Government Insurance Program Design, Incentive Effects, and Technology Adoption: The Case of Skip-Row Crop Insurance

Can the availability of poorly-designed government insurance alter technology adoption decisions? A theoretical model of technology adoption and insurance incentive effects for a high- and low-risk technology is developed and explored empirically using a unique dataset of skip-row agronomic trial data. A multivariate nonparametric resampling technique is developed, which augments the trial data with a larger dataset of conventional yields to improve estimation efficiency. Skip-row adoption is found to increase mean yields and reduce risk in areas prone to drought. RMA insurance rules have incentive-distorting impacts which disincentivize skip-row adoption

Adaptability of irrigated spring canola oil production to the US High Plains

Canola oil is high in oleic acid which is commonly used for food and industrial purposes. To determine adaptability of spring canola (Brassica napus L.) to the High Plains for industrial oil production, 26 irrigated trials were conducted from 2005 to 2008. Trials were divided into five regions—1: 36–37◦N 108◦W; 2: 39–40◦N 101–103◦W; 3: 41–42◦N 102–103◦W; 4: 41–42◦N 104◦W; 5: 43–44◦N 106–108◦W. Cultural practices were based on site-specific protocols. Four cultivars, Hyola 401, Hyola 357 Magnum, SW Marksman, and SW Patriot, were planted in replicated plots in April or May under standard irrigation and harvested in July to October depending on region. Seed yield Hyola 401 and Hyola 357 Magnum were higher than SW Marksman and SW Patriot across the five regions and within Regions 1, 2, 3, and 5. Regions 1, 2 and 3 yielded significantly greater than did Regions 4 and 5. Samples from 18 trials were examined for their oil content and fatty acid distribution. The four cultivars had greater than 38% oil content; SW Marksman and SW Patriot had higher oil content than Hyola 401 and Hyola 357 Mag. Higher oil content was achieved in Regions 1, 4 and 5. Across and within regions, the percent of oleic acid did not differ for the four cultivars. The mean content of oleic acid decreased going north from Region 2 to Region 5, as did seed yield in the High Plains. Linoleic acid increased going north from Region 1. Linolenic acids showed little variation across regions. Considering yield and total oil content together, growing spring canola would be excellent in the High Plains

Adaptability of irrigated spring canola oil production to the US High Plains

Canola oil is high in oleic acid which is commonly used for food and industrial purposes. To determine adaptability of spring canola (Brassica napus L.) to the High Plains for industrial oil production, 26 irrigated trials were conducted from 2005 to 2008. Trials were divided into five regions—1: 36–37◦N 108◦W; 2: 39–40◦N 101–103◦W; 3: 41–42◦N 102–103◦W; 4: 41–42◦N 104◦W; 5: 43–44◦N 106–108◦W. Cultural practices were based on site-specific protocols. Four cultivars, Hyola 401, Hyola 357 Magnum, SW Marksman, and SW Patriot, were planted in replicated plots in April or May under standard irrigation and harvested in July to October depending on region. Seed yield Hyola 401 and Hyola 357 Magnum were higher than SW Marksman and SW Patriot across the five regions and within Regions 1, 2, 3, and 5. Regions 1, 2 and 3 yielded significantly greater than did Regions 4 and 5. Samples from 18 trials were examined for their oil content and fatty acid distribution. The four cultivars had greater than 38% oil content; SW Marksman and SW Patriot had higher oil content than Hyola 401 and Hyola 357 Mag. Higher oil content was achieved in Regions 1, 4 and 5. Across and within regions, the percent of oleic acid did not differ for the four cultivars. The mean content of oleic acid decreased going north from Region 2 to Region 5, as did seed yield in the High Plains. Linoleic acid increased going north from Region 1. Linolenic acids showed little variation across regions. Considering yield and total oil content together, growing spring canola would be excellent in the High Plains

Comparative growth of spring-planted canola, brown mustard and camelina

With increased emphasis for diesel substitution, production of brown mustard (Brassica juncea), canola (Brassica napus) and camelina (Camelina sativa) used as biodiesels may increase in the High Plains. Since these are new crops to this region, understanding their growth is critical for their acceptance. The objective was to elucidate the growth pattern of these crops when spring-planted in western Nebraska. Field trials were conducted in 2005, 2006 and 2007 with early May planting. Plots were seeded 2 cm deep at 200 plantsm−2. Four plants were destructively sampled at about 28, 40, 53, 61, and 82 days after planting (DAP). Canopy growth was field measured. Canopy heights peaked by 61DAP at 95, 85 and 70cm for brown mustard, canola and camelina, respectively. Stem length increased to 82DAP at the rates of 1.24, 1.22 and 0.85 cm/d for brown mustard, canola and camelina, respectively. Root weight accumulated linearly from 28 to 61 DAP. The Brassica grew roots faster and achieved higher weights than camelina. From 28 to 40 DAP, vine fresh weight accumulated rapidly for these crops, leveled and then gradually declined as leaves desiccated. Vine dry weight increased to 61DAP and then plateaued. The maximum vine dry weights, reached at 61 DAP, were 4.3, 4.5 and 3.0 g/plant for brown mustard, canola and camelina, respectively. By 61 DAP, pods were present and accumulated dry matter while leaves senesced. Pod fresh weight reached its peak at 61DAP while its dry weight increased linearly to 82DAP at rates of 0.36, 0.24 and 0.096 g/d for brown mustard, canola and camelina, respectively. Harvest in 2006 showed no significant (p \u3c 0.05) difference between crops with a mean yield of about 1500 kg ha−1. Fatty acid composition was dramatically different between the crops as previously reported. The growth patterns of these crops indicated that all three would be suitable for production in the northern High Plains

Planting date and development of spring-seeded irrigated canola, brown mustard and camelina

With increased emphasis on bio-diesel fuels, the influence of spring planting on development of brown mustard (Brassica juncea cv. Arid), canola (B. napus cv. Hyola 401) and camelina (Camelina sativa cv. Boa) has become important. Field trials were conducted at Scottsbluff, NE, in 2005 and 2006 at planting dates of 24 February, 24 March, 7 April, 21 April and 5 May, and 3 March, 3 April, 10 April, 27 April, 11 May, and 2 Jun, respectively. Emergence time was shorter with later planting. Flowering date was later with later planting but occurred within a range of degree days (P-days). Fruiting was affected by date and P-days, but seed maturity was not affected by planting date and was unrelated to P-days. Fleabeetle (Phyllotreta spp.) damage was very high in brown mustard and canola. Bird, primarily house finch (Carppodacus mexicanus), feeding was a major problem with brown mustard planted before mid April and in canola, only with the first planting. Camelina was not affected by either. Planting in April gave the best yields, and canola could yield over 2200 kg ha−1. Oil content of the Brassica was highest when planted from late March and later. For camelina, planting date had no effect. In brown mustard and canola, 60–65% of oil was C18:1, in camelina, about 15%. Later planting increased C18:1 content for the three crops. The second fatty acid was C18:2 with 20% in brown mustard, 18% in canola and 20% in camelina. Later planting increased C18:2 in camelina only. The major fatty acid in camelina was C18:3 at 32–37%; earlier planting increased the content of C18:3. In Camelina, C20:1 comprised about 12% of the oil and was highest with April planting. Canola and camelina seeded in April could be grown for oil successfully in western Nebraska

EC04-1571 Pesticide Use on Specialty Crops in Nebraska - 1999

EC 04-1571: This circular is about how to use pesticides on certain crops such as sunflowers, potatoes, sugar beets, and dry beans

Potato Prices as Affected by Demand and Yearly Production

With increased potato production in the past decade, actual price for potatoes given to growers has changed little, which means that inflation-adjusted price has decreased. Since production is the result of acres harvested and yield per acre, these two parameters to price are key to understanding price fluctuation. To quantify the relation between potato price and production, acreage and yield, NASS data from 1980 to 2002 were analyzed using linear regressions. Pricing and production showed an inverse, linear relationship, which is divided into two periods. Between 1980 and 1988, the price of potatoes (US$/cwt1) increased by$ 1.00 with a decrease in production of 15.6 million cwt, and between 1993 and 2002 with a decrease in production of 35.7 million cwt. Prices have become less responsive to changes in production. Harvested acres account for about onethird of the annual variation in prices, while yield per acre accounts for about one-half of the variability in prices. It appears that there was an increase in demand for potatoes from 1989 to 1992 that divides the two periods. There also was an increase in the percentage of the crop being used in the frozen and fry market, and a decrease in the percentage of the crop being used in the table or fresh market during this time period. This market change could explain the difference between 1980-1988 and 1993-2002 relationships