Agricultural and Resource Economics Commons^™

Applying Data Mining Techniques To Evaluate Applications For Agricultural Loans, Emile J. Salame

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

Financial lending institutions continuously look at improving their credit risk models. This study examines the performance of three estimation methods: logistic regression, decision tree, and neural networks, in terms of their misclassification rates of credit default. The study uses 17,328 loans of grain producers for the period of 2006 - 2010. Those loans belong to the category of “diversified loans / core standard” originating from a large financial lending institution. The data has been split into nine different sets to acknowledge three factors: the shift in price of grains to a higher plateau after 2006, the contamination effect on defaulting …

Sustainable Practices Like Recycling: Could Colleges And Universities Be Role Models?, Prabhakar Shrestha, Gary D. Lynne

Cornhusker Economics

For the very first time in the history of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, this year's summer graduates wore a "green" gown for their commencement exercises. The gown is made from sustainably harvested wood pulp, with zippers made from 100 percent recycled plastics. Practices like these are a step in a positive direction, suggesting colleges and universities could become leaders in sustainable practices, as well as in ensuring that the curriculum used in helping form the education obtained by students includes sustainability principles.

A Proposal To Make Grain Storage Financially Feasible, David L. Garrett

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

The United States has a National Oil Reserve but not a food reserve. Just as the oil reserve is designed to buffer unforeseen disruptions in the critical supply, the nation should also have a food reserve for the same purpose.

The United States and other developed nations have little or no food reserve beyond the typical demands between growing seasons. Marvelous production achievements in agriculture beginning in the early 1960s and known as the “Green Revolution” are now leveling off. Food production, suffering from such negative side effects as reduced water tables, is being outstripped by population growth (Bourne, 2009).

Business Competency For Ag Businesses; A Key To A Prosperous And Sustainable Future, Matthew Stockton

Cornhusker Economics

Husker Ag SMARTS, a statewide professional business management training program was developed and is delivered by the Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Nebraska-Lincoln. It is in conjunction with several partners, University of Nebraska Extension and financial institutions across the state. This joint effort has been financially supported by banking institutions and public funding through the North Central Risk Management Education Center. Local banks and cooperatives have been excited to see this program offered, and have been very supportive in giving scholarships, identifying possible participants and encouraging their clients to become involved.

The SMARTS portion of the program’s name is …

Legal Fences In Nebraska, J. David Aiken

Cornhusker Economics

This week I received two telephone calls asking “What is a legal fence in Nebraska?” Our recent fencing statute - which requires all landowners to split the cost of a division fence 50/50, is probably the source of this interest. So this newsletter begins with a brief history of the legal fence’s role in Nebraska fence law, and then lists the legal fence provisions in the 2011 Nebraska fence statutes.

Nebraska And “The Great Recession” - Jobs And Income: 2007-2009, Randolph L. Cantrell

Cornhusker Economics

Recovery may be seen as weak, but “The Great Recession” which officially began with a second consecutive quarter of negative economic growth in December, 2007, officially ended in June, 2009.

The effect of the recession on employment was dramatic and continues through today, with a seasonally adjusted national unemployment rate at 9.2 percent as of July, 2011, according to the National Bureau of Labor Statistics. Unemployment remains at or above ten percent in seven states.

Nebraska fared better than most states during the recession. The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate never exceeded five percent and is currently at 4.2 percent …

South Dakota 2011 Crop Forecast, Kelley Highbear, Matthew Diersen

Economics Commentator (1972- 2016)

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.

Gender, Interdisciplinarity And Global Food Crises, Marianna Khachaturyan, Ann Mari May, Gale Summerfield

Cornhusker Economics

Higher education plays a pivotal role in analyzing and offering potential solutions to the world’s problems, and seldom have the world’s economic and social problems appeared more critical. As the world’s population increases and faces the unpredictable effects of climate change and begins to come to terms with the possibility of peak oil and its implications, we face rising concerns about food security and global food crises.

As we work to address these growing concerns it is increasingly apparent that our research must be interdisciplinary in nature. Because women play critical roles in the supply and consumption of agricultural products, …

Satisfied Customers Are Not Good Enough, Cheryl A. Burkhart-Kriesel

Cornhusker Economics

There used to be a time when all a business wanted were satisfied customers. Having satisfied customers was seen as the pinnacle of success. But today it appears that is not the case.

With everyone wanting to take their business to “the next level,” it is no surprise that businesses, especially in the service and sales area, are looking for new ways to take their satisfied customers and transform them into passionate advocates.

Use Of And Satisfaction With Home Broadband Service By Business Ownership, Rebecca J. Vogt, Charlotte Narjes, Connie Hancock

Cornhusker Economics

Technology is critical for businesses to remain competitive in this knowledge-based economy. Many businesses are home-based, making it necessary to have adequate Internet service at home. So how are business owners and farmers/ranchers currently using technology in their homes? Is their home Internet service meeting their needs?

The Nebraska Public Service Commission was awarded a grant from the Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to conduct a study of broadband use and needs in Nebraska. The University of Nebraska- Lincoln conducted the survey for the Commission. In addition, the Nebraska Information Technology Commission (NITC) Community Council and …

Past Successes And Future Prospects For Nebraska Agriculture, Ray Supalla

Cornhusker Economics

When I joined the University of Nebraska-Lincoln faculty in 1976, Nebraska had 5.5 million irrigated acres, irrigated corn yields averaged 115 bushels per acre, irrigation water was worth $25 per acre per year, center pivot irrigated land was selling for $1,000 per acre, net farm income averaged $0.8 billion per year and both groundwater pumping and nitrogen fertilization practices were unrestricted. Today as I prepare to retire, Nebraska has 8.5 million irrigated acres, irrigated corn yields average 186 bushels, irrigation water is worth more than $100 per acre per year, pivot irrigated land is selling for over $4,000 per acre, …

South Dakota Agricultural Land Values And Cash Rental Rates: 2011, Burton Pflueger, Larry Janssen

Economics Commentator (1972- 2016)

No abstract provided.

Geopolitics: A Guide To The Issues, Bert Chapman

Libraries Research Publications

Provides overview of how geography influences international relations and international politics including climate change, energy security, international economics, and international security.  Introduces key figures in geopolitics development as a discipline such as Alfred Thayer Mahan and Halford Mackinder, covers the geopolitical interests of individuals countries, describes disciplinary divisions within geopolitics, details international geopolitical crisis areas and provides maps of some of these areas, emphasizes geopolitics information resources, and stresses the critical importance of geography in studying international politics and security.

Comparative Assessment Of Water Markets: Insights From The Murray-Darling Basin Of Australia And The Western Usa, R. Quentin Grafton, Gary D. Libecap, Eric Edwards, R. J. O'Brien, Clay Landry

Applied Economics Faculty Publications

Water markets in Australia's Murray–Darling Basin (MDB) and the western USA are compared in terms of their ability to allocate scarce water resources. The study finds that the gains from trade in the MDB are worth hundreds of millions of dollars per year (note that all monetary units of dollars in this article are treated as US$ because Australian$ are converted at par). Total market turnover in water rights exceeds US$2 billion per year while the volume of trade exceeds over 20% of surface water extractions. In Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada and Texas, trades of committed water annually range between …

An Assessment Of The Operations Of The Presidential Initiatives On Agriculture In Nigeria: 2001-2007, C.M. Anyanwu, B. A. G. Amoo, L. I. Odey, O. M. Adebayo

CBN Occasional Papers

This paper attempts to assess the Operations of the Presidential Initiatives on Agriculture in Nigeria: 2001-2007 necessitated due to a decline in the performance of the agricultural sector during the oil boom. Particular attention is given to four major programmes i.e. vegetable oils, rice, cassava and tropical fruits which appraise the milestones that have been covered, vis-a-vis the objectives and targets set for each initiative. Adopting the survey method, the primary and secondary data sources were used. Findings from the study revealed that the Vegetable Oil Development Programme (VODEP) made significant progress with an increase in total vegetable oil production …

Using System Dynamics Modelling Approach To Develop Management Tools For Animal Production With Emphasis On Small Ruminants, L. O. Tedeschi, C. F. Nicholson, E. Rich

Agribusiness

Small ruminants are important assets in several regions of the world. They account for more than half of the domesticated ruminants. Despite the growth in goat production in the world (more than 2% per year), research related to goat production is less than desired. One underused but potentially valuable approach for research on small ruminants is simulation modelling. Models of the components of small ruminant systems can enhance the financial returns and reduce negative environmental impacts. These models can be used to assess many dimensions of small ruminant production, from rumen dynamics to economic policies designed to support small ruminant …

Nebraska Farm Real Estate Market Highlights 2010-2011, Bruce B. Johnson, Sara Van Newkirk, Tyler Rosener

Nebraska Farm Real Estate Reports

The Department of Agricultural Economics, UNL has conducted a state-wide study of agricultural land markets each year for the past 33 years. The state is richly endowed with productive agricultural land, which results in Nebraska ranking among the top five states in agricultural production. A primary aspect of the UNL land market series is an annual land market panel survey conducted February 1 of each year. In the 2011 survey, some 130 panel reporters from across the state provided their professional insight into the dynamics of the agricultural land markets in their areas of the state. These individuals are closely …

Go Farm, Goleta: Urban Agriculture Protection For Eastern Goleta Valley, Eli M. Krispi

Master's Theses

This paper explores two potential land use planning strategies that can be used to preserve and enhance the economic viability of agricultural operations surrounded by suburban development in Santa Barbara County’s Eastern Goleta Valley: buffers between agriculture and other land uses, and agritourism. In the case of buffers, academic literature is examined to determine how effective buffers are at various tasks (filtering runoff, mitigating dust and wind, providing habitat, etc.) and how to construct buffers to maximize their effectiveness. Land use plans and codes from several California jurisdictions are studied to see how buffers are put to use. Academic literature …

National Agri-Marketing Association (Nama) Annual Conference Connects Student Members With Professionals, Kristin Witte, Rosalee A. Swartz

Cornhusker Economics

The opportunity to connect with professionals is an important aspect of college life for students. It helps them to more clearly understand career possibilities, and learn from professionals who are in careers and working for companies and organizations in the students’ areas of interest. The National Agri-Marketing Association (NAMA) is an outstanding venue for promoting connections between students and professionals. It is comprised of over 25 chapters in six regions nationwide, and has more than 3,500 professional and student members. Nebraska’s Midlands (professional) Chapter works closely with the University of Nebraska student chapter. Students are invited to monthly Midlands meetings …

Property Rights In Post-Conflict Sri Lanka, Ryan P. Anderson, E. Wesley F. Peterson

Cornhusker Economics

This is the third and final article in a series on property rights. In the previous two articles we saw how conflicts often emerge during the transition from one set of legal or social institutions to another. In this article we consider how such challenges helped spark a prolonged civil war in Sri Lanka, and how they might finally be resolved now that peace has been realized.

Land Reform And Farm Structure In The Former Soviet Union, Marianna Khachaturyan, E. Wesley F. Peterson

Cornhusker Economics

Land is a critical input for agricultural production. At the same time, land has long been seen as a store of wealth, an asset that may be held for a wide range of purposes and that may account for a significant share of a nation’s resource stock. The way in which land is owned, used and transferred has varied over time and throughout the world. Laws and customs governing land ownership, use and transfer, are known as institutions, and are extremely important determinants of agricultural output. Insecurity of land ownership rights, for example, may reduce not only the incentive individual …

Foreign Land Investments And Traditional Land Ownership Rights In Africa, Kepifri Lakoh, E. Wesley F. Peterson

Cornhusker Economics

This is the second in a series of three Cornhusker Economics articles on the institutions governing the ownership, use and transfer of agricultural land around the world. Last week, the focus was on the difficult transition from social to private land ownership in the countries of the Former Soviet Union. This week, the issue concerns the recent increase in land purchases in Africa by foreign governments and firms, referred to by some as a new colonial land grab.

Transboundary Water Issues In The Kura-Araks River Basin, Marianna Khachaturyan, Karina A. Schoengold

Cornhusker Economics

Water resources that are shared across boundaries by different states or countries are referred to as “transboundary” or “international” water resources. Worldwide, there are about 263 international basins that are shared by two or more countries, with 40 percent of the world population living on these international basins (Giordano and Wolf, 2003). This is an increase from the 214 basins that were identified in 1978, due to better mapping technology and newly emerging nations. For example, the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 created 15 new independent nations and simultaneously created new transboundary water resources.

Recommendations For Economic Development In Guadalupe, Ca, Larissa Requa Heeren

Master's Theses

It is recommended that the City of Guadalupe prepare and implement a small-scale business expansion and retention program using existing service providers in the area.  This type of program model seems to hold the most potential for Guadalupe. A mixed-methods approach including in-depth cases studies of existing economic development programs and an analysis of opportunities and constraints in Guadalupe informs a set recommendations for future economic development in the City. Data was collected in three phases: short interviews with a variety of economic development program staff, short interviews with Guadalupe business owners and City officials and in-depth interviews with staff …

Bioindicator-Based Stated Preference Valuation For Aquatic Habitat And Ecosystem Service Restoration, Robert J. Johnston, Eric T. Schultz, Kathleen Segerson, Elena Y. Besedin

EEB Articles

No abstract provided.

Planting Seeds For An Improved Agrifood System? Linking The Aims Of The Alternative Agrifood Movement To Executive Action In The First Two Years Of The Obama Administration, K. Glowa, Sarah Carvill, Costanza Rampini

Faculty Publications, Environmental Studies

This paper uses several case studies to look at the dialogic relationship between the Obama administration and the alternative agrifood movement. We evaluate the case studies based on criteria developed from the agroecology literature and literature on food security, agrarianism, and the alternative agrifood movement as a whole. Additionally we compare the policy tools utilized and the funding levels of each of the cases. Our findings suggest that the Obama administration is committed to tackling issues of food security and promoting the well-being of small- and mid-scale farmers and their local agrifood economies. Deconsolidation of large agribusiness, equitable trade, and …

Assessing Food Security Across Connecticut Towns For 2009, Kendall Erskine

Honors Scholar Theses

Assessing Food Security Across Connecticut Towns for 2009 Food security is an increasingly critical issue in the United States with health-related issues consistently on the rise. Community food security, an extension of household food security, should be measured in order to better understand the food systems of towns and cities in Connecticut.

This study measured community food security on the town level in Connecticut through quantifying approximately 40 indicators of food security including socio-demographic factors, community food resources, household food security, food resource accessibility, food availability and affordability, and community food production resources. The towns and cities in Connecticut are …

Household Dependence On Forest Income In Rural Zambia, Samuel M. Bwalya

Zambia Social Science Journal

This article estimates the contribution of forests and woodland resources to the incomes of households living around six local forest reserves earmarked for the Joint Forest Management programme in Zambia. It identifies the key factors that influence their decisions to engage in commercial exploitation of forest resources. The analysis shows that, in addition to the subsistence use of forest resources, rural households earn 30 % of their cash income from harvesting and selling forest products. The amount of forest income that households earn varies significantly across study sites and is influenced by market and household level factors as well as …

Structural Differences In Rural Food Poverty Between Female And Male-Headed Households, Ceren Gürkan, Issa Sanogo

Zambia Social Science Journal

This article explores differences among female-headed households (FHHs) and male-headed households (MHHs) in terms of food poverty in Cameroon, Laos, Madagascar, Mauritania, and Tanzania. Stochastic dominance analysis shows that FHHs are more likely to be food poor related to MHHs, though this trend is less clear when looking only at food poor households. This ambiguity was clarified using discriminant function analysis. The results show that both female and male food poor households face the same obstacles to rural employment across the countries; barriers to access to land, productive assets, education, remittances and over-dependence on subsistence agriculture. Although further research is …