Agricultural Economics Commons^™

Consumer Perceptions Of Poultry Production In Arkansas: Perceptions Analysis, Stuart Estes, Leslie D. Edgar

Discovery, The Student Journal of Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences

Poultry production holds an important place in Arkansas economically and as a food source. The importance of poultry production ultimately hinges on the demands of the consumer. With this in mind, this study surveyed consumers to assess their perceptions of poultry production in Arkansas. The instrument, used to survey consumers, was created by the researcher and an expert committee at the University of Arkansas. Consumers were interviewed through direct communication at grocery stores in northwest Arkansas. Data gathered from the study were analyzed for descriptive and correlational statistics. Two key findings were that consumers were unsure about the use of …

Evaluation Of Cover Crops In High Tunnel Vegetable Rotation, Tyler A. Patrick, Neal Mays, Jason Mcafee, Curt R. Rom

Discovery, The Student Journal of Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences

Organic vegetable production within high tunnels allows for an extended growing season, crop protection, and environmental control. The USDA National Organic Program (NOP) standards mandate evidence that the soil has been maintained and improved over the course of production. Previous studies have indicated the potential of cover crops for reducing competitive vegetation, and improving soil quality, thus resulting in greater plant growth, nutrient uptake, and yield. However, there has been limited work in the confines of high tunnels as part of a tunnel-system rotation. Ten nitrogen-fixing and ten non-legume cover crops were established under a high tunnel and evaluated for …

Quality Of Care: Analyzing The Relationship Between Hospital Quality Score And Total Hospital Costs, Jordan Andrew Newell

LSU Master's Theses

As healthcare costs and premiums have increased in the recent past, hospitals are forced to try to provide healthcare on tight budgets. In many cases, quality is often sacrificed in an effort to manage patient wait-times and costs. This research attempted to add to the existing body of knowledge of quality of care by defining a relationship between quality of care provided and total hospital costs. This study used the 2006 American Hospital Association’s Annual Survey Database and the 2006 Hospital Compare dataset to meet the data requirements for the study. A log-log, as well as a translog, cost function …

A Linear Programming Model And Partial Budget Analysis To Optimize Management Strategies Of Western Flower Thrips In Greenhouse Impatiens Production, Xiaohua Yue

LSU Master's Theses

The research problem of this thesis was to compare strategies and costs of protecting impatiens in greenhouse culture from western flower thrips that would provide a plant of acceptable quality to the market and would address the issue of development of resistance to commonly used pesticides by evaluating biopesticides. Partial budgets based on alternative strategies were identified. Six control strategies were identified from a combination of commercial growers, research experts and biopesticide recommendations from product distributors. The research-recommended strategy 6 had the highest total production cost ($197.44), while one of the grower strategies based on conventional pesticides had the lowest …

An Analysis Of Consumer Preferences For Grass-Fed Versus Grain-Fed Beef, Bo Lin

LSU Master's Theses

As a consequence of the growing concerns about human health and the environment, consumers are becoming more interested in grass-fed beef than conventional grain-fed beef. Therefore, the study of consumers’ preference towards grass-fed versus grain-fed beef steak is the focus of research. In this paper, 2,000 respondents who indicate they have eaten grass fed beef in the past years and 2,000 respondents that complete a nationally representative sample is the general population. Conjoint analysis is utilized to analyze the preference of consumers. Participants are presented ten hypothetical beef steaks to rate. All steaks are identical excluding their product type, source …

Growing South Dakota (Winter 2013), College Of Agriculture &. Biological Sciences

Growing South Dakota (Publication of the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences)

This issue includes the 2012 South Dakota Agricultural Station Annual Report

CONTENTS:
[Page] 1 From The Dean
[Page] 2 Commitment To Collaboration: Working Together Adds Efficiency To Budgets: Effectiveness To Solutions
[Page] 7 Special Pull-Out Section: South Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station Annual Report: Highlighting Research Projects On Beef; Wheat; And Soybean Meal For Aquaculture
[Page] 11 Water Watchers: The South Dakota Water Resources Institute Provides Research, Education & Outreach
[Page] 12 Winter College News
[Page] 14 SDSU Extension: One Year Later: Reorganization Prompted Restructuring – And Renewed Commitment
[Page] 16 Bullseye!: South Dakota’s 4-H Shooting Sports Program Sees Continued Growth …

Conservation Compliance Under The House And Senate Versions Of The 2013 Farm Bill: A Role For Empathy Nudging?, Hans J. Czap, Natalia Czap, Gary D. Lynne, Mark E. Burbach

Cornhusker Economics

Current and past farming practices have led to significant environmental degradation in the form of soil erosion (sediments), as well as fertilizer and chemical related water pollution. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has long tried to implement policies to temper such negative effects on the environment. The 2008 Farm Bill which currently guides agricultural and related environmental/conservation policy is being revised on this front. The United States Senate and the House of Representatives are each currently proposing a version of the 2013 Farm Bill to change the existing system, making it more efficient in achieving environmental (and other …

Regional Broadband Plan Priorities Presented To The Nebraska Public Service Commissioners, Charlotte Narjes, Roger Terry, Connie Hancock, Rebecca J. Vogt, Jan Jackson Cejka

Cornhusker Economics

Nebraska Broadband Initiative regional plan priorities were presented to the Nebraska Public Service Commissioners in July. These priorities were created by extension led planning teams located across the state. The Departments of Agricultural Economics and Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communication (ALEC), along with Extension are collaboratively working on the broadband initiative.

Assessing The Efficiency Of Alternative Best Management Practices To Reduce Nonpoint Source Pollution In The Broiler Production Region Of Louisiana, Bryan Gottshall

LSU Master's Theses

The Louisiana broiler production region is located in North Central and Northwestern Louisiana. The region consists of twelve parishes in Northwestern and North Central Louisiana. The broiler production region is a significant contributor of nonpoint source (NPS) pollution to nearby waterways. This pollution is a consequence of sediment, nitrogen and phosphorus runoff caused by agricultural production. NPS pollution is difficult to mitigate due to uncertainties in its point of origin as well as a host of other factors ranging from rainfall to topographical parameters. Best Management Practices (BMPS) have been shown to be a reliable method for reducing nonpoint source …

Scaling Food Security: A Political Ecology Of Agricultural Policies And Practices In Bukidnon, Philippines, Ryan Ehrhart

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Debates over food security strategies in the Philippines have pitted the neoliberal paradigm of trade liberalization, export cropping, and chemical and biotech agricultural methods against the food sovereignty paradigm of protectionism, staple cropping, and sustainable agriculture methods.

The Philippine government has long pushed for yield increases of staples. However, there has been dissonance between governmental desires for rice self-sufficiency and pursuit of a more export-oriented agricultural economy. The World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the Asian Development Bank, and the World Trade Organization have pressured the government of the Philippines to adopt various tenets of neoliberalism (trade liberalization, privatization, deregulation, …

Planning Ahead - A Guide For Your Cropping Program, Janet Paterson

Farm Systems and Economics published reports

It is difficult to think logically and make rational choices when under extreme pressure.

The seasonal break between harvest and preparation for seeding is a good time to get some rest and take some time to consider the position of your enterprise.

This is your best opportunity to assess risks and make important decisions when the demands on your time are few.

Most people, farm managers included, struggle to make sound decisions if they are extremely stressed-this is only natural. If you feel that you are struggling to make decisions, counselling services are a valuable resource to help you plan …

The Essentials Of Economic Sustainability By John Ikerd [Book Review], Charles A. Francis

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Essentials of Economic Sustainability is the latest challenging statement on innovative economic philosophy from an alternative opinion leader John Ikerd, retired agricultural economist from University of Missouri, Columbia (Columbia, Missouri, United States). His perspective is that accelerating changes surrounding us require more than small adaptations, but rather a thoughtful reconsideration of basic principles about how the world works and our role in this dynamic reality. Ikerd paraphrases the challenge of the 1988 Brundtland Report of the United Nations that we must design strategies ‘to meet the economic needs of the present without diminishing economic opportunities for the future’ (page 1). …

Estimating Crop Yield Potential At Regional To National Scales, Justin Van Wart, Kurt Christian Kersebaum, Shaobing Peng, Maribeth Milner, Kenneth Cassman

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

World population will increase 35% by 2050, which may require doubling crop yields on existing farm land to minimize expansion of agriculture into remaining rainforests, wetlands, and grasslands. Whether this is possible depends on closing the gap between yield potential (Yp, yield without pest, disease, nutrient or water stresses, or Yw under water-limited rainfed conditions) and current average farm yields in both developed and developing countries. Quantifying the yield gap is therefore essential to inform policies and prioritize research to achieve food security without environmental degradation. Previous attempts to estimate Yp and Yw at a global level have been too …

Yield Gap Analysis With Local To Global Relevance—A Review, Martin K. Van Ittersum, Kenneth Cassman, Patricio Grassini, Joost Wolf, Pablo Tittonell, Zvi Hochman

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Yields of crops must increase substantially over the coming decades to keep pace with global food demand driven by population and income growth. Ultimately global food production capacity will be limited by the amount of land and water resources available and suitable for crop production, and by biophysical limits on crop growth. Quantifying food production capacity on every hectare of current farmland in a consistent and transparent manner is needed to inform decisions on policy, research, development and investment that aim to affect future crop yield and land use, and to inform on-ground action by local farmers through their knowledge …

Is There A Best Cow Size For Beef Cattle Producers?, Matthew Stockton, Sunil P. Dhoubhadel, Leslie Aaron Stalker

Cornhusker Economics

There are individuals in the beef cattle industry who claim there is a need for smaller brood cows, because smaller cows are more efficient and therefore more profitable. On the other hand, there are those who claim the larger the cow the better, and these generally are those who feed calves to slaughter. The proponents of both sides seem to have logical reasons that support their claims. So who is right?

Be A Part Of The Plan - Engaging People - Linking The World, Charlotte Narjes

Cornhusker Economics

The Nebraska Broadband Planning Initiative, in its fourth year, is designed to increase adoption and utilization of broadband in communities and regions. Goals of this initiative include:

Increase adoption and utilization of Broadband in communities and regions with an emphasis on unserved and underserved regions.

Work as a region in developing regional Broadband plans that increase adoption and utilization of broadband.

Increase understanding of importance of Broadband as a foundation of economic growth.

The Initiative is focused around the following project areas:

Mapping

Planning (capacity building, technical assistance and regional planning).

Affordable Care Act And Your Ag Business, Marilyn R. Schlake, Carroll S. Welte, Charlotte Narjes, Jim Crandall

Cornhusker Economics

Implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is steadily moving forward. Whether you agree or disagree with the ACA, the fact is that it is currently the national law. Already we are seeing changes affecting how hospitals, doctors and insurance carriers operate. Regulations impacting individuals and businesses in the areas of benefits covered, maximum out-of-pocket costs, taxes and penalties began on October 1st. Spend time now to evaluate how these changes will affect you, your family and your business operations.

Empirical And Simulation Essays On Analyzing A Country's Export Performance : The Case Of Ghana, Aude L. Pujula

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

A large array of literature has revealed the complexity of export performance analysis. Using the case of Ghana, this dissertation, divided into three essays, seeks to provide the methodological guidance, empirical and simulation evidence necessary to analyze a country’s export performance. The choice of Ghana was motivated by the country’s growth experience, strong export and agricultural sectors and implemented reforms and programs since 1983. In the first essay, we created a new trade-weighted Cedi index or real effective exchange rate (REER) that takes into account Ghana’s most relevant patterns of trade and captures the evolution of Ghana’s export price competitiveness …

Consumer's Preferences For Goat Meat In The United States : An Application Of Choice-Based Conjoint Analysis, Jessica Irene Hill

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The meat goat industry is one of the fastest growing agricultural sectors in the United States. However, there has been limited research on consumers’ preferences for goat meat; therefore, a choice experiment was used to assess consumer preferences for goat meat and/or live goats. A national online survey was conducted from April 27, 2012 to May 4, 2012. Respondents were asked to complete either the goat meat choice experiment, live goat choice experiment or both. In addition to the choice experiment, respondents answered a set of questions about goat meat consumption and purchasing behavior as well as demographics. The attributes …

The Effects Of U.S. Shrimp Imports On The Gulf Of Mexico Dockside Price : A Source Differentiated Mixed Demand Model, Maryam Tabarestani

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The ever increasing demand for the shrimp products in the 1980s and 1990s caused the volume of shrimp imports to increase. The import of shrimp has had an upward trend, from 847 million pounds in 1997 to 1,636 million pounds in 2010.The imports price has declined since 1997. Along with the decrease in imports price, the U.S. domestic shrimp price has also declined. However, the annual production of shrimp from the Gulf of Mexico has, in the long-run, remained relatively stable. These facts indicate that there is not the same quantity-price relation between the U.S. domestic shrimp market and shrimp …