Agricultural Economics Commons^™

Determinants Of Farmers’ Choices Of Adaptation Strategies In Rural Semi-Arid Agricultural Communities Of Tanzania: A Case Study Of Mwanga And Same Districts In Kilimanjaro Region, Bahati Ally Magesa

Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences

Climate change is a global phenomenon that poses a significant threat to agricultural farming and the livelihoods of farmers, particularly in semi-arid regions of Sub-Saharan Africa. Since agriculture is the primary source of employment in the region, enhancing the sector’s adaptive capacity has become increasingly important. This paper examines the key determinants influencing farmers’ choices of adaptation strategies to climate change impacts in the Mwanga and Same Districts of Tanzania. A total of 200 farmers participated in a household survey conducted using a simple random sampling technique. A binary logistic regression model was employed to analyse the association between selected …

White Nose Syndrome In Bats And Infant Mortality In Georgia, Rhys Medcalfe, Sean Medcalfe, Simon Medcalfe

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: White nose syndrome (WNS) is a disease in bats caused by the fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans that can result in bat mortality rates of over 90%. WNS was discovered in Georgia in 2012 in 3 counties but has continued to spread to 14 counties as of 2023, with P. destructans detected in a further seven. Biodiversity loss has been linked to human health outcomes including infant mortality. Understanding the link between WNS, biodiversity loss, and infant mortality in Georgia is important because Georgia ranks 42^nd out of the 50 states for infant mortality rate.

Methods: Using panel data from …

Essays On The Economics Of Farmland Valuation And Investment In U.S. Agriculture, Colson Tester

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation presents three empirical essays that collectively advance the understanding of farmland valuation in key U.S. agricultural regions, emphasizing the critical advantages of comprehensive, transaction-based data over traditional survey methods. Farmland represents a significant portion of agricultural wealth, and its accurate valuation is crucial for farmers, investors, and policymakers, influencing everything from credit access to investment strategies. Historically, research has often relied on subjective survey data, which can suffer from biases, inaccuracies, and insufficient granularity. This dissertation addresses these limitations by leveraging extensive datasets of arm’s-length farmland transactions, offering a more precise and market-driven perspective on land values. The …

From Fruit To Nut: Revisiting Pili Nut (Canarium Ovatum Engl.) Production Capacities And Value-Adding Activities In Sorsogon, Philippines, Joey Richard V. Dio, Ryan V. Dio, Dulce Corazon F. Lacson

The Philippine Agricultural Scientist

The value chain of agricultural products significantly influences their profitability and socio-economic contribution. This study developed a descriptive model of the pili (Canarium ovatum Engl.) nut value chain in Sorsogon, the primary producer in the Philippines, and the only province with large-scale commercial operations. Using a descriptive research approach, data were collected through purposive interviews with 15 key informants—farmers, processors, and traders—guided by Porter’s value-chain framework. Results indicate that Sorsogon produces about 3 times the quantity required daily (< 2,233 kg) by Bicol-based processors, leading to underutilization and post-harvest losses attributed to limited storage facilities and market linkages. The processing stage, which converts pili fruits into nuts and kernels, demonstrates the highest operational efficiency, while the trading stage remains constrained by limited market access. Stakeholders often perform overlapping functions, and traditional sun-drying methods remain common. Furthermore, an aging farming population, limited succession planning, and inconsistent implementation of food safety standards continue to pose challenges to industry growth. These inefficiencies result in reduced profitability and restrict expansion. Strengthening the value chain through improved processing systems, broader market integration, and streamlined production activities is necessary to enhance economic returns and support the sustainable growth of Sorsogon’s pili nut industry.

Integrated Pest Management Adoption, Pesticide Handling And Knowledge Gaps Among Cotton Farmers In Tanzania: Implications For Human And Environmental Health, Sospeter Jibunge Charles

Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences

The global demand for cotton has risen significantly due to its extensive use in the textile and manufacturing industries, making it one of the most valuable cash crops worldwide. However, this growing demand for cotton production is severely threatened by the currently emerging pests which are intensified by the occurring of climate change and variability. As a result, many smallholder farmers have increasingly turned to chemical pesticides use to control the pests and maintain cotton production. But, while pesticides are effective in controlling pests and improving yields, their improper use and mismanagement pose serious risks to human health and the …

Characterizing The Relationship Between Parturition In Beef Cattle And The Lunar Phase And Meteorological Factors., Caroline E. Chambers

Honors College Theses

For beef cattle, parturition is one of the most critical stages in the reproductive process. It is crucial that farmers understand the factors that may influence the timing of parturition. There is a persistent preconception that the onset of parturition is influenced by the lunar phase and weather factors. The objective of this study is to characterize the association between parturition in beef cattle, the lunar phase, and/or different weather factors such as barometric pressure and temperature. Cattle records were obtained from Chambers Family Farm in Cumberland Furnace, TN. Data was collected from 142 calvings from January 2017 to October …

Fragmentation In The U. S. Fed Cattle Market: Implications For Price Transparency And Discovery, Taralee M. Hudson

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

The U.S. fed cattle market is one plagued by recurring stakeholder concern. Market participants frequently raise questions about the transparency of fundamental information under existing reporting frameworks, and the extent to which Private Negotiation, the dominant trading institution, effectively facilitates price discovery. Although extensive research has sought to address these issues, much of it has failed to account for the market’s increasingly fragmented structure. This thesis is comprised of three chapters that collectively examine price transparency and discovery through the lens of market fragmentation. Each chapter presents research related to the fed cattle market and is intended to stand …

The Economics Of Us Row Crop Production With Large-Scale Autonomous Machines, Joshua Strine, Chad Fiechter, James Lowenberg-Deboer

Department of Agricultural Economics Faculty Publications

Labor challenges are underpinning large multinational farm machine manufacturers' development of autonomy solutions for their large-scale machine offerings. This study simulates a linear optimization model to examine the economics of large-scale autonomous machines for a rotational maize and soybean farm in the Midwest US. Results support the hypothesis that autonomous machines can be economically viable for farms facing severe labor shortages. However, under current technology and pricing structures, conventional mechanization remains the most profitable option for farms with reliable labor. Critical factors shaping the competitiveness of autonomy include subscription fees, field efficiency, and human supervision requirements. As these factors evolve, …

Farm Efficiency And Precision Agriculture Technology, Chad Fiechter, Brady Brewer, Jennifer Ifft, Michael Boehlje

Department of Agricultural Economics Faculty Publications

Precision agriculture technology (PAT) is often viewed as a potential driver of future efficiency gains in farming. Using within-farm variation from an unbalanced panel of Kansas farms, this study examines the impact of PAT bundles on efficiency in generating gross revenue. On average, we find little evidence that these technologies improve efficiency. However, among less efficient farms, several bundles are linked to notable efficiency gains, underscoring the importance of accounting for farm heterogeneity.

Assessing Crop Rotation Productivity, Soil Health, And Fertility, And Economic Performance, To Enhance Semi-Arid High Plains Cropping Systems Sustainability, Ezequiel Maria Villamil

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

Sustainable crop production in the semi-arid High Plains of Nebraska faces challenges from limited precipitation, high interannual variability, and economic risk. This dissertation investigates the long-term productivity, water use, soil health, and economic sustainability of dryland crop rotations, with emphasis on the role of pulses as alternatives to fallow.

Chapter 1 analyzes nearly three decades (1995–2023) of on-farm data from the High Plains Agricultural Laboratory (Sidney, Nebraska) to compare seven crop rotations, including wheat, corn, millet, sunflower, and field peas. Results showed that wheat–corn–fallow (W–C–F) consistently outperformed traditional wheat–fallow (W–F) and more intensified four-year rotations, providing the highest grain yields, …

Two Essays On Agricultural Trade Policy And Total Factor Productivity, Hanifi Otgun

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

This dissertation consists of two essays: the first examines the welfare and trade implications of the 2016–2017 drought in Brazil and the subsequent temporary import ban on Robusta coffee; the second examines how trade openness influences agricultural total factor productivity across 26 NUTS-2 regions in Türkiye from 2013 to 2020.

The first essay focuses on Brazil, a major Robusta coffee producer and exporter that faced a significant drought in 2016–17, reducing Robusta output. In response, the government initially allowed one million 60-kg bags of Robusta coffee to be imported. An import ban was imposed shortly afterward due to lobbying by …

Economically Optimal Soil Sampling Density And Application Technology For Potassium Fertilizer For Soybean In The Mid-Southern Us, Bayarbat Badarch, Aurelie Poncet, Shelby Ridar, Nathan Slaton, Michael Popp

Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness Faculty Publications and Presentations

To maximize beneficial potassium (K) fertilizer use in irrigated soybean (Glycine max. (L.) Merr.) fields with spatially varying soil-test K (STK), the value of added information from more precise STK maps must be greater than the associated information collection costs. In eleven fields, we modeled the impact of soil sampling densities (SD) ranging from 2.2 samples ha-1 in the largest field (41.2 ha) to 13.59 samples ha-1 in the smallest field (7.4 ha) on STK maps with 0.4 ha grid size. The accuracy of profit-maximizing fertilizer rate prescription maps varied by SD and subsequent yield estimates using either uniform …

Economic Convergence, Intragenerational Economic Mobility, And Inequality In A Native Amazonian Small-Scale Society Of Indigenous People In Bolivia, Ricardo Godoy, Jonathan Bauchet, Victoria Reyes-Garcia, Eduardo A. Undurraga

Department of Agricultural Economics Faculty Publications

Adult intragenerational mobility reflects society’s ability to reward effort and tame society-wide inequality. In developed economies, mobility is modest and correlates negatively with economic inequality. Little is known quantitatively from direct observations about long-term intragenerational mobility in small-scale societies of the Global South. To assess the external validity of findings about patterns of intragenerational mobility from developed economies, we use a yearly survey panel dataset (2002–2010) of adults from a society of native Amazonians (Tsimane’) in Bolivia practicing farming, fishing, hunting, and plant gathering. We estimate (a) convergence rates (or the speed of catch up) of adults in the bottom …

Evaluating Policy And Industry-Based Interventions For Healthier Online Food-Away-From-Home Choices: A Scoping Review, Vincenzina Caputo, Jiayu Sun, Ellen J. Van Loo

Department of Agricultural Economics Faculty Publications

The rapid digital transformation of the food-away-from-home (FAFH) sector has redefined how consumers access and select meals. Digital delivery platforms such as Uber Eats, Deliveroo, and Meituan have become influential market intermediaries, shaping the nutritional landscape of food environments and raising concerns about their healthfulness. This study reviews empirical evidence on policy-based and industry-led interventions aimed at improving dietary outcomes in digital FAFH environments. Following PRISMA guidelines and using machine-learning–assisted screening (ASReview), 37 peer-reviewed studies were identified across four domains: nutritional labeling, fiscal measures, food-assistance programs, and digital nudges or decision-support tools. Findings indicate that although traditional food-policy instruments designed …

Is There An Extension Discount For Agricultural Economics Faculty?, Siun Lee, Jeffrey Hyde, Yangxuan Liu, Rodolfo M. Nayga Jr, Wendong Zhang

Journal of Extension

Salary is an important aspect of one’s decision to pursue a particular career. This work compares the salaries of Agricultural Economics faculty members with and without Extension responsibilities across 19 departments in the US. We find that mean salaries for those with Extension appointments are significantly less than those without Extension appointments, ranging from a difference of $5,065 for assistant professors to $14,532 for full professors. We encourage administrators to acknowledge this “Extension Discount” and, if desired, make intentional decisions to reduce it. Doing so would serve to address recruiting challenges for Agricultural Economics Extension positions.

Applied Research In Field Crop Pathology For Indiana, 2024, Darcy E. P. Telenko, Sujoung Shim

Purdue University Press Books

Applied Research in Field Crop Pathology for Indiana, 2024 serves as a summary of the applied field crop pathology research trials conducted in 2024 under the direction of the Purdue Field Crop Pathology program in the Department of Botany and Plant Pathology at Purdue University. In Indiana, there are more than 57,600 farms, 16,000 crop producers, and 900 certified crop advisers, Extension educators, and crop-protection industry representatives who manage more than 11.4 million crop-production acres with a total value of $6.3 billion annually. There are more than twenty diseases affecting corn, soybeans, and wheat that may decrease crop production and …

Value Of Horticulture From Western Australia 2023–24, Manju Radhakrishnan, Rohan Prince

Farm Systems and Economics published reports

In 2023–24, WA produced approximately $1.92 billion worth of fresh fruit, nuts, vegetables, and amenity horticulture at the wholesale level. The real value of Western Australia’s horticulture sector, as of 2023–24, grew by 9.6% compared to 2020 levels, driving regional economic development.

Western Australia’S Primary Industries: 2021-22 Economic Overview, D. Maharjan, S. Akbari, A K. Abadi Ghadim, P. Mattingley, I. Wilkinson, J. Tan, J. Van Staden, M. Radhakrishnan

All other publications

The Western Australia’s Primary Industries: 2021-22 Economic Overview (WAPIEO) is developed by DPIRD in partnership with the Forest Products Commission.

The WAPIEO has a trade focus and provides a single source for consistent statistics and insights on observed industry trends.

The WAPIEO is based primarily on 2021-22 economic indicators from the Department of Treasury, DPIRD data, and statistics from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), in line with the release cycle dates of final ABS data.

Biosecurity Investment Impacts On Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Control In United States Commercial Turkey Operations, Jada M. Thompson, Kelly Patyk, Victoria Fields, Matthew Branan, Amy Delgado, Kylie Roesler

Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness Faculty Publications and Presentations

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) is an extremely transmissible virus that poses a significant threat to the U.S. turkey industry through contagion from migratory birds and results in whole-farm depopulation. To combat the disastrous economic impacts of HPAI, this study examined how biosecurity investments may have economic benefits to producers and the industry. Using data collected from a farm-focused survey of commercial turkey producers, the differences in biosecurity practices between farms affected by HPAI and unaffected farms in 2022 were analyzed. This evaluation aims to understand how effective biosecurity investments were towards reducing the susceptibility of a turkey farm to …

Satellite Remote Sensing Reveals Voluntary Cover-Crop Adoption And Crop-Rotation Hotspots In The Mississippi Alluvial Plain, Zobaer Ahmed, Connor Lawson, Kris R. Brye, V. Steven Green, Mike Popp, Aaron Shew, Lawton Nalley

Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness Faculty Publications and Presentations

Government-subsidized programs like the Environmental Quality Incentives Program and the Conservation Stewardship Program provide financial motivation for adopting cover crops. Nevertheless, many producers have internalized the holistic benefits of cover crops and voluntarily adopted them as a sustainable soil management practice. Yet, little is known about how cover crop adoption propagates beyond the first order link between financial incentives and total adopted cover crop acres. This study examined voluntary adoption of winter cover crops as well as which crop rotations had the highest cover crop use in the Mississippi Alluvial Plain (MAP) region. Cover crop locations were identified using remote …