REGIONAL ACREAGE RESPONSE FOR U.S. CORN AND WHEAT: THE EFFECTS OF GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS

This paper presents findings from an analytical scheme that offers a promising alternative to traditional procedures of modeling acreage response. The scheme addresses the two-step decision process in which program and nonprogram planting decisions are modeled separately, conditional on the decision to participate. This provides a more realistic and intuitive portrayal of producersÂ’ decision making process. The model is applied at the regional level to assess the impact of farm programs on acreage response for corn in the Cornbelt and Lake States, and for wheat in the Northern Plains. The impacts of policy variable changes on participation and planted acreage are also analyzed.Agricultural and Food Policy,

Method for Calculation of Counter Cyclical Payments Using State and National Trigger Levels (Major Crops)

Agricultural and Food Policy,

Alternative AMTA and Loan Rate Options for Program Crops With Counter Cyclical Payments Triggered at the National and State Level

This analysis focuses on four policy options, based on national formulas where implications are examined for varying levels of loan rates and base AMTA payment rates.Agricultural and Food Policy,

Evaluation of Alternative Base Periods for a National Counter Cyclical Payment Program for Rice, Upland Cotton, Corn, Wheat, Soybeans and Sorghum

A risk analysis of a national counter cyclical payment (CCP) program for six crops was completed for one year. National planted acre yield risk over the 1986-2000 period was used with FAPRI’s stochastic projection of crop prices for 2001 in the analysis. Four alternative base periods for triggering a CCP were evaluated. Three Added AMTA scenarios and a Base scenario of no additional market loss or CCP were also run for each of the crops.Agricultural and Food Policy,

Cell Phone Use and Its Effects on Undergraduate Academic Performance

In this literature review, we explore cell phone use and its impact on academic performance of students in college classrooms. We discuss the prevalence of and motivation for cell phone use and how it affects user and peer academic performance as measured by grades earned in class and overall grade point average. Moreover, we include in our discussion the impact of classroom technology use on student-teacher interactions. Potential solutions to guide students and faculty toward more appropriate use of technology in the classroom and development of classroom syllabus policy are provided. Additional implications of research findings as well as suggestions for future research in this field are included in our literature review

Analysis of Representative Rice Farms Under H.R. 2646 and the Continuation of the FAIR Act

In anticipation of the new farm bill, seventeen representative rice farms from six different rice-producing states have been analyzed to compare the continuation of the FAIR Act provisions with the House proposal, H.R. 2646. Each farm was simulated assuming each policy would be in place for the next five-year period, or 2002-2006. A full description of each of the farms can be found in the Appendix.Agribusiness, Agricultural and Food Policy, Crop Production/Industries,

Performance optimization of a leagility inspired supply chain model: a CFGTSA algorithm based approach

Lean and agile principles have attracted considerable interest in the past few decades. Industrial sectors throughout the world are upgrading to these principles to enhance their performance, since they have been proven to be efficient in handling supply chains. However, the present market trend demands a more robust strategy incorporating the salient features of both lean and agile principles. Inspired by these, the leagility principle has emerged, encapsulating both lean and agile features. The present work proposes a leagile supply chain based model for manufacturing industries. The paper emphasizes the various aspects of leagile supply chain modeling and implementation and proposes a new Hybrid Chaos-based Fast Genetic Tabu Simulated Annealing (CFGTSA) algorithm to solve the complex scheduling problem prevailing in the leagile environment. The proposed CFGTSA algorithm is compared with the GA, SA, TS and Hybrid Tabu SA algorithms to demonstrate its efficacy in handling complex scheduling problems

Dynamic Characteristics of a Small Skyline Logging System with a Guyed Tailspar

A series of dynamic loading tests were conducted on a small skyline logging system (15.8 mm [5/8 inch] skyline) operating in a second-growth Douglas fir stand. The tests included free vibration tests and logging tests with turns weighing from 1.5 to 9 kN [340 to 2050 lbs]. Natural frequency and damping were evaluated from free vibration tests, and the free vibration portion of logging tests. Dynamic load magnitude was evaluated for logging tests with natural and artificial breakouts of turns with a range in turn weights, and for a series of logging tests with the same turn. The natural frequencies of the guylines were in good agreement with simple cable theory. However, the presence of the carriage on the skyline resulted in measured natural frequencies significantly lower than simple cable theory would predict. Damping of the tailspar system and the skyline averaged about 10% of critical damping, but was highly variable from test to test. Dynamic load magnitude, whether expressed as the load peak produced by turn break-out, or the maximum cyclic load, was highly variable, with coefficients of variation ranging from 31 to 79%. Even a series of logging tests with the same two-log turn produced maximum cyclic loads with a coefficient of variation of nearly 40%

Computer Model for Dynamic Skyline Behaviour

The development and experimental verification of a numerical model for the dynamic behavior of a cable logging system skyline is discussed. The model is intended to simulate the skyline behavior after a turn of logs breaks out of a "hang-up" on the ground. Output from the model may be used as a forcing function for a dynamic load on the tailspar or other component of the cable logging system. The numerical model uses finite difference and Runge-Kutta techniques. Output from the model consists of time-histories of the fluctuations in skyline tensions. From this output the frequencies of the skyline vibrations may be determined. The model was verified by experimental data collected while operating a small cable logging system in Oregon State University's McDonald Research Forest