Public Policy Incentives for Large-Scale Dairies in Georgia

Declining dairy cow populations in Georgia at a time when the human population is increasing lead to changes in the milk marketing system. A public policy initiative from state government to increase the number of large-scale dairies in Georgia has the potential to increase economic activity throughout the state. Total state output impact of a 1,000-head dairy farm in Georgia is $7.854 million, including$4.256 million in indirect economic activity. Although the agricultural sector receives the greatest benefits of dairy production, other sectors have significant sales and employment from milk production. Fluid milk manufacturing is an enterprise separate from production that has a state-level output impact of $9.844 million for a dairy farm with 1,000 milk cows. Results show there are economic development incentives for states to adopt public policies which can affect milk distribution and marketing in the Southeast.Agricultural and Food Policy, Livestock Production/Industries,

FEEDER CATTLE PRICE DIFFERENTIALS IN GEORGIA TELEAUCTIONS

Three Georgia feeder cattle teleauction markets were analyzed from 1977 to 1988 to estimate the impacts of cattle characteristics and market conditions on prices. Cattle characteristic price impacts were similar to those in previous studies. The impact of feeder cattle futures price on teleauction price was positive but varied across markets. Optimal lot size ranged from 143 to 276 head. In one market, 14 lots were necessary to generate positive price impacts. Additional buyers were estimated to have a $.30/cwt per buyer impact on price.Demand and Price Analysis,

Consumer Attitudes, Knowledge, Experiences, and Socio-Demographic Characteristics on Willingness to Pay for Irradiated Pork

Consumer/Household Economics,

Consumer Willingness to Pay for Irradiated Poultry Products

A probit model for whether or not consumers would buy irradiated poultry products is estimated jointly with an OLS equation for the price premiums that consumers are willing to pay for irradiated chicken breast meat. The results suggest that educating consumers about irradiation would be beneficial to the food industry.Consumer/Household Economics,

AN ANALYSIS OF OPTIMAL FARM CAPITAL STRUCTURE

Agricultural Finance,

Input-Output Analysis with Public Policy Objectives: A Case Study of the Georgia Cotton Industry

Farm bill legislation directed at agricultural commodities contributes to economies of rural areas. This research quantifies the economic impacts of the Georgia cotton industry for the U.S. economy. A cotton industry model with cotton and peanut acreage is utilized with IMPLAN to estimate impacts. The Georgia cotton industry creates 4% more tax revenues for federal, state, and local governments than it receives in commodity support payments. Stochastic simulation analysis indicates that the Georgia cotton industry is not likely to remain viable without government payments.economic impact, FSRI, IMPLAN, industry model, multivariate empirical distribution, Simetar, social welfare analysis, stochastic simulation, Agribusiness, Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies,

The Economic Feasibility of Using Georgia Biomass for Electrical Energy Production

This study investigates the potential for using biomass for the production of electricity in Georgia. The volume, important characteristics, and delivered costs per unit of energy are estimated for various locally produced biomass. Production of synthetic fuels using both pyrolysis and gasification technologies is investigated as potential means for converting biomass into electricity. Capital and operating costs for each of these two technologies are projected across three different scales of production. Estimated costs per unit of electricity generated are determined. It appears, under the conditions modeled, these technologies are not cost competitive with currently used technologies. Significant subsidies would be needed to induce the adoption of these technologies under current economic conditions.bio-electricity, bio-feedstocks, biomass, cost, electricity, Agribusiness, Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,

Economic Impacts of Ethanol Production in Georgia

Capital costs to construct a conventional ethanol plant producing 100 million gallons per year are $170.593 million. Average annual net returns average$59.216 million with a 1% chance of annual net returns less than $0. Ethanol production stimulates total economic output of$314.221 million in the Georgia economy. Wages and benefits total $20.181 million for 408 jobs in Georgia. State and local governments derive a total of$4.572 million in tax revenues from ethanol production.Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,

WHO ARE THE CONSUMERS OF VIDALIA ONIONS?

Consumer/Household Economics,

An Economic Analysis of Alternative Agricultural Water Use Reduction Programs in the Flint River Basin

Proceedings of the 2001 Georgia Water Resources Conference, April 26 and 27, 2001, Athens, Georgia.This paper investigates the costs (both direct and indirect) to agricultural producers, the State of Georgia, and local economies of reducing agricultural irrigation in the Flint River Basin of southwest Georgia. A policy of paying producers to reduce their irrigated acreage is compared to a policy of implementing higher efficiency water conservation technologies in irrigation systems. The cost of reducing water usage per gallon is examined under both policies. The potential amount of water conserved for a fixed dollar amount is also calculated for both policies. This research finds that implementing irrigation efficiencies carries a lower cost for the State of Georgia and provides benefits to agricultural producers.Sponsored and Organized by: U.S. Geological Survey, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Natural Resources Conservation Service, The University of Georgia, Georgia State University, Georgia Institute of TechnologyThis book was published by the Institute of Ecology, The University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602-2202. The views and statements advanced in this publication are solely those of the authors and do not represent official views or policies of The University of Georgia, the U.S. Geological Survey, the Georgia Water Research Institute as authorized by the Water Resources Research Act of 1990 (P.L. 101-397) or the other conference sponsors