L1D78

(1.4)
L1T76 (40%): farmers (4%), agricultural (4%), nitrogen (3%), farms (3%), farm (3%)

L1T4 (5%): reduction (9%), reductions (5%)

L1T63 (4%): costs (21%)

L1T91 (3%): under (9%), net (6%), yields (5%), yield (4%)
titleabstract

DYNAMICS OF STRUCTURAL-CHANGE IN THE ONTARIO HOG INDUSTRY (1992) 🗎🗎

Farm size distribution dynamics for hog production in Ontario are analyzed, using stationary and nonstationary transition probability models. Both models predict that there will be approximately 60 % fewer hog producers in Ontario by the turn of the century than at the beginning of 1990. The three exogenous variables used in the nonstationary models - hog/corn price ratio, interest rate and labor/capital price ratio - are shown to have some effect on the transition dynamics, although the major effect appears to be from a combination of technological advancements and improvements in human capital. The effect of the exogenous policy variables on the probability of transition to a given size is generally limited to the interaction between the inactive farmers and the smallest classes. Poor prices tend to increase the exodus of farmers from the industry, with most of those leaving being smaller producers.

Would banning atrazine benefit farmers? (2014) 🗎🗎

Atrazine, an herbicide used on most of the US corn (maize) crop, is the subject of ongoing controversy, with increasing documentation of its potentially harmful health and environmental impacts. Supporters of atrazine often claim that it is of great value to farmers; most recently, Syngenta, the producer of atrazine, sponsored an "Atrazine Benefits Team" (ABT) of researchers who released a set of five papers in 2011, reporting huge economic benefits from atrazine use in US agriculture. A critical review of the ABT papers shows that they have underestimated the growing problem of atrazine-resistant weeds, offered only a partial review of the effectiveness of alternative herbicides, and ignored the promising option of non-chemical weed management techniques. In addition, the most complete economic analysis in the ABT papers implies that withdrawal of atrazine would lead to a decrease in corn yields of 4.4% and an increase in corn prices of 8.0%. The result would be an increase in corn growers' revenues, equal to US$ 1.7 billion annually under ABT assumptions. Price impacts on consumers would be minimal: at current levels of ethanol production and use, gasoline prices would rise by no more than US$0.03 per gallon; beef prices would rise by an estimated US$0.01 for a 4-ounce hamburger and US$0.05 for an 8-ounce steak. Thus withdrawal of atrazine would boost farm revenues, while only changing consumer prices by pennies.

No-till technology: benefits to farmers and the environment? Theoretical analysis and application to Finnish agriculture (2006) 🗎🗎

We assess theoretically and empirically the private profitability and social desirability of conventional tillage and no-till when crop yields, production costs and nutrient and herbicide runoff damages are taken into account. Based on Finnish experimental data, no-till provides higher social and private profit than conventional tillage for barley but not for oats and wheat, for which the production cost advantage of no-till does not compensate for lower yields in the private optimum. As regards social returns, no-till provides slightly better overall environmental performance but, given the existing valuation of nutrient and herbicide runoff damage, this is not enough to give no-till an advantage in oats and wheat cultivation. Thus, the key factors determining the private and social profitability of no-till and conventional tillage are yields and production costs rather than environmental performance.

Restricting intensive livestock production: Economic effects of mineral policy in the Netherlands (1998) 🗎🗎

This paper examines the effects for the Dutch economy of a reduction in livestock production using an applied general equilibrium model. A reduction is seen as a possible solution to the environmental problems linked with the excess supply of minerals to the environment. Results show that a decrease in pig and poultry production to achieve a maximum permitted phosphate loss of 30 kg/ha will decrease income of pig and poultry farming by 2.6 and 1.0 per cent, respectively. The compound feed, pig,neat and poultry meat industry are seriously affected. Trade shows a reduction in,let exports of livestock and meat and net imports of feed stuffs.

European environmental regulations to reduce water pollution: An analysis of their impact on UK dairy farms (1996) 🗎🗎

This study simulates the impact of environmental regulations on a group of dairy producers in the UK, The regulations originate from the EU and the Netherlands, and are designed to reduce water pollution from livestock waste. Policy simulation is carried out using Lineal Programming models and an environmental sub-model allowing policy to be assessed in both economic and environmental terms, In many cases, policy imposition has no effect, and hence the distribution of waste across farmland and the targeting of pollution policy are considered.

THE ECONOMIC CONSEQUENCES OF REDUCED FERTILIZER USE - A VIRTUAL PRICING APPROACH (1995) 🗎🗎

The virtual pricing approach is applied to perform an ex ante analysis of reduced chemical use on agricultural output, input demand and profitability. Aggregate data on Indiana agriculture spanning the 1950-86 period are used to estimate parameters of a normalized quadratic profit function using Bayesian techniques. Empirical results on the response of substitute and complementary inputs to a 15% and a 30% fertilizer restriction are obtained and the ad valorem taxes required to accomplish such restriction are calculated.

THE ECONOMICS OF PESTICIDE USE AND REGULATION (1991) 🗎🗎

Pesticides enhance agricultural productivity, but the environmental and health side effects of their use justify government regulation, a subject of continuing societal debate. Bans on pesticide use are the principal regulatory device used in the United States. The economic impacts of such bans depend on the availability of substitutes, supply and trade conditions, and research and development. Without substitutes, pesticide bans result in reduced production levels and higher prices, a substantial loss of discretionary income to consumers, and a redistribution of income among agricultural producers. Most food safety concerns can be addressed by establishing standards and markets for pesticide-differentiated products, but worker safety and clean water concerns will require direct controls. Pesticide-use fees are shown to be more efficient than outright pesticide bans as a mechanism to obtain environmental goals.

Phasing out of environmentally harmful subsidies: Consequences of the 2003 CAP reform (2007) 🗎🗎

Subsidies linked to production have been classified as environmentally harmful by the OECD. A core element of the EU 2003 Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reform is to decouple income support from production. This paper estimates the environmental consequences of this policy reform. An agricultural sector model using a modified version of the positive mathematical programming method depicts the complex natural, structural, and political relationships of Austrian farming. Changes in management measures can be analyzed with respect to their environmental effects by using appropriate indicators. Simulation results show that the 2003 CAP reform will reduce the average cost of production, and may improve environmental conditions regarding soil, water, and greenhouse gases when compared to a scenario without reform. Thus, the new CAP is likely to bring about outcomes which the previous reform (Agenda 2000) promised but did not deliver. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The methyl bromide ban: Economic impacts on the California strawberry industry (2005) 🗎🗎

California strawberry production accounts for 18% of total methyl bromide use in U.S. agriculture. Under the Montreal Protocol, methyl bromide was slated to be banned in the United States in 2005. A critical use exemption was obtained for U.S. agriculture for 2005 and 2006, but the phaseout of methyl bromide continues. We examine the ban's effects on the California strawberry industry, and on individual production regions in the state. Under the most likely scenario, industry revenue will decline by 6-17% due to the ban. The effects will differ by region, due to seasonal differences in demand and production, and the possibility of increased foreign competition.