Mandatory Supply Controls and Trade

International Relations/Trade,

Role of Research and Researchers during Transition: Case Study of Lithuania

A review of more than 100 publications and papers by Lithuanian and external experts published from 1990 to 2006 in academic journals, books and monographs, proceedings and reports is the basis for this assessment of the role research has played in the policy evolution from 1990 to present. These studies had impacts on decision making, and there are also many ways in which the experiences of policy makers have informed the agricultural economics profession and improved our knowledge and understanding of the complexities of reform and transition. That is, the transition experience was in many ways a two-way and interactive learning process between researchers and policy makers and between east and west. We conclude that a key element in making research relevant and realistic was a process of frequent interaction among analysts and practitioners within Lithuania and among other transition country and external experts and practitioners.economic transition, EU accession, policy reform, collaboration, policy research, Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies,

Predicting the Acceptance for High Beta-Carotene Maize: An Ex-Ante Estimation Method

This paper postulates a household decision model that takes into account the production consumption tradeoffs between traditional and biofortified seed. The objective is to understand the effect of these differing traits on the adoption decision when white maize is preferred by the consumers.Agricultural and Food Policy, Consumer/Household Economics,

Modelling the Acceptance of High Beta-carotene Maize

In the development of high beta carotene (HBC) maize, the focus is on subsistence farms which do not get any (or at least very little) benefit from commercial fortification programs. The technology can be considered to be primarily for the small-scale subsistence farmer. The paper postulates a household decision model that takes into account the production and consumption tradeoffs between traditional and biofortified seed. The objective is to understand the effect of these differing traits on the adoption decision when white maize is preferred by the consumers.Consumer/Household Economics,

Causes and Implications of the Food Price Surge

This paper analyzes the food price surge of 2005 to 2008 in order to better understand the factors causing higher and more volatile food prices during this period, to ascertain the relative importance and possible persistence of the different factors, and to suggest possible implications for future market behavior and policy reactions.Agricultural and Food Policy,

The Balanced Budget Amendment: How It May Impact Farm Programs

Most farmers support the concept of a balanced federal budget However, the Balanced Budget Amendment (BBA) already passed by the U.S. House of Representatives and recently rejected by the Senate, could have far more impact on farmers than the Farm Bill itself

Impacts of the Uruguay Round on Agricultural Commodity Markets: Implications for Russia

Meyers uses the FAPRI agricultural commodity models to help analyze how the final passage of the GATT agreement will impact Russia, the Newly Independent States (NIS), and Central and Eastern Europe. While there are benefits from the GATT accord, he notes that the GATT agreement cannot be seen as a substitute for the efforts that are needed on developing more efficient production and processing systems, improved marketing infrastructure, and improved quality and diversity of products

Farm Economies of the Plains: A Comment

William H. Meyers comments on a paper by Belongia and Gilbert presented at the 1986 annual meetings of the Allied Social Science Association. Belongia and Gilbert analyzed the scope of farm income and debt problems in the Plains States and discussed the causes of those problems. Meyers accepts Belongia and Gilbert\u27s evidence of a deterioration in farm financial conditions since 1980, but rejects their test of the effects of macroeconomic fluctuations on economies dependent on agricultural income. The bases of his objections are Belongia and Gilbert\u27s use of national GNP only as an explanatory macroeconomic variable and their use of farm or personal income as measures for agricultural sector performance, although it may verify the effectiveness of government programs in insulating farm income from the effects of macroeconomic policies. Meyers recommends a reevaluation of current agricultural policies to address the financial problems of farmers and agricultural lenders, which he sees as a more serious problem than that of general farm income

The farmer-owned reserve after eight years: A summary of research findings and implications

The Farmer-Owned Reserve Program (FOR) was inaugurated in April of 1977 by Secretary of Agriculture Bergland under the authority of existing legislation. Congress followed suit by specifically adopting FOR provisions for wheat and feed grains in the Food and Agricultural Act of 1977. Although the government had owned large stocks of grains and fibers in the 1950s and 1960s, the FOR was the first deliberate effort in the history of U.S. agriculture to establish a stabilization stocks program. Since its inception, the FOR program has been at various times praised and damned by farmers, policy analysts, and policymakers. It has been seen at times as a force controlling fluctuations in commodity supplies and price and at times as a force out of control. Regardless of whether it is viewed as a good or poor policy instrument, there is no question that the FOR program has had a substantial influence on commodity markets and policy. Figures 1.1 and 1.2 show the rapid growth of the FOR and its variability in response to market and policy conditions. During the last 5 years, members of the North Central Regional Research Project NC-169 have been reviewing the evidence on the FOR and evaluating the performance of this new and rather innovative policy instrument. Although the program is new relative to many other commodity program provisions, it is an appropriate time for a thorough review of the evidence on its performance

Future Challenges in Agricultural Export Marketing

This paper identifies the contributing factors that caused changes in U.S. agricultural export markets in the 1970s and 1980s and suggests key policy areas that must be addressed to improve these markets in the future. Historical analysis on the shifts in the U.S. export markets from 1970 to 1985 points out how macroeconomic policies and conditions influenced those changes. Total world grain trade and the U.S. share are essential components of the change in U.S. export levels. Variations in both components had significant impacts on U.S. agricultural exports. Using recent FAPRI projections, a declining dollar and lower commodity prices are expected to assist in a recovery of U.S. export values. Three key policy areas are identified in which progress will need to be made for the greatest market development to take place: improving economic development and income growth rates in developing countries, reducing the debt service problems of developing countries, and reducing the domestic and trade policy barriers in both developed and developing countries. Aggressive and competitive marketing strategies are recommended, including use of bilateral agreements, market intelligence, and product discrimination, where possible