PROJECTED COSTS AND RETURNS - COTTON, SOYBEANS, CORN, MILO AND WHEAT, NORTHEAST LOUISIANA, 2001

A detailed survey of farmers in the Macon Ridge area was conducted during the summer of 1990. A similar survey of farmers in the remainder of northeast Louisiana was conducted in 1991. In 1995 a state-wide survey of production practices for cotton was conducted. Data from all these sources as well as the annual survey of input suppliers was used to develop budgets in this publication.Farm Management,

PROJECTED COSTS AND RETURNS - COTTON, SOYBEANS, CORN, MILO AND WHEAT, RED RIVER AND CENTRAL AREAS, LOUISIANA, 2001

The enterprise budgets for owner-operators and tenant-operators are presented in two formats. One format is a summary of costs and returns for the enterprise. This format presents costs by broad categories such as herbicides, insecticides, etc. The other format presents a detailed listing of the operations, the equipment size and the associated power unit along with the date performed and the associated costs for tractor, machinery and materials. Together these formats provide the detailed information necessary to adjust budgets to individual situations. In addition, the appendix to this report contains detailed cost estimates for an extensive list of equipment, irrigation systems, and operating inputs. These may also be used to modify budgets contained in this report or construct new enterprise budgets.Farm Management,

Measuring the Relative Profitability of Mid-South Cotton Production from an Alternative Gin Seed Rebate Model

The purpose of this paper is to assess the opportunity returns forgone to cotton producers in the lower Mid-South region of the United States for growing cotton, compared to alternative commodities. We calculate the actual net returns per acre for selected cotton-producing counties in Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi. In addition, we calculate the opportunity returns per acre if the acres planted in cotton were planted in the highest net return commodity per acre between corn and soybeans during the period 1997 through 2008. Our results find that producers in these cotton producing-counties faced sizeable opportunity revenues foregone averaging 43% between 2003 and 2008. Most observers of the cotton industry would argue that these foregone revenues are a function of historical cotton producers not planting a higher proportion of their acreage in the more-profitable corn enterprise in 2007 and 2008. However, opportunity revenues per acre foregone averaged 37% in the 2007-08 period. This finding suggests that cotton producers recognized a few years prior to the corn price spike in 2007 that alternative commodities, such as corn and soybeans, would generate greater returns on their land. Our research suggests that the higher corn price helped push cotton producers over the edge into planting a greater percentage of their acreage in alternative commodities.cotton ginning, returns above variable costs, cotton, corn, soybeans, Production Economics, Q10,

TECHNICAL CHANGE AND NEW DIRECTIONS FOR COTTON PRODUCTION

This report summarizes a year-long study of the current and future role of technology in the Mid-South, Southeast, and High Plains cotton production systems. Specific research objectives were to: 1) Identify the impacts of emerging technology on regional cotton production systems, including the implications of technology adoption on the economic and environmental stability of the system; 2) Examine the future direction of technical change in cotton production and its implications for the biological and economic structure of the cotton production system; and 3) Determine the potential role of future technologies on shifting regional competitiveness in cotton production. Information used in the analysis was collected through a series of consultations with leading cotton research and extension personnel at regional research facilities and land grant universities. Given the verbal, descriptive nature of the information collected, the analysis represents the expert opinions of individuals working with and in the cotton production industry. In short, this report documents the combined vision of cotton production scientists and extension personnel with respect to the future of U.S. and regional cotton production. Necessary background information was obtained from published academic, industry, and government sources.Production Economics, Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies,

PROJECTED COSTS AND RETURNS - COTTON, SOYBEANS, CORN, MILO AND WHEAT, NORTHEAST LOUISIANA, 1997

The enterprise budgets for owner-operators and tenant- operators are presented in two formats. One format is a summary of costs and returns for the enterprise. This format presents costs by broad categories such as herbicides, insecticides, etc. The other format presents a detailed listing of the operations, the equipment size and the associated power unit along with the date performed and the associated costs for tractor, machinery and materials. Together these formats provide the detailed information necessary to adjust budgets to individual situations. In addition, the appendix to this report contains detailed cost estimates for an extensive list of equipment, irrigation systems, and operating inputs. These may also be used to modify budgets contained in this report or construct new enterprise budgets.Farm Management,

PROJECTED COSTS AND RETURNS - COTTON, SOYBEANS, CORN, MILO AND WHEAT, RED RIVER AND CENTRAL AREAS, LOUISIANA, 1997

The enterprise budgets for owner-operators and tenant- operators are presented in two formats. One format is a summary of costs and returns for the enterprise. This format presents costs by broad categories such as herbicides, insecticides, etc. The other format presents a detailed listing of the operations, the equipment size and the associated power unit along with the date performed and the associated costs for tractor, machinery and materials. Together these formats provide the detailed information necessary to adjust budgets to individual situations. In addition, the appendix to this report contains detailed cost estimates for an extensive list of equipment, irrigation systems, and operating inputs. These may also be used to modify budgets contained in this report or construct new enterprise budgets.Farm Management,

Understanding the Interaction Between Cotton Ginning and Rural Economics in the Mid-South Under A Changing Cotton Environment

This study estimates economic impact of ginning on Mid-South states applying input-output analysis to gin cost data. Results indicated that cotton ginning activity in the Mid-South generated over $258 million in direct output effects during 2007 and$438 million in total effects with a multiplier of 2.39.cotton, cotton ginning, economic impact, multiplier, Mid-South, input-output, Agribusiness, Community/Rural/Urban Development, R15,

A GSD ESTIMATION OF THE RELATIVE WORTH OF COVER CROPS IN COTTON PRODUCTION SYSTEMS

Cover crops can help reduce the negative environmental impacts of cotton production. Using time series yield data, this study utilizes generalized stochastic dominance to evaluate the relative worth, via risk premiums, of three cover crop and two conventional production systems based on expected net returns of each system and decision maker risk attitude. Results indicate, within the limitation of the study, two cover crop regimes possess a high degree of dominance over conventional systems. Determination of the dominant regime depends upon the risk attitude of a specific decision maker. This research suggests cover crop production systems may be feasible alternatives to conventional practices.Crop Production/Industries, Environmental Economics and Policy,

IRRIGATION AND POTENTIAL DIVERSIFICATION BENEFITS IN HUMID CLIMATES

Income variability and means for managing risk continue to receive much attention in farm management research. In this paper, irrigation is presented as a risk-management strategy that offers potential diversification benefits. Potential diversification opportunities largely result from a wider range of enterprise production activities. A portfolio analysis of dryland and irrigated farm scenarios indicates that income stabilizing and diversification effects of irrigation substantially modify the risk-return position of a typical farm in northeast Louisiana. Safety-first considerations along with Target MOTAD programming procedures also are used to evaluate the impact of irrigation on the farm's financial performance.Farm Management,