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Articles 961 - 990 of 1290

Full-Text Articles in Agricultural and Resource Economics

Legality Of State Corporate Farming Restrictions, J. David Aiken Jan 2004

Legality Of State Corporate Farming Restrictions, J. David Aiken

Cornhusker Economics

On August 19, 2003 the Eighth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals ruled that South Dakota’s constitutional “Amendment E” restricting corporate farming, violated the interstate commerce clause of the U.S. Constitution. SD Farm Bureau v Hazeltine, 340 F3d 583 (8CA 2003). Because much of Amendment E’s language is identical with Nebraska’s corporate farming constitutional amendment (Initiative 300), the decision implies that I300 could also be unconstitutional.

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Farmer Views On The Emerging Carbon Market, Gary D. Lynne, Colby Kruse Jan 2004

Farmer Views On The Emerging Carbon Market, Gary D. Lynne, Colby Kruse

Cornhusker Economics

Global warming is caused when excessive amounts of carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, methane and chlorofluorocarbons trap the heat from solar energy in the atmosphere. During the past two centuries, soils have been a net source of greenhouse gases, especially carbon. A recent trend in policy dealing with global warming has been to investigate the possibility of utilizing agricultural practices to aid in lessening the global warming problem, rather than contributing to it. One focus has been to increase soil organic matter, thus using the soil as a sink for carbon. Other benefits of increasing organic matter (sequestered and stored carbon) …

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Next Steps Toward Storing Carbon In Nebraska, Gary D. Lynne Jan 2004

Next Steps Toward Storing Carbon In Nebraska, Gary D. Lynne

Cornhusker Economics

The Nebraska Carbon Sequestration Advisory Committee (2001) recently identified a number of options that Nebraskans might consider. In no particular order of priority (from pp. 37 - 41 in the Report), the Committee highlighted:

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Labor Costs And Production Efficiency, Glenn A. Helmers Jan 2004

Labor Costs And Production Efficiency, Glenn A. Helmers

Cornhusker Economics

Efficiency in crop and livestock production has always been considered to be the key to understanding the economic competitiveness of different farm sizes. Differences in efficiency is considered to be the driving force behind farm consolidation and resulting changes in farm size structure. The tool used to portray efficiency is termed a long-run average cost function, showing the cost per unit of production at different farm sizes. The long-run average cost function is conventionally shown as "L" shaped with significantly large decreases in cost of production until moderate sizes are reached, with little decline thereafter. Under this framework we might …

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The Doha Round - 2004 Version, Clayton K. Yeutter Jan 2004

The Doha Round - 2004 Version, Clayton K. Yeutter

Clayton K. Yeutter, United States Secretary of Agriculture: Papers

Thank you, Sherman Katz. It is a pleasure always to participate in this CSIS Seminar, which is becoming an annual reunion for former USTRs. Trade is always on the front burner of world affairs, but that burner is especially hot at the moment! And it is as hot here in the U.S. as it is anywhere. So let's turn to the Doha Round of World Trade Organization (WTO) negotiations, and see where we stand.

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The Doha Round: Comin' Allve?, Clayton K. Yeutter Jan 2004

The Doha Round: Comin' Allve?, Clayton K. Yeutter

Clayton K. Yeutter, United States Secretary of Agriculture: Papers

May I first pay compliments to the leadership of the Asian Development Bank for hosting this seminar. Asia has a huge stake in the success of the WTO generally, and the Doha Round specifically, but not everyone realizes that. So seminars of this _ nature are terribly important in providing focus to the Doha Round, encouragement to the negotiators, and in building public support for this endeavor. Let's hope we can accomplish those objectives here in Osaka.

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Effects Of Replacement Rate On Cow Herd Budget, Darrell R. Mark, Richard J. Rasby Jan 2004

Effects Of Replacement Rate On Cow Herd Budget, Darrell R. Mark, Richard J. Rasby

Department of Agricultural Economics: Faculty Publications

Cattle inventory numbers and cow herd size vary cyclically over time. Historically, cattle cycles have lasted about 10 years. However, the most recent cycle is in its 15th year (1990 to 2004) as a result of an eight-year period of liquidation caused by multi-year drought in many western states. In 2004 and 2005, many cow-calf producers will likely begin to rebuild their cow herd in response to improved profit projections and drought relief. Purchasing bred heifers or young cows will be an option for some producers; others will likely choose to retain additional females from within their own herd. While …

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Cotton Producers’ Choice Of Marketing Techniques, Oscar Vergara, Keith H. Coble, Thomas O. Knight, George F. Patrick, Alan Baquet Jan 2004

Cotton Producers’ Choice Of Marketing Techniques, Oscar Vergara, Keith H. Coble, Thomas O. Knight, George F. Patrick, Alan Baquet

Department of Agricultural Economics: Faculty Publications

A survey of cotton producers was conducted in Mississippi and Texas. The econometric model consists of a multinomial logit model of cotton producers’ choice of marketing techniques. The results indicate that cotton acres positively influence pooling and negatively influence cash sales. Producers willing to incur higher transaction costs in market information systems and training tend to choose futures/options contracts and forward pricing. It was found that risk-averse producers tend not to choose pooling contracts. On the other hand, producers who seek abnormal gains through speculation tend to choose pooling contracts. Finally, producers who perceive markets as being price-efficient prefer cash …

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Captive Supplies And Cash Market Prices For Fed Cattle: The Role Of Delivery Timing Incentives, John R. Schroeter, Azzeddine Azzam Jan 2004

Captive Supplies And Cash Market Prices For Fed Cattle: The Role Of Delivery Timing Incentives, John R. Schroeter, Azzeddine Azzam

Department of Agricultural Economics: Faculty Publications

The use of non-cash methods of procuring fed cattle for slaughter has led to concern about the effect of these so-called “captive” supplies on cash market prices. Some empirical evidence suggests that there is a negative short-run relationship between the two: Cash market prices tend to be low in weeks in which captive supply shipments are high. We advance a different perspective on the relationship between captive deliveries and cash prices, arguing that the incentives that influence cattle delivery-scheduling decisions could lead to a negative relationship, not between the contemporaneous levels of captive shipments and price, but between the volume …

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Institutions And Agricultural Productivity In Sub-Saharan Africa, Lilyan E. Fulginiti, Richard K. Perrin, Yu Bingxin Jan 2004

Institutions And Agricultural Productivity In Sub-Saharan Africa, Lilyan E. Fulginiti, Richard K. Perrin, Yu Bingxin

Department of Agricultural Economics: Faculty Publications

Agricultural productivity in 41 Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) countries from 1960 to 1999 is examined by estimating a semi-nonparametric Fourier production frontier. Over the four decades the estimated rate of productivity change was 0.83% per year, although the average rate from 1985-99 was a strong 1.90% per year. Former UK colonies exhibited significantly higher productivity gains than others, while Liberia and countries that had been colonies of Portugal or Belgium exhibited net reductions in productivity. We measure a significant reduction in productivity during political conflicts and wars, and a significant increase in productivity among those countries with higher levels of political …

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Case Study: To Replace Or Not To Replace: Determining Optimal Replacement Rates In Beef Cattle Operations, W. S. Mackay, J. C. Whittier, T. G. Field, W. J. Umberger, R. B. Teichert, D. M. Feuz Jan 2004

Case Study: To Replace Or Not To Replace: Determining Optimal Replacement Rates In Beef Cattle Operations, W. S. Mackay, J. C. Whittier, T. G. Field, W. J. Umberger, R. B. Teichert, D. M. Feuz

Department of Agricultural Economics: Faculty Publications

Data from a Nebraska cattle ranch were used to compare three female replacement strategies to determine optimal replacement and marketing strategies of females for maximizing the long-term profit potential of that operation. The income statement model (ISM) maximized 10-yr net income by altering the number of females marketed from different age categories depending on price changes influenced by the cattle cycle. The net present value (NPV) model maximized 5-yr herd NPV by adjusting the number of marketed females. The NPV vs the net market value (NMV) model maximized the 5-yr difference between herd NPV …

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Departmental Publications In Agricultural Economics 2003 Jan 2004

Departmental Publications In Agricultural Economics 2003

Department of Agricultural Economics: News, Announcements, and Information

Includes a comprehensive listing of Articles in Professional Journals; Books and Book Chapters; Experiment Station Research Bulletins; Departmental Publications; Conference/Symposium Proceedings; Unpublished Papers/Speeches Presented; Popularized Magazine Articles; Published Abstracts and Book Reviews; Extension Publications, Other and Miscellaneous, & Theses

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Sources Of Ancient Maize Found In Chacoan Great Houses, Larry Benson Jan 2004

Sources Of Ancient Maize Found In Chacoan Great Houses, Larry Benson

United States Geological Survey: Staff Publications

Between the 9th and 12th centuries A.D., Chaco Canyon, located near the middle of the high-desert San Juan Basin of north-central New Mexico (fig. 1), was the focus of an unprecedented construction effort by pre-Columbian Native Americans. It has been estimated that from 2,000 to 6,000 people occupied Chaco Canyon during its heyday (Windes, 1984; Drager, 1976). One indication of Chaco’s regional importance is a network of roads that linked Chaco Canyon with other great houses and communities spread throughout a region covering at least 60,000 km2 (fig. 2). At the height of its cultural florescence in the 11th century, …

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The Western Common Law Of Tributary Groundwater: Implications For Nebraska, J. David Aiken Jan 2004

The Western Common Law Of Tributary Groundwater: Implications For Nebraska, J. David Aiken

Department of Agricultural Economics: Faculty Publications

This 2004 Nebraska Law Review article reviews the historical development of the tributary ground water doctrine under English and American common law, and its judicial reception in the western United States, and analyzes its suitability for adoption by the Nebraska Supreme Court.

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Water Policy Task Force Proposed Recommendations, J. David Aiken Dec 2003

Water Policy Task Force Proposed Recommendations, J. David Aiken

Cornhusker Economics

LB1003, establishing the Nebraska Water Policy Task Force, was signed by Governor Johanns on April 12, 2002. The task force was established to consider (1) changes to LB108, the law dealing with Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and Natural Resources District (NRD) regulations to deal with conflicts between surface water users and groundwater users, and (2) authorizing the buying and selling of water rights, including water leasing and water banking. The task force was initially designed to consider changes in Nebraska water law necessary to allow Nebraska to meet its responsibilities to help protect Platte River endangered species under the …

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Rural Economic Development - An Evolving Approach, Cheryl A. Burkhart-Kriesel Dec 2003

Rural Economic Development - An Evolving Approach, Cheryl A. Burkhart-Kriesel

Cornhusker Economics

In rural economic development, the old way of doing business no longer works. There used to be a time when all a community had to do was have an adequate infrastructure, a supply of low-cost labor, some tax incentives and a few empty spec buildings, and they could attract new businesses. Granted, there was still competition between communities to attract new businesses, but the components that communities had to work with were known commodities to both the potential firms and to the community.

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The Market And Welfare Effects Of The New National Organic Program, Amalia Yiannaka Dec 2003

The Market And Welfare Effects Of The New National Organic Program, Amalia Yiannaka

Cornhusker Economics

Organic agriculture is one of the fastest growing industries in the United States (U.S.). Organic food sales are growing at a rate of more than 20 percent annually, totaling $7.8 billion in 2000 [1].1 Advocates of the recently introduced national organic standards predict that their introduction will further enhance the growth of the organic sector.

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Analysis Of Beef Producers’ Risk Management Perceptions And Desire For Further Risk Management Education, David C. Hall, Thomas O. Knight, Keith H. Coble, Alan E. Baquet, George F. Patrick Dec 2003

Analysis Of Beef Producers’ Risk Management Perceptions And Desire For Further Risk Management Education, David C. Hall, Thomas O. Knight, Keith H. Coble, Alan E. Baquet, George F. Patrick

Department of Agricultural Economics: Faculty Publications

Beef cattle producers were surveyed in Texas and Nebraska to investigate perceptions of sources of risk, the effectiveness of risk management strategies, and interest in further risk management education, particularly production risk, using probit analysis. Important decision variables identified are age, prior use of risk management tools, previous attendances of risk management education, and risk aversion. Severe drought and cattle price variability are identified as primary risk factors with potential to affect farm income. Extremely cold weather and disease are of less importance. Understocking pasture and storing hay are perceived most effective as risk management options.

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Nebraska Livestock Development Policy:The Road Not Taken, J. David Aiken Nov 2003

Nebraska Livestock Development Policy:The Road Not Taken, J. David Aiken

Cornhusker Economics

Nebraska is engaged in a civil war between proponents of additional livestock production and opponents who see large livestock facilities as threats to smaller producers, communities and the environment.

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Country Of Origin Labeling: An Update, Darrell R. Mark Nov 2003

Country Of Origin Labeling: An Update, Darrell R. Mark

Cornhusker Economics

Another step in the multi-year development and implementation of Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) was completed at the end of October when USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) published proposed rules for mandatory COOL. These proposed rules, published in the Federal Register on October 30, 2003, provided AMS’s requirements for compliance with COOL and clarification of some issues raised through public comment on the voluntary COOL guidelines released last year. Additionally, AMS offered a summary of research identifying costs and benefits of the program and its own cost assessment.

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Women In Agriculture, Beth A. Eberspacher Nov 2003

Women In Agriculture, Beth A. Eberspacher

Cornhusker Economics

The nineteenth annual Women In Agriculture Conference was held September 11-12, 2003 in Kearney, Nebraska. This year’s conference hosted 425 women representing 5 states and 79 counties in Nebraska. As in the past, lenders played a large part, 233 of the women who attended were sponsored by their local lender. The conference took on a special format this year as a time of healing and sharing due to the untimely death of Deb Rood, Conference Coordinator.

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Commodity Checkoffs Again In The News, Roy Frederick Oct 2003

Commodity Checkoffs Again In The News, Roy Frederick

Cornhusker Economics

It was like landing two punches in rapid succession to the livestock industry’s checkoff programs. In separate mid-October rulings made less than a week apart, two panels of judges from U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said the beef and pork checkoff programs are unconstitutional. These rulings reaffirmed earlier court decisions that reached the same conclusion.

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2003 Nebraska Ag Worker Compensation Requirements, J. David Aiken Oct 2003

2003 Nebraska Ag Worker Compensation Requirements, J. David Aiken

Cornhusker Economics

The purpose of the Nebraska worker compensation program is to provide no-fault compensation to employees injured on the job. Traditionally farm and ranch workers have been exempted from Nebraska worker compensation statutes, despite the fact that agriculture is one of Nebraska’s most dangerous industries. For many years the Supreme Court has interpreted the farm and ranch worker exemption narrowly in order to provide worker compensation protection to as many injured agricultural workers as possible. This attitude was reflected in a 2002 opinion (Larsen v D B Feedyards, 264 Neb 483) in which the Nebraska Supreme Court ruled that a cattle …

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Team Approach To Management, Al Prosch Oct 2003

Team Approach To Management, Al Prosch

Cornhusker Economics

In 2003 Key and Mcbride1 found that pork operations using production contracts improved productivity. They asserted that improvement in the quality of managerial inputs such as improving information transfers and facilitating access to credit may account for such improvements. Alvarez and Arias2 suggested that fixed managerial ability causes agricultural operations to suffer dis-economies of size. Managerial ability, as described by Kaldor3, consists of supervision and coordination. Supervision is crucial for numerous individuals to work together to complete the responsibilities for common production results. The coordination aspect is that function of deciding which arrangements or contracts should be entered into. While …

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Trade Adjustment Assistance Available For Farmers, David J. Goeller Oct 2003

Trade Adjustment Assistance Available For Farmers, David J. Goeller

Cornhusker Economics

The Trade Act of 2002 (P. L. 107-210) amended the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U. S. C. 2551, et seq.) to add a new chapter, Chapter 6, which establishes a program of trade adjustment assistance for farmers. The statute authorizes an appropriation of not more than $90 million for each fiscal year 2003 through 2007 to carry out the program.

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Supreme Court Rules City Can Regulate Animal Feeding Operation, J. David Aiken Oct 2003

Supreme Court Rules City Can Regulate Animal Feeding Operation, J. David Aiken

Cornhusker Economics

The construction of large swine facilities has been very controversial in Nebraska for the past several years. A major focus of the “hog wars” has been county livestock zoning regulations. In Nebraska livestock facilities are subject to state environmental regulation by the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and to local zoning regulations if the county is zoned (or if the livestock facility will be located near a zoned community). The number of zoned counties has more than doubled in the last decade, from 36 to at least 80. Most of the newly zoned counties have adopted zoning in order …

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Basis Variation In Nebraska, Roger K. Wilson, Richard T. Clark, Lynn Lutgen Sep 2003

Basis Variation In Nebraska, Roger K. Wilson, Richard T. Clark, Lynn Lutgen

Cornhusker Economics

Choosing an appropriate basis is critical to using futures and option markets. The NebGuide The Importance of the “Basis” in Trading on the Futures Market,1 states, “If the producer plans to use hedging as a marketing strategy he must first understand basis and its patterns for his local area. He must know how the basis changes over time and how much fluctuation can occur over a short period. He must understand that hedging will not entirely eliminate price risk from marketing. The basis has to be estimated as it can be the key to receiving the expected price, or better. …

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Cattle Prices Are Record High, Aren’T They?, Dillon Feuz Sep 2003

Cattle Prices Are Record High, Aren’T They?, Dillon Feuz

Cornhusker Economics

Holy Cow! Can you believe the current cattle market? Fed cattle prices in Nebraska exceeded $90 per cwt. the week of September 7-13. The Chicago Mercantile Exchange September Feeder Cattle contract traded over $100 per cwt. A set of 5-weight steer calves sold for $120 per cwt. in North Platte on September 9. These are record high prices. But how high are these prices in relationship to other prices, or when you adjust them for inflation? Before answering that question, let’s first consider what has brought the market to this point.

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Bioenergy, Safety Net Tools Are Producers’ Top Priorities For Next Farm Bill, Bradley Lubben, Farm Foundation Sep 2003

Bioenergy, Safety Net Tools Are Producers’ Top Priorities For Next Farm Bill, Bradley Lubben, Farm Foundation

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

Bioenergy and the structure of safety net programs are of high interest to farmers and ranchers as the next farm bill is debated, according to more than 15,000 farmers and ranchers in 27 states surveyed by Farm Foundation’s National Public Policy Education Committee (NPPEC).

Producers ranked renewable energy, enhancing opportunities for small and beginning farmers, and assuring a safe and affordable food supply as their top three goals for the next farm bill. “All the goals presented to producers to rank were decades-old rationales for farm programs with the exception of bioenergy, an issue that has seen explosive growth in …

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Some Musings On Taxation, Bruce B. Johnson Sep 2003

Some Musings On Taxation, Bruce B. Johnson

Cornhusker Economics

I may be wrong, but it seems to me we are witnessing a profound shift in American politics and that only seems to be accelerating these days. The shift is in regard to government fiscal policy - particularly the revenue/taxation side. From the federal level down through the state levels to local levels, we see a “fiscal crisis” of varying degrees of severity. There is a lot of political rhetoric. Yet neither political party seems to be engaging in any serious debate (probably because they are too busy finger-pointing and passing the buck). The leaning down of government and “cutting …

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