THE ENVIRONMENT OF THE NEXT FARM BILL DEBATE

Farm Bill, Policy, Trade, Food, Nutrition, Agricultural and Food Policy, Q10, Q17, Q18,

FARM BILL STAKEHOLDERS: COMPETITORS OR COLLABORATORS?

Farm Bill, Policy, Deficit, Nutrition, Renewable Energy, Agricultural and Food Policy, Q10, Q18,

Base and Yield Update Option Analyzer

The Base and Yield Update Option Analyzer (BYA) is a decision support tool for analyzing the economic consequences of the Base Acre and Payment Yield update options in the 2002 farm bill. The BYA is provided by Texas A&M University for educational purposes and is not intended to replace or duplicate the final FSA calculations done for individual farm numbers. The 2002 farm bill offers farmers a one time opportunity to update base and payment yields. The BYA provides a comprehensive system for evaluating the economic consequences of selecting different update alternatives for each farm number before going to the FSA office.Agribusiness, Agricultural and Food Policy, Crop Production/Industries,

Counter-Cyclical Farm Safety Nets

Since the 1920's, the federal government has used an array of farm programs to provide a “safety net” for American agriculture. Farm programs have used price supports, disaster payments, income supports, direct payments, and supply management to provide a safety net for particular markets and producers. This array of farm programs has rarely been organized or managed with the sole purpose of providing a minimum income level to farmers. With the exception of set aside programs, the programs have provided incentives for production and the diversification of production through out the continental United States. While the FAIR Act of 1996 has been generously applauded for allowing producers planting flexibility, maintaining export competitiveness through marketing loan programs, and maintaining production, the Act has been criticized for its lack of a sufficient safety net. All crop insurance programs and marketing loan provisions may be considered safety nets. However, the ad hoc passage of emergency relief in each of the last three years 1998-2000 suggests that these programs have not provided sufficient support to program crop agriculture. The safety net issue, therefore, will likely be a major source of debate in crafting the next farm bill. Can the U.S. government reduce the liquidity problem facing major crop agriculture while pressing the popular provisions of the FAIR Act? Developing a whole farm safety net proposal is one alternative being studied.Agricultural and Food Policy,

Examining Share Lease Arrangements for Grain Operations in the Texas Panhandle Under Changing Market Conditions

This paper examines the preferred share arrangement for both landlords and tenants producing grain in the Texas High Plains (based on risk preference), and determines the sensitivity to changing input costs and market prices. Results of the analyses show that tenants and landlords prefer different arrangements in all scenarios. Results also indicate that a tenant would prefer a different lease arrangement in 2008 than in 2005, while the landlord’s preference would remain unchanged.Financial Economics, Production Economics,

AN APPLIED PROCEDURE FOR ESTIMATING AND SIMULATING MULTIVARIATE EMPIRICAL (MVE) PROBABILITY DISTRIBUTIONS IN FARM-LEVEL RISK ASSESSMENT AND POLICY ANALYSIS

Research Methods/ Statistical Methods,

The Farm Level Impacts of Operating the Current Farm Bill at Reduced Federal Budget Spending Levels

Agricultural and Food Policy,

Analysis of H.R. 2646 on Land Tenure Arrangements on U.S. Representative and Texas FARM Assistance Farms

This report analyzes whether H.R. 2646 may provide economic incentives for landlords to end current land tenure arrangements with tenants and take over management (and government payments) associated with their land. This work is a followup to Briefing Paper 01-9, Representative Farm Analysis of the H.R. 2646 Farm Bill Proposal that analyzes the impacts of H.R. 2646 on the representative crop farms maintained by the Agricultural and Food Policy Center (AFPC).Agribusiness, Agricultural and Food Policy, Land Economics/Use,

Representative Farm Analysis of the S. 1731 Farm Bill Proposal

Agribusiness, Agricultural and Food Policy,

Long Term Financial Impacts of Drought Management Strategies

This paper analyzes the financial implications of drought management strategies for a model ranch in South Texas. The 2006 drought that affected Texas livestock producers left many cattlemen asking the age old question, "Should I cull to reduce my herd size or purchase feed to maintain my current herd".Livestock Production/Industries,