Profitability of Irrigated Improved Pecan Orchards in the Southern Plains

The objective was to determine if an irrigated improved pecan orchard is economical relative to agronomic systems commonly implemented by producers that have access to irrigation. Results show that the improved pecan orchard is more profitable than competitive enterprises after a twenty year time frame, but is sensitive to pecan price, pecan yield and attitude toward risk.Profitability, Irrigated, Pecan, Orchard, Southern Plains, Crop Production/Industries, Farm Management, Land Economics/Use, Production Economics, Risk and Uncertainty,

Property Tax Lids and the Effect on Kansas

Cross sectional time series data in a partial adjustment model examine local government behavior under an aggregate property tax levy limit and under Truth in Taxation in Kansas. Results indicate that the aggregate levy limit would have continued to restrict property tax revenue and spending had it not been replaced.Public Economics,

Attributes Preferred and Premiums Offered for Naturally Produced Beef Cattle

A growing number of beef cattle producers in the US are using limited information to determine whether or not it would be economical for them to grow naturally produced cattle. The objective was to discover the attributes that marketing companies prefer for the naturally produced cattle they purchase, and to elicit the price premiums being offered for cattle that possess these attributes. Results of a phone survey of companies that purchase natural cattle show that 27 out of 32 companies report their willingness to pay a premium of $5.95/cwt for cattle that have never received antibiotics, ionophores, hormones or animal by-products.Key words: attributes, beef, cattle, naturally produced, premiums, Agribusiness, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, Livestock Production/Industries, Marketing,

Economic Potential of Substituting Legumes for Synthetic Nitrogen in Warm Season Perennial Grasses used for Stocker Cattle Grazing

Stocker cattle grazing warm season perennial grasses is an important economic activity in the southern Great Plains. Substantial increases in the price of nitrogen fertilizer is negatively affecting forage producers’ profitability. Two alternative nitrogen management systems that use annual and perennial legumes have been developed for bermudagrass pastures. The goal of the study is to determine if the legumes systems are more profitable than the conventional practice of applying synthetic sources of nitrogen. Results of the two-year grazing study show that the legume systems could not compete economically with the common practice.economics, grazing, legumes, bermudagrass, nitrogen fertilizer, stocker cattle, Crop Production/Industries, Farm Management, Production Economics,

PR - Should Small Farms Raise Their Own Replacement Heifers?

In the southern Great Plains of the United States of America, farmers are trying to determine the most profitable way to restock their cow herds after the droughts that have occurred since 2003. During this time, farmers reduced their herds by nineteen percent. In 2003, this seven state area, the southern Great Plains, contained forty percent of the United States’ cow herd. This paper addresses the questions relative to the profitability of a small farm raising their own replacement heifers to expand their existing cow herds. Given the resources of small farms; if a portion of the resources are used for raising replacement females, does it add or subtract from the overall financial wellbeing of the whole farm? In addition, estimates are derived for the cost of farms to create their own replacement females based on when heifers have their calves and the number of cows in a specific herd. Published data from the Kansas Farm Management Association was used to create enterprise budgets and graphs depicting the profitability of heifer retention for different sized cow herds. The results show that a small farmer using their finite resources towards internal expansion does not increase their overall farm profitability. These results show that it is more cost-effective for small farms to purchase their replacement females from larger ranches who have economies of scale, regarding replacement heifer production

Profitability of Irrigated Improved Pecan Orchards in the Southern Plains

The objective was to determine if an irrigated improved pecan orchard is economical relative to agronomic systems commonly implemented by producers that have access to irrigation. Results show that the improved pecan orchard is more profitable than competitive enterprises after a twenty year time frame, but is sensitive to pecan price, pecan yield and attitude toward risk

Property Tax Lids and the Effect on Kansas

Cross sectional time series data in a partial adjustment model examine local government behavior under an aggregate property tax levy limit and under Truth in Taxation in Kansas. Results indicate that the aggregate levy limit would have continued to restrict property tax revenue and spending had it not been replaced

Economic Potential of Substituting Legumes for Synthetic Nitrogen in Warm Season Perennial Grasses used for Stocker Cattle Grazing

Stocker cattle grazing warm season perennial grasses is an important economic activity in the southern Great Plains. Substantial increases in the price of nitrogen fertilizer is negatively affecting forage producers‟ profitability. Two alternative nitrogen management systems that use annual and perennial legumes have been developed for bermudagrass pastures. The goal of the study is to determine if the legumes systems are more profitable than the conventional practice of applying synthetic sources of nitrogen. Results of the two-year grazing study show that the legume systems could not compete economically with the common practice

What is the Potential for an Intensively-Managed, Year-Round Lightweight Stocker Cattle System in the Southern Plains?

Stocker Cattle, Grazing System, Intensive Management, Farm Management, Land Economics/Use, Livestock Production/Industries, Production Economics,