Comparison of 2002 Census and KFMA Farms

Farm Management,

Impact of the Adoption of Less Tillage Practices on Overall Efficiency

This paper evaluated the impact of the adoption of less tillage practices on the overall efficiency of a sample of Kansas farms. The paper also explored the relationship between overall efficiency, farm size, and less tillage. Farms that have adopted less tillage practices were relatively more efficient.Farm Management,

A Long-Term Analysis of Changes in Farm Size and Financial Performance

This paper examined the changing structure of farms in Kansas. Specifically, changes in farm size, farm type, financial performance, and economies of size were examined using five-year moving averages from 1973 to 2007. Convergence analysis was used to determine whether small farms are catching up to larger farms or whether the difference in performance between these two groups of farms was widening. Results suggested that the gaps between the small farms and large farms have widened.Economies of Size, Financial Performance, Farm Management, Production Economics, D21,

Marginal Propensity to Consume for a Sample of Kansas Farms

This paper examined the marginal propensity to consume (MPC) for a sample of Kansas farms. Sensitivity of estimated MPCs to the use of accrual net farm income, net cash farm income, and the inclusion of off-farm income was also examined. Results yielded a range of short-run MPCs from 0.011 to 0.015. Statistical tests suggested that the income coefficients used to compute short-run MPCs were not statistically different.Farm Consumption, Habit Persistence, Agricultural Finance, Farm Management, E21,

Factors Impacting Farm Growth

This paper examined the relative importance of farm size, farm type, managerial ability, capital structure, operator age, family size, and off-farm income in explaining farm growth rates. Farm type, managerial ability, and operator age were significantly related to farm growth rates.Farm Management,

An Examination of the Relationship Between Overall Efficiency and Farm Experience

This paper examines the relationship between overall efficiency and years of farm experience for a sample of Kansas farms. In addition to years of experience, overall efficiency is significantly related to farm size, percent of time devoted to farming, and percent acres owned.Farm Management,

AN EFFICIENCY ANALYSIS OF CATTLE BACKGROUNDING IN KANSAS

Efficiency measures can be used to generate inferences about the future direction of the industry and determine factors that may influence the structure. This study evaluated relative efficiencies of Kansas backgrounding operations. Farms that engaged in the backgrounding of cattle were very inefficient. Significant improvement is needed in technology adoption and input usage.Livestock Production/Industries,

EXAMINING CROSS-COUNTRY AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVITY DIFFERENCES

This paper computes Malmquist agricultural productivity indexes for 125 countries over the period 1961-2001. These are decomposed into efficiency change (i.e., pure technical efficiency and scale efficiency changes) and technical change (i.e., input bias and magnitude components). Results show that developing and developed countries derive their growth from efficiency change and technical change, respectively. Input bias technical change is evident for both developing and developed countries.Productivity Analysis,

Measuring the Productivity of Cattle Finishing

Livestock Production/Industries, Productivity Analysis,

CHARACTERISTICS OF HIGHLY EFFICIENT FARMS

A sample of Kansas farms was used to examine the relationship between overall efficiency and farm characteristics. Overall efficiency was significantly related to operator age, farm size, and farm type. Approximately 26.7% of the farms were in the top one-third overall efficiency category for more than half of the sample period.Farm Management,