Agricultural and Resource Economics Commons^™

Developing A Community Marketing Plan, Cheryl A. Burkhart-Kriesel

Cornhusker Economics

When you think of the word “marketing” what comes to mind? Do you think of advertising and promotional strategies in print, other forms of media or the internet? Maybe you think of direct marketing flyers, email blitzes or email newsletters?

Typically, individuals equate marketing with specific promotional tools, but in reality it is a much broader process. It traditionally starts with identifying consumer wants and needs and developing products or services to meet those needs. The next step for the business owner is to match up their product or service benefits with potential customers groups. Then one tries to find …

A Quick Look At Nebraska’S Youth Population Data From Recent Census Estimates, Randolph L. Cantrell

Cornhusker Economics

According to population estimates released by the Bureau of the Census, Nebraska’s population under 18 years of age grew between the years 2000 and 2009, but at a rate much below that of the general population and in a geographically very uneven fashion.

Overall, it is estimated that Nebraska’s population under 18 years of age grew by 0.31 percent between 2000 and 2009 (from 450,242 to 451,641), while the total population grew by 4.98 percent. However, young Nebraskans increased in number in only ten of the state’s 93 counties. Of the 83 counties that saw their youth decline in number, …

Economic Effects Of The Consumer-Oriented Gm Products In Markets With A Labeling Regime, Rim Lassoued, Konstantinos Giannakas

Cornhusker Economics

One of the most intriguing attributes of modern industrial society is its approach to nutrition. Humanity has moved from subsistence economies, where eating was a matter of survival, to economies characterized by the existence of an ever increasing variety of food products. An important recent addition to the types of food products included in our diet has been that of genetically modified (GM) products.

Despite their important agronomic benefits to agricultural producers (e.g., increased yields and/or reduced input costs), GM products have been facing a rather strong consumer opposition. Fears related to potential health and environmental effects of genetic modification, …

Sustainability Through Profitability: The Triple Bottom Line, Connie I. Reimers-Hild

Cornhusker Economics

Today’s highly competitive, globalized world requires organizations and businesses to think differently about how they are going to stay in business. Businesses can no longer afford to focus on profits as their sole purpose for existence. Organizations must instead think about the “Triple Bottom Line” and its implications for their ability to grow their brand, customer loyalty and profits.

The three components of the Triple Bottom Line are: people and community (social responsibility), planet (environmental sustainability) and profit (the bottom line). Successful 21st century organizations must consider how they are going to actively engage in each of the Triple Bottom …

The Nebraska Citizen Initiative Process, J. David Aiken

Cornhusker Economics

Nebraska is one of about half of the states that allow its citizens to initiate new statutes (legislative laws) or constitutional provisions by way of the citizen initiative petition process. Since 1992, over 30 constitutional amendments have been voted on under these provisions. In Nebraska, citizen initiatives have dealt with corporate farming restrictions, term limits, gambling, government spending limits and antiaffirmative action requirements. There is a chance that an animal welfare provision may be on the November 6, 2012 general election ballot. This newsletter takes a quick look at the initiative process. For more detailed information, consult an attorney.

Understanding The Value Of Water In Nebraska: Future Expectations And Considerations, Christopher L. Thompson, Ray Supalla

Cornhusker Economics

Nebraska’s water resources are cost-effective insurance for harnessing the productive potential of cropland. During the last 30 years, intensive irrigation development in Western Nebraska has led to regulations to prevent or reduce the over-use of Nebraska’s share of both surface and groundwater. Despite regulations affecting the amount of available water, farmers have been able to manage water in ways that lead to an acceptable net return, with little impact on land values. However, as stricter regulations are put in place to limit the amount of water that can be withdrawn each year per irrigated acre, it is quite possible that …

Toward Sustainability In Business, Industry And Community: Empathy Tempered Choices, Prabhakar Shrestha, Gary D. Lynne

Cornhusker Economics

In today’s world of 24-hour news service on the internet, youtube, facebook, twitter, electronic newspapers, etc., there are many sources of information constantly seeking our attention, triggering our response and affecting our psyche. Where are such habits of tuning into internet services, mobile services, etc., leading us? Jeremy Rifkin in his new book, The Empathic Civilization talks about the dawn of a new Third Industrial Civilization. The main feature is the sharing of information among millions of people, which is shaping the spatial and temporal orientation of human civilization. This also leads to greater differentiation of skills, greater connectivity, extension …

Essays On Industrial Organization And Environmental Economics, Gibson Nene

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

This dissertation studies environmental regulation issues in the hog production industry as well as forces behind the reorganization of the industry during the past two decades. Federal and State-level environmental regulations imposed on U.S. hog production during the year 2003 are examined in Chapter 1. Based on the number of regulations passed by the Federal government and states, the 2003 regulatory index is constructed. The regulatory stringency index suggests that state-level regulations vary across states and have increased over the years. In addition, state-level regulations are more stringent than federal regulations. Chapter 2 develops an empirically implementable theoretical model which …

What Drives Academic Bioscientists: Money Or Values?, David E. Ervin, Sharmistha Nag, Hui Yang, Steven T. Buccola

Economics Faculty Publications and Presentations

The article determines the factors that drive academic bioscience to better understand the role of genetically engineered (GE) crops in the sustainability of U.S. agriculture. Some challenges brought about by GE crops in the U.S. farm sustainability include tracking and controlling water pollution, protecting against herbicide resistance and nitrogen fixation. Professional norms are also considered as a great factor driving the academic bioscience.

Genetically Engineering Crops For A Sustainable Agriculture, David E. Ervin, Rick Welsh

Economics Faculty Publications and Presentations

The article examines the role of genetically engineered (GE) crops in fostering a more sustainable agriculture. An overview of the National Academy of Sciences metal study of the impacts of GE crops on farm sustainability in the U.S. is given. The two types of GE crops are discussed, one which produces its own insecticide called insect resistant (IR) crops and the other is engineered to resist particular herbicides. An explanation for sustainable agriculture is also presented.

2010 Federal Estate Tax Issues, J. David Aiken

Cornhusker Economics

Estate planning is a very important topic for farm families. In 2001, President Bush signed legislation that reduced the Federal Estate Taxes until 2010, when it was reduced to zero. However, in 2011 the Federal Estate Tax will be reinstated, as indicated in the table on the next page. President Obama has proposed a permanent Federal Estate Tax exemption at the 2009 level, but that has not been acted upon by Congress. Other proposals range from a $2 million exemption with a 55 percent top estate tax rate, to a $5 million exemption with a 35 percent top rate.

A Thin Real Estate Market Becomes Even Leaner, Bruce B. Johnson

Cornhusker Economics

The market for agricultural real estate has historically been what observers call a “thin market,” in that very little is marketed and changes ownership at any given point in time. In fact, even when there is spirited buying interest and willingness to bid aggressively, the supply side of the market for agricultural land tends to be inelastic - in that the percentage change in quantity put on the market is much less that the percentage increase in bid prices.

Of course, this partially explains upward value trends to agricultural real estate over time. If potential buyers realize there is only …

If Irrigation Needs To Be Reduced, How Should We Do It?, Raymond J. Supalla

Cornhusker Economics

Nebraska’s obligations under the terms of the Republican Basin Compact and the Cooperative Agreement for the Platte River, as well as our continuing commitment to future generations, require reductions in the consumptive use of water in irrigation. Reducing irrigation in a cost effective and equitable way is perhaps the most important water policy challenge which Nebraska must address. Determining how to meet this challenge involves the following questions: how will irrigators be affected by irrigation reduction programs such as allocation or forced reductions in irrigated acres; how will the Nebraska economy and local communities be affected; what is the least …

Status Of U.S. Initiatives To Limit Ghg Emissions, Diego R. Alvarez, Federico Trindade

Cornhusker Economics

The status of the United States initiatives to limit green house gas (GHG) emissions is the topic of this article. Although there are uncertainties associated with the science of climate change, some aspects of the science are known with virtual certainty (they have a greater than 99% chance of being true). Scientists know with virtual certainty that levels of greenhouse gases, like carbon dioxide in the atmosphere have been increasing since pre-industrial times; that the atmospheric buildup of CO2 and other greenhouse gases is largely the result of human activities such as the burning of fossil fuels; and that increasing …

The Demand For Citizen Leadership In Non-Metropolitan Nebraska, Randolph L. Cantrell

Cornhusker Economics

Those who work with rural communities know this issue well: Population losses have left many rural communities with a shortage of residents willing and able to take on the public and volunteer leadership roles required to keep their communities running smoothly. As a result, individuals are often asked not just to participate in local government and voluntary organizations, but also to accept positions of authority and responsibility in their operation. The outcome, according to conventional wisdom, is that capable and involved citizens can be “burned out” by the demands made on their time, with local leadership often being left in …

“The E-Harmony Of Farm Succession”, David J. Goeller

Cornhusker Economics

The age of Nebraska’s farm and ranch operators continues to trend older. Statistics from the National Census of Agriculture indicates that in 1982 there were 13,436 operators of Nebraska farms or ranches under the age of 35. In the most recent Census of Agriculture taken in 2007, those Nebraska operators under age 35 have declined to 3,353. The 1982 Census indicated the number of operators age 65 and over was 8,777, while in 2007 the Nebraska operators age 65 and over increased to 13,062. Nebraska currently has only 25 percent as many operators under 35 years of age as it …

The Status Of International Negotiations On Climate Change, Federico Trindade, Diego R. Alvarez

Cornhusker Economics

In the October 20, 2010 issue of this newsletter we talked about the status of United States initiatives in limiting greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Although there are uncertainties associated with the science of climate change, some aspects of the science are known with virtual certainty (they have a greater than 99 percent chance of being true). Scientists know with virtual certainty that levels of greenhouse gases, like carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, have been increasing since pre-industrial times; that the atmospheric buildup of CO2 and other greenhouse gases is largely the result of human activities such as the burning of …

Thanksgiving Holiday- Farm Prices Only

Cornhusker Economics

Livestock and Products, Weekly Average

Crops, Daily Spot Prices

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The Acre Program: Sign-Up Results, Expected Payments And Future Prospects, Bradley D. Lubben

Cornhusker Economics

In 2009, agricultural producers participating in federal farm programs had to make a decision between staying in the existing Direct and Counter-Cyclical Program (DCP) and the new Average Crop Revenue Election (ACRE) Program. If producers chose to keep the DCP, their farm income safety net is strictly tied to crop prices with a combination of marketing loans, counter-cyclical payments and direct payments. If producers chose the new ACRE program, they changed their farm income safety net to a combination of price and revenue. The new ACRE component is based on revenue and replaces the counter-cyclical payment. The other parts of …

Microstructure And Property Evaluation Of Lifepo4 Thin Films For Application In Microbatteries, Jose Marcos Mares

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The shortage of fossil fuels and the requirements to produce clean, environmental friendly, efficient, and economical energy are the principal problems in the context of energy technology for current and future generations. Therefore, advanced energy storage and conversion capabilities with higher capacity and efficiency are desired. Currently, there is an enormous interest in the development of high energy density rechargeable batteries for use in domestic applications, automotive industries and portable electronic applications. The present research focuses on the development of LiFePO4 thin films for solid-state thin-film microbatteries. The present effort was performed with a specific purpose of understanding the effect …