Agricultural and Resource Economics Commons^™

Review And Analysis Of International And Budgetary Considerations For The 2007 U.S. Farm Bill, Bashir Qasmi, Evert Van Der Sluis

Economics Staff Paper Series (1969 - 2017)

We assess the extent to which national budget considerations, international trade negotiations, and domestic political deliberations affect the potential development of an omnibus farm bill, which may be signed into law in 2008. With no successful conclusion of the Doha Development Round of trade negotiations in sight, U.S. legislators appear unable to make politically unpopular decisions on domestic farm policy reform. However, the absence of an international trade agreement does not reduce the need for the U.S. to comply with previous agreements.

The Efficacy Of The Grid Marketing Channel For Fed Cattle, Scott Fausti, Bashir Qasmi, Matthew Diersen

Economics Staff Paper Series (1969 - 2017)

Beef industry data suggest that beef carcass yield and quality grades have shown little improvement over the last six years. Empirical analysis, based on USDA public market reports, indicates that the share of steer slaughter volume marketed on a grid is less than industry estimates and the growth in grid market share of total steer slaughter is stagnate. Trend analysis of grid market share and carcass quality suggests that grid pricing has not made sufficient progress in achieving the goals envisioned for it as a value based marketing system. We conclude additional research on producer resistance to selling on a …

Jenkins, James - Letter To (Sc 1562), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Manuscript Collection Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Manuscripts Small Collection 1562. Business letter from R.H. Short, New Orleans, to James Jenkins, Bowling Green, Kentucky, which discusses the sale of agricultural commodities. Includes a wholesale price list from New Orleans. Typescript is also included.

Water Trading Can Reduce The Cost And Increase The Effectiveness Of Groundwater Allocation, Christopher L. Thompson, Ray Supalla

Cornhusker Economics

In the September 5, 2007 issue of the Cornhusker Economics we argued that cap and trade water markets could significantly reduce the cost of groundwater allocation. Capping the total amount of water pumped with an allocation, and then permitting allocating rights to be traded, reduces control costs because water can move to where it is most valuable. Irrigators with inefficient irrigation systems or relatively unproductive land sell all or part of their allocation rights to irrigators with more productive operations at a mutually agreed upon price that makes both parties better off with no change in total pumping. Subsequent work …

Crop Decisions In 2008, Burton Pflueger, Jack Davis, Don Guthmiller

Economics Commentator (1972- 2016)

No abstract provided.

Market Reports

Cornhusker Economics

No abstract provided.

D Is For Dillydally?, Arthur J. Caplan, John Gilbert

Applied Economics Faculty Publications

Evidence from online assignments in an intermediate microeconomics course suggests that nonprocrastinators (both early-starters and front-loaders) score higher than their dilly-dallying counterparts. Students who are busier in school tend to start their assignments earlier.

Incremental And Average Control Costs In A Model Of Water Quality Trading With Discrete Abatement Units, Arthur J. Caplan

Applied Economics Faculty Publications

This paper answers three questions related to the discrete nature of pollution abatement: (i) does a source's incremental control cost (as defined by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) necessarily exceed its average control cost, (ii) is incremental control cost a better approximation of a source's willingness to pay for abatement credits than average control cost, and (iii) exactly how does trading in discrete and continuous abatement markets differ? We find that the answer to the first two questions are both "no", suggesting that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency needs to refine its reliance on incremental control cost as the sole …

Evaluation Des Technologies De Production Et De Commercialisation Du Soghio Et Du Mil Dans Le Cadre Du Projet Ier-Intsormil/Mali Campagne Agricole 2008-2009, Jeanne Coulibaly, Intsormil

USAID Mali Mission Awards

Introduction

Ce rapport présente les résultats de l’évaluation de la campagne agricole 2008 de la composante Production-Marketing du projet INTSORMIL réalisé au Mali. Cette composante a trois volets majeurs qui sont.

Un volet transfert de technologie qui consiste à l’amélioration de la production grâce à l’utilisation d’un paquet technique qui comporte la semence améliorée de sorgho ou de mil, de l’engrais chimique et des nouvelles techniques culturales.

Un volet commercialisation qui consiste à stocker les productions au moment des récoltes pour les revendre plus tard dans l’année lorsque l’offre est faible et les prix sont élevés sur les marchés. Cette …

Net Energy Of Cellulosic Ethanol From Switchgrass, Marty R. Schmer, Kenneth P. Vogel, Robert B. Mitchell, Richard K. Perrin

Department of Agricultural Economics: Faculty Publications

Perennial herbaceous plants such as switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) are being evaluated as cellulosic bioenergy crops. Two major concerns have been the net energy efficiency and economic feasibility of switchgrass and similar crops. All previous energy analyses have been based on data from research plots (<5m²) and estimated inputs. We managed switchgrass as a biomass energy crop in field trials of 3–9 ha (1 ha=10,000m²) on marginal cropland on 10 farms across a wide precipitation and temperature gradient in the midcontinental U.S. to determine net energy and economic costs based on known farm inputs …

Managing Global Climate Change An Executive Interview With David Lobell, H. Douglas Jose

Department of Agricultural Economics: Faculty Publications

Many of the world’s poorest regions could face severe crop losses in the next two decades because of climate change, according to Dr. David Lobell, a Senior Research Scholar at Stanford University in the program on Food Security and Environment.

The average world temperature is increasing slightly says Lobell and a one-degree Celsius increase over time greatly impacts climatic growing conditions. Unfortunately, agriculture is also the human enterprise most vulnerable to changes in climate. Understanding where these climate threats will be is central to our efforts in fighting hunger and poverty over the coming decades. Dr. Lobell outlines some of …

Managing Global Climate Change An Executive Interview With Carole Brookins, H. Douglas Jose

Department of Agricultural Economics: Faculty Publications

Carole Brookins is an international consultant known for her work as a policy and trade strategist on issues concerning the global political economy and its effect on the food and agriculture sector. She currently serves on the board of several corporate and non- profit organizations concerned with global food system issues and is currently helping to develop solutions which can offset the effects of global climate change through the reduction and management of carbon emissions—an issue of increasing importance in future food marketing and world trade. Ms. Brookins served as U.S. Executive Director to The World Bank from 2001-2005 and …

Determining The Impact Of Food Price And Income Changes On Body Weight, Christiane Schroeter, Jayson Lusk, Wallace Tyner

Agribusiness

We develop a theoretical model to identify conditions under which price and income changes are most likely to change weight. Although it is intuitive that raising the price of high-calorie food will decrease consumption of such goods; it is not clear that such an outcome will actually reduce weight. Our empirical analysis demonstrates a case where a tax on food away from home, a food intake category blamed for much of the rise in obesity, could lead to an increase in body weight; a finding which emphasizes the need to employ economic modeling when developing public policy to reduce obesity.

Analysis Of The Impact Of The Changes In The Prices Of Rice And Fuel On Poverty In The Philippines, Celia M. Reyes, Alellie B. Sobreviñas, Joel Bancolita, Jeremy De Jesus

Angelo King Institute for Economic and Business Studies (AKI)

In 2008, prices of rice and fuel in the Philippines have dramatically increased following the trends in the global market. Although the movements in the farmgate (producer) and retail (consumer) prices of rice is fairly stable during the period January 2006 to December 2007, prices significantly increased starting January 2008 (Figure 1). The average retail prices of rice for the period January to September 2008, in fact, increased by 34.3 percent as compared to 3.7 percent growth in the previous year. Meanwhile, farmgate prices increased by 26.7 percent in January to September 2008 as compared to the previous year’s growth …

Agricultural Systems: Agroecology And Rural Innovations For Development [Book Review], Charles A. Francis

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

To welcome yet another book on sustainable development, a reviewer must look for what is unique and what adds value to the volumes already published. In Agricultural Systems, editors Sieglinde Snapp and Barry Pound have assembled a collection of chapters that goes beyond the usual praise and criticism of the green revolution and the focus on economic development. Their book provides a first-hand story by people with lengthy experiences in the field, especially in Africa, who have developed and tested grassroots, participatory development approaches. The result is a valuable set of principles, strategies and case studies that paint a new …

Food And The City In Europe Since 1800 By Peter J. Atkins, Peter Lummel, Derek J. Oddy, (Eds.), Ken Albala

College of the Pacific Faculty Articles

No abstract provided.

Financial Decision Making About Found Oil And Gas In Ghana : Real Options Vs. Traditional Methods, Isaac Owusu-Ansah

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports - Open

This research is a study of the use of capital budgeting methods for investment decisions. It uses both the traditional methods and the newly introduced approach called the real options analysis to make a decision. The research elucidates how capital budgeting can be done when analysts encounter projects with high uncertainty and are capital intensive, for example oil and gas production. It then uses the oil and gas find in Ghana as a case study to support its argument.

For a clear understanding a thorough literature review was done, which highlights the advantages and disadvantages of both methods.

The revenue …

Participatory Strategic Plan For The Marketing Of Chicken Broilers Produced By Beneficiary Families In The Area Of Influence Of The Benson Institute, In The City Otavalo, A. Lourdes Paola García

Theses and Dissertations

This study was done with the objective of helping families that produce poultry to market their product. Therefore, we determined that it is important to develop a strategic marketing plan to help producers reach their sales targets.
As such, this research is focused on the development of chapters that sustain and support the importance and benefits that will be achieved through the development and execution of the plan. This will help with the satisfaction of demand expectations.
The first chapter shows the theoretical framework, which explains basic concepts about diagnosis, marketing plan, marketing, projects, chicken broilers, and other related topics. …

Central Bank Of Nigeria Annual Report And Statement Of Accounts For The Year Ended 31st December 2007, Central Bank Of Nigeria

CBN Annual Report

In 2007, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) faced significant challenges in monetary management due to statutory allocations to government tiers, autonomous foreign exchange inflows, and pre-election spending. These challenges were addressed through Open Market Operations (OMO), issuance of treasury securities, standing facilities, and foreign exchange swaps. The introduction of the monetary policy rate (MPR) in December 2006 moderated inter-bank rates, encouraged trading, and improved the transmission of monetary policy actions. The Bank intensified its non-regular management activities to ensure the Policy Support Instrument (PSI) target was met. The financial system at end-2007 comprised the CBN, the Nigeria Deposit Insurance …

Local Economic Impacts Of Ethanol Production, David J. Peters

Cornhusker Economics

The ethanol boom has generated an unprecedented amount of industrial investment in many rural communities. However, local governments and economic developers have little reliable information regarding the economic impact of these plants in the community. An assortment of consultants and government agencies, including some universities, has produced a wide range of positive impacts that stretch beyond sound economic theory or method. Communities using these optimistic estimates risk investing scarce tax dollars and resources into ethanol projects that may not produce the full expected economic benefits. Thus, it is worth discussing a reasonable estimate of the likely economic impact of a …

Newcomers To The Nebraska Panhandle: How Do We Keep Them Here?, Cheryl A. Burkhart-Kriesel

Cornhusker Economics

A lot of media attention over the years has been given to the steady decline of population in rural areas across Nebraska. However, there is another side to this story. Research using the 2000 U.S. Census shows that significant numbers of people do move in and out of rural regions within our state. Unfortunately, very little is really known about the new residents’ motivations for moving to the region, and reasons why they choose to remain or consider leaving their new community.

Have You Considered Culling Pairs?, Matthew Stockton, Roger K. Wilson

Cornhusker Economics

Cow-calf producers, like many agricultural producers, make many current decisions that ultimately affect subsequent seasons’ production and income. These decisions not only affect production quantity, but involve cash flow and resource allocation constraints. One of the most difficult and complicated choices ranchers face is the rate and timing of replacing and removing brood cows from the herd. This sentiment was reflected in the statement by B. E. Melton in his December, 1980 article in the Western Journal of Agricultural Economics, “Economics of Beef Cow Culling and Replacement Decisions Under Genetic Progress.” He wrote, “Probably no single aspect of modern beef …

Bargaining Rationale For Cooperative Generic Advertising, Jennifer S. James

Agribusiness

The beggar-thy-neighbour aspect of commodity advertising means that benefits to one commodity from advertising come at the expense of other commodities. The effect can be mitigated by cooperation among groups as shown by Alston, Freebairn and James (AFJ). A drawback to AFJ’s analysis is that some cooperative outcomes require side payments from one producer group to another. This paper offers a bargaining solution as an alternative to cooperation in the case where cooperative side payments would be needed. We show that while bargaining without side payments is not as effective as cooperation at reducing beggar-thy-neighbour effects, it is a welfare …

Hog Producers' Risk Management Attitudes And Desire For Additional Risk Management Education, George F. Patrick, Amy J. Peiter, Thomas O. Knight, Keith H. Coble, Alan Baquet

Department of Agricultural Economics: Faculty Publications

Hog producers in Indiana and Nebraska were surveyed about sources of risk, effectiveness of risk management strategies, and prior participation in and desire for additional risk management education. Ownership of hogs by the producer, size of the operation, and age did have significant effects on ratings of both sources of risk and effectiveness of risk management strategies. Probit analysis found age, prior attendance, knowledge and prior use of the tool, level of integration, and concern about price and performance risk have significant effects on interest in further education about production contracts, futures and options, packer marketing contracts, and financial management.

The Rise Of Agricultural Animal Welfare Standards As Understood Through A Neo-Institutional Lens, Elizabeth Ransom

Sociology and Anthropology Faculty Publications

In recent years agricultural animal welfare standards have increasingly been placed on the agenda of international, regional, and national governance bodies, as well as private agrifood organizations. Standards, long the domain of economists, are now recognized as one of the most significant emerging practices for governing food, and as such, a growing number of scholars have focused on the role that powerful actors have in setting standards and the distributional benefits of standards implementation. However, much of the existing literature relies on consumer-demand arguments for explaining the rise of animal welfare standards. This article uses sociological neo-institutionalism, specifically institutional isomorphism, …

Understanding Patenting Decisions: A Classroom Experiment, Amalia Yiannaka

Cornhusker Economics

Innovations are crucial to the future success of firms, with most products having only a limited life cycle. When innovations occur, the firm must decide the best way to protect their intellectual property; this essentially comes down to keeping the innovation a trade secret or filing for a patent. Teaching students the basics of intellectual property protection is not difficult. Most are familiar with the general concept of patent protection and have some understanding as to why patents are an important tool available to firms and individual innovators. However, an in-depth analysis of the patenting decision making process can be …

Market Reports

Cornhusker Economics

No abstract provided.

Understanding Ethanol Plant Economics: Will Boom Turn Bust?, David J. Peters

Cornhusker Economics

Nebraska, along with several other Midwestern states, is in the middle of an ethanol boom. In the past few years a combination of high oil prices, cheap corn and favorable government policy have driven expansion of the industry. In turn, this has generated an unprecedented amount of industrial investment in many rural communities. However, local governments and economic developers have little information regarding the long-term economic viability of these plants. This information gap limits the ability of local governments to make informed public policy decisions about ethanol plants in their community, especially in terms of local tax incentives and abatements.

Corn Stalk Grazing: A Matter Of Economics, Matthew Stockton, Roger K. Wilson, Leslie Aaron Stalker

Cornhusker Economics

The United States Department of Agriculture’s January 1, 2007 “Cattle Inventory” report indicated that there were 1,940,000 beef cows that have calved in Nebraska. In another USDA report titled “Crops Planted, Harvested, Yield, Production, Price (MYA), Value of Production” it was estimated that there will be 9,000,000 acres of corn harvested in 2007. These numbers indicate the potential opportunity to graze cattle on corn stalk residue in Nebraska is huge. With corn harvest nearing completion and weaning time for many producers happening this month, farmers and ranchers are likely to be negotiating the terms of agreements to graze these corn …

Effect Of Management Decisions On Farm And Household Outcomes In An Integrated Crop-Livestock Agro-Ecosystem In Yucatan, Mexico, David Parsons, Jerome H. Cherney, Charles F. Nicholson, Robert W. Blake, Quirine M. Ketterings, Luis Ramirez-Aviles, Luis O. Tedeschi

Agribusiness

Mixed farming systems are defined by Sere and Steinfeld (1996) as those in which more than 10% of the dry matter fed to livestock comes from crop by-products or stubble, and more than 10% of the value of production comes from non-livestock farming activities. More simply, they are systems where livestock rearing and crop cultivation are, to a greater or lesser extent, integrated components of one farming system. The more integrated systems are characterized by interdependency between crop and livestock activity, optimizing circulation of locally available nutrients. The less integrated systems are those in which crop and livestock activities make …