nebraska Rural Poll Results, Rebecca J. Vogt, Cheryl A. Burkhart-Kriesel, Randolph L. Cantrell, Bradley Lubben, L. J. Mcelravy

Nebraska Rural Poll

Most rural Nebraskans use their cell phone to access the Internet. Certain groups are more likely than others to use mobile/cellular Internet service: rural Nebraskans with the highest household incomes, who are younger, married, with higher education levels and with management or professional occupations.

Overall, most rural Nebraskans using mobile/cellular Internet service are satisfied with their service. Furthermore, most rural Nebraskans are satisfied with the reliability, speed, customer service, and coverage of their mobile Internet service. However, most rural Nebraskans using mobile Internet service are dissatisfied with the price of their service.

Certain groups have issues with various aspects of …

The Impact Of The Timing Of The Intergenerational Farm Transfer Initiation On The Terminal Wealth In The Business: Simulation Model, Iuliia Protopop

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

This study presents a conceptual framework and empirical farm-level model of wealth creation and accumulation of the farm business and incorporates the changes in life-cycle patterns in farmer productivity and consumption of the older and younger generation. This method provides a vehicle to analyze the timing of farm transfer initiation and its impact on the terminal wealth in the business and the likelihood of the firm’s future continuity.

The results of a representative large grain farm (more than $250,000 in gross sales, and $4 million in real estate) in Iowa confirm that the timing of a transfer is determined by …

Precision Agriculture And Big Farm Data: Producer Adoption And Opinions, Michael H. Castle, Bradley D. Lubben, Joe D. Luck

UCARE: Research Products

Using scarce resources to feed an ever-increasing world population in the climate of increasingly-volatile commodity prices has charged producers with the task of becoming more efficient. The answer to these problems may lie within technological advancements, through the usage of precision agriculture and the “big” data these technologies are capable of producing. These technologies are expected to have an enormous impact that could effectively allow farmers to produce more with less. As such, research regarding producer adoption and opinions of the technology are of great relevance. Furthermore, there is great debate over the data produced by these technologies; with the …

Factors Influencing The Adoption Of Precision Agriculture Technologies By Nebraska Producers, Michael H. Castle, Bradley D. Lubben, Joe D. Luck

Department of Agricultural Economics: Presentations, Working Papers, and Gray Literature

An ever-increasing world population and increasingly-volatile commodity prices have charged producers with the task of becoming more efficient. To combat this, precision agriculture technologies aimed at increasing production efficiency are continually being developed, but their adoption is not yet widespread. A survey regarding the usage of these technologies was distributed to a sample of row crop producers across the state of Nebraska and a Poisson regression was used to determine the factors influencing adoption. Results of the study indicate that larger, more tech-savvy producers and those using irrigation are more likely to adopt a higher number of precision agriculture technologies, …

Factors Influencing Producer Propensity For Data Sharing & Opinions Regarding Precision Agriculture And Big Farm Data, Michael H. Castle, Bradley D. Lubben, Joe D. Luck

Department of Agricultural Economics: Presentations, Working Papers, and Gray Literature

With its tremendous success by notable companies in varying industries, “big data” has become a hard-to-miss phrase and many believe its usage in agriculture is the future of the industry. However, the potential benefits of using big data come with just as many challenges, ranging from not knowing how to make use of it, to the debate over who owns and has access to it. A survey asking for producers’ opinions on precision agriculture technologies and big farm data was distributed to a sample of agricultural producers across Nebraska. A Poisson regression was used to determine the factors influencing propensity …

Nebraska Historical Prices, Seasonal Price Patterns, And Futures Basis Beef Cattle, 2001–2015, Jacob Birch, Kate Brooks

Department of Agricultural Economics: Faculty Publications

Introduction This publication is designed to help cattle producers with acquisition and merchandising decisions for calves and fed cattle. Western Nebraska prices for various sex and weights of cattle are provided. Feeder and live cattle futures bases are calculated using Nebraska average cash prices and the average nearby futures prices from the Chicago Mercantile Exchange.

Historical For the intended purposes of this publication, prices are reflected from 2001 through 2015. Historical prices prior to 2001 are available, but have lower bearing on current pricing strategies. Prices have been exceedingly volatile due to competition for feeds and short supply of feeders. …

Perceptions Of Well-Being In Nonmetropolitan Nebraska: 2016 Nebraska Rural Poll Results, Rebecca J. Vogt, Cheryl A. Burkhart-Kriesel, Randolph L. Cantrell, Bradley Lubben, L. J. Mcelravy

Nebraska Rural Poll

Rural Nebraskans continue to feel positive about their current situation. Just over one-half (52%) of rural Nebraskans believe they are better off than they were five years ago (holding steady from 53% last year, the highest proportion in all 21 years of this study, tied in 2008). And, rural Nebraskans’ outlook on their future continues to be optimistic. Almost one-half of rural Nebraskans (46%) believe they will be better off ten years from now. In addition, most rural Nebraskans disagree that people are powerless to control their own lives. This year, 55 percent strongly disagree or disagree with that statement. …

Agroforestry Horizons: Experiences And Reflections: Report-Out, Steve Rasmussen

United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service / University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Faculty Publications

The USDA National Agroforestry Center (NAC) is charting a course for the next five years. As part of this process, NAC and the USDA Interagency Agroforestry Team hosted a meeting of leaders in the fields of agroforestry, agriculture, and forestry, from government, universities, and the private sector, to share experiences and insights on agroforestry opportunities and challenges. The meeting occurred on April 27th and 28th, 2016, in Washington, DC, and entailed presentations and discussions on current and potential roles of agroforestry in supporting water quality, soil health, economic diversification, food security, and pollinator/wildlife habitat. This report-out provides a summary of …

Sustainable Consumption With An Essential Exhaustible Resource Re-Examined, Juan Sesmero, Lilyan E. Fulginiti

Department of Agricultural Economics: Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

U.S. Agricultural Productivity: A Review Of Usda Economic Research Service Methods, Richard Shumway, Barbara Fraumeni, Lilyan E. Fulginiti, Jon Samuels, Spiro Stefanou

Department of Agricultural Economics: Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Combining Habitat Loss And Agricultural Intensification Improves Our Understanding Of Drivers Of Change In Avian Abundance In A North American Cropland Anthrome, John Quinn, Tala Awada, Federico Trindade, Lilyan E. Fulginiti, Richard K. Perrin

Department of Agricultural Economics: Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

A Variable Cost Function For Corn Ethanol Plants In The Midwest, Juan Sesmero, Richard K. Perrin, Lilyan E. Fulginiti

Department of Agricultural Economics: Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Illiquid Capital: Are Conservation Easement Payments Reinvested In Farms?, Joshua M. Duke, Brian J. Schilling, Kevin P. Sullivan, J. Dixon Esseks, Paul D. Gottlieb, Lori Lynch

Center for Great Plains Studies: Staff and Fellows Publications

Agricultural conservation easements have positive externalities but few studies examine the supply-side. This paper explores whether easements may also overcome a credit-market failure, as banks may not be lending based on the full developed value of land. Original survey data test our research hypotheses and show profitable owners and nonoperators to be using easement payments to extract capital from their land by using the preservation programs as a bank. The results also show that the unprofitable owners and operators are reinvesting in their agricultural enterprises. Both results are consistent with an underlying credit-market failure, and the latter suggests that easements …

Outsourcing Environmental Problems And Poverty In Less Developed Countries, Josiah Ward

Nebraska College Preparatory Academy: Senior Capstone Projects

Copyright © 2016 Josiah Ward

Economic Feasibility Of High Omega-3 Soybean Oil In Mariculture Diets: A Sustainable Replacement For Fish Oil, Subir Bairagi, Richard K. Perrin, Lilyan E. Fulginiti, Tom Clemente, Cory Hungate, G. Key

Department of Agricultural Economics: Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Diseases Of Trees In The Great Plains, Aaron D. Bergdahl, Alison Hill, Gerard C. Adams, Rachel A. Allison, John A. Appel, John Ball, James T. Blodgett, Kelly S. Burns, Whitney Cranshaw, Kelsey L. Dunnell, Mark L. Gleason, Mark O. Harrell, Thomas C. Harrington, Marcus B. Jackson, William R. Jacobi, Jennifer Juzwik, Megan M. Kennwlly, Les Koch, Jared M. Leboldus, Phillip A. Mason, Douglas L. Mcnew, Judith O'Mara, Hayley M. Nelson, Nicole Opbroek, Michael E. Ostry, Scott C. Redlin, Glen R. Stanosz, Laurie J. Stepanek, Ned Tisserat, Timothy C. Todd, James A. Walla, James J. Worrall, Simeon Wright

United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service / University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Faculty Publications

Hosts, distribution, symptoms and signs, disease cycle, and management strategies are described for 84 hardwood and 32 conifer diseases in 56 chapters. Color illustrations are provided to aid in accurate diagnosis. A glossary of technical terms and indexes to hosts and pathogens also are included.

Scope

The purpose of this handbook is to assist users in diagnosing tree diseases and reducing their impact. Included are the most damaging diseases, along with some that are the subject of frequent inquiry although of minor importance. The diseases included were those encountered primarily on trees in conservation plantings such as windbreaks, farmstead plantings, …

Alec/Adpr 207: Communicating To Public Audiences—A Peer Review Of Teaching Project Inquiry Portfolio, Karen J. Cannon

UNL Faculty Course Portfolios

A significant amount of research in teaching and learning is conducted exploring large enrollment courses. Often it seems as if we believe that the panacea is smaller class sizes. However, challenges exist in smaller enrollment courses as well. This inquiry portfolio explores an introductory, sophomore level course in strategic communication with an enrollment of 20 students. Despite the smaller number of students in the course, significant challenges exist and over the five spring semesters I’ve taught the class, one consistent challenge remains – how to bridge the wide range of student ability, knowledge, and experience of students in the course. …

Climate And Energy: Opinions Of Nonmetropolitan Nebraskans 2015 Nebraska Rural Poll Results, Rebecca J. Vogt, Cheryl A. Burkhart-Kriesel, Randolph L. Cantrell, Bradley Lubben, L. J. Mcelravy, Tonya Haigh

Nebraska Rural Poll

Many rural Nebraskans are concerned about more severe droughts or longer dry periods in their area, insect-borne diseases like West Nile Virus, and more extreme summer temperatures in their area. Fewer rural Nebraskans are concerned about the availability of water for their community or home or more frequent extreme rains or floods. Residents of the North Central region are more likely than residents of other regions of the state to be concerned about more severe droughts or longer dry periods in their area.

Few rural Nebraskans reported their household experiencing health problems during the drought of 2012. However, many persons …

Perspectives On Community Life In Nonmetropolitan Nebraska: 2015 Nebraska Rural Poll Results, Rebecca J. Vogt, Cheryl A. Burkhart-Kriesel, Randolph L. Cantrell, Bradley Lubben, L. J. Mcelravy

Nebraska Rural Poll

By many different measures, rural Nebraskans are positive about their community. Many rural Nebraskans rate their community as friendly, trusting, and supportive. Most rural Nebraskans also say it would be difficult to leave their community. In addition, most rural Nebraskans disagree that their community is powerless to control its future.

However, the proportion of rural Nebraskans satisfied with many social services and entertainment services has decreased across all nineteen years of the study. Declines in satisfaction levels across all 19 years are seen with nursing home care, medical care services, senior centers, mental health services, entertainment, retail shopping and restaurants. …

Engagement In Nonmetropolitan Nebraska: Civic And Political Participation And Views Of Community Leadership: 2015 Nebraska Rural Poll Results, Rebecca J. Vogt, Cheryl A. Burkhart-Kriesel, Randolph L. Cantrell, Bradley Lubben, L. J. Mcelravy

Nebraska Rural Poll

Most rural Nebraskans have participated in community involvement activities but they have not been as involved in some political activities. However, most rural Nebraskans have spoken with their pocketbooks on political and social issues by either buying or boycotting products because of the social and political values of the company providing them. And, many rural Nebraskans have signed a written petition about a political or social issue and have contacted a local public official to express their opinion.

Certain groups are more likely than others to have participated in community and political involvement activities. While younger persons are more likely …

Does The Nebraska Livestock Friendly County Program Affect Livestock Expansion In The State?, Brian E. Mills

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

Livestock production in Nebraska is a very essential part of the state’s economy with cash receipts from all livestock and products valued at $11.9 billion in 2013 (NDA 2015b). The Livestock Friendly County Program (LFCP) was instituted by the Nebraska Legislature in 2003 to further promote livestock development in the state. This thesis examines whether the program has had its intended impact for both cattle and hog farms. The analysis draws on the theory of long-run competitive equilibrium as a guide for the specification of the cattle and hog models. Three alternative specifications of the models using different sets of …

Container Vegetable Gardening, Terri James, David Lott

Nebraska Cooperative Extension: Faculty and Staff Publications

If well-managed, vegetables grown in containers can provide high-quality produce in a small space.

Container vegetable gardening is a wonderful option for people who have limited space, impaired physical mobility, or conditions that interfere with in-ground gardening, such as poor garden soil. It also can help avoid problems with soilborne diseases and nematode pests that can exist in the soil in traditional, in-ground gardens. People who do not have access to a garden space, or simply do not want to grow a full-scale garden, may choose container vegetable gardening to provide them with enjoyment and produce. Containers are available in …

Three Essays On Biofuels, Drought, Livestock, And The Environment, Sunil P. Dhoubhadel

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

This dissertation consists of three essays. The first essay examines the impact of the 2012 drought and the biofuels mandate on the U.S. grain and livestock markets. A stochastic equilibrium displacement model is used to analyze the impact on eight commodity markets viz. beef, pork, poultry, corn, distillers’ grain (DG), soybean, soymeal, and ethanol. Among the eight markets, corn and beef are found to be the most vulnerable to drought. The use of Renewable Identification Number (RIN) credits as an instrument to mitigate the impact of drought has limited effectiveness. A mandate waiver of about 23% is required to fully …

Optimism In Nonmetropolitan Nebraska: Perceptions Of Well-Being, 2015 Nebraska Rural Poll Results, Rebecca J. Vogt, Cheryl A. Burkhart-Kriesel, Randolph L. Cantrell, Bradley Lubben, L. J. Mcelravy

Nebraska Rural Poll

This year, rural Nebraskans are the most positive about their current situation as they’ve been in all 20 years of this study. Just over one-half (53%) of rural Nebraskans believe they are better off than they were five years ago (the highest proportion in all 20 years of this study, tied in 2008). This is up slightly from 50 percent last year. And, rural Nebraskans’ outlook on their future is the most optimistic in all 20 years of this study. Almost one-half of rural Nebraskans (48%) believe they will be better off ten years from now (the highest of all …

Alternative Timing Of Carbaryl Treatments For Protecting Lodgepole Pine From Mortality Attributed To Mountain Pine Beetle, Christopher J. Fettig, A Steve Munson, Kenneth E. Gibson

United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service / University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Faculty Publications

Carbaryl is regarded among the most effective, economically viable, and ecologically-compatible insecticides available for protecting conifers from bark beetle attack in the western United States. Treatments are typically applied in spring prior to initiation of bark beetle flight for that year. We evaluated the efficacy of spring and fall applications for protecting individual lodgepole pine, Pinus contorta Dougl. ex Loud, from mortality attributed to mountain pine beetle, Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopkins, the most notable forest insect pest in western North America. Both spring and fall treatments of 2.0% a.i. carbaryl (Sevin® SL) were efficacious for two field seasons, while results from …

Piecemeal Reform Of Trade And Environmental Policy When Consumption Also Pollutes, Mark R. Metcalfe, John C. Beghin

Department of Agricultural Economics: Faculty Publications

We incorporate endogenous (price-responsive) consumption pollution into a dual trade model to assess welfare effects of coordinated trade and environmental piecemeal reform in a small, open and distorted economy. Pollution is generated by production and consumption. Producers control the level of pollution and face incentives to abate both types of pollution. We identify sufficient conditions for welfare-improving reforms of trade and environmental policies. An additional domestic environmental policy instrument must be imposed on exportables because of their supply response to foreign environmental taxes.