ESTIMATING MARGINAL IMPLICIT PRICES FOR SELECTED QUALITY ATTRIBUTES OF HYBRID SEED CORN

The central objective of this study was to estimate the implicit marginal prices for the following attributes of hybrid seed corn: yield, moisture content, root lodging, stalk lodging, stand survival and ear drop. This study fills an existent gap in the application of a hedonic price technique to agricultural commodities. A hedonic price equation was constructed and estimated using characteristics data on hybrid corn varieties obtained from the Iowa State University Extension Service. Seed price data were solicited from seed companies for the same set of hybrids. In total, fifty-nine seed companies were asked for suggested retail prices for their hybrids. Forty companies responded with 1991 price information which was used in estimating the parameters of the formulated models. Six hypotheses relating the price paid for hybrid seed corn with the performance characteristics of interest were formulated and tested. Results indicate that the prices that farmers paid for hybrid seed corn were significantly related only to (1) the moisture content and (2) the root lodging characteristics of the resulting crop. Both results were significant at the 0.005 level. Surprisingly, seed price and yield were not significantly related. More research is needed to further analyze these relationships and to analyze farmer's response to the wide range of nonprice services provided by seed companies.Crop Production/Industries, Demand and Price Analysis,

Trust in Food-Safety Information Sources: Examining Differences in Respondents’ Opinions from a Three-State Survey

This paper analyzes data from a telephone survey of 1,000 home-meal preparers from Alabama, North Carolina, and Tennessee. We evaluate the level of trust assigned by survey respondents to twelve sources used in gathering food safety information and provide guidance on effective ways of communicating food-safety information. Data collected were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). Health professionals, nutrition counselors, and food labels were highly trusted sources of food-safety information while the Internet, radio, and television were the least trusted.Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety,

Efficiency and Productivity Changes in the Indian Food Processing Industry: Determinants and Policy Implications

This paper analyses efficiency and productivity changes in 12 broad segments of food manufacturing industries during pre and post liberalisation periods, covering a period of two decades, from 1980-1981 to 2001-2002. The nonparametric Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) approach is used to compute the Malmquist Total Factor Productivity (TFP) change, which has been further decomposed into efficiency and technical change. This paper also evaluates the performance of major inputs used in the food processing industry and identifies the causes of inefficiency across various segments. Based on the findings, the paper gives suggestions that can be used by policy makers and food processors in making decisions regarding various technical and managerial aspects to improve productivity and efficiency.Technical Efficiency, Total Factor Productivity (TFP), Food Processing, Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA), India, Productivity Analysis, Research Methods/ Statistical Methods, Q10, Q11, Q13,

Consumer Trust in Extension as a Source of Biotech Food Information

A mail questionnaire survey was used to collect data on the sources that consumers used for gathering information about biotech food products and nutrition issues. Using responses from 250 randomly selected consumers from three states, this article (1) examines the media and sources from where consumers obtained food products and nutrition information and (2) estimates the level of trust that consumers put on Extension professionals as a source of information. Newspapers, television, magazines, and word-of-mouth were frequently used to gather food products and nutrition information. Extension professionals were ranked as the third most trusted source of information by consumers

CONSUMER BIOTECHNOLOGY FOOD AND NUTRITION INFORMATION SOURCES: THE TRUST FACTOR

Although much has been written on consumer attitudes toward genetically modified foods, not much is known about how or where consumers get the information for the decisions they make about genetically modified foods. This paper reports on the media used by consumers in acquiring information about biotech food and nutrition issues, and examines how much trust consumers put in selected information sources. The paper also discusses how socio-economic variables affect level of trust in selected sources. Qualitative and quantitative techniques were applied to data collected from focus groups and a mail questionnaire survey. Analyses showed that consumers used newspapers (73.7%), television (73.2%), and magazines (71.2%) occasionally or more frequently than other sources to collect information about food and biotechnology. Health professionals, extension professionals, and University scientists were most trusted for providing information about GM foods. Findings of the study could provide information on choice of effective channels for communicating information about modified food and biotechnology.Consumer/Household Economics,

Participation of the Latino/Hispanic Population in the Food Stamp Program (FSP)

The Hispanic population is growing rapidly in the U.S. generally and in the southern states particularly. This rapidly growing population is characterized by high poverty rates among children and the elderly compared to other races. The Hispanic population is also less educated, characterized by low income, lacks English language proficiency, and has a need for public assistance. Hispanic total and household participation in the FSP increased rapidly, especially in metro counties. The increase in participation is about three times that of the total population. Participation of Hispanic children in the program was also much higher than for adults. The growing Hispanic population with special needs and requirements and rising participation in the FSP will pose new challenges to food assistance administration to serve this group.Food Security and Poverty,

MARKETING CHANNELS USED BY WHOLESALE AND RETAIL NURSERY COMPANIES

Analysis of data collected from a questionnaire survey of randomly selected Tennessee nursery businesses revealed that wholesalers and retailers differed significantly in their stated reasons for attending and participating in industry trade shows. When controlled for business size (gross sales), wholesalers and retailers also differed significantly in their perception of the usefulness of catalogs, newspapers, trade journals, trade shows, and radio to advertise nursery products and services.advertising channels, business operation size, Chi-square tests of independence, nursery retail business, nursery wholesale business, strategic marketing, stratified random sample, Industrial Organization,

Labor Use By Small-Scale Conventional and Sustainable Farmers in Tennessee

A comparison of labor use by small-scale conventional and sustainable farmers has received little attention from researchers. However, the issue is significant given the growing emphasis being placed on a sustainable farming system, which is considered to require more labor and managerial input compared to the conventional one. This study analyzes labor use of small-scale farmers in Tennessee by classifying them into conventional and sustainable categories. The data were collected using face-to-face interviews of randomly selected farmers. Analysis shows that farm operators were the primary source of labor for production and farm business management both for sustainable and conventional farmers, but there is a significant difference between sustainable and conventional farmers in their use of other family members\u27 labor

Differences in District Extension Leaders\u27 Perceptions of the Problems and Needs of Tennessee Small Farmers

A survey questionnaire was used in collecting data used in examining differences in Extension leaders\u27 perceptions of problems faced by small farmers in Tennessee. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was used in analyzing questionnaire responses. Capital, credit, and appropriate technology were some of the problems facing small farmers. Fear of acquiring additional debt; inability to run large operations; lack of machinery and equipment; and scarce cash constrained expansion of small farms, according to surveyed Extension leaders. Although there were differences across districts, most frequently cited research and educational needs of small farmers were those related to production, marketing, and management