Agricultural and Resource Economics Commons^™

Nebraska Supreme Court Allows School Consolidation Law To Move Forward, J. David Aiken

Cornhusker Economics

On March 3, 2006 the Nebraska Supreme Court ruled that a district court’s order stopping the implementation of a 2005 school consolidation statute was in error. Pony Lake School District v. State Committee for Reorganization, 271 Neb. 173 (2006). The Supreme Court’s ruling paved the way for the mandatory June 15, 2006 termination of over 200 Class I School Districts pursuant to L.B. (Legislative Bill) 126, despite a November 7, 2006 voter referendum on LB126.

A Billion Dollars A Day, E. Wesley F. Peterson

Cornhusker Economics

Government subsidies for agriculture in the industrialized nations of North America, Western Europe and East Asia (Japan and South Korea) have been severely criticized by many commentators because of their negative impact on developing countries. (See, for example, “Protecting the French Farmer,” from the editorial page of the New York Times, December 8, 2005). Many have noted that these wealthy countries subsidize their farmers at the rate of a billion dollars a day and that the resulting overproduction depresses world prices to the detriment of low-income countries that depend on agricultural exports. Agricultural subsidies have been a major issue during …

Investor Reluctance To Invest In Foreign Equities, John A. Sondey, Sarah L. Thompson

Economics Commentator (1972- 2016)

No abstract provided.

Public Inputs And Dynamic Producer Behavior: Endogenous Growth In U.S. Agriculture, Lilyan E. Fulginiti, Alejandro Onofri

Department of Agricultural Economics: Faculty Publications

This paper is an attempt to understand the impact of public R&D and public infrastructure on the performance of the U.S. agricultural sector during the last part of the twentieth century. A neoclassical Solow growth model is not sufficient for this understanding given the sustained growth performance of the sector. We base our analysis on a well known endogenous growth model, the 'AK model' where nonconvexities are introduced through non-rival inputs. Based on these models and within the dynamic models that rationalize private and public decision making, we have identified three testable hypotheses regarding the aggregate agricultural production technology. They …

Cattle Cycles: Where Are We And Where Are We Headed?, Dillon Feuz

Cornhusker Economics

There are 97.1 million total head of cattle in the U.S. as of January 1, 2006. That is an increase of 1.78 percent over the 2005 value, and an increase of 2.33 percent over the 2004 value. The January 1, 2004 value marked the end of the prior cattle cycle and the start of a new cycle. The total number of beef cows that have calved is now at 33.3 million head, an increase of one percent over 2005. This marks the second year of herd growth and it appears that growth will continue in 2006; beef replacement heifers were …

Did He Say Switchgrass?, Richard K. Perrin

Cornhusker Economics

Yes, in his recent state of the union address, President Bush said, "We will also fund additional research in cutting-edge methods of producing ethanol, not just from corn but from wood chips and stalks or switchgrass. Our goal is to make this new kind of ethanol practical and competitive within six years."

Managing An Agricultural Business In A Risky Environment, H. Douglas Jose

Cornhusker Economics

What is Risk? Risk is a possible adverse event that has the potential to interfere with a business entity’s financial stability or its ability to achieve its mission. Risk can also have a positive outcome. Srategic planning is the process of selecting the plan that will overcome the possible negative impact and convert risks into opportunities.

Recreational Liability Bill Killed, J. David Aiken

Cornhusker Economics

Years of low commodity prices have encouraged farmers to consider adding alternative enterprises to their operation in order to improve farm income. Some farmers and ranchers have turned to community agriculture or “pick your own” operations (including organic agricultural production), and encourage customers to tour the farm when purchasing produce. Other operators have started a fee hunting enterprise. Still others have started a “pumpkin patch” type operation where visitors enjoy a variety of farm and outdoor amusements for a fee. While Nebraska law exempts landowners from recreational liability where no use fee is charged, landowners may be liable for injuries …

Strategic Labeling And Trade Of Gmos, Luc Veyssiere, Konstantinos Giannakas

Department of Agricultural Economics: Faculty Publications

The emergence of agricultural biotechnology and the subsequent introduction of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) into the food system have been among the most controversial issues surrounding the increasingly scrutinized agri-food system. They have received considerable attention in the economics literature with the main focus being on the optimal regulatory response to products of biotechnology. This paper builds on the literature on the regulation of products of biotechnology by placing the analysis of labeling decisions in a multi-country context. Specifically, the objective of this study is to examine the effect of the strategic interdependence between countries on their regulatory responses to …

Analysis Of The Regulatory Effects Of California Specialty Crops: An Examination Of Various Issues Impacting Selected Forest Products, Tree Fruit, Nut, And Vegetable Crop Industries, Sean P. Hurley, Richard Thompson, Christopher Dicus, Lori Berger, Jay E. Noel

Agribusiness

In a research report for the California Institute for the Study of Specialty Crops, Hurley provided a broad overview of the web of regulatory bodies affecting California agricultural producers. He found that California specialty crop producers must comply with multiple regulations from multiple local, state, and federal agencies. Locally, producers must comply with county land use regulations developed by the county, as well as, regulations established by the County Agricultural Commissioner. At the state level, producers must follow the regulations established by California Environmental Protection Agency (CALEPA), the Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR), and the California Department of Food and …

Agri-Tourism: Family Style, David J. Goeller

Cornhusker Economics

Many farm and ranch families are considering adding agri-tourism as a way to supplement income or to provide increased profits needed to bring a younger family member back into the business. Agri-tourism however, is NOT for everyone. Dealing with the public, being available “on demand” and providing a service requires a completely different skill set than traditional farming and ranching.

Theses & Papers By Master's Degree Students In The Department Of Economics: 2005, Matthew Diersen, Larry Janssen

Economics Commentator (1972- 2016)

No abstract provided.

Bill Proposes Changes To Fence Viewer Statutes, J. David Aiken

Cornhusker Economics

In Nebraska, if I want to make a neighbor pay for part of a division fence, I can ask him or her to do so. If they refuse, I can request fence viewers to determine how much of the division fence each neighbor should pay for. I can also build the fence myself and assume full responsibility for the costs of construction and maintenance. Ideally, neighbors should have a written agreement (filed with the land deeds) identifying how the costs of building and maintaining the fence will be shared. But written fence agreements are rare.

Nebraska’S Participation In Global Food And Agricultural Marketing, Neil H. Donovan

Cornhusker Economics

Nebraska is one of the leading agricultural producing states in the country, and the Nebraska Department of Agriculture is highly committed to ensuring that the state maintains its leadership position. Within the Department, the Division of Agricultural Promotions and Development assists agricultural producers and value-added companies in identifying target markets, coordinating trade missions and sponsoring outreach projects to market Nebraska products abroad. The Division utilizes funds available from USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service along with membership in MIATCO (Mid-America International Agri-Trade Council), USMEF (United States Meat Export Federation) and USLGE (United States Livestock Genetic Exports) who also provide financial support and …

The Hog Industry In 2005, Al Prosch

Cornhusker Economics

The hog industry enjoyed a remarkable year in 2005. The USDA, December 1st Hog and Pig Report estimated the market herd at 100.3 percent, breeding herd at 100.7 percent, and total herd at 100.4 percent of December 1, 2004 numbers. For the third year in a row, producers increased production while receiving profitable prices.

Economic Sustainability Of The Flambeau Mine Ladysmith, Wisconsin, Anne M. Hartingh

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

Today sustainable development is a very pertinent issue. Communities do not want companies, specifically mining companies, to deplete a natural resource and leave. The goal is to minimize the negative impacts of mining and the boom/bust cycles of natural resource extraction.

In this study a three part framework was developed to analyze the sustainability of the Flambeau Mine in Ladysmith, Wisconsin. The first and second part dealt with an in-depth local and regional analysis and whether the community was developing within its own vision. The third part used nine sustainability measures including:

1. Need Present Generation

2. Future Need

3. …

A Comparison Of Emissions Taxes And Permit Markets For Controlling Correlated Externalities, Arthur J. Caplan

Applied Economics Faculty Publications

This paper provides an answer to the question, are emission taxes an efficient and self-enforcing mechanism to control correlated externality problems? By “correlated externalities” we mean multiple pollutants that are jointly produced by a single source but which cause differentiated regional and global externalities. By “self-enforcing” we mean a mechanism that accounts for the endogeneity that exists between competing jurisdictions in the setting of environmental policy within a federation of regions. This mechanism incorporates sequential decision making among the jurisdictions and therefore determines an equilibrium based on the concept of subgame perfection. We find that, unlike joint domestic and international …

Interactive Geometry For Surplus Sharing In Cooperative Games, Arthur J. Caplan, Yuya Sasaki

Applied Economics Faculty Publications

The need to understand surplus-sharing rules in cooperative game theory occurs at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. The rules are generally depicted as mathematical problems that entail the calculation of a vector of allocations. This Web page provides a downloadable program that enables users to interactively generate geometrical depictions of the rules for an unlimited number of three-player games. The program (1) demonstrates graphically how the simplex (i.e., area of potential cooperation) is shrunk to its corresponding core on the basis of the game’s characteristic function (i.e., the specification of the payoffs for each of the seven possible coalitions, …

Interactive Scenario Analysis Of Exhaustible Resource Problems, Arthur J. Caplan, John Gilbert

Applied Economics Faculty Publications

We provide several interactive models that can be used in an intermediate- or graduate-level, natural-resource economics course to numerically solve a host of exhaustible-resource problems, and thereby help to verify the intuition and symbolic solutions typically provided in textbooks. Examples are drawn from Tietenberg (2006).

Cheap Talk Reconsidered: New Evidence From Cvm, David M. Aadland, Arthur J. Caplan

Applied Economics Faculty Publications

Two recent studies have shown that “cheap talk” is an effective means of eliminating positive hypothetical bias in experimental and field-auction settings. We further investigate the ability of cheap talk to mitigate positive hypothetical bias in a contingent-valuation phone survey administered to over 4,000 households. Positive hypothetical bias is detected in our data by contrasting revealed and stated preference information. However, a short, neutral cheap-talk script appears to exacerbate rather than mitigate the bias. Based on this and mixed evidence from earlier studies, we suggest caution in using cheap talk as an ex ante control for hypothetical bias.

Evaluation Of Cauliflower And Broccoli Varieties: Summer Planting (November 2005 - February 2006), Department Of Food And Agriculture, Western Australia

Horticulture research reports

This document has been prepared from a cauliflower and broccoli variety evaluation trial conducted at the Manjimup Horticultural Research Institute, South Western Highway, Manjimup WA 6258. The results reflect the growth characteristics, yield, quality and density of the cauliflower and broccoli varieties as recorded at this site during the conditions of the growing period (November 2005 to February 2006).

This report is the first in a series of four produced from the evaluation of cauliflower and broccoli varieties conducted at the Manjimup Horticultural Research Institute.

The results are provided to allow seed suppliers, seedling nurseries, producers, packers and marketers to …

Impact Of Increased Minimum Wage On Southern San Joaquin Valley Navel Orange Producers, Kallie Donnelly, Jay E. Noel

Agribusiness

The California Institute for the Study of Specialty Crops (CISSC) developed a representative farm simulation model for navel producers in the Southern San Joaquin Valley. The farm simulation model simulates a producer’s financial statements for 2005-2014, including the income statement, statement of cash flows, and balance sheet. This model allows model prices and yields to vary over time. The variability is based on historical variation in navel orange prices and yield. This is done to capture the risk and uncertainty associated with variable prices and yields.

Curbside Recycling: Waste Resource Or Waste Of Resources?, David M. Aadland, Arthur J. Caplan

Applied Economics Faculty Publications

In this paper, we address the often contentious debate over state and local recycling policy by carefully estimating the social net benefit of curbside recycling. Benefits are estimated using household survey data from over 4,000 households across 40 western U.S. cities. We calibrate household willingness-to-pay for hypothetical bias using an innovative experimental design that contrasts stated and revealed preferences. Cost estimates are compiled from previous studies by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Institute for Local Self Reliance, and from in-depth interviews with recycling coordinators in our sampled cities. Across our sample of cities, we find that the estimated …

Evaluation Of Cauliflower And Broccoli Varieties: Autumn Planting (January - May 2006), Kristen Stirling

Horticulture research reports

This document has been prepared from a cauliflower and broccoli variety evaluation trial conducted at the Manjimup Horticultural Research Institute, South Western Highway, Manjimup WA 6258. The results reflect the growth characteristics, yield, quality and density of the cauliflower and broccoli varieties as recorded at this site during the conditions of the growing period (January to May 2006).

This report is the second in a series of four produced from the evaluation of cauliflower and broccoli varieties conducted at the Manjimup Horticultural Research Institute. The results are provided to allow seed suppliers, seedling nurseries, producers, packers and marketers to identify …

Evaluation Of Cauliflower And Broccoli Varieties: Winter Planting (April - August 2006), Kristen Stirling

Horticulture research reports

This document has been prepared from a cauliflower and broccoli variety evaluation trial! conducted at the Manjimup Horticultural Research Institute, South Western Highway, Manjimup WA 6258. The results reflect the growth characteristics, yield, quality and density of the cauliflower and broccoli varieties as recorded at this site during the conditions of the growing period (April - August 2006).

This report is the third in a series of four produced from the evaluation of cauliflower and broccoli varieties conducted at the Manjimup Horticultural Research Institute. The results are provided to allow seed suppliers, seedling nurseries, producers, packers and marketers to identify …

Science-Based Organic Farming 2006: Toward Local And Secure Food Systems, Charles A. Francis, Katja Koehler-Cole, Twyla Hansen, Peter Skelton

Publications from the Center for Applied Rural Innovation (CARI)

Organic farming includes growing food and fiber—animals, agronomic crops, horticultural fruits and vegetables, related products—as one dynamic and rapidly evolving component of our complex U.S. food system. Even as more farmers are moving toward organic certification and participation in an environmentally sound and economically lucrative market, questions arise about the long-term social impacts and sustainability of a set of practices that has gone from a movement to an industry. Consolidations in the organic trade have brought multinational corporations to the table, as they have observed a grassroots activity that has grown by 20% per year for the past two decades, …

Hydrologically-Connected Ground Water, Section 858, And The Spear T Ranch Decision, J. David Aiken

Department of Agricultural Economics: Faculty Publications

This 2006 Nebraska Law Review articles analyzies the 2005 Nebraska Supreme Court decision of Spear T Ranch v. Knaub in which the court adopts section 858 of the the Restatement of Torts (2d) as the judicial rule for resolving conflicts between competing users of surface water and hydrologically-connected ground water.

The Southern Family Farm As Endangered Species: Possibilities For Survival In Barbara Kingsolver's Prodigal Summer, Suzanne W. Jones

English Faculty Publications

At the same time some southern studies scholars are positioning the U.S. South in a larger cultural, historic, and economic region that encompasses the Caribbean and Latin America, some southern environmentalist writers, such as long-time essayist and novelist Wendell Berry and activist-turned-memoirist Janisse Ray, are finding a pressing need to focus on smaller bioregions and the locatedness of the human subject. These writers believe that agribusiness and consumer ignorance are driving small farmers out of business and that clear-cutting timber and farming practices dependent on chemicals are threatening local ecosystems. Best-selling novelist Barbara Kingsolver has joined their ranks. With her …

Developing And Extending Sustainable Agriculture: A New Social Contract, Michele Schoeneberger, Gary Bentrup, Charles A. Francis, Richard Straight

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

Conclusions

Based on the practical community applications of woody buffe rs and multifuncti onal areas that grew from the ini tial concepts ofecobelts. we are convinced that this type of initiative is a viable option in establishing a positive interface between different types of human activities. The challenge becomes more real every day, as cities expand and both city-edge subdivisions and acreages create ever more interfaces between people with different and often con!1icting activities and basic values. There is a need to provide some logical and acceptable boundary between these people and their different lifestyles. It is also desirable to …

Should Corporate Farming Be Limited In The United States?: An Economic Perspective, Nathan Alan Wittmaack

Honors Program Theses

In 1920 there were approximately 6.5 million farms in the United States. 30.1 percent of United States population lived on farms. In 1992 those numbers were down to 2 million farms and less than 2 percent of the population living on farms [Allen and Lueck, 1998, 344].

The farming industry of today bears little resemblance to that of yesterday. Corporate farming has challenged the age-old structure of farming. Proponents of corporate farming say that it is more efficient than family farming and leads to more affordable food supplies. Opponents say the difference in efficiency does not justify the damage done …