RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN INDUSTRIALIZED AGRICULTURE AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES: THE CASE OF VERTICAL COORDINATION IN BROILERS AND HOGS

This paper examines the relationship between industrialized production in the pork and broiler industries and the natural environment. Historical perspectives are presented regarding the movement toward increasingly concentrated and coordinated pork and broiler production units in the South. The relationships between animal by-product management and environmental quality, both at the farm level and within a geographic region, are addressed. Using the North Carolina pork industry as a background, current regulations and potential policy implications to protect environmental quality are discussed.Industrialized agriculture, Sustainability, Vertical coordination, Environmental Economics and Policy, Livestock Production/Industries,

RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN INDUSTRIALIZED AGRICULTURE AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES: THE CASE OF VERTICAL COORDINATION IN BROILERS AND HOGS

This paper examines the relationship between industrialized production in the pork and broiler industries and the natural environment. Historical perspectives are presented regarding the movement toward increasingly concentrated and coordinated pork and broiler production units in the South. The relationships between animal byproduct management and environmental quality, both at the farm level and within a geographic region, are addressed. Using the North Carolina pork industry as a background, current regulations and potential policy implications to protect environmental quality are discussed.Environmental Economics and Policy, Livestock Production/Industries,

MANURE HANDLING COSTS AND THE COMPETITIVENESS OF PORK PRODUCTION

Simulations of possible regulation-related manure handling costs are compared to base scenario costs for the three main regions and phases of modern hog production over widely varying scale levels. The base scenario confirms previous research suggesting that in Iowa net benefits occur at small scale levels from injecting slurry stored in an outside earthern basin for corn production using a phosphorus standard. Increased transportation costs result in Iowa costs surpassing costs in Utah at higher scale levels, while costs in North Carolina are highest at all scale levels. Requiring systems to be lined and covered in Iowa and North Carolina results in proportionately greater increased costs per head in North Carolina. Adding the requirement that manure be applied according to a phosphorus standard increases costs proportionately more in Iowa at larger scale levels, but not at all at the smallest scale, and costs in Iowa surpass those in North Carolina at the largest scale. The results of all scenarios underscore the advantages enjoyed by Utah in manure handling because scales of operation there are among the largest.Livestock Production/Industries,

BLAME IT ON THE WEATHER: COST AND DESIGN OF MANURE MANAGEMENT UNDER EXTREME WEATHER CONDITIONS ON NORTH CAROLINA SWINE FARMS

The majority of pig farms in North Carolina use a lagoon-sprayfield system to manage manure. Although economical, the lagoon-sprayfield system is sensitive to weather conditions. This study examines the cost of manure management under extreme weather and scrutinizes National Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) design criteria and regulations.Farm Management,

THE UTILITY OF MULTIPLE PERIL CROP INSURANCE FOR IRRIGATED, MULTIPLE-CROP AGRICULTURE

The usefulness of FCIC multiple peril crop insurance on diversified, irrigated, high yielding farms in the Imperial Valley is examined. Production data and expected price and yield distributions were collected from thirty-two farm managers in 1982. Individual whole-farm net income distributions then were used to elicit their risk preferences. Participation in FCIC crop insurance for cotton, wheat, and sugar beets under the existing program and under several alternatives was predicted. Predicted participation never exceeds 25% of eligible growers. Low maximum yield guarantees and premiums inconsistent with individual yield experience are identified as factors limiting participation.Crop Production/Industries, Risk and Uncertainty,

Characteristics of Swine Farm Sales Data under a De Facto Moratorium

Agribusiness, Farm Management, Livestock Production/Industries,

Determinants of Swine Farm Sale Prices Under a de facto Moratorium

farm sale prices, constrained supply, premiums, appraised value, determinants of premium, Agricultural Finance, Farm Management, Land Economics/Use, Livestock Production/Industries,

ANALYSIS OF CHANGING METHODS OF VERTICAL COORDINATION IN THE PORK INDUSTRY

This study examines the motivation behind contracts and vertical integration in the pork industry, and simulates the effects of potential improvements in coordination. Incentives related to lowering costs of measuring and sorting hogs, and protecting against opportunistic behavior associated with specific assets, can result in hog quality improvements. A framework for simulating the effects of increased coordination through contracts and vertical integration was developed and used to evaluate potential improvements in leanness. Although simulations suggest only modest changes in pork prices and supplies, gains in consumers' surplus could be substantial for larger demand shifts due to quality improvements.Contracts, Hogs, Lean pork, Simulation model, Vertical coordination, Vertical integration, Industrial Organization, Livestock Production/Industries,

Challenges Faced by Women Entrepreneurs Involved in Agritourism

Finding themselves in today’s rapidly changing economic landscape, farmers are compelled to seek supplementary income generating activities such as agritourism. Women have been identified as the primary driver of a variety of agritourism activities with significant contribution toward its development and maintenance. In spite of their contribution, women tend to earn less in agritourism compared to their male counterparts. However, no research thus far has looked at the specific challenges faced by women in agritourism. We conducted a study in North Carolina using qualitative techniques (i.e. focus group, nominal group technique, and in-depth interviews). Our results identify a number of new challenges; these are: lacking reliable staff, managing growth, lacking institutional support, ensuring farm perpetuation, being pluriactive, and constantly facing new challenges. We also found support for challenges existing in the literature, namely, lacking resources, lacking credibility as farmers and juggling traditional roles