Agricultural Economics
Improving the Efficiency of Markets and Institutions
Increase the use of marketing tools, which can help
producers increase income or reduce risk. Increase the efficiency of the
marketing system in terms of providing incentives for producers to produce what
consumers want. Determine the efficiency of public institutions such as public
schools and public data collection. (2170)
PI: Wade Brorsen
Cooperators:
Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station, Oklahoma State Regents for Higher
Education, Oklahoma State University Foundation
Agricultural Water
Management Technologies, Institutions and Policies Affecting Economic Viability
and Environmental Quality
Objective 1. Evaluate the farm-level economic and
environmental implications of alternative resource-conserving irrigation technology
and water management systems. (2257)
PI: Arthur Stoecker
Cooperator: Oklahoma
Agricultural Experiment Station
Alternative Crop
Production Issues and the Economics of Cucurbit Crops in Oklahoma
Determine for Oklahoma researchers and farmers the economic
and financial feasibility of cucurbits (watermelon, cantaloupe, muskmelon,
squash, cucumber, pumpkin) under alternative production strategies. Specific
objectives are to provide enterprise budgets for cucurbits in Oklahoma similar
to those developed for other crops. These budgets will reflect a whole farm
approach including other crops involved in the rotations. The budgets will
estimate land, capital, equipment, and labor physical input requirements and
associated costs for cucurbit crops under Oklahoma conditions for a variety of
production strategies. 2) Determine the potential financial and economic
feasibility that cucurbit crops have for providing a main or supplemental
source of income for Oklahoma farmers. Estimates of the variability in economic
returns will be determined as well as point estimates of average returns.
(2348)
PI: Merritt Taylor
Cooperators:
Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station, Wes Watkins Agricultural Research and
Extension Center, Texas A&M University
Evaluating
Opportunities for Oklahoma’s Value-Added Food and Agricultural
The overall objective of this project is to analyze ways to
develop and enhance the
value-added food and agricultural products industries in
Oklahoma. Specific objectives are: 1. Examine factors affecting the location
and/or relocation of agribusiness of Oklahoma. More specifically, identify factors the have led to an
industry’s presence, expansion, and/or decline in the state. 2. Assess
the market potential for new and/or niche value-added food and agricultural
products that may present opportunities for Oklahoma’s production
agriculture. These assessments are a crucial component of the strategic
planning process that will help ensure the success of small/niche agribusiness
firms (Phillips and Peterson, 1999). 3. Identify and evaluate the opportunities
for and feasibility of value-added activities for Oklahoma’s primary
agricultural commodities (i.e. livestock, wheat, poultry, corn, and milo) and
alternative crops (e.g. guar, eastern red cedar, high-antioxidant horticultural
crops, etc.), including assessments of business and market risks. To achieve
the objectives, research projects are proposed for testing the following
hypotheses. Hypotheses associated with factors affecting agribusiness
processing activities and distribution center location decisions include: A.
Policymakers and community leaders do not fully understand the many factors
that play a role in the location, relocation, expansion, and/or statewide exit
of value-added processing/distribution centers. For examples, state
policymakers and agencies often inquire as to why a state with extensive cattle
and wheat production has no large cattle slaughtering facilities and a very
small flour milling industry. Limited understanding of location factors and
their impacts on plant locations has led to the disappearance of some industry
sectors and many state-supported business failures. B. Given the diversity of
Oklahoma’s production agriculture and the increasingly innovative
industrial uses for co-products from production agriculture, unexplored market
opportunities exist for technology-generated derivatives from Oklahoma
agriculture. C. Opportunities exist for producer coalitions to generate
additional income from their raw agricultural production through the
development of producer-owned processing operations in Oklahoma. (2349)
PI: Rodney Holcomb
Cooperators:
Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station, Oklahoma Food and Agricultural
Products Center, Oklahoma Wheat Commission, University of Arkansas
Generally the objectives fall into three broad research
areas including the estimation of the land use trends and productivity, the factors
responsible for these trends, and new land use projections. Identify the
general trends (patterns) in the U.S. land use changes. Estimate the effect of
changes in U.S. agricultural policy (e.g. commodity programs, conservation and
environmental programs, credit, etc.) on land use changes. For a selected set
of counties in several USDA regions, identify the amount and location of land
that has a potential to convert from one major land use to another based upon
physical characteristics. Identify the socioeconomic characteristics that may
encourage or discourage the conversion of land with the physical potential for
conversion. Examine the potential for expansion of the results from B-2 to all
areas of the United States. Develop new or modify existing models to predict
the location of specific land use changes. Predict location specific land use
changes under alternative economic and policy scenarios. Estimate the impact of
these predicted land use changes on prices, incomes and local economic activity.
(2361)
PI: Michael Dicks
Cooperator: Oklahoma
Agricultural Experiment Station
Competitiveness,
Value-Added and Risk in the Oklahoma Grain and Oil Seed Industry
Identify new and emerging value-added markets for grains and
oilseeds. Analyze the responsiveness of these markets, for example: to own
price, price of complements, price of substitutes, income, transportation
costs, and exchange rates. Analyze the competitiveness and risk management of
grains and oilseeds in new uses under alternative supply and demand scenarios.
(2362)
PI: Robert Oehrtman
Cooperator: Oklahoma
Agricultural Experiment Station
Economic Analysis of
Management Strategies to Use Livestock and Poultry Waste in Oklahoma
The overall objective is to decide optimal sizes and types
of livestock and poultry production and waste management systems that meet
environmental constraints for water and air quality in Oklahoma. Specifically
for representative livestock and poultry producers the research would evaluate
the effect of air and/or water quality constraints on the: 1) cost of
production, 2) most cost effective modifications to existing facilities to meet
increased environmental constraints, 3) implications of new research findings
on cost and management of animal waste, 4) optimal type and size of waste
management system, 5) optimal type and size of poultry or livestock production
facility, and 6) sustainability of crop and livestock production systems in
selected locations in Oklahoma. (2363)
PI: Arthur Stoecker
Cooperators:
Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station, North Carolina State University
Economic Diversification
and Community Development Options/Models for Rural Oklahoma
The overall objective of the proposal is to analyze
alternative development strategies for rural Oklahoma communities to aid in diversifying and
strengthening the local economy. Specific objectives include: 1. Develop a
community simulation model and procedures to analyze impacts of change in the
local economies of rural Oklahoma communities. 2. Assess trends and forces
shaping retail/small business performance in rural or small communities for
Oklahoma. (2364)
PI: Michael Woods
Cooperators:
Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station, Oklahoma State University Foundation,
Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education
To determine the economic consequences of trade impacts
stemming from changes in domestic agricultural and economic policies and to
assess alternative strategies to improve the competitiveness of Southern
agriculture. (2388)
PI: Shida Rastegari
Henneberry
Cooperators:
Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station, Cornell University, Oklahoma State
Regents for Higher Education, Oklahoma Wheat Commission, USDA-ERS, Oklahoma
Department of Agriculture
Identify new and emerging value-added markets for grains and
oilseeds. Analyze the competitiveness of grains and oilseeds in new uses under
alternative supply and demand scenarios. (2390)
PI: Robert Oehrtman
Cooperator: Oklahoma
Agricultural Experiment Station
Economic Analysis of
Alternative Agricultural Production Systems for Oklahoma
The overall objective of this project will be to evaluate
the economic consequences of agricultural production alternatives for Oklahoma.
Impacts of alternative practices and systems on expected net returns,
variability of returns, and input requirements will be investigated. In
addition, compatibility of the alternative production practices and enterprises
with conventional practices and enterprises, resources, and institutional
constraints, and potential external costs will be considered. Specific
objectives are to: 1. Determine the economic and institutional feasibility,
with respect to expected net return, production and financial risk, and rate of
return on resources, of alternative production systems compared to existing
ones. 2. Determine environmental tradeoffs between alternative and contemporary
production systems. (2403)
PI: Francis Epplin
Cooperators:
Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station, USDA
The Evolution of
Institutions and Coordination in Agricultural Production and Marketing Systems
The specific objectives of this project are to: Create a
revised paradigm that integrates cultural change, values and norms, psychology,
value differentiation and complementarities into a comprehensive theory of
institutional change in agricultural markets. Determine how producers
experienced with various contracting, identity preservation, alliances, and
value based pricing systems evaluated the costs and benefits of participating
in those systems. Evaluate the characteristics, attitudes and beliefs of
producers that are most likely to participate or not participate in alternative
coordination systems. Determine whether rural elevator managers and directors
could adopt value-based pricing and identity preservation storage and shipment
strategies that would provide higher prices for specific types of food and feed
grains and better serve the needs of grain processors. Identify and describe
the characteristics of strategic alliances in agricultural industries; Estimate
the costs, benefits, and net benefits of existing strategic alliances in beef
and wheat; Determine whether beef processors would adopt value-based pricing
that provides rewards for producers in strategic alliances for supplying higher
quality products and allow the processors to better serve developing branded
product, institutional and restaurant markets. (2404)
PI: Dan Tilley,
Clement Ward, Phil Kenkel
Cooperators:
Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station, USDA Rural Business Cooperative
Service
Imperfect Markets in Rural
Economic Development
The general objective of the proposal is to evaluate the
effects of selected imperfect markets on rural economic development in
Oklahoma. Specific studies are identified in the next section on procedures.
However, study objectives include: (1) the effects of imperfect competition in
the timber processing industry on raw material prices, forest land rents,
regional income and employment, and regional household welfare; (2) determining
under-or over-investment in rural transport infrastructure and research and
development in food processing as public goods; (3) assessing the effects of
externalities on natural resource projects and the impacts on rural economic
development; and (4) addressing issues of market interdependencies, data and
parameter estimations in general equilibrium modeling, and methods of
formulating and evaluating policies for correcting effects of imperfect
markets. (2405)
PI: Dean Schreiner
Cooperators:
Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station, Oklahoma State Regents for Higher
Education
Changes in Ag Input and
Output Markets as a Result of Scientific Developments in and Regulation of
Biotech
Analyze the effects of biotechnology developments on farm
costs, returns, competitive positions, spatial location of production and
marketing institutions. Describe federal and international policy developments
in the biotechnology sector and determine how those policies affect the market
for U.S. agricultural products. Determine the market shares, size and number of
firms, types of alliances, product mix, number of patents of firms in the farm
supply sector and the effects of proposed mergers and alliances on industry
concentration. Determine the impacts of business conduct, including tying
arrangements, contract prohibitions, aggressive patent enforcement and other
practices on structure and performance in the agricultural input supply sector.
(2406)
PI: Marcia Tilley
Cooperator: Oklahoma
Agricultural Experiment Station
Systems for Controlling
Air Pollutant Emissions and Indoor Environments of Poultry, Swine, and Dairy
Facilities
1. Develop and improve sustainable systems to reduce air
pollution emissions from poultry, swine, and dairy buildings and improve indoor
air quality. (2419)
PI: Arthur Stoecker
Cooperator: Oklahoma
Agricultural Experiment Station
Resource and Environmental
Economics of Animal Production and Land Use
The objectives of this research program are twofold: 1) to
address natural resource and environmental issues of relevance to Oklahoma and
the nation and 2) to contribute to the developing theoretical and empirical
economic literature on contracting and policy design over natural resource and
environmental issues. (2431)
PI: Tracy Boyer
Cooperator: Oklahoma
Agricultural Experiment Station
Management and Information
Support for Oklahoma Farmers and Ranchers
Determine and report average Oklahoma land values for
cropland and pasture by region. Collect and report typical cropland and pasture
rental arrangements for Oklahoma. Collect and report normal custom rate charges
for fieldwork and planting, haying, harvesting, and livestock management
activities. (2432)
PI: Darrel Kletke
Cooperators:
Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station, Oklahoma Tax Commission
Providing Essential Rural
Infrastructure with Emphasis on Health
The overall objective of this research project is to develop
economic tools and incorporate them into educational materials and technical
assistance programs for rural decision-makers as they make decisions relative
to structural changes in their community delivery system. More specifically,
the objectives are discussed by service. These are: PRIMARY HEALTH CARE: to
develop budgets of primary care health services that enable decision-makers to
design a financially sound system meeting needs of their population; to further
research the importance of the health sector on a rural economy; and to measure
the impact of critical access hospitals on health delivery and the community's
economy. SOLID WASTE: to develop budgets that enable decision-makers to design
a financially sound system; and to further investigate rural collection
systems, which address illegal dumping problems. EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES:
(Part of Primary Care but problem is such that it needs special attention) to
update budgets such that decision-makers can evaluate costs of alternative
delivery systems; and to study alternative systems to determine if they are
cost efficient and medically effective. (2433)
PIs: Gerald Doeksen,
Michael Woods
Cooperator: Oklahoma
Agricultural Experiment Station
Economics of
Oklahoma’s Swine Industry, Selecting Swine Production-Waste
Management-Marketing Systems and Strategies
The overall objective of this project is to identify
resource requirements and management practices associated with economically
feasible swine production systems. In addition this project will determine the
economic feasibility of increased swine production and processing and the
impacts of economic, community and environmental resources in Oklahoma. The
objectives studied are dependent on evolving support and interest. The
objectives are: 1. To determine resource requirements, operating costs, and
economic returns for selected swine production systems under alternative
management systems and ownership structures. 2. To identify management and
human capital, financial, land (crop) base and other resource characteristics
of farms where each swine production system would best fit. 3. To identify and
evaluate financial, production, marketing and personnel management strategies
that enable independent and contract swine producers to reach management
objectives in an uncertain environment. 4. To delineate the economic conditions
under which Oklahoma producers have a comparative advantage in swine production
and the conditions necessary for and upper limits of economically feasible
swine industry expansion (production and processing) in Oklahoma given a global
market for both swine and pork and increased concern for environmental
resources. 5. To identify, update and evaluate the impact of the swine industry
on economic, community, and environmental resources. (2434)
PIs: Bailey Norwood,
Derrell Peel, Arthur Stoecker, Michael Woods
Cooperators:
Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station, University of Missouri-Colombia
The overriding objective of this project is to generate
information enabling individual producers and groups of producers to make
informed marketing-related decisions. Specific objectives fall into three
categories: 1. Evaluate production-marketing alternatives on the basis of their
potential for enhancing producer profitability; 2. Determine how to effectively
use alternative methods of price discovery and coordination; and 3. Assess
impacts from consolidation and related issues from alternative market or
legislative remedies. (2471)
PI: Clement Ward
Cooperator: Oklahoma
Agricultural Experiment Station
Costs, Benefits, and Risks of Integrated Pest Management
in Grain Storage and Food Processing Facilities
The general objective of the proposed research is to improve
the ability of the grain marketing system to respond to increased pesticide
regulations and to consumer demands for wholesome, insect-free foods. The specific objectives are: (1) Estimate costs and risks associated
with chemical-based and IPM-based pest-control strategies in stored grain
facilities, and (2) Estimate costs and risks associated with chemical-based and
IPM-based pest-control strategies in food processing facilities. These
objectives directly address the following priorities in the Division’s
Strategic Plan (DASNR,1999): Priority Area 3 – Enhance Agriculture’s
Profitability, Competitiveness, and Sustainability, Goal 2 (Improve Farm,
Ranch, and Agribusiness Management Practices), Priority Area 4 – Protect
and Sustain the Environment, Goal 3 (Expand and Promote Strategies for
Integrated Pest Management in Rural and Urban Environments). (2489)
PI: Brian Adam
Cooperator: Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment
Station
Providing Information and Decision Support Tools to
Increase the Effectiveness of Traditional and Non-Traditional Cooperatives
The overall objective of this project is to increase the
effectiveness of traditional and non-traditional cooperatives. Specific objectives include: Objective
1. Measure the efficiency gains of
coordinating cooperative grain handling, fuel and fertilizer delivery, fertilizer
and plant protection application, and other key services over larger geographic
areas and develop information and decision support tools to firms considering
these arrangements.
This objective will contribute to the OSU Division of
Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources strategic plan in Priority Area 3:
Enhance Agriculture’s Profitability, Competitiveness and Sustainability
(Goal 2: Improve Farm, Ranch and Agribusiness Management Practices). Objective
2. Determine the factors affecting the success of mergers and other
collaborative arrangements among Oklahoma cooperatives during the past ten
years and the factors affecting the success of these arrangements. Factors hypothesized to have an impact
on merger success include the debt and equity and profitability characteristics
of the cooperative firms, the size of cooperative, similarity in operations and
departments and management style. This objective will contribute to the OSU
Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources strategic plan in
Priority Area 3: Enhance Agriculture’s Profitability, Competitiveness and
Sustainability (Goal 2: Improve Farm, Ranch and Agribusiness Management
Practices). Objective 3. Determine the factors impacting the feasibility of
value-added processing activities and develop information and decision support
tools to help producer groups determine the feasibility and risk of New Generation Cooperatives and other
producer-owned value-added efforts.
This objective will contribute to the OSU Division of Agricultural
Sciences and Natural Resources strategic plan in Priority Area 3: Enhance
Agriculture’s Profitability, Competitiveness and Sustainability (Goal 3:
Enhance Market Opportunities for Oklahoma’s Commodities and Value Added
Products and Goal 4: Expand Food and Agricultural Product Processing and
Product and Process Development). Objective 4. Investigate the feasibility of
common types of shared-service cooperatives in Oklahoma and develop information
and decision support tools to assist farmer producer groups, businesses and
public agencies evaluate the potential for shared-service cooperatives. This
objective will contribute to the OSU Division of Agricultural Sciences and
Natural Resources strategic plan in Priority Area 5: Strengthen Rural Oklahoma
(Goal 1: Increase the Economic Competitiveness and Sustainability of Rural
Communities and Industries and Goal 2: Improve Capacity of Elected Officials
and Other Local Leaders to Deal with Economic Development and Quality of Life
Issues in Both Urban and Rural Areas.) (2491)
PI: Phil Kenkel
Cooperators: Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station, Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, Oklahoma State University Foundation, USDA/CSREES, Kansas State University