The Welfare Effects of Restricting Off-Highway Vehicle Access to Public Lands

Off highway vehicle (OHV) use is a rapidly growing outdoor activity that results in a host of environmental and management problems. Federal agencies have been directed to develop travel management plans to improve recreation experiences, reduce social conflicts and diminish environmental impacts of OHVs. We examine the effect of land access restrictions on the welfare of OHV enthusiasts in Utah using Murdock’s (2006) unobserved heterogeneity random utility model. Our models indicate that changing access to public lands from fully “open” to “limited” results in relatively small welfare losses, but that prohibiting access results in much larger welfare losses.Off-highway Vehicles, Recreational Access, Unobserved Heterogeneity, Random Utility Model, Environmental Economics and Policy, Land Economics/Use,

The Welfare Effects of Restricting Off-Highway Vehicle Access to Public Lands

Off-highway vehicle (OHV) use is a rapidly growing outdoor activity that results in a host of environmental and management problems. Federal agencies have been directed to develop travel management plans to improve recreation experiences, reduce social conflicts, and diminish environmental impacts of OHVs. We examine the effect of land access restrictions on the welfare of OHV enthusiasts in Utah using Murdock’s unobserved heterogeneity random utility model (Murdock 2006). Our models indicate that changing access to public lands from fully “open†to “limited†results in relatively small welfare losses, but that prohibiting access results in much larger welfare losses.off-highway vehicles, recreational access, unobserved heterogeneity, random utility model, Environmental Economics and Policy,

Row Width and Population Effects on Roundup Ready Soybean Yield

Many Iowa soybean producers have adopted Roundup Ready (RR) technology on their farms in recent years. Reduced weed control costs, greater flexibility in herbicide application timing, and the potential for “cleaner” soybean fields are often cited as reasons for using RR technology; however, questions remain about RR varieties’ response to row width and seeding rate. To address producer questions about RR variety response to row width and seeding rate in south central Iowa, a soybean management study was conducted at the McNay Research Farm in 1999 and 2000. Soils at the McNay Research Farm are typical of the Grundy-Haig soil association

Yield Performance of Roundup Ready versus Conventional Soybean Varieties

Many Iowa soybean producers have adopted Roundup Ready (RR) technology on their farms in recent years. Reduced weed control costs, greater flexibility in herbicide application timing, and the potential for “cleaner” soybean fields are often cited as reasons for using RR technology; however, questions remain about potential profit-robbing yield reductions associated with RR varieties. A soybean yield performance comparison of adapted, elite RR varieties and elite conventional varieties was initiated in 1999. Our research objective was to compare the genetic yield potential of commercial varieties, not to analyze the economics of one soybean variety-herbicide program versus another. Establishment of similar studies at four other university research farms statewide afforded yield response comparisons of adapted varieties from five unique soil associations and environments. Soils at the Northwest Research and Demonstration Farm are typical of the Galva-Primghar soil association

Spatial Patterns in the Fluvial System: Comparisons Among Three Eastern Oklahoma Ecoregions

Ecoregions are homogeneous regions delineated by similar associations of geology, climate, soils, land use, and potential natural vegetation. Ecoregions provide a spatial framework to establish whether geographic phenomena differ between ecoregions. A study was initiated to establish whether watershed morphology and the characteristics of stream channels could be differentiated by ecoregions in eastern Oklahoma: the Ozark Highlands, Boston Mountains, and Ouachita Mountains were selected for study. One hundred and forty-nine watersheds and stream reaches were randomly selected for investigation. Four lines of inquiry were used to evaluate whether differences exist among ecoregions. These include morphometric analyses of watersheds, upstream-to-downstream trends in channel morphology, dissimilarity and cluster analysis of variables for watersheds and reaches, and classification of stream reaches. Statistical results are reported at 0.05. Morphometric analyses of drainage density, circularity ratio, relief, relief ratio, and ruggedness number reveal statistical differences between some watershed orders and ecoregions. Regression coefficients were used to test for significant differences in the upstream-to-downstream trends in channel morphology. Significant differences exist in particle-size, bankfull width, and width-depth ratio. Cluster analysis and dissimilarity were conducted using a sum of squares method. The most dissimilar watersheds and stream reaches exist in the Ouachita Mountains. A chi-squared test reported no differences between Rosgen stream classifications by region and stream order. Spatial patterns of the types of reaches, however, could be inferred in the upstream-to-downstream direction. The results of this study show that ecoregions in eastern Oklahoma provide a spatial framework that explains morphological differences in watersheds and reaches, clusters and dissimilarity, and the characteristics of channel reaches.Environmental Sciences Progra

Planting Date and Seed Treatment Effects on Soybean Yield

Today’s high-yielding soybean varieties respond favorably to early planting. Multi-year results from statewide university research farms suggest that mid-April to early May planting dates produce top yields in most comparisons. Research farm and on-farm strip trials also suggest that elite varieties yield similarly over a wide range of seeding rates and resulting harvest populations. Based on these results, producers are advised to plant soybeans as soon as spring field conditions allow, with a seeding rate of 150,000 to 175,000 seeds per acre

Seed-Applied Fungicides for Very Early Planted Soybeans

Today’s high-yielding soybean varieties respond favorably to early planting. Multi-year results from statewide university research farms suggest that mid-April to early May planting dates produce top yields in most comparisons. Research farm and on-farm strip trials also suggest that elite varieties yield similarly over a wide range of seeding rates and resulting harvest populations. Based on these results, producers are advised to plant soybeans as soon as spring field conditions allow, with a seeding rate of 150,000–175,000 seeds/acre

Impact of Planting Date and Seed Treatment on Soybean Yield

Today’s high-yielding soybean varieties respond favorably to early planting. Multi-year results from statewide university research farms suggest that mid-April to early May planting dates produce top yields in most comparisons. Research farm and on-farm strip trials also suggest that elite varieties yield similarly over a wide range of seeding rates and resulting harvest populations. Based on these results, producers are advised to plant soybeans as soon as spring field conditions allow, with a seeding rate of 150,000 to 175,000 seeds per acre. The yield response of modern varieties to early planting raises questions about expanding the soybean planting season (very early planting of some soybean acres in late March or early April) when weather conditions allow. In 2000 a soybean “planting date x seed treatment” study was initiated to evaluate yield response of two adapted, high-yield varieties to very early planting. Research objectives are to determine whether planting soybeans earlier than corn could be a viable management option for Iowa producers, and if fungicide seed treatments are needed to make this practice profitable. Establishment of similar studies at four other university research farms statewide afforded yield response comparisons of adapted varieties from five unique soil associations and environments. Soils at the Armstrong Research Farm are typical of the Marshall-Exira soil association

Seed Fungicide Treatments for Very Early Soybean Planting

Today’s high-yielding soybean varieties respond favorably to early planting. Multiyear results from statewide university research farms suggest that mid-April to early May planting dates produce top yields in most comparisons. Research farm and on-farm strip trials also suggest that elite varieties yield similarly over a wide range of seeding rates and resulting harvest populations. Based on these results, producers are advised to plant soybeans as soon as spring field conditions allow, with a seeding rate of 150,000 to 175,000 seeds/acre