Measuring the Stochastic Monetary Benefits of Multiple Inlet Irrigation in Arkansas Rice Production

Irrigation fuel costs represent a significant portion of rice production expenses. Multiple inlet (MI) irrigation represents a water saving alternative to conventional flood irrigation. This study uses simulation to calculate the range of monetary benefits to MI in rice production. Water savings from MI relative to conventional flood irrigation along with rice yields, rice prices, and prices for key production inputs (diesel and fertilizer) are simulated, and stochastic rice net returns above variable and fixed expenses are calculated for different pump lifts with and without MI. Monetary benefits to MI are measured as the difference in net returns with and without MI. The results indicate MI monetary benefits depend greatly on pump lift and the presence or absence of a yield increase. Monetary benefits to MI increase as pump lifts become larger, and relatively small increases in yield resulting from MI irrigation can greatly enhance its payoff.cost, cumulative distribution functions, multiple inlet irrigation, net return, rice, stochastic, Farm Management,

An Economic Risk Analysis of No-till Management for the Rice-Soybean Rotation System used in Arkansas

Arkansas is the top domestic rice producer, representing nearly half of total U.S. rice production. Sediment is one of the major pollutants in rice producing areas of Arkansas. In order to mitigate this problem no-tillage management is often recommended. No-tillage is not well understood by farmers who believe that no-till is less profitable due to lower yields offsetting cost savings. This study evaluates the profitability and variability of no-till in the typical rice-soybean rotation used in Arkansas rice production. Crop yields, prices and prices for key production inputs (fuel and fertilizer) are simulated for the rotation, and net return distributions for rice, soybean and the two-year rotation are evaluated for no-till and conventional till using stochastic efficiency with respect to a function (SERF) analysis. The results indicate that both risk neutral and risk-averse rice producers would prefer no-till over conventional till management in the two year rice-soybean rotation, and that no-till soybeans contribute greatly to the overall profitability of the rotation.simulation, rice-soybean, no tillage-profitability, risk analysis, Environmental Economics and Policy, Farm Management, Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,

An Economic Risk Analysis of Tillage and Cropping Systems on the Arkansas Grand Prairie

No-till (NT) has been shown to reduce fuel, labor, and machinery costs compared to conventional-till (CT) but very few rice producers in Arkansas practice NT. The low adoption rate is most likely due to difficulties in management but also limited information on the profitability and risk of NT. Most rice producers are knowledgeable on NT costs savings but consider it less profitable due to yield reductions offsetting costs savings. This study evaluates production costs, crop yields, and economic risk of both NT and CT in five rice-based cropping systems (continuous rice, rice-soybean, rice-corn, rice-wheat, and rice-wheat-soybean-wheat). Yields, crop prices, and key input prices are simulated to create net return distributions. Stochastic efficiency with respect to a function (SERF) is used to evaluate profitability and risk efficiency. Results indicate that a risk-neutral and risk-averse producer in either NT or CT would prefer a rice-soybean rotation. NT would be preferred over CT in the rice-soybean rotation across all risk preferences. Overall, risk-neutral producers would prefer NT in four of five cropping systems while risk-averse producers would prefer NT in three of five cropping systems.cropping systems, rice, no-till, certainty equivalent, risk premium, Crop Production/Industries, Farm Management, Financial Economics, Land Economics/Use, Production Economics, Risk and Uncertainty,

Assessing the Impacts of Soil Carbon Credits and Risk on No-Till Rice Profitability

Rice is a major cash crop in eastern Arkansas, but most rice acres are intensively cultivated and grown on rented land. No-till is an effective means of sequestering soil carbon and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and economic incentives exist for no-till in the form of carbon credits. Studies evaluating the economic potential of carbon credits focus on producers only and do not take into consideration the landlord’s perspective. This analysis evaluates the profitability and risk efficiency of no-till management and carbon credits in Arkansas rice production from the prospective if the landlord using simulation and stochastic efficiency with respect to a function (SERF). The results indicate carbon credits may have potential to enhance preference for no-till in rice production by risk-averse landlords.certainty equivalent, landlord, no-till, rice, risk premium, Farm Management, Production Economics, Risk and Uncertainty,

The Impacts of Farm Size and Economic Risk on No-Till Rice Whole-Farm Profitability

This study evaluated the impacts of farm size and stochastic return variability on no-till (NT) rice profitability at the whole-farm level. Mixed integer programming was used to determine optimal machinery complements, fuel consumption, and machinery labor requirements for conventional till (CT) and NT rice-soybean farms of 1200, 2400, and 3600 acres in size. Crop yields, market prices, and prices for key production inputs were simulated to construct stochastic whole-farm net returns for each farm size under CT and NT management, and both first and second degree stochastic dominance analysis were used to rank cumulative distribution functions of whole-farm returns according to specified risk preferences. The results indicate NT farms exhibit second degree stochastic dominance over CT farms regardless of farm size, and high input prices have less downward effect on the profitability of NT farms relative to CT farms.mixed integer programming, no-till, profitability, rice, risk, simulation, stochastic dominance, whole-farm, Farm Management, Production Economics, Risk and Uncertainty,

An Economic Risk Analysis of No-Till Rice Management from the Landlord’s Perspective

Rice production generally involves intensive cultivation. The profitability of no-till rice has been investigated but solely from the producer’s perspective. Most farmed cropland is owned by someone else. This study evaluates the risk efficiency of no-till rice from the landlord’s perspective using stochastic efficiency with respect to a function (SERF).Crop Production/Industries,

Whole Farm Economic Evaluation of No-Till Rice Production in Arkansas

Rice in Arkansas is typically produced using intensive tillage. No-till rice has been studied, but the research focus has been limited to impacts on yields and per acre net returns. This analysis evaluates the profitability of no-till rice at the whole-farm level using both enterprise budget analysis and linear programming.Crop Production/Industries,

Determining cellular CTCF and cohesin abundances to constrain 3D genome models.

Achieving a quantitative and predictive understanding of 3D genome architecture remains a major challenge, as it requires quantitative measurements of the key proteins involved. Here, we report the quantification of CTCF and cohesin, two causal regulators of topologically associating domains (TADs) in mammalian cells. Extending our previous imaging studies (Hansen et al., 2017), we estimate bounds on the density of putatively DNA loop-extruding cohesin complexes and CTCF binding site occupancy. Furthermore, co-immunoprecipitation studies of an endogenously tagged subunit (Rad21) suggest the presence of cohesin dimers and/or oligomers. Finally, based on our cell lines with accurately measured protein abundances, we report a method to conveniently determine the number of molecules of any Halo-tagged protein in the cell. We anticipate that our results and the established tool for measuring cellular protein abundances will advance a more quantitative understanding of 3D genome organization, and facilitate protein quantification, key to comprehend diverse biological processes

The effect of rotation, tillage, and fertility on rice grain yields and nutrient flows

ABSTRACT Rice is one of the most intensively cultivated row crops in America. In order to move away from current tillage practices it will be necessary to maintain current yield levels. A key to successful no-till rice production will be to maintain plant fertilizer efficiency in a system that is flooded much of the growing season and not increase nutrient runoff. A study was established in 2000 that compares fertility, variety, and conventional-and no-till rice rotations. Rice grain yields, across all treatments, were between 140 and 195 bu a -1 . Yields were most affected by rotation and tillage. Continuous rice grain yields averaged 34 bu a -1 lower than a rice-soybean rotation. Plant P and K uptake varied significantly between rotation treatments but not between tillage, fertility, or variety treatments. Phosphorus concentrations in run off liquid were significantly higher in the no-till plots. Total P in runoff was lower in the no-till plots because of reduced P being carried in solids. Total nitrogen uptake was lower in the continuous rice rotation compared to the rice-soybean rotation with soil N uptake higher for the no-till compared to conventional-till in both rotations. MATERIALS AND METHODS Field #8 at the University of Arkansas Rice Research and Extension Center was selected for this study and cut to a 0.15% slope in February, 1999. This site had not been previously used for rice research because irrigation water was not available. Soil at the site is referred to as a Stuttgart silt loam and classified as a fine, smectitic, thermic Albaqultic Hapludolf. Initial soil samples showed a pH range of 5.6 to 6.2 with carbon content averaging 0.84% and nitrogen 0.08%. Plots measuring 250' x 40' were laid out in a north-south direction. These plots were then divided in half east-west with each side randomized as conventional or no-till treatments. Each tillage treatment was then split into a standard and high fertility treatment. For rice, 'standard' fertility consisted of a single preflood N application of 100 lbs urea a -1 plus 40 lbs a -1 P 2 O 5 , and 60 lbs a -1 K 2 O applied prior to planting. Rates increased to 150 lbs a -1 N, 60 lbs a -1 P 2 O 5 , and 90 lbs a -1 K 2 O for the 'enhanced' treatment with application times remaining the same. Two varieties of each crop species were planted in a continuous strip across the conventional-and no-till treatments. In March, soil samples were collected for fertility evaluations. Soil samples were ground and dried. Phosphorus and potassium determinations were made using a Melich III extraction at a 1:10 extraction ratio. Plant samples were collected following physiological maturity but before leaf senescence for nutrient determinations in 1999, 2000, and 2001. Plants were divided into grain, leaf, and stem portions for analysis. Plant analysis was completed using a HNO 3 digest and read with a ICP (Spectro Model D). The following rotations were started in 1999: 1) continuous rice, 2) ricesoybean, 3) soybean-rice, 4) rice-corn, 5) corn-rice, 6) rice (wheat) rice (wheat), 7) rice (wheat)-soybeans (wheat), 8) soybeans (wheat)-rice (wheat), 9) rice-corn-soybeans, 10) rice-corn (wheat)-soybeans. Yield data and nutrient uptake will be presented for the continuous rice and rice-soybean rotations. 2