Linking Risk and Economic Assessments in the Analysis of Plant Pest Regulations: The Case of U.S. Imports of Mexican Avocados

Risk and Uncertainty,

EFFECTS OF TARIFFS AND TECHNICAL BARRIERS ON HIGH- AND LOW-VALUE POULTRY TRADE

A perfectly competitive spatial partial equilibrium model is constructed to evaluate some of the policy effects on world poultry trade. The model simulates the trade flows among six key exporting and importing countries and two aggregate rest-of-world regions. Effects of removal of restrictions based on tariffs, tariff-rate quotas (TRQs) and sanitary regulations are evaluated maintaining a distinction between "high-value" (mostly white meat) and "low-value" (mostly dark meat) poultry products. Results suggest that removal of sanitary barriers alone has relatively little effect compared to removal of tariffs and TRQs, but has more effect if sanitary and other barriers are removed simultaneously. Imposition of new sanitary barriers against US products by Russia would also shift trade flows, with production rising in Brazil.International Relations/Trade,

Effects of tariffs and sanitary barriers on high- and low-value poultry trade

"A competitive partial-equilibrium spatial model with heterogeneous goods is constructed to evaluate effects of the removal of tariffs, tariff-rate quotas, and sanitary regulations on world poultry trade. The model distinguishes between "high-value" (mostly white meat) and "low-value" (mostly dark meat) poultry products and simulates the trade flows between eight exporting and importing countries and regions. Removing all barriers simultaneously has larger impact on trade than only removing tariffs and tariff-rate quotas. Imposition of sanitary barriers against US products by Russia shifts trade flows, but does not have large net impacts on US producers." from Abstract

Effects of Tariffs and Sanitary Barriers on High- and Low-Value Poultry Trade

A competitive partial-equilibrium spatial model with heterogeneous goods is constructed to evaluate effects of the removal of tariffs, tariff-rate quotas, and sanitary regulations on world poultry trade. The model distinguishes between "highvalue" (mostly white meat) and "low-value" (mostly dark meat) poultry products and simulates the trade flows among eight exporting and importing countries and regions. Removing all barriers simultaneously has a larger impact on trade than removing only tariffs and tariff-rate quotas. Imposition of sanitary barriers against U.S. products by Russia shifts trade flows, but does not have large net impacts on U.S. producers.poultry trade, sanitary barriers, tariffs, Agricultural and Food Policy,

The Attitudes of Tennessee Administrators and Teachers to Selected Issues Concerning a Professional Negotiation Law

Purpose. The purpose of this study was to determine the attitudes of Tennessee administrators and teachers to selected issues concerning a professional negotiation law. (Abstract shortened.

Survival, Development and Population Dynamics of \u3ci\u3eEmpoasca Fabae\u3c/i\u3e (Homoptera: Cicadellidae) on Three Legume Hosts

Survival and development of potato leafhopper, Empoasca fabae, nymphs were measured on alfalfa (Medicago sativa), birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus), and red clover (Trifolium pratense). Survival was not significantly different among host plants (mean = 62%). There was no interaction between sex and host plant for developmental time. Males developed significantly faster than females. Developmental time was fastest on alfalfa, intermediate on trefoil, and slowest on red clover. Plots of alfalfa, trefoil, and red clover were planted to compare the seasonal abundance of the potato leafhopper in the three forages. Nymphs were more abundant in trefoil than in alfalfa and red clover late in July, but no differences occurred on the other sample dates. At their peak, adults were more abundant in alfalfa than in trefoil and red clover

AN ECONOMIC ASSESSMENT OF REMOVING THE PARTIAL U.S. IMPORT BAN ON FRESH MEXICAN HASS AVOCADOS

The importation of fresh Hass avocados from Mexico into the United States has been restricted, totally or partially, since 1914 on grounds of the potential risk of pest infestation. This quarantine has been a cause of dispute between the Mexican and U.S. governments. In 1997, Hass avocados from approved orchards in the State of Michoacán, Mexico, were permitted to be imported during the months of November through February into 19 northeastern states plus the District of Columbia. In 2001, the import period was extended to October 15 through April 15, and access was granted to 12 additional states. Currently there is a proposal to remove all seasonal and geographic restrictions on the importation of fresh Hass avocados from Mexico. The purpose of this research is to assess the potential economic impacts of removing the partial import ban. A static, partial equilibrium model is constructed to analyze impacts of removing the partial import ban on Mexican avocados. Two scenarios are considered: one with population and real per-capita income held constant (short run) and one that allows growth in population and real per-capita income over five years (long run). When population and real income are held constant, removal of the partial import ban leads to an increase in avocado imports from Mexico of 102.72 million pounds (267% increase). The increased competition from Mexican avocados results in welfare losses for both Californian and Chilean avocado producers of $84.5 million and$8.5 million respectively. Conversely, consumers in the United States gain from greater availability of avocados and lower prices. The gain in equivalent variation for US consumers is $115.3 million resulting in a net welfare gain of$30.8 million for the US. For the long-run scenario, population and real per-capita income are allowed to grow at their recent historical annual averages for five years. A five-year period is chosen to match the biological lag between planting and fruit bearing for avocados and is assumed to be the time period required for avocado producers to fully adjust to any price changes. The resulting increase in the aggregate demand for avocados significantly reduces the impact on Californian and Chilean producers of removing the partial import ban on Mexican avocados. While imports from Mexico increase by 161.4 million pounds, Californian avocado production decreases by only 14.4 million pounds and exports from Chile increase by 2.5 million pounds. The loss in producer surplus for Californian producers is $9.4 million, while the net US welfare gain is$33.2 million. While it appears likely that the removal of the partial import ban on Mexican avocados will hurt Californian producers, growth in demand for avocados will mitigate a great deal of the potential losses. Regardless of the magnitude of the growth in demand, consumers in the United States will benefit from a greater availability of avocados at lower prices. The gain in consumer welfare more than offsets the loss in producer welfare.International Relations/Trade,

THE GLOBALIZATION OF SMALLER AGRI-FOOD FIRMS: CONCEPTS, FINDINGS AND PRESCRIPTIVE RECOMMENDATIONS

Agribusiness,

Applications of Gestalt Therapy in Deafness Rehabilitation Counseling

Techniques used in Gestalt therapy can be applied to working with clients who are deaf in a rehabilitation counseling setting. Gestalt therapy focuses on the whole person, encouraging the assessment of both assets and liabilities. Such a focus avoids the emphasis of disability exclusively. This approach teaches awareness, utilizing the client-therapist relationship and dialogue as tools in the counseling process. The importance of dialogue in the process is emphasized to maximize client involvement. The theory is phenomenological and emphasizes individuality, a focus that discourages the drawing of stereotypes regarding people who are deaf. Acknowledged is the need for individual consideration foreach unique situation in counseling. Awareness is central to the therapy, as is encouraging autonomy and self-acceptance, common issues for clients in rehabilitation. The here-and-now focus of Gestalt therapy promotes increased awareness and responsibility necessary for personal development. Gestalt therapy makes use of a wide range of techniques that are applicable to working with people who are deaf seeking rehabilitation counseling services

Population Genetics and Gene Variation in Secondary Screwworm (Diptera: Calliphoridae)

Allozyme variation in 4 populations of secondary screwworm, Cochliomyia macellaria (F.), representing North, Central, and South America was examined . Variability was observed in 12 of 13 enzyme loci, and the frequency of the most common allele was IS statistics indicated random mating within populations . Wright\u27s FST statistics and chi-square contingency analyses indicated homogeneous gene frequencies among the populations. These data suggest that C. macellaria is a panmictic species with high levels of gene flow between populations