DISCUSSION: THE NEW FOOD AND AGRICULTURE BILL - WHERE IS IT HEADED? POTENTIAL IMPACTS ON SOUTHERN AGRICULTURE

Political Economy,

OBSERVATIONS ON CHANGES IN FACTORS INFLUENCING AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS AND SOME IMPLICATIONS FOR THE PROFESSION

Teaching/Communication/Extension/Profession,

SPATIAL AND TEMPORAL WATER ALLOCATION IN THE KISSIMMEE RIVER BASIN

Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,

GROUND BEEF: IMPLICATIONS FOR THE SOUTHEASTERN U.S. BEEF INDUSTRY

Livestock Production/Industries,

COMPONENTS OF OUTDOOR RECREATIONAL VALUES: KISSIMMEE RIVER BASIN, FLORIDA

Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,

ECONOMIC FEASIBILITY OF USING BRUSH CONTROL TO ENHANCE OFF-SITE WATER YIELD

A feasibility study of brush for off-site water yield was undertaken in 1998 on the North Concho River near San Angelo, Texas. Subsequently, studies were conducted on eight additional Texas watersheds. Economic analysis was based on estimated control costs of the different options compared to the estimated rancher benefits of brush control. Control costs included initial and follow-up treatments required to reduce brush canopy to between 3 and 8%, and maintain it at the reduced level for 10 years. The state cost-share was estimated by subtracting the present value of rancher benefits from the present value of the total cost of the control program. The total cost of additional water was determined by dividing the total state cost-share if all eligible acreage were enrolled by the total added water estimated to result from the brush control program. This procedure resulted in present values of total control costs per acre ranging from $33.75 to$159.45. Rancher benefits, based on the present value of the improved net returns to typical cattle, sheep, goat, and wildlife enterprises, ranged from $8.95 to$52.12 per acre. Present values of the state cost-share per acre ranged from $21.70 to$138.85. The cost of added water estimated for the eight watersheds ranged from $16.41 to$204.05 per acre-foot averaged over each watershed.Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,

EVALUATING INCENTIVE PAYMENT PROGRAMS THROUGH AGGREGATE PRODUCTION RESPONSE: THE CASE OF MOHAIR

Production Economics,

Integrated Bush Management Systems (IBMS): Strategies and Economics.

12 p

REGIONAL COST SHARE NECESSARY FOR RANCHER PARTICIPATION IN BRUSH CONTROL

Large-scale brush-control programs are being proposed in Texas to increase off-site water yields. Biophysical and economic simulation models are combined to estimate the effects of brush control on representative ranches in four ecological regions of the Edwards Plateau area of Texas. Net present values of representative ranches in three of four regions decrease with brush control. Cost shares necessary for ranches from the three regions to break even range from 7% to 31% of total brush-control costs. Any large-scale brush-control program will therefore require a substantial investment by the state of Texas.Agribusiness,