Planning for Beef Cattle Operations in the Face of Drought

Parts of Nebraska are extremely dry. Even timely rains are not likely to result in normal crop and grass production on non-irrigated ground. Livestock operations dependent on grass from April through the remainder of the year are greatly susceptible to problems. Below normal grass production will mean lower carrying capacities. Rainfall shortage may also impact livestock drinking water in areas with shallow wells and areas that depend on small earthen dams. Early planning usually offers more options since the options are often time dependent. But late planning is better than no planning

Planning for Beef Cattle Operations in the Face of Drought

Parts of Nebraska are extremely dry. Even timely rains are not likely to result in normal crop and grass production on non-irrigated ground. Livestock operations dependent on grass from April through the remainder of the year are greatly susceptible to problems. Below normal grass production will mean lower carrying capacities. Rainfall shortage may also impact livestock drinking water in areas with shallow wells and areas that depend on small earthen dams. Early planning usually offers more options since the options are often time dependent. But late planning is better than no planning

EFFECTS OF ALTERNATIVE IRRIGATION ALLOCATIONS ON WATER USE, NET RETURNS, AND MARGINAL USER COSTS

Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,

Planning for Beef Cattle Operations in the Face of Drought

About two years ago we wrote a Cornhusker Economics article on this same topic. Unfortunately, the current drought is more widespread and onerous. Presently, many producers are out or about to be out of grass. This late in the year options are limited. Selling cattle, including part of the breeding herd is an option that many have begun to exercise. Weaning early, selling the calves or placing them in feedlots and feeding the cows are other options

Simple models of genomic variation in human SNP density

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Descriptive hierarchical Poisson models and population-genetic coalescent mixture models are used to describe the observed variation in single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) density from samples of size two across the human genome.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Using empirical estimates of recombination rate across the human genome and the observed SNP density distribution, we produce a maximum likelihood estimate of the genomic heterogeneity in the scaled mutation rate <it>θ</it>. Such models produce significantly better fits to the observed SNP density distribution than those that ignore the empirically observed recombinational heterogeneities.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Accounting for mutational and recombinational heterogeneities can allow for empirically sound null distributions in genome scans for "outliers", when the alternative hypotheses include fundamentally historical and unobserved phenomena.</p

EC96-872-S Nebraska Crop Budgets 1996

Extension Circular 96-872-S: Nebraska Crop Budgets-1996

TEACHING MARKETING AND MANAGEMENT TO AN EXTENSION AUDIENCE IN AN INTER-DISCIPLINARY SETTING

This paper discusses how economists utilize an inter-disciplinary workshop to teach marketing and management concepts to beef cattle producers and beef industry advisors. Range and animal scientists along with economists teach concepts in the classroom and then demonstrate these concepts with hands-on field activities in an 8-day Ranch Practicum, spread over an 8-month period.Teaching/Communication/Extension/Profession,

Predicted economic effects of environmental quality control policies on linear firm models and an application to an irrigated farm model

Linear economic models were utilized to predict effects of various environmental control policies on individual firms. Four different linear models were specified and in some instances relatively minor changes in specification were made which resulted in additional sub-models. Models varied as to numbers and types of fixed factors, variable cost relationships, market products, and fixed factor requirements. Once each model or sub-model was described five or six policies were theoretically applied to that model. Policies used were: taxing market products, taxing variable factors, taxing a non-market externality (external diseconomy), a standard on the quality of the externality, subsidizing variable factors and subsidizing fixed factors. It was assumed that the non-market externality would be produced in a fixed ratio with market products. Furthermore, the assumption was made that alternative production techniques were available to the firm. The important aspect of the various techniques was that the proportion of the externality generated by a market product varied by production method. Consequently, strong emphasis in the analysis was placed on determining whether or not a given policy could induce the firm to switch to a lower externality generating production method. In addition to the strictly theoretical analysis a linear irrigated farm model was described. The farm model produced irrigation return flows which were considered to be creating stream pollution. From the theoretical analysis likely policies for controlling return flows were ascertained. Some of these policies were then applied to the farm model. Specifically, a water tax (variable factor tax) and a constraint on delivered water were administered to the farm model. Based on the theoretical analysis taxing market products did not appear to be a particularly desirable policy. For some models, the market product tax actually increased externality production. A tax on externality production (effluent tax) seemed to give the most consistent effects of all policies across all models. The externality tax either reduced or had no effect on externality production. The biggest shortcoming of the externality tax appeared to be administrative. Before the tax can be used the externality must be identifiable as to source. Consequently, a search was made for policies which generated results similar to the externality tax yet were not subject to the same administrative problem. It appeared that under specific conditions a variable factor tax, a tax on specialized fixed factors or a combination of a tax-subsidy scheme could be effective alternative policies. However, these latter policies, if improperly applied could result in increased externality production. Taxes as high as 65 cents per acre inch of water were applied to the farm model. Depending on assumed conditions the water tax resulted in reduced irrigation return flows. When labor was constrained tax levels needed to be higher to reduce return flows compared to the case where labor was not constrained. Placing a restraint on delivered water also reduced return flows. Again, when labor was constrained this policy was not as effective as when labor was unconstrained. The water tax policy reduced net returns to the farm model considerably more than the constraint on delivered water. The main difference in net revenues was attributable to the total water tax bill rather than reductions from other added costs and/or enterprise changes

Strategic toolkits: seniority, usage and performance in the German SME machinery and equipment sector

This paper examines the strategic tool kit, from a human resource management (HRM) perspective, in terms of usage and impact. Research to date has tended to consider usage, assuming to a certain extent that knowledge and understanding of particular tools suggest that practitioners value them. The research on which this paper is based builds upon the idea that usage indicates satisfaction, but develops the usage theme to investigate which decision-makers are actually engaged in both tool appliance and the strategic process. Of particular interest to the researchers are the educational background, age and seniority of the decision-makers. In addition, potential links with HRM and organizational performance are also explored. The context of the research, the German machinery and equipment sector, provides an insight into the industry's ability to sustain growth in face of increasing international competition. The paper calls for a greater awareness, from a human resource perspective, and utilization of strategic management practice and associated decision-making aids

Autonomous docking ground demonstration

The Autonomous Docking Ground Demonstration is an evaluation of the laser sensor system to support the docking phase (12 ft to contact) when operated in conjunction with the guidance, navigation, and control (GN&C) software. The docking mechanism being used was developed for the Apollo/Soyuz Test Program. This demonstration will be conducted using the 6-DOF Dynamic Test System (DTS). The DTS simulates the Space Station Freedom as the stationary or target vehicle and the Orbiter as the active or chase vehicle. For this demonstration, the laser sensor will be mounted on the target vehicle and the retroflectors will be on the chase vehicle. This arrangement was chosen to prevent potential damage to the laser. The laser sensor system, GN&C, and 6-DOF DTS will be operated closed-loop. Initial conditions to simulate vehicle misalignments, translational and rotational, will be introduced within the constraints of the systems involved