NEW PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT PRACTICES OF THE U.S. CONFECTIONERY MANUFACTURERS: 2006 SURVEY PRELIMINARY FINDINGS

This paper reports on the new product development practices of the U.S. confectionery manufacturers. A mail survey method was used to collect data. Confectionery manufacturers, specifically, new product development managers listed in the Thomas Food and Beverage Marketplace were contacted. A donation to charity on behalf of the respondents was used as an incentive to participate in the study. Analyses of the data, including graphical, descriptive, cross-tabulation, and correlation were conducted using SAS and SPSS econometric softwares and Microsoft Excel. Preliminary findings of the survey are reported in this paper.Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies,

Factors Affecting Crop Insurance Purchase Decisions in Northern Illinois

When making crop insurance purchase decisions, farmers must consider multiple factors. This paper examines such factors through the use of a survey conducted in a 42 county region of Northern Illinois during 2005. Participants were asked who most influenced their crop insurance purchase decision and if the availability of a Premium Discount Plan (PDP) affected their decision. Respondents indicated that they generally made crop insurance purchase decisions independently, and that the availability of a PDP influenced about 25% of the decisions made. Questions about the importance of ten specific purchase factors were also asked in two distinct groups of five factors each. In one group of factors, price of the insurance was found to be more important than the probability of receiving a claim payment. The other group of factors revealed that government subsidization of premium and weather concerns were highly important to survey participants. Results have also been summarized according to the risk attitude of respondents. Crop insurance participation, plan and coverage level, and other demographic data were collected as well. Further analysis will be conducted to determine relationships between purchase decision factors and the characteristics of the respondents.Risk and Uncertainty,

Grain Marketing Tools: A Survey of Illinois Grain Elevators

As with most sectors of the agriculture economy, the U. S. country grain elevator industry has experienced considerable consolidation and concentration. By the same token, the country elevator's customer base (grain producers and landlords) has also changed rather dramatically as grain production takes place on larger and fewer farms. The profitability of operating a country elevator is directly related to the volume of grain the country elevator purchases over the course of a marketing year. Because the basic services offered by country elevators are very similar (purchasing, conditioning and storing grain), country elevators attempt to differentiate themselves from their competition by offering customers a variety of cash grain marketing tools. These tools range from the basic cash forward contracts to minimum price contracts to the so called 'new generation grain marketing contracts'. The primary focus of this paper is to determine the marketing contracts grain elevators offer to their customers and the extent to which these contracts are used by the elevator's customers. Additionally, the types grain contracts offered will be compared to the firm's storage capacity, business organization, size of customer base, geographic location and type of grain purchased.Crop Production/Industries, Marketing,

Dynamics of Price Transmission in the Presence of a Major Food Safety Shock: Impact of H5N1 Avian Influenza on the Turkish Poultry Sector

This article addresses the dynamic impact of the 2005 H5N1 avian influenza outbreak on the Turkish poultry sector. Contemporary time-series analyses with historical decomposition graphs are used to address differences in monthly price adjustments between market levels along the Turkish poultry supply channel. The empirical results show that price adjustments are asymmetric with respect to both speed and magnitude along the marketing channel. Results also reveal a differential impact of the exogenous shock on producers and retailers. The findings have critical efficiency and equity implications for the supply-chain participants.avian influenza, chicken, food safety shock, price transmission dynamics, supply chain, Turkey, Agribusiness, Demand and Price Analysis, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, International Development, Livestock Production/Industries, Q11, Q13,

The Impacts of Atlantic Bonito Rush and the Avian Influenza on Meat Products in Turkey

The Atlantic bonito rush experienced in Turkey in the Fall of 2005 coincides with the avian influenza food scare that happened exactly at the same time-period in the country. In this research using time-series techniques, we investigate how the food scare and the excess fish caught jointly influence the demand for meat products in Turkey.Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, Research Methods/ Statistical Methods,

An Analysis of McLean County, Illinois Farmers' Perceptions of Genetically Modified Crops

McLean County, Illinois farmers were surveyed in order to explore and analyze their perceptions of genetically modified crops and their genetically modified cropping decisions. Questionnaires were mailed to 400 randomly selected farmers, and 156 were returned. The 134 respondents who reported that they planned to plant crops in 2003 were asked to provide information about gender, age, education, and number of tillable acres farmed. Respondents were also asked if they had previously planted genetically modified crops and if they planned to plant either genetically modified corn or genetically modified soybeans in 2003. Finally, respondents were presented with 40 statements that pertained to biotechnology and genetically modified crops, and they were asked to record their level of agreement or disagreement with each statement using a 5-point Likert scale. Factor analysis was used to construct four factors from responses to the 40 statements that pertained to biotechnology and genetically modified crops. Items that loaded into the first factor indicated that McLean county farmers perceived agricultural biotechnology to be acceptable and beneficial, and their perspectives of biotechnology were much broader than the economic impacts on their own farms. The second factor revealed that McLean County farmers' cropping decisions had been affected to some degree by events such as the StarLink corn case that had cast a negative shadow over biotechnology. The third factor reflected direct benefits of genetically modified crops to farm operations, specifically higher yields and profits. The fourth factor included increased regulation of genetically modified crops in international markets and lower prices for genetically modified crops, which were potentially negative factors in the marketing of genetically modified crops. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to classify respondents according to past and planned experiences with genetically modified crops. When weighted factor scores from the four factors were used as independent variables, 100% of farmers who had planted genetically modified crops in the past, 98.4% of farmers who planned to plant genetically modified crops in 2003, and 100% of farmers who had not discontinued planting genetically modified crops were correctly classified. On the other hand, only 62.5% of farmers who had not planted genetically modified crops in the past, 60.0% of farmers who planned to not plant genetically modified crops in 2003, and 60.0% of farmers who had discontinued planting genetically modified crops were correctly classified. When the highest loading items from each of the four factors were used as independent variables, classification of farmers who had planted genetically modified crops in the past, farmers who planned to plant genetically modified crops in 2003, and farmers who had not discontinued planting genetically modified crops were little changed. However, correct classification of farmers who had not planted genetically modified crops in the past dropped from 62.5% to 50%, correct classification of farmers who had planned to not plant genetically modified crops in 2003 dropped from 60.0% to 20.0%, and correct classification of farmers who had discontinued planting genetically modified crops dropped from 60% to 0%. Additional information about farmers' age, education, and farm size increased the explanatory power of models only modestly. Inspection of regression coefficients revealed that increases in Factor 1 scores, which were dominated by positive aspects of biotechnology from a macro perspective, were associated with increases in odds ratios for having planted genetically modified crops in the past, having planned to plant genetically modified crops in 2003, and having continued planting genetically modified crops. Alternatively, increases in Factor 2 scores, which were dominated by negative perceptions of genetically modified seeds and crops, were associated with increases in odds ratios for having planned to not plant genetically modified crops in 2003, and having discontinued planting genetically modified crops. Factor 3 scores, which were dominated by micro benefits to farmers, were associated with increases in odds ratios for having planned to plant genetically modified crops in 2003, and having continued planting genetically modified crops. Results for two individual items that were significant, namely "as a consumer, I am satisfied with the benefits of biotechnology," and "restrictions on saving GM seed affect my GM crop planting decisions," were consistent with results for weighted factor scores. Greater agreement with the former statement was associated with increases in odds ratios for having planted genetically modified crops in the past, and having planned to plant genetically modified crops in 2003. Greater agreement with the latter statement was associated with increases in odds ratios for having planned to not plant genetically modified crops in 2003 and having discontinued planting genetically modified crops.biotechnology, genetically modified, corn, soybeans, Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies, Q16,

Factors Influencing Restaurant Managers’ Willingness to Feature Locally Produced Meat

Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety,

The impacts of Atlantic bonito rush and the avian influenza on meat products in Turkey

The Atlantic bonito rush experienced in Turkey in the Fall of 2005 coincided with the avian influenza food scare that happened exactly at the same time-period in the country. This study examines the reactions of Turkish retail prices to those events. In this research, using time-series techniques, we investigate how the food scare and the excess fish caught jointly influence the retail prices for beef, chicken, and fish products in Turkey. Historical decomposition of beef, chicken, and fish price series explains the behavior of prices in a neighborhood of the two events. The results showed that both fish and chicken prices fell initially due to those conflicting events, but beef and fish prices increased as more of these products were substituted for chicken.Atlantic bonito

Examination of Factors Influencing Crop Insurance Purchase Decisions of Illinois Farmers

Farm Management, Risk and Uncertainty,

Risk Management Strategies of Illinois Farmers

Farm Management, Risk and Uncertainty,