A PROPOSED PROCEDURE FOR DISTRIBUTING ASSESSMENTS AMONG BENEFICIARIES OF SMALL WATERSHED PROJECTS

Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,

FARMER STORAGE OF IRRIGATION WATER IN FEDERAL PROJECTS

This study estimates some of the economic impacts of a program that would allow farmers to save a part of their annual surface irrigation water allocation. The objective would be to save water in full allocation years to be used in water short years. The study area consisted of the El Paso County Water Improvement District. Results indicate that optimal temporal water use would increase district net farm revenue by three percent or less above actual water use. For the study area vegetables were the most profitable crop while laser leveling was not economically feasible.Farm Management, Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,

RESEARCH AND EXTENSION ISSUES IN PRODUCTION ECONOMICS

Production Economics,

IMPLICATION OF IMPROVED IRRIGATION PUMPING EFFICIENCY FOR FARMER PROFIT AND ENERGY USE

Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,

ECONOMIC INCENTIVES TO REDUCE THE QUANTITY OF CHEMICALS USED IN COMMERCIAL AGRICULTURE

Environmental Economics and Policy,

TEMPORAL IMPLICATIONS OF LIMITATIONS ON ANNUAL IRRIGATION WATER PUMPED FROM AN EXHAUSTIBLE AQUIFER

Economic losses caused by uncontrolled pumping of groundwater is of major concern on the Texas High Plains. A recursive linear programming model is used to evaluate various annual limitations on aquifer depletion. Results indicate that, especially under furrow irrigation, some limitations on groundwater withdrawal could be beneficial to society as well as the producers.Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,

IMPLICATIONS OF ALTERNATIVE POLICIES ON NITRATE CONTAMINATION OF GROUNDWATER

This study estimates the cost effectiveness of alternative environmental policies for controlling nitrate contamination of groundwater in the Seymour aquifer region of Texas. Results from biophysical simulation model are integrated with a farm-level optimization model. The study also compares the cost of bottled water, used as the lower-bound estimate of benefits of groundwater protection, with the least costly environmental policy. Results indicate that the least-cost policy alternative for the region is about $1 million either to farmers or to the local government and it is approximately three times the cost of bottled water.Environmental Economics and Policy,

FLOOD INSURANCE AS A COMPONENT OF LAND USE MANAGEMENT

Land Economics/Use,

ECONOMIC IMPLICATIONS OF ALTERNATIVE COTTON PRODUCTION PRACTICES: TEXAS LOWER RIO GRANDE VALLEY

Crop Production/Industries,

The Influence of Perceived Similarity, Affect and Trust on the Performance of Student Learning Groups

This study examined trust as one of the ways to improve satisfaction and performance in face-to-face student learning groups. A model was developed where trust mediates the relationship between perceived similarity, affect, and individual outcomes of satisfaction and performance (grades). Perceived similarity is positively related to trust, meaning that when students perceive themselves as similar to their group members they will be more likely to trust those group members. Negative affect was also negatively related to trust, but only in the beginning of the semester the group project/discussion. Positive affect was not related to trust. This suggests negative affect is the more important component of affect to study in conjunction with early development in student learning groups, but at the end of the semester affect (positive or negative) does not play a part in the trust, performance, or satisfaction of student learning groups. Results also indicate that students who had higher levels of trust towards their group members, will be more satisfied with the overall group experience, but will not necessarily exhibit greater performance. This study adds to research on the relationship between trust and affect that is not as widely researched in the context of student learning groups