Strategic Marketing Decisions for Organic Agricultural Producers

A group of organic agricultural producers facing a strategic decision is featured. If they decide to form an organization to market their produce jointly, they will have to select a distribution channel. This case presents the demand conditions, requirements, advantages, and disadvantages of different distribution channels for organic vegetables, both on a general level and as they relate to this particular group. The following channels are addressed: roadside stands, farmers' markets, distributors, retailers, restaurants, institutions, and processors. Study questions for use in an academic course or workshop are included.organic agriculture, distribution channels, strategic management, Agribusiness, Marketing,

INVENTORYING RESOURCES: AN APPLICATION TO PRODUCT-ORIENTED AGRICULTURE

Different resources are necessary in the new, product-oriented agricultural environment. This article explores the question of what information is best suited for strategic analysis and strategy formulation for firms involved in product-oriented agriculture. A new framework for inventorying agricultural resources is introduced, and suggestions for implementing it are included.Farm Management,

INVENTORYING RESOURCES: AN APPLICATION TO PRODUCT-ORIENTED AGRICULTURE

Different resources are necessary in the new, product-oriented agricultural environment. This article explores the question of what information is best suited for strategic analysis and strategy formulation for firms involved in product-oriented agriculture. A new framework for inventorying agricultural resources is introduced, and suggestions for implementing it are included.Farm Management,

STRATEGIC PLANNING AND FIRM PERFORMANCE: A PROPOSED THEORETICAL MODEL FOR SMALL AGRIBUSINESS FIRMS

The link between strategic planning and firm performance has been studied for over two decades. This paper examines this link, with emphasis on small agribusiness firms. A model of strategic planning and performance is developed and applied to small agribusiness firms. Implications for research and limitations are discussed.Agribusiness,

A TWT amplifier with a linear power transfer characteristic and improved efficiency

A novel method called "Dynamic Velocity Taper' to linearize the Pout versus Pin transfer characteristic that does not require any extraneous circuitry or tuning, has large bandwidth capabilities ( 10 percent) and offers also an increase in the intrinsic traveling wave tube (TWT) efficiency by 1 to 2 dB is described. In addition, the method permits the TWT to be operated at or near the synchronous voltage (b plus or minus o) which produces a flat small and large signal gain responses and low AM to PM conversion. The physics of the method and experimental verification are given. The implementation should have a significant impact on TWT performance and increase the channel capacity of communication satellites

DEMAND OVERVIEW FOR ORGANIC PRODUCE

The market for organic food has been growing 20% per year for the past nine years. Fruits and vegetables are a large part of the organic market, accounting for more than $670 million in retail sales annually. This presents an opportunity for entry of new agricultural producers, and the expansion of existing organic growers. Similarly to other businesses, organic producers will succeed by providing customer value. The best opportunity for organic growers to achieve this is to focus on increasing the perceived benefits of the product. Examples of benefits for organic growers to focus on are: favorable environmental impacts, positive health benefits, and positive effects on the local economy. Since the market for organic fruits and vegetables is currently small relative to the overall food market, a market segmentation strategy is advisable. Two market segments, the "True Naturals" and the "New Green Mainstream" have been identified as the core market for natural products. Marketing efforts should be focused on appealing to one (or both) of these groups. Six major marketing channels were considered, with positive aspects and barriers/potential pitfalls given for each. The two easiest channels to enter, in terms of lowest financial capital and networking requirements, are farm markets (on-site) and farmers' markets. These alternatives may have limited volume potential, however. The upside of marketing to distributors, retailers, and restaurants is the potential to market a substantially larger volume than would be possible through marketing direct to consumers. Significant barriers must be overcome to market to these more complex buyers, however. The best way to enter these channels (i.e., distributors, retailers, and restaurants) is for growers to pool resources and work together as a group.Demand and Price Analysis,

SEGMENTATION AND DIFFERENTIATION OF AGRI-FOOD NICHE MARKETS: EXAMPLES FROM THE LITERATURE

ABSTRACT Niche marketing has recently received a great deal of attention in the agri-food trade press and in academic circles as a legitimate strategy for small- and medium-sized agri-food firms. Due to the limited theoretical treatment of agri-food niche marketing strategy, the paper will apply marketing concepts from the general management literature (e.g., Porter; Linneman and Stanton) to agri-food industries. The first objective of the paper is to introduce the three elements of niche marketing strategies and show how these elements can be used to form a strategy identification matrix. The matrix is intended to be used by agribusiness decision makers to assist in the development of niche marketing strategies. The second objective is to provide examples of successful niche marketing strategies that have appeared in the literature related to agricultural markets. More than forty such examples have been identified and collected. These case studies will be analyzed, and their relationship to the niche strategy matrix will be examined.Marketing,

Wind-tunnel/flight correlation study of aerodynamic characteristics of a large flexible supersonic cruise airplane (XB-70-1). 3: A comparison between characteristics predicted from wind-tunnel measurements and those measured in flight

A program was undertaken by NASA to evaluate the accuracy of a method for predicting the aerodynamic characteristics of large supersonic cruise airplanes. This program compared predicted and flight-measured lift, drag, angle of attack, and control surface deflection for the XB-70-1 airplane for 14 flight conditions with a Mach number range from 0.76 to 2.56. The predictions were derived from the wind-tunnel test data of a 0.03-scale model of the XB-70-1 airplane fabricated to represent the aeroelastically deformed shape at a 2.5 Mach number cruise condition. Corrections for shape variations at the other Mach numbers were included in the prediction. For most cases, differences between predicted and measured values were within the accuracy of the comparison. However, there were significant differences at transonic Mach numbers. At a Mach number of 1.06 differences were as large as 27 percent in the drag coefficients and 20 deg in the elevator deflections. A brief analysis indicated that a significant part of the difference between drag coefficients was due to the incorrect prediction of the control surface deflection required to trim the airplane

Effect of Phenolic Matrix Microcracking on the Structural Response of a 3-D Woven Thermal Protection System

The effect of microcracking in the phenolic matrix of a three-dimensional woven thermal protection system (TPS) and the resulting material stiffness reduction was studied via a comparison of finite element analysis results from a linear analysis and an iterative linear analysis. A TPS is necessary to protect space vehicles from the aerodynamic heating of planetary entry. The Heatshield for Extreme Entry Environment Technology (HEEET) project has developed a TPS for use in high heat-flux and pressure missions. The material is a dual-layer continuous dry weave, which is then infiltrated with a low-density phenolic resin matrix to form a rigid ablator. The phenolic resin matrix does not have structural load transfer requirements, and testing has shown that the phenolic resin can fully satisfy thermal requirements when the matrix contains microcracks. Due to high stresses in the through-the-thickness direction of the material, phenolic microcracks may form in the matrix material, which would result in a reduction of stiffness. An exploratory study was conducted to determine if reduction in material stiffness would change the load paths and/or decrease the structural margins. A comparison was performed between a linear finite element analysis that did not take into account phenolic microcracking and an iterative linear finite element analysis that accounted for propagation of phenolic microcracking. Four subcases using varying assumptions were analyzed and the results indicate that the assumed strength at which the phenolic microcracking propagates was the critical parameter for determining the extent of microcracking in the phenolic matrix. Phenolic microcracking does not have an adverse effect on the structural response of the test article and is not a critical failure

Effects of harvesting methods on sustainability of a bay scallop fishery: dredging uproots seagrass and displaces recruits

Fishing is widely recognized to have profound effects on estuarine and marine ecosystems (Hammer and Jansson, 1993; Dayton et al., 1995). Intense commercial and recreational harvest of valuable species can result in population collapses of target and nontarget species (Botsford et al., 1997; Pauly et al., 1998; Collie et al. 2000; Jackson et al., 2001). Fishing gear, such as trawls and dredges, that are dragged over the seafloor inflict damage to the benthic habitat (Dayton et al., 1995; Engel and Kvitek, 1995; Jennings and Kaiser, 1998; Watling and Norse, 1998). As the growing human population, over-capitalization, and increasing government subsidies of fishing place increasing pressures on marine resources (Myers, 1997), a clear understanding of the mechanisms by which fishing affects coastal systems is required to craft sustainable fisheries management