Agricultural and Resource Economics Commons^™

Biomass From Marginal Cropland: Willingness Of North Central Us Farmers To Produce Switchgrass On Their Least Productive Fields, Richard K. Perrin, Lilyan E. Fulginiti, Mustapha Alhassan

Department of Agricultural Economics: Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Assessing The Ability Of Rural Electric Cooperatives To Retire Capital Credits, Jeffrey S. Royer

Department of Agricultural Economics: Faculty Publications

This paper assesses the ability of rural electric cooperatives to retire member equity under three strategies: (1) replacing equity with term debt to provide for an immediate one-time retirement of capital credits, (2) reducing the rate at which equity is accumulated and relying more on term debt to finance asset growth so margins can be used to accelerate the retirement of capital credits, and (3) adjusting the electric rate to generate additional margins for retiring capital credits. Analyses suggest that the average distribution cooperative could employ these strategies to expand capital credits retirement substantially without weakening its financial condition.

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. …

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

Department of Agricultural Economics: Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

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.

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.

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.

Measurement Of U.S. Agricultural Productivity: A 2014 Review Of Current Statistics And Proposals For Change, Richard Shumway, Barbara Fraumeni, Lilyan E. Fulginiti, Jon Samuels, Spiro Stefanou

Department of Agricultural Economics: Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Is There A Slowdown In Agricultural Productivity Growth In South America?, Federico Trindade, Lilyan E. Fulginiti

Department of Agricultural Economics: Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

The Theory Of Agricultural Cooperatives: A Neoclassical Primer, Jeffrey S. Royer

Department of Agricultural Economics: Faculty Publications

This monograph provides an introduction to the neoclassical theory of agricultural cooperatives. The neoclassical theory of cooperatives has been useful for generating insights into the behavior of cooperatives in various market structures, helping cooperatives develop business strategies consistent with their objectives, and informing public policy decisions concerning cooperatives. This monograph describes the application of neoclassical theory to farm supply and marketing cooperatives within various market structures in both the short and long run. Topics covered include the stability of cooperative price and output solutions, strategies for reducing the cost of producing a farm input sold to members and for raising …

Requiring Pollutant Discharge Permits For Pesticide Applications That Deposit Residues In Surface Waters, Terence J. Centner, Nicholas Eberhart

Department of Agricultural Economics: Faculty Publications

Agricultural producers and public health authorities apply pesticides to control pests that damage crops and carry diseases. Due to the toxic nature of most pesticides, they are regulated by governments. Regulatory provisions require pesticides to be registered and restrictions operate to safeguard human health and the environment. Yet pesticides used near surface waters pose dangers to non-target species and drinking water supplies leading some governments to regulate discharges of pesticides under pollution discharge permits. The dual registration and discharge permitting provisions are burdensome. In the United States, agricultural interest groups are advancing new legislation that would exempt pesticide residues from …

The Impact Of Environmental Regulation On The Structure Of The Us Hog Industry, Gibson Nene, Azzeddine M. Azzam, Karina Schoengold

Department of Agricultural Economics: Faculty Publications

Abstract: This paper develops a comparative statics model of long-run industry equilibrium in the presence of size-based environmental regulation stringency and applies the model to the United States hog industry. The economic model shows that when size-based environmental stringency is also size-biased, large farms downsize, expand, or do neither depending on how environmental stringency shifts their marginal production cost relative to their average cost. Empirical testing using data from the top-ten hog producing states suggests that environmental regulation stringency has limited impact on small farms and leads to a reduction in the number of large farms. We cannot reject positive …

Introduction To Risk Management: Understanding Agricultural Risks, Production, Marketing, Financial, Legal, Human, Laurence Crane, Gene Gantz, Steve Isaacs, Doug Jose, Rod Sharp

Department of Agricultural Economics: Faculty Publications

This handbook is designed to improve the risk management skills of American farmers and ranchers. There is a broad array of established risk management tools ready to be used and new tools are always being developed. By learning about and using these tools, crop and livestock producers can build the confidence needed to deal with risk and exciting opportunities of the future.

Contents

Overview of risk management planning

Steps in risk management planning

Manging production risk

Managing marketing risk

Managing financial risk

Managaing legal rtisk

Managing human risk

Accounting For Product Substitution In The Analysis Of Food Taxes Targeting Obesity, Zhen Miao, John C. Beghin, Helen H. Jensen

Department of Agricultural Economics: Faculty Publications

We extend the existing literature on food taxes targeting obesity. We systematically incorporate the implicit substitution between added sugars and solid fats into a comprehensive food demand system and evaluate the effect of taxes on sugars and fats. The approach conditions how food and obesity taxes affect total calorie intake. The proposed methodology accounts for the ability of consumers to substitute leaner low-fat and low-sugar items for rich food items within the same food group. This substitution is integrated into a calibrated demand system in addition to the substitution among food groups, using recent food intake data and existing demand …

Environmental Efficiency Among Corn Ethanol Plants, Juan Sesmero, Richard K. Perrin, Lilyan E. Fulginiti

Department of Agricultural Economics: Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

The Trade And Welfare Impacts Of Australian Quarantine Policies: The Case Of Pigmeat, John C. Beghin, Mark Melatos

Department of Agricultural Economics: Faculty Publications

We analyze the trade and welfare impact of quarantine measures imposed by Australia on imports of pigmeat. In particular, we account for changes to Australia’s pigmeat quarantine policy over time, including those changes related to the recent resolution of a WTO dispute between Australia and the European Union. Using a random utility model and applying it to corner solutions in import decisions, tariff equivalents (by major trading partner) are estimated for the different pigmeat quarantine regimes implemented by Australia during the period 1988-2009. The welfare impact on consumers, producers, and foreign exporters is computed using a partial equilibrium model calibrated …

Agricultural Productivity In China: National And Regional Growth Patterns, 1993–2005, Hazhi Tong, Lilyan E. Fulginiti, Juan Sesmero

Department of Agricultural Economics: Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Accounting For The Impacts Of Public Research, R&D Spill-Ins, Extension, And Roads In U.S. Regional Agricultural Productivity Growth, 1980–2004, Ling Sun Wang, Eldon Ball, Lilyan E. Fulginiti, Alejandro Plastina

Department of Agricultural Economics: Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Departmental Publications In Agricultural Economics 2010, Pamela A. Holmes

Department of Agricultural Economics: Faculty Publications

Publications by Faculty, Research Associates and Graduate Students in the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Department of Agricultural Economics in 2010.

The Impact Of Water Price Uncertainty On The Adoption Of Precision Irrigation Systems, Karina Schoengold, David L. Sunding

Department of Agricultural Economics: Faculty Publications

The paper examines whether a firm is more or less likely to adopt conservation technology when input prices are stochastic. The results are critical to determining whether programs and contracts that reduce input price uncertainty may deter the adoption of conservation practices. An economic model of the technology adoption decision shows that the net effect of input price risk is ambiguous and depends on several factors: the mean price effect, the shutdown effect, and the risk aversion effect. Results are estimated using water price and irrigation technology adoption data. The results show that a stable input price increases the adoption …

Technological Change And Productivity Analysis In Nebraska, Dereje B. Megeressa

Department of Agricultural Economics: Faculty Publications

Productivity growth has been an important source of US economic growth throughout the century

The years since 1940 have been an even faster growth in agricultural productivity (Ball, et.al. 1998; Tokgöz, 2002).

Several factors have been identified as the most important sources of productivity change in US agriculture.

Chandler (1962) attributes over 75 percent of the growth in productivity to technological factors in the post war years.

In Nebraska, several productivity studies conducted that include (Perrin et al, 2001; ball et al, 2001; and Palestina et al(2009).

None of the studies disaggregate land into poor and good …

Climate Impact On Agricultural Efficiency, Federico J. Trindade

Department of Agricultural Economics: Faculty Publications

Introduction

Method

Degree Days

Results

Conclusions

Environmental Efficiency Among Corn Ethanol Plants, Juan P. Sesmero, Richard K. Perrin, Lilyan E. Fulginiti

Department of Agricultural Economics: Faculty Publications

Economic viability of the US corn ethanol industry depends on prices, technical and economic efficiency of plants and on continuation of policy support. Public policy support is tied to the environmental efficiency of plants measured as their impact on emissions of greenhouse gases. This study evaluates the environmental efficiency of seven recently constructed ethanol plants in the North Central region of the U.S., using nonparametric data envelopment analysis (DEA). The minimum level of GHG emissions (per gallon of ethanol produced) feasible with the available technology is calculated for each plant and this level is used to decompose environmental efficiency into …

Health And Growth: Causality Through Education, Rui Huang, Lilyan E. Fulginiti, E. Wesley Peterson

Department of Agricultural Economics: Faculty Publications

Purpose--The paper theoretically and empirically investigates the impact on human capital investment decisions and income growth of lowered life expectancy as a result of HIV/AIDS and other diseases. Design/methodology/approach--The theoretical model is a three-period overlapping generations model where individuals go through three stages in their life, namely, young, adult and old. The model extends existing theoretical models by allowing the probability of premature death to differ for individuals at different life stage, and by allowing for stochastic technological advances. The empirical investigation focuses on the effect of HIV/AIDS on life expectancy and on the role of health on educational investments …

Department Of Agricultural Economics Publications In 2009, Pam A. Holmes

Department of Agricultural Economics: Faculty Publications

Publications from the UNL Department of Agricultural Economics in 2009.

Taiwanese Industry Competitiveness When Outward Fdi Is Defensive, Ling Sun, Lilyan E. Fulginiti, Yo-Chan Chen

Department of Agricultural Economics: Faculty Publications

The main purpose of this study is to examine the links between outward FDI and the competitiveness of Taiwanese industries. This is done by emphasizing the difference between ‘defensive’ versus ‘expansionary’ outward FDI. The empirical study is based on a panel data of 15 industries over the period 1991–2001. The results indicate that outward FDI of the defensive type, in particular that destined to China, while increasing industry efficiency has had a significant negative influence on competitiveness of the Taiwanese industry through its effects on innovative activity. While outward FDI has impacted the industry’s productivity growth it has not decreased …

Carbon Emission Control Policies Within China’S Power Generation Sector, Zhenyu Zhang, Karina Schoengold

Department of Agricultural Economics: Faculty Publications

The paper examines the potential for emissions control policy using the example of the power generation sector in China. The analytical model is developed using a joint production function, where carbon emissions and electricity are jointly produced using capital and fossil fuel inputs. Abatement of emissions can be achieved by investment in two types of capital – production capital that improves the production efficiency, or abatement capital that removes the emissions. The analytical model shows that economic growth can be achieved while still keeping the emission stock at a stable level. The results are estimated using data from China’s electricity …

Price Discovery In Nebraska Cattle Markets, Matthew C. Stockton, David A. Bessler, Roger K. Wilson

Department of Agricultural Economics: Faculty Publications

Monthly observations on prices from 10 weight/gender classifications of Nebraska beef cattle are studied in an error correction model (ECM) framework. This study attempts a replication of the 2003 paper on Texas prices by Bessler and Davis, where they find medium heifers (600–700 lb) at the center of price discovery. Using the ECM results Nebraska light steers are found to be weakly exogenous, with the innovation accounting results showing marked differences. Industry structure, production choices, and animal type and breeding herd differences between Texas and Nebraska are proposed as plausible reasons for partial (or incomplete) success at replication.