An Analysis of Consolidation for the Farm Supply Sector

Changing farm numbers and a changing farm supply industry have prompted many regional cooperatives to consider consolidation of local branches as a means of remaining profitable. A behavioral model has been developed that would permit management of regional cooperatives to consider consolidation of product lines or complete branch closures. This model was used in an empirical analysis of a regional cooperative with an overinvestment in capital assets in its local branches. The results indicated that product line consolidation of major products would result in a greater savings than store closure.Agribusiness,

A Covenant Epistemology

The problem addressed in this paper concerns how large, charismatic-type churches practice their ecclesial epistemology. It is the position of this paper that the typical hierarchical approach to leadership has hindered the epistemological process by placing too much responsibility on one person, the senior leader, and too little responsibility on the congregation as a whole. Covenant Epistemology is a response to this problem, by calling on the whole church to function in unity in the discernment process. Its core feature is the covenant that bonds members of a faith community together to a unique commitment to seek collectively knowledge and discernment. Chapter 1 sets the stage by establishing the claim and explaining the connection between the development and content of subsequent chapters. Chapter 2 presents the biblical materials to establish the background and the reason why charismatic churches often look to a single, senior leader for prophetic like vision and exclusive knowledge, and to show further how God implemented a new plan in the New Testament. Chapter 3 supports another major thread by illustrating three distinct Christian traditions, exhibited particularly in the lives of lgnatius Loyola, George Fox, and Dietrich Bonhoeffer, each illustrating the importance theology and tradition has placed on the inclusive knowing community of faith. Chapter 4 provides historical and philosophical materials that further support the thesis by discussing the failure of the Modem Period with its emphasis upon the individual, autonomous knower. A recent trend, Social Epistemology, warrants another major component by showing the strength of community discernment. Chapter 5 reiterates the basic meaning and application of a Covenant Epistemology, the core of the thesis. In this final chapter, potential challenges and lasting benefits are addressed, concerning churches that are willing to apply the concept of a covenant epistemology to their particular congregations

New Media Migration: Digitization and Computer Networking Technology Use in Three Community Newspapers

The study contributes to the understanding of how technology adoption effects organizations in structural and procedural operations. Specifically, this investigation was motivated by the perceived need to understand how digitization and networking technology is affecting how a community newspaper is produced. At its core, this study seeks to provide a foundation to focus efforts to understand what digitization and networking technologies mean to the practice of community newspapers by first making it clear what is happening. By establishing a framework of distinct identification for the phenomenon, more accurately aimed study of it can begin to occur. This, in turn, can be helpful in shaping the process of studying similar conditions in other professional arenas. The study provides a detailed qualitative analysis of the practical effect of digitization and computer networking technology on community newspapers. To guide this process, the study established clear working definitions for the key components; community newspaper, digitization and networking technology and effect. The study defined a community newspaper as any print news publication organization, regardless of circulation size or geographic location, which does not publish on consecutive days and which has as its primary editorial and advertising focus local content. Digitization and networking technologies were seen to encompass the range of technologies that exist to render information into digital form and to facilitate its transfer in digital form from one point to another. Effect was considered distinctly practical, the results of the technology on the process of producing the newspaper. The study reveals the currently limited scope of research related to digitization and computer networking technology and community journalism. The study explores three individual cases to understand accurately and in detail the effect of digitization and networking technology on each community newspaper studied. Analysis of the data collected from each case study established the actual presence and identity of the digitization and networking technology in the community newspaper, and a detailed understanding of the observable effect of this technology on the processes of producing the newspaper product. Strong commonality in the findings of the three cases suggested that technology adoption has an effect on organizational structure as well as performance processes for incorporated participants

The relationship between positive behavioral interventions and supports in elementary schools and mathematics achievement.

This causal-comparative study examined the relationship between Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) and academic achievement in elementary school mathematics. Research has shown that PBIS may help establish a positive school climate, which supports the conditions for effective teaching and learning (Bradshaw, Koth, Bevans, Ialongo, & Leaf, 2008; Horner, Sugai, & Vincent, 2005; Hoy, Tarter, & Bliss, 1990). Accordingly, this study examined variables of particular interest, which were mathematical performance, including mathematical performance by male academic achievement, female academic achievement, and socioeconomic status, based on PBIS implementationThe data used were school-level, 5th grade mathematics achievement scores. Elementary schools, which participated in PBIS implementation for the 2012– 13, 2013–14, and 2014–15 school years and reported a high rate of fidelity of implementation for each of the 3 years, served as the treatment group for this study. The control group was schools that did not attempt to implement PBIS. School-level percentages of students who obtained a proficient or distinguished rating were used as the performance levels to determine the successful acquisition of mathematics achievement. Results from the analysis of the Mann-Whitney U test revealed no statistically significant difference between the total percentages of students scoring at the performance level of proficient or distinguished between PBIS and non-PBIS schools (p = .535). Differences in the achievement of males were examined using an independent samples t-test. Results indicated no significant differences in the academic achievement of males between PBIS and non-PBIS schools (p = .626). The Mann-Whitney U test was conducted to determine if a difference in the percentage of female students who achieved the performance level of proficient or distinguished; no statistical significance was found (p = .27) between PBIS and non-PBIS students. The concluding analysis of an ANCOVA was used to determine whether a statistically significant difference in the percentage of mathematics scores reaching proficient or distinguished would be found between PBIS and non-PBIS schools, when using SES as a covariate. Results from this analysis also found no statistically significant difference (p \u3c .700). Lack of statistically significant differences in academic achievement as the result of PBIS implementation were contrary to previous studies. This study presents some mitigating factors, which may have contributed to these findings: (a) multiple PBIS coaches provided training to the PBIS schools and no data were available to know if the training were standardized among trainers and truly achieved reliable reporting of fidelity; (b) data were not available to ascertain if the fidelity measure, which is known as the benchmarks of quality, was administered within the same time period at the end of each of the 3 years of implementation; and (c) data regarding other initiatives or activities at the schools, which may have been implemented for both PBIS and non-PBIS schools, may have inhibited the true examination of the respective variables

INCORPORATING STOCHASTIC HARVESTS INTO AN ANALYSIS OF PRODUCTION: THE U.S. ATLANTIC AND GULF OF MEXICO PELAGIC LONGLINE FLEET

Vessel operators maximize expected utility indirectly through cost-minimizing production decisions subject to stochastic harvests. Data on the Atlantic longline fleet, available from NMFS logbooks, is used for the empirical analysis. An ex ante multi-input cost function that incorporates expected rather than realized output levels is estimated and results are reported.Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,

Economic Impacts of Alternative Sized Dairy Farms in South Dakota

South Dakota dairy industry has shifted toward large operations to offset declining numbers of dairy cows and milk production stemming from rapid exodus of smaller (Dariy Farms, Farm Size, farm technology

A method for the reduction of aerodynamic drag of road vehicles

A method is proposed for the reduction of the aerodynamic drag of bluff bodies, particularly for application to road transport vehicles. This technique consists of installation of panels on the forward surface of the vehicle facing the airstream. With the help of road tests, it was demonstrated that the attachment of proposed panels can reduce aerodynamic drag of road vehicles and result in significant fuel cost savings and conservation of energy resources