TOBACCO'S IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE ECONOMY OF SOUTHSIDE VIRGINIA

Community/Rural/Urban Development, Crop Production/Industries,

Student Retention: Impacts of an Agricultural Economics First Year Seminar Course

As universities seek to enhance student retention, a positive first year experience is critical for student success. The objective of this research is to determine whether an agricultural economics first-year seminar course improves retention rates of its undergraduate students. This course provides a unique opportunity for students to learn about the agricultural economics discipline, and also gain insights into what it takes to be a successful college student. Analysis examines whether departmental retention and graduation rates improve after course implementation in 1998, and compares departmental retention and graduation rates to those of the college and university. Qualitative analysis using student evaluations, senior exit interviews and student surveys also assess the impact of this course on student success. Results show that retention and graduation rates improve following course implementation. Retention, four-year graduation rates and five-year graduation rates for the Department exceed those for the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and exceed the four-year graduation rates for the university.first year seminar, first year experience, student retention, graduation rates, student success, Teaching/Communication/Extension/Profession,

Industry Concentration Impacts on Business Strategies Used by Small Produce Wholesalers

Opportunities for small produce wholesalers are affected by concentration in the supply chain, and availability and use of information technology for cost and service issues. Case studies evaluated perceptions, technology adoption and use, and strategies. Ongoing relationships, contracts and bids were common, and a differentiation strategy was chosen.Agribusiness,

Implications of Transgenic Rice for Farm Households' Nutritional Vulnerability: Projections for Bangladesh

This paper employs multivariate regression to forecast the calorie intake of Bangladeshi farm households in the hunger season based on the household income, production, and demographic composition in the current (post harvest) season. Nutritional vulnerability profiles are derived from the estimation of ex ante mean and variance of future consumption. The results show the income increase induced by introducing transgenic rice will reduce each individual household's probability of suffering a future consumption shortfall and its vulnerability. The overall vulnerability profile of farm households improves in Bangladesh.Food Security and Poverty,

Potential Effects of Transgenic Rice on Farm Households' Nutritional Status in Bangladesh

The spread of agricultural biotechnology in developing countries has grown rapidly in recent years. Several transgenic products are under development with potential to address a variety of adverse production conditions. These products have raised hope that yield and quality improvements in rice will accelerate and help in the battle against under-nutrition, especially in areas of prevalent under-nutrition in Asia. A farm household model is developed and estimated to project ex ante effects of introducing transgenic rice on farm households¡¯ nutritional status in Bangladesh. Assuming the yield effects of transgenic rice are similar to that of previous high yield varieties, the model estimates the profit effect of introducing transgenic rice. The profit effect is then translated into effects on farmers¡¯ consumption decisions. The results indicate that the total profit elasticity with respect to the percentage of rice area in high yield variety is 0.08. The calorie elasticity with respect to the percentage of rice area in HYV ranges from 0.062 in non-poor to 0.074 in poor households, and the protein elasticity ranges from 0.075 in non-poor to 0.084 in poor. Therefore, the results indicate that transgenic rice is likely to play a significant role in improving farm households¡¯ nutritional status in terms of total calorie/protein intake.Food Security and Poverty,

ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS OF INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT

Public support for integrated pest management (IPM) is derived in part from concerns over food safety and the environment, yet few studies have assessed the economic value of health and environmental benefits of IPM. An approach is suggested for such an assessment and applied to the Virginia peanut IPM program. Effects of IPM on environmental risks posed by pesticides are assessed and society's willingness to pay to reduce those risks is estimated. The annual environmental benefits of the peanut IPM program are estimated at $844,000. The estimates of pesticide risks and willingness to pay can be applied elsewhere in economic assessments of IPM.Integrated pest management, Willingness to pay, Environmental benefits, Crop Production/Industries, Environmental Economics and Policy,

AGRICULTURAL COOPERATION AND PRODUCE MARKETING IN SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA

Growers and community leaders have expressed interest in establishing a horticultural shipping-point market in Southwest Virginia. This paper reports on a study that assessed whether horticultural production would be profitable in the region and, if so, the physical and organizational requirements for a successful shipping-point market. It appears that tomatoes, peppers, and pumpkins can be produced and marketed profitably to large-volume wholesale buyers if growers meet the exacting requirements of the retailers. A cooperative association is the organizational structure with the greatest chance of success. At the conclusion of this study, a shipping-point market in the recommended form was established in Southwest Virginia.Agribusiness, Marketing,

A Comparative Analysis of Food-Marketing Cooperatives in Spain and the U.S.

Agribusiness,