Scaling Relations in the Vortex State of Nodal Superconductors

In contrast to multigap superconductors (e.g. MgB$_{2}$), the low-temperature properties of nodal superconductors are dominated by nodal excitations. Here we extend for a variety of nodal superocnductors the earlier work by Simon and Lee and K\"ubert and Hirschfeld. The scaling relations seen in the thermodynamics and the thermal conductivity will provide an unequivocal test of nodal superconductivity.Comment: 9 pages, 3 figure

An Economic Analysis of Corn-based Ethanol Production

A global multi-commodity simulation model was developed to estimate the impact of changes in ethanol production on the U.S. corn industry. Increased ethanol production under the Energy Acts of 2005 and 2007 resulted in a significant increase in the price of corn. However, for corn-based ethanol production, the break-even price of corn is approximately $4.52 per bushel with a federal subsidy of$0.51 per gallon of pure ethanol and $2.50 gasoline. With a corn price of$4.52, the economically desirable ethanol production is approximately 11 billion gallons. In order to produce 15 billion gallons of corn-based ethanol and to maintain the price of corn at $4.52 per bushel, supply of corn in the U.S. should be increased substantially through increases in corn yield rather than increases in corn acres. The increased price of corn leads to major structural changes in the corn industry in the United States as well as other corn producing and consuming countries. Corn production would increase in response to higher price levels, corn used for livestock feed may decrease, and U.S. exports decrease due mainly to a surge in corn used for ethanol production. This decrease in U.S. exports should be met by additional production in other countries. The increased price of corn also leads to increases in the prices of soybeans, wheat, high fructose corn syrup (HFCS), and agricultural inputs, such as land value and cash rent, fertilizer and chemicals, and farm equipment. In addition, the current price of corn has resulted in an increase in the production cost of livestock. The increase in prices of agricultural commodities and inputs would cause increases in retail prices of food in the U.S.ethanol, price impacts, supply, demand, econometric simulation, HFCS, Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,

2005 OUTLOOK OF THE U.S. AND WORLD SUGAR MARKETS, 2004-2013

This report evaluates the U.S. and world sugar markets for 2004-2013 using the Global Sugar Policy Simulation Model. This analysis is based on assumptions about general economic conditions, agricultural policies, population growth, weather conditions, and technological changes. Both the U.S. and world sugar economies are predicted to improve slightly over the next nine years after the current over-supply is reduced. World demand for sugar is expected to grow faster than world supply, resulting in Caribbean sugar prices gradually increasing from 8.40 cents/lb in 2004 to 8.70 cents/lb in 2013. The U.S. wholesale price of sugar is projected to decrease from 26.15 cents/lb in 2004 to 24.89 cents/lb in 2013, if the United States maintains its sugar programs. The CAFTA agreement is expected to increase U.S. imports slightly, but with little impact on U.S. prices. It is projected that Mexico will be able to export 405 thousand metric tons of sugar to the United States by 2013. World trade volumes of sugar are expected to increase throughout the forecast period.Crop Production/Industries,

ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF ALTERNATIVE FARM BILL PROPOSALS

Various farm organizations and political parties are taking sides on whether the FAIR Act needs to be scraped or just modified. This study analyzes three such proposals: the U.S. House of Representatives proposal (H.R. 2646), the American Farm Bureau proposal, and the National Farmers Union proposal. The continuation of the FAIR Act is also included as an another alternative. The H.R. 2646 and the American Farm Bureau proposals are modifications of the FAIR Act while the National Farmers Union proposal is a totally redesigned bill. The H.R. 2646 and the Farm Bureau proposals are very similar in their results. They provide higher net farm income for the large size farm than the Farmers Union proposal does early in the forecast period, but the Farmers Union proposal provides higher net farm income in the last three years of the time period. The Farmers Union proposal provides higher net farm income for the medium and small size farm than either the H.R. 2646 or the Farm Bureau proposals because of the targeting feature. The FAIR Act provides less net farm income for all size farms than any other proposal.Farm Bill, Targeting, North Dakota Representative Farms, H.R. 2646, National Farmers Union, American Farm Bureau, Agricultural and Food Policy,

AN ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF PRODUCING CARROTS IN THE RED RIVER VALLEY

This report evaluates the U.S. carrot market using a quadratic programming algorithm. North Dakota ships carrots locally and to Minnesota under both the base and 1,000 acre scenarios. North Dakota starts to ship carrots to Illinois as it produces more under other alternative scenarios. This clearly indicates that North Dakota has a comparative advantage in producing carrots over other neighboring states. North Dakota could produce about 8,000 acres of carrots and market them to North Dakota, Minnesota, and Illinois. Additional production of carrots in North Dakota may not affect the national average price of carrots, but local prices may be affected due to regional competition.carrots, quadratic programming, North Dakota, Marketing, Production Economics,

2006 OUTLOOK OF THE U.S. AND WORLD WHEAT INDUSTRIES, 2005-2015

This report evaluates the U.S. and world wheat markets for the 2005-2015 period using the Global Wheat Policy Simulation Model. This analysis is based on a series of assumptions about general economic conditions, agricultural policies, weather conditions, and technological change. Both the U.S. and world wheat economies are predicted to improve for the next nine years. World demand for both common and durum wheat are expected to grow faster than world production, resulting in gradual increases in prices of the wheat varieties. However, the current higher price levels in 2006 are due to weather conditions and will not be maintained, as production is expected to return to normal levels in 2007. World trade volumes of both classes of wheat are expected to expand, but trade volume of durum wheat may grow faster than that of common wheat.common wheat, durum wheat, production, exports, consumption, ending stocks, Crop Production/Industries,

OUTLOOK OF THE WORLD RICE INDUSTRY UNDER ALTERNATIVE TRADE LIBERALIZATION POLICIES IN JAPAN AND KOREA

This report evaluates the world rice industry for the 1998-2010 period by using the World Rice Policy Simulation Model. This analysis is based on a series of assumptions about general economic conditions, agricultural policies, the weather, and technological change. This report evaluates three scenarios: the base scenario, the partial trade liberalization scenario in Japan and South Korea, and the full trade liberalization scenario. The partial trade liberalization scenario includes a partial liberalization of rice imports in Japan and South Korea from the year completing the minimum market access commitments under the UR agreement to 2010. The full trade liberalization scenario includes a full liberalization of rice imports in Japan and South Korea from the year completing the minimum market access commitments under the UR agreement to 2010 in Japan and 2014 in South Korea. Both trade liberalization scenarios result in higher world rice price for both japonica and indica rice and lower domestic rice price and production in both Japan and South Korea.Japonica Rice, Indica Rice, Trade Liberalization, Production, Consumption, Imports, Exports, International Relations/Trade,