Effects of Clean Water Act Regulations on Firm-Level Decisions in Agriculture

U.S. environmental regulations often vary by the size of the operation, with larger operations facing more regulatory stringency. When the size distribution of firms is heavily skewed, regulation size thresholds can reduce transaction costs for regulatory agencies while bringing most production within a regulatory framework. However, size-based regulation may have unintended consequences if operations downsize, slow their growth, or enter at a smaller size in order to avoid regulation. These unintended consequences from regulation may include less pollution abatement and diminished economic efficiency. In this study we examine recently revised Clean Water Act (CWA) regulations targeting large-scale livestock operations to identify and quantify farm responses to this regulation. We find statistical evidence that farms adjust size in order to avoid regulation. Additionally farms in states with relatively higher costs of regulatory compliance experience on average 23% less growth than comparable farms in other states, net of prior state-level trends in growth. In these states, regulated farms also experience a 5.8% greater chance of exit.livestock, Clean Water Act, growth, regulation, Agricultural and Food Policy, Environmental Economics and Policy, Farm Management, Q5,

The Potential Effects of Climate Change on the Productivity, Costs, and Returns of U.S. Dairy Production

Climate change could affect the costs and returns of livestock production by altering the thermal environment of animals thereby affecting animal health, reproduction, and the efficiency by which livestock convert feed into retained products (especially meat and milk). In the United States, concentrated livestock operations are located in a variety of climatic regions, suggesting that the industry could adapt to future changes in temperature and weather patterns resulting from global warming. However, this adaption could be costly. We use nationally representative data on dairy producers coupled with finely-scaled climate data to empirically examine how producers’ costs, returns, and production systems vary across U.S. regions as a function of the local climate.climate change, dairy, temperature humidity index, economics, Agricultural and Food Policy, Environmental Economics and Policy, Livestock Production/Industries, Production Economics, Q5,

Carbon Markets and Methane Digesters: Potential Implications for the Dairy Sector

Anaerobic digesters that capture and burn manure methane can provide a renewable source of energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Paying producers for these emission reductions—either directly or through a carbon offset market—could substantially increase digester adoption. However, there is likely to be wide variation in the scale, location, and characteristics of adopters, so these policies could have long run structural implications for the livestock sector. Using a model of digester profits and data from a nationally-representative survey of dairy operations we estimate the likely distribution of digester adoption and profits under different carbon price scenarios.anaerobic digester, carbon offsets, climate change, distribution, livestock, methane, Environmental Economics and Policy, Q12, Q16, Q42, Q54, Q58,

Aircrew-aircraft integration: A summary of US Army research programs and plans

A review of selected programs which illustrate the research efforts of the U.S. Army Aeromechanics Laboratory in the area of aircrew-aircraft integration is presented. Plans for research programs to support the development of future military rotorcraft are also described. The crew of a combat helicopter must, in general, perform two major functions during the conduct of a particular mission: flightpath control and mission management. Accordingly, the research programs described are being conducted in the same two major categories: (1) flightpath control, which encompasses the areas of handling qualities, stability and control, and displays for the pilot's control of the rotorcraft's flightpath, and (2) mission management, which includes human factors and cockpit integration research topics related to performance of navigation, communication, and aircraft systems management tasks

A review of US Army aircrew-aircraft integration research programs

If the U.S. Army's desire to develop a one crew version of the Light Helicopter Family (LHX) helicopter is to be realized, both flightpath management and mission management will have to be performed by one crew. Flightpath management, the helicopter pilot, and the handling qualities of the helicopter were discussed. In addition, mission management, the helicopter pilot, and pilot control/display interface were considered. Aircrew-aircraft integration plans and programs were reviewed

Production Effects of Decoupled Commodity Program Payments: An Instrumental Variables Approach

Instrumental Variables, IV, Policy, Agriculture, Subsidies, Production, Agribusiness, Agricultural and Food Policy, Farm Management, Land Economics/Use, Production Economics, Q1, Q12, Q15, Q18,

The Right to Royalty: Pooling and the Capture of Unburdened Interests

The search for oil and gas involves tremendous expense and, traditionally, a vast element of chance. Because of these factors, Texas follows the rule of capture. Under the rule of capture, the one who captures fugitive oil and gas and brings it to the surface owns it. However, problems can arise where mineral interests are undivided or there are prior reservations that fractionalize the royalty ownership.\u27 This paper will examine the law regarding fractionalized royalty interests, how these interests may be captured or burdened by oil and gas leases and other agreements, and the right of the fractionalized royalty owner to receive and share in royalty

Alien Registration- Key, Mary E. (Baldwin, Cumberland County)

https://digitalmaine.com/alien_docs/32998/thumbnail.jp

Spacecraft drag-free technology development: On-board estimation and control synthesis

Estimation and control methods for a Drag-Free spacecraft are discussed. The functional and analytical synthesis of on-board estimators and controllers for an integrated attitude and translation control system is represented. The framework for detail definition and design of the baseline drag-free system is created. The techniques for solution of self-gravity and electrostatic charging problems are applicable generally, as is the control system development