The Efficiency of Labor Input in the Tree Nut Growers Industry: A Stochastic Frontier Production Approach Study in Butte County, California

The U.S. government recruits immigrant workers through the H-2A program as a short-term solution to the agricultural sectors’ labor shortage problem. Although the sector insists hiring immigrant workers is essential for their survival, history has proven the socio-economic cost for doing so is enormous. This paper aims to investigate the contribution of labor to agricultural production efficiency. A discussion of marginal rate of technical substitution, economies of scale, and economies of scope will also be included. The stochastic production frontier regression approach was applied to input/output data collected from a survey of tree nut growers in Butte County, California. Results indicate the labor input is not significant in deciding farm production efficiency. Instead of attempting to increase short-term labor, producers’ and policy makers’ efforts should be directed toward improving the logistics of farm management and the quality of labor, thus more efficiently utilizing available resources.Stochastic Frontier Production Model, Labor Input Efficiency, Labor Economics, Labor and Human Capital, Production Economics, Productivity Analysis, Q120, J240, D240,

An Economic Analysis of Farm Machinery Complement Selection

Optimal farm machinery complements were developed, using mixed-integer programming techniques, for several farm sizes, cropping patterns and different methods of financing (lease and credit-purchase). Financing methods did not affect machinery complement selection but did have an impact on farm profitability and cash flow

A Methodology for Evaluation of Alternative Electric Irrigation Rate Structures

A mixed integer linear programming model is being developed to evaluate the effects of alternative electric rate structures on revenues to electric suppliers-distributors, returns to irrigators, and current and prospective demands for energy and water for irrigation. The model incorporates minimum, demand, and KWH charges for simultaneous analysis

An Economic Analysis of Machinery Complement Selection

Changing conditions in the agricultural economy have resulted in increased variability of net farm incomes. In this environment; careful planning of machinery investment decisions can yield major benefits to farmers. Therefore, the overall objective of this study is to develop a machinery selection and financing model to assist farmers in southeastern South Dakota with these types of decisions. The specific objectives of this study are: 1. To determine the optimum machinery complements for farms of different size and crop enterprise combinations in southeastern South Dakota. 2. To examine the impacts of alternative financing, acquisition, and tax strategies on least cost machinery complement decisions. The scope of this study is limited to family farm operations in southeastern South Dakota, more commonly called the cornbelt region. However, not all farms in this region require the same machinery complements to produce a crop most efficiently. Different sized farms have different equipment needs. The same analogy is true of farms producing different crop enterprise combinations. Some· farm equipment can be used. in the production of various crops whereas other crops require special equipment unique to their production. Farm cropping combinations will determine the type of machinery needed and farm size will determine the size of equipment needed. Along with farm size and crop combinations, the wide variety of machinery alternatives and final commodity prices will also influence machinery selection decisions. Due to the constantly changing nature of the credit system, knowing the optimal financing alternative at the farm level can lead to a successful farm operation. The options of machinery purchase and lease can have different net present value (cost) figures when compared to each other. Recent tax credit and depreciation policy changes by the federal government will have differing effects on each financing alternative. The farm operation that only considers the effect of tax changes on the purchase alternative could pay more than if the lease alternative, with a purchase option at the end, were chosen. Short term financial agreements with higher interest rates may be viewed as less attractive when compared to longer agreements with lower interest rates. Some people prefer the longer agreements because annual payments are lower even though they are paying more money overall. These people prefer the lower payment amount because it is less of a burden on cash flows. Other people do not worry about cash flows but prefer to get out of debt as quick as possible. Still, some people purchase equipment without analyzing the situation closely and realize they could lessen cash outflows by leasing. A financing system compatible with cash flow projections of the farm operation will greatly reduce the possibility of an excessive burden on cash flows

Enterprise Budgets and Other Basic Data-Sets Electrical Rate Structure-Irrigation Study

This is the first in a series of five Economics Department reports on a research project. The Economic Impact of Alternative Electric Rate Structures on Ener~y and Water Use . sponsored by the South Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station. Supplemental funding for the research was provided by the Western Area Power Administration (WAPA). Golden. Colorado. The purpose of this report is to present the irrigated and dryland crop and livestock budgets and other basic-data sets developed for use in the study. The sources of underlying information and procedures for developing the various data sets are indicated. Emphasis is placed on describing what the data-sets are and how they were developed. Only occasionally is the underlying rationale for adopted procedures indicated

Mixed Integer Linear programming Model Electric Rate Structure-Irrigation Study: Clay-Union, Union, Cherry-Todd, and Cam-Wal RECs

This is the second in a series of five Economics Department reports on a research project. The Economic Impact of Alternative Electric Rate Structures on Energy and Water Use . sponsored by the South Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station. Supplemental funding for the research was provided by the Western Area Power Administration (WAPA). Golden. Colorado. The purpose of this report is to acquaint the reader with the overall model used in the study and the specific way that the electric rate structures were modeled. This model builds on. b~t goes beyond. the one developed and used by Robert A. Young and. associates in their study of electric rate structures for irrigation in Colorado. The primary way in which this model extends beyond Young\u27s model is that it permits simultaneous (rather than one-at-a-time) attention to all three basic features of electric rate structures for irrigation, namely. annual minimum charges. monthly demand charges. and block rate energy charges. The primary intended audiences for the report are graduate students and research-peers with an interest in analyzing electric rate structures for irrigation

In the Storm of COVID-19: College Students’ Perceived Challenges With Virtual Learning

Using open-ended questions, this study surveyed over 450 undergraduate students to gain insights into their perceptions of the virtual learning environment due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Results reveal the rapid transition of most courses to online teaching because of COVID-19 was very challenging for students. A conceptual model was developed on the challenges of virtual learning. The findings reveal three major challenges for virtual learning: learning environment, motivation, and learning effectiveness. Environment and personal characteristics contributed to the lack of motivation to learn. Furthermore, students’ learning behavior and professors’ unpreparedness, and subject matter caused decreased learning effectiveness. The findings of the study can help decision makers at colleges and universities make informed decisions when adopting and/or modifying different teaching/learning environments, as well as professors in developing effective teaching strategies and pedagogy

Willingness to pay for red wines in China

China's rapidly expanding wealthy population has expressed a new desire for imported red wines. Using data collected in China's major red wine consumption region of Beijing, this study analyzes the impact of country of origin, price, wine age, and brand on consumerderived utility and willingness to pay for red wines. Findings from a conditional logit model and a mixed logit model indicate that price remains the key factor in Chinese consumers' red wine choices. For gift purchases, consumers are willing to pay an additional $20 to move from a US wine to a French wine. For own consumption, French wines are preferable if their price is within a reasonable range of$13-20 above Chinese or US wines. Chinese consumers also strongly favor branded and matured red wines. China's rapid and sustainable economic growth and its stronger integration to the global economy have led to greater disposable income and the expanding consumer demand for luxury beverage of red wines

PREFERENCE AND WILLINGNESS TO PAY FOR DROUGHT ASSISTANCE IN CALIFORNIA’S CENTRAL VALLEY

The study uses conjoint-analysis and a contingent valuation method to estimate Central California farmers’ willingness-to-pay (WTP) for various attributes of drought assistance programs. It focuses on farmers’ valuations about each attribute and the combinations of attributes in a hypothetical environment, and analyzes their rankings of choices when groundwater availability is declining; the current situation for agricultural irrigation in the valley. The online survey with farmers in spring 2019 shows that WTP estimation for drought assistance changes with the type of crop grown: 1) tree-nut growers have the highest, positive WTP; 2) fruit growers have a negative WTP; and 3) other food producers have the lowest, negative WTP. Thus, differentiating between crop growers and planning for assistance accordingly may increase awareness and improve participation of state and federal funded drought assistance programs in Central California