NONPARAMETRIC ANALYSIS OF PRODUCTION EFFICIENCY: DISCUSSION

Productivity Analysis,

The Role of Promotion Programs for U.S. Poultry Exports

This study examines the effectiveness of price versus nonprice promotion programs for U.S. poultry exports. A comparative static simulation framework is specified for this purpose. The elasticities needed for the simulation model are estimated using seemingly unrelated regression and time-varying parameter regression techniques. Results from this study indicate that a price subsidy is more effective than nonprice market promotion programs in raising export demand for U.S. poultry.International Relations/Trade,

ESTIMATION OF FIRM-VARYING, INPUT-SPECIFIC EFFICIENCIES IN DAIRY PRODUCTION

Firm-varying production technologies were estimated using random coefficients regression methods for a sample of Massachusetts dairy farms. Results were compared to OLS Cobb-Douglas production function estimates. The random coefficients regression model was found to virtually eliminate conventionally measured firm technical inefficiencies by estimating individual firm technologies and ascribing remaining inefficiencies to specific inputs. Input-specific measures of firm inefficiencies showed hired labor, land, and machinery inputs to be used in excess of efficient levels. Livestock supplies were underutilized by all farms. Efficiencies of feed, crop materials, fuels, and utilities varied, although estimated means were closer to optimal levels.Production Economics,

THE IMPACT OF HIGHER PRICES OF NONFARM-INPUTS TO FOOD PROCESSING AND DISTRIBUTION ON FOOD PRICES AND QUANTITIES

Demand and Price Analysis,

Foreign political instability and U.S. agricultural exports: evidence from panel data

The intent of this paper is to examine the impact of political instability in importing nations on U.S. agricultural trade. A panel data set representing eighty-seven importing countries covering the 1990-2000 period was used to investigate how the degree of democratic practices and three types of political instability (violent, social, and elite) affect U.S agricultural exports. The empirical results suggest that political instability do have a statistically significant effect on U.S. agricultural export demand.agricultural trade

RECENT CHANGES IN THE REGIONAL STRUCTURE OF U.S. DAIRY PRODUCTION

Gauging the impact of recent policy changes, this article analyzes production characteristics and the impact of the dairy assessment for northeastern dairy farmers as compared to other major production regions. Employing a restricted translog variable profit function, returns to size, shadow prices, supply elasticities for milk and livestock as well as demand elasticities for concentrate were estimated. Northeastern, just as Midwestern farmers, were less responsive in milk supply and concentrate demand, more responsive in livestock production, and less efficient than their California and Texas counterparts. The dairy assessment affected profits of northeastern farmers later than those of other regions. Negative shadow prices indicated overinvestment into fixed factors.Livestock Production/Industries,

AN EVALUATION OF CONSUMER PESTICIDE RESIDUE CONCERNS AND RISK INFORMATION SOURCES

Marginal probability effects of demographic variables on consumer concerns about pesticide residues were assessed as well as the likelihood of consumer beliefs given different channels of information on produce safety and risks. This was done using maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) of ordered logit models. The empirical results showed that pesticide residue concern levels appeared to be lower for more highly educated and high income households. Safety information from the academic community was found to have the highest likelihood of acceptance by consumers.Risk and Uncertainty,

FOOD TRADE FLOWS OF THE DELAWARE RIVER PORT SYSTEM

Agribusiness,

AN OPTIMAL CONTROL FRAMEWORK FOR INTER - REGIONAL DAIRY POLICY ANALYSIS

An eleven-region stochastic coefficient econometric model was estimated and used in an optimal control framework to evaluate the effectiveness of the dairy price support program and marketing orders in reducing and stabilizing government purchases of dairy products. The results showed significant pressure on the reduction of the support price both in the presence and absence of Class I differentials. The optimal control model also showed that the drop in price support levels did not dramatically alter the regional distribution of milk production.Agricultural and Food Policy,

THE SINGLE INDEX MARKET MODEL IN AGRICULTURE

This study illustrates the differences in empirical results due to data measurements and estimating procedures when applying the single index market model in agriculture. Gross and net return betas along with systematic and unsystematic risk proportions are estimated and found to be different. The stochastic coefficients model is used to show the difference in beta-risk estimates compared with the traditional fixed coefficients OLS procedure. A third estimating technique, weighted least squares/Prais Winsten method, is also proposed.Research Methods/ Statistical Methods,