Impact of Entry and Exit on Agribusiness-Trucking Industry Efficiency: Stochastic Frontier Analysis

In this paper, the impact of entry and exit of firms on the overall efficiency of the industry is examined in the efficiency framework, using agribusiness-trucking firms for the period 1994-2003. Specifically, industry efficiency is compared with and without firms that enter and exit using panel stochastic frontier analysis.Agribusiness,

An Inter-Sector Impact of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita On The Agribusiness Industry In Mississippi

This study evaluates the impact of hurricanes Katrina and Rita on the agribusiness industry and related sectors in Mississippi. Input-output analysis was used to determine the economic impact of these disasters on the Mississippi agribusiness sector and related sectors in the state's economy.agribusiness, economic impact, input-output analysis, temporal effects, agribusiness sector, related sectors, Agribusiness,

EFFICIENT MARKETING OF BLUEBERRIES IN MISSISSIPPI AND LOUISIANA

Fresh blueberries are sold through a marketing cooperative of the blueberry industry in Mississippi and Louisiana. Blueberry producers have numerous alternatives in assembling blueberries, and the cooperative needs to know the costs of different systems for assembling berries in order to provide better services to its members. The main objective of this study was to determine an efficient system for handling blueberries in Mississippi and Louisiana. Sixteen models with different combinations of drop stations and shipping points were evaluated. The results of this study will help the Miss-Lou Association and farmers to better develop strategies for handling and marketing blueberries in the future. It will assist the Miss-Lou Association in determining the number, size, and locations of drop stations/shipping points with change in production each year.Marketing,

The Economic impact of Repealing Mississippi's Grocery Tax

Results from the analyses indicate that repealing the 7 percent grocery tax would produce modest gains in grocery sales but major increases in the purchases of other goods and services. Revenues from the sale of additional groceries would be exempt from taxes, thus producing only employment and labor income. With the state loosing almost $202 million in tax revenues, it is not clear if the gains in employment would be enough to offset the revenue losses.Agribusiness, Public Economics,

A PULL FACTOR ANALYSIS OF TRENDS IN FOOD AND BEVERAGE RETAIL SALES IN MISSISSIPPI COUNTIES

Agribusiness,

AN ASSESSMENT OF THE IMPACT OF THE RURAL EMPOWERMENT ZONE AND ENTERPRISE COMMUNITY PROGRAM ON TEXAS' RIO GRANDE VALLEY

A Human Development Index (HDI) was developed to analyze the impact of the rural empowerment zone program on counties in the Texas Rio Grande Valley. Results of the analysis indicate that minimal development has taken place in these counties. This outcome is attributable to several institutional factors.Community/Rural/Urban Development,

SOURCES OF CHANGE IN STATE-LEVEL AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION IN MEXICO: IMPLICATIONS FROM THE PESO CRISIS OF 1994-1995

Production Economics,

The Structure Performance Hypothesis and The Efficient Structure Performance Hypothesis-Revisited: The Case of Agribusiness Commodity and Food Products Truck Carriers in the South

Two competing hypotheses on market structure and performance of firms are the traditional structure-conduct-performance (SCP) paradigm and the efficiency structure hypothesis. This paper reveals the profits made by firms in the trucking industry were because of greater efficiencies than their competitors and not because of collusive activities.Public Economics,

IMPACTS OF CORN AND SOYBEAN MEAL PRICE CHANGES ON THE DEMAND AND SUPPLY OF U.S. BROILERS

This study examined factors that affected the prices of corn and soybean meal and the impact of these prices on market demand and supply for U.S. broilers. An econometric model consisting of four structural equations and one identity was formulated and estimated using quarterly data from 1976 to 1996. One of the results reveals that soybean meal price flexibilities with respect to soybean prices were highly elastic in both the short and long run. This means that changes in soybean prices have a relatively large effect on meal price. In contrast, meal price and oil price moved in opposite directions. An increase in oil price encourages an increase in crushing oilseeds, resulting in an increase in both oil and meal supply. In addition, results indicated that a sustained increase in corn and soybean meal prices will have an immediate impact on broiler quantities and prices.Demand and Price Analysis,

An Analysis of Trends in Food Import Refusals in the United States

Millions of pounds of fresh fruits, vegetables, cut flowers, herbs, and other agricultural and food products enter the United States via commercial shipments from other countries every year. Although these items appear harmless, there could be hidden threats in that baggage and in those truckloads, trainloads, and containers of fresh and processed food items that could seriously threaten U.S. agriculture, its natural resources, and its economy (U.S. Customs and Border Protection 2007). Food imports play a major role in the success and competitiveness of various agribusiness firms in the United States. For example, food imports generate income, employment, output, and taxes and provide consumers with lower-priced products than those produced or purchased in the domestic markets. Food imports also provide consumers with a larger variety of products that normally would not be available to them, or that would be available in limited quantities and at higher than normal prices. Consequently, without food imports many U.S. food processing and manufacturing firms would be forced to reduce plant capacity, re-locate food processing and manufacturing facilities, or close plants altogether (Rosson 2000). Thus it is important that food imports that do not comply with U.S. standards be targeted, detected, and intercepted, thereby preventing the entry of those potential threats before they have the chance to do any harm to the U.S food system and its infrastructure.Agribusiness, International Relations/Trade,