Impact of the Agricultural Sector on the Arkansas Economy in 2003

Agriculture and associated agricultural activities are major contributors to the Arkansas economy. Agriculture is defined as the sum of agricultural production and processing activities, unless otherwise specified, and includes crop and animal production and processing, agricultural support industries, forestry and forest products, and textile goods. Agriculture contributes to the economy through direct agricultural production and value-added processing, and also leads to economic activity in other parts of the economy

Cooperation of Authority

What is the place of authority and what effects does it have on the behavior of individuals? This has historically been a question addressed in social psychology literature (see Milgram, 1963; Zimbardo, 1974; 2007). Traditionally researchers in this paradigm focus on the situational effects of assigned authority on underling positions in asymmetric power structure settings (e.g. the “teacher” and “learner” in Milgram, 1963). The current study sought to place focus on the individual in the authority role while engaged in a cooperative pay-off game. Thirty-eight students (N = 38) were recruited to participate in two trials of the Prisoner’s Dilemma Game (PDG) consisting of 20 rounds each for a total of 40 rounds. In between the two trials, participants completed three models in a Lego construction communication task. There were two conditions for the Lego task - a cooperative and non-cooperative condition. In the cooperative condition, participants were instructed to cooperate with their partner to complete the task; in the non-cooperative condition, participants were told to dictate instructions to the builder . Participants competed in the PDG and worked on the Lego task with a confederate posing as a naive participant. It was hypothesized that those in the cooperative condition would show a decrease in defecting in the PDG from Trial 1 to Trial 2, whereas the noncooperative condition would show an increase in defecting. The results did not support this hypothesis, but there was a significant increase in overall defecting from Trial 1 to Trial 2 of the PDG. Possible reasons for this increase are discussed

Query Theory Applications: Choice Experiments under Oath, Attendance to Attributes, and Genetically Modified Food Labeling Policy

In recent years, there has been an intensifying campaign by some stakeholders regarding concern over genetically modified (GM) foods in the U.S. As a result, the issue of labeling has entered into the federal agenda. This research uses Query Theory to provide a deeper understanding of the demand for GM foods and the preferences for GM policy. Query theory is first applied to the formation of hypothetical bias in the estimation of consumers’ willingness-to-pay. To address this, the honesty oath is used as an ex-ante technique to reduce hypothetical bias. Paper one using Query Theory in a discrete-choice experiment (DCE) setting to examine the mechanism behind the effectiveness of the honesty oath in reducing hypothetical bias in discrete choice experiments. Our results show that the honesty oath can change the content and order of queries, thereby reducing hypothetical bias in discrete choice experiments. In the second paper, Query Theory is used to examine the thought processes of individuals in a DCE in order to deduce attendance to individual attributes. Respondents may attend some attributes of the good in question and ignore others during each choice task. As a result, respondents may not make the trade-offs between all the attributes as assumed. The results show that the query approach to modeling attendance to attributes outperforms two other common approaches: the stated and inferred approaches. Finally, in paper three, Query Theory is applied to the study of the influence of cultural worldview on the demand for GM foods policy in the U.S. Our results demonstrate that an individual’s cultural worldview influences their preferences for GM policy and consumer valuations. The results also support our Query Theory prediction that cultural worldview influences individual’s affective reactions to choice options leading to significantly different valuations. Though important differences do exist between individuals with different CWVs, there is common ground as well. Support for mandatory labeling is high with 82 percent of respondents indicating support for mandatory labeling which ranged from 71 percent to 88 percent, depending on CWV

The Nitrogen Fertilizer Value of Baled Broiler Litter for Cotton Production in the Arkansas Delta

The export of poultry litter by baling efficiently packages litter for long-term storage and transportation. Use of baled poultry litter to supply the recommended rates of P and K and a portion of the N rate appears to be a feasible nutrient management strategy for cotton.poultry waste management, cotton production, fertilizer, Crop Production/Industries, Environmental Economics and Policy, Q15, Q53,

The Economic Potential of Composting Breeder and Pullet Litter with Eggshell Waste

Expansion of the wastes coordinated by the Ozark Poultry Litter Bank is needed. This study examined a method of combining low value poultry wastes to produce compost. Analyses of four compost blends and two hypothetical production systems provide entrepreneurs with the production and financial information to make informed decisions.composting, poultry industry, waste management, product development, Environmental Economics and Policy, Livestock Production/Industries, Q53, Q13, Q16,

Cost-benefit Analysis of a Genetic Marker on Cow-calf Operations Differentiated by Pasture and Breed

Genetic sequencing in beef cattle (Bos taurus L.) is expected to aid producers with selecting breeding stock. Using data from experimental trials conducted with Angus, Brahman, and their reciprocal cross, the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) P450 C994G marker expression was investigated for use in selecting genetics suited to grazing endophyte-infected tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb. L.) compared to bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon L.) pasture. The study is unique in the sense that actual cow-calf breeding failure rates (open cows were not culled) were tracked from 1991 to 1997 on herds that were bred to calf in spring and were either exposed to fungal endophyte-infected (Acremonium coenophialum L.) tall fescue grazing and hay or not. The study used the Forage and Cattle Analysis and Planning (FORCAP) decision support software to assess economic performance driven by birth weight, weaning weight, and breeding failure rate differences across treatment. Results suggest that for reciprocal cross herds primarily grazing bermudagrass pastures, the P450 C994C genotype (CC) was most favorable; whereas, the P450 G994C genotype (GC) was more profitable with tall fescue. Adding genetic market information when selecting a production strategy led to approximately $15/head in added profitability. In comparison to the prorated cost of$2.40/head over the life of a dam, the collection, interpretation, and management of genetic information under the conditions observed in this study may be worthwhile

Economic Contribution of the Agricultural Sector to the Arkansas Economy in 2007 and Revised Estimates for 2006

This report is the fourth in a series of reports examining agriculture’s economic contribution on the Arkansas economy. Utilizing data from the United States Bureau of Economic Analysis, USDA Economics Research Service, USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, and Minnesota IMPLAN Group, Inc., the economic contribution of agriculture on the Arkansas economy was estimated for the most recent year available, 2007. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by State information for Arkansas was compared with those of other states in the southeast U.S. to give a measure of the relative importance of agriculture in Arkansas. The total economic contribution of agriculture (direct, indirect, and induced effects) on value added, employment, and labor income was estimated by employing the Impact Analysis for Planning System (IMPLAN). Government payments are not included in induced contributions of farm production. The economic contributions of agricultural production and processing were estimated for agriculture as a whole and also separately for the Crops Sector, the Animal Agriculture Sector, and the Forestry Secto

Documenting Teaching Effectiveness

In this presentation, three veteran faculty members discuss how faculty can document their teaching effectiveness for purposes of annual reviews, awards, and promotion

Running to Stand Still: Challenges Economists Face with Imperfect Data

Some suggest that land application of phosphorus rich poultry litter has negatively affected area waters' recreational value. However, key data are unavailable to conduct thorough economic analysis to aid in policy development. This paper examines the challenges associated with using limited economic analyses to construct policy to address this situation.Research Methods/ Statistical Methods,

Parker Hannifin Chainless Challenge 2014-15 Senior Design Project

California Polytechnic State University has been invited to compete in the Parker Hannifin Chainless Challenge Competition in 2014-15. Cal Poly has chosen a team of mechanical engineering students to take part. We have named our team “Bike Under Pressure” and all references as such refer to the team. The challenge is to build a bicycle which does not have a solid mechanical connection between the power input of the rider to the power output of the wheel(s). After conducting research into different previous designs and brainstorming designs of their own, Bike Under Pressure developed two conceptual designs. One design featured a hydraulic pump and motor system which uses fluid power from the pump to cause mechanical rotation at the motor. The other design incorporated a set of linear actuators coupled together to create linear motion from the cranks, transmit the pressurized fluid to the other actuators, and create rotational motion at the back wheel. After careful deliberation, the team pursed the pump and motor conceptual design. A detailed design was iteratively created. This design features a front drive unit and rear drive unit to efficiently utilize two F11-5 pumps. A custom bicycle frame provides the mounting points and strength necessary for the hydraulic circuit. The hydraulic circuit also incorporated valves and an accumulator and reservoir for energy storage and regenerative braking. In addition to these features, the bicycle has a clutch which allows efficient coasting and ease of walking the bicycle. The bicycle was manufactured and assembled by Bike Under Pressure in total except for the frame. The frame was manufactured to Bike Under Pressure’s specifications by the Cal Poly Frame Builders club. Custom components were machined in the Cal Poly Mechanical Engineering and Industrial Manufacturing Engineering departments’ machine shops. Standard components were donated by Parker and purchased online and in San Luis Obispo. The resulting prototype is capable of a maximum speed of 23 mph, a sustained average speed of 11 mph, weights 125 pounds, can exceed 60% efficiency at top speed, and cost $4600 to build. On competition day for the Chainless Challenge hosted by Parker Hannifin in Irvine, California, Bike Under Pressure placed first place overall