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Research Papers in Economics

Posters
Annual Meetings, SAEA, Greensboro, North Carolina,
February 1996
Poster Awards
First Place: Influence of Breed Type on Cattle
Feeding Production Profitability. C. Cruse, W. J.
Florkowski, J. McKissick, and R. Stewart, Univ. of
Ga.
Second Place: Multivariate Procedures for Esti-
mating Rural Land Submarkets. Gary A. Ken-
nedy, Steven A. Henning, Lonnie R. Vandeveec and
Ming Dai, La. State Univ.
Third Place: Public Attitude in Texas Toward
Recombinant Porcine Somatotropin. Sukant K,
Misra, Donna N. Grotegut, and Kyle D. Clem,
Texas Tech Univ.
TITLE: Agriculture and Food Policy
The Political Economy of Farm Credit Policies:
The Case of Greece. Giannis Karagiannis, Univ.
of Saskatchewan, Canada, and Stelios Katranidis,
Univ. of Macedonia, Greece.
This paper develops a framework for analyzing
the implementation of farm credit policies in the
presence of rent-seeking activities and the pre-
existence of other agricultural policies. It is shown
that in the presence of a deficiency payment, the
level of credit support is inversely related to the dif-
ference between target and market price and to the
elasticity of supply, while it is positively associated
with revenue per acre. In the case of production
quotas, the level of credit support is positively re-
lated to the elasticity of demand and inversely re-
lated to quota revenue.
Public Attitude in Texas Toward Recombinant
Porcine Somatotropin. Sukant K. Misra, Donna
N. Grotegut, and Kyle D. Clem, Texas Tech Univ.
The study analyzes consumer attitudes toward
Porcine Somatotropin (pST) adoption in the Texas
swine industry and the willingness to purchase
pST-treated pork by using frequency analysis and
chi-square contingency tests. Based on the data col-
lected from a mail survey of Texas residents, the
results indicate that demographic, attitudinal, and
awareness characteristics are all significant deter-
minants of consumers’ concern and willingness to
purchase.
TITLE: Farm Management and Production
Break-Even Cost Analysis of a Field Cleaner.
Blake K. Bennett, Sukant K. Misra, Texas Tech
Univ., and Alan Brashears, USDA -ARS.
The objective of this study was to assess the ef-
fect of field cleaners on trash and quality attributes
of cotton and to evaluate their cost effectiveness.
Analyses of field experiment and survey data indi-
cated that cotton cleanliness is affected signifi-
cantly by use of field cleaners. However, cotton
quality attributes were not found to be influenced
by the use of a field cleaner. Further, use of field
cleaners was found to be cost effective for cotton
producers for harvested fields ranging from 713 to
888 acres, depending on variety.
Modeling Producer Acceptance of the Louisiana
Boll Weevil Eradication Program. Bradley C.
Smith, Richard E Kazmierczak, Jr, E. Jane Luzac
and Kenneth W Paxton, La. State Univ.
This study examines the producer, landowner,
and producerflandowner attitudes and characteris-
tics associated with the proposed Louisiana Boll
Weevil Eradication program. Data from a mail
questionnaire were analyzed within a multinominalPosters 235
logit framework. Results suggest that decision
making concerning participation in communal pest
management programs like the BWE is done with-
out sufficient information, and that extension edu-
cation efforts need to target the concerns of both
producers and landowners.
Tillage Systems for Cotton Production and En-
vironmental Quality: An Economic Analysis.
David W Britt and Kenneth W Paxton, La. State
Univ., and Robert L. Hutchinson, Northeast Re-
search Station, La.
Under provisions of the current farm bill, farm-
ers are required to develop and implement a plan
for highly erodible lands. This study examines al-
ternative tillage systems for cotton in northeast
Louisiana and evaluates them within a stochastic
whole-farm context, Results suggest that a no-
till, wheat cover crop is the most efficient tillage
system.
An Analysis of the Labor/Capital Mix on Ken-
tucky Grain Farms. Jeanne M. Reeves and D. Burt
Peters, Univ. of Ky.
The capitalllabor ratio continues to be a sig-
nificant concern for today’s farmers because of
changing agricultural structure. Farmers must com-
bine a mixture of labor and capital that does not
exceed their financial resources. The study group
was a panel of Kentucky farms from 1974–92, sep-
arated by size and type. In order to ascertain if
trends occur in the utilization of labor and capital,
factor intensity analysis was employed. The results
show that labor costs and capital costs are both in-
creasing. However, labor productivity is not in-
creasing.
TITLE: Marketing and Agricultural Prices
College Students’ Perception of Food Safety,
Quality, and Information Sources: Who Do
They Trust? Glenn C. W Ames and N. G. Lordki-
panidze, Univ. of Ga.
Responses from a subset of college students in
a nationwide survey of food safety, biotechnology,
and credibility of information sources are pre-
sented. Respondents registered the intensity of their
perceptions on a four-category Likert scale. Fifty-
five percent of the students ranked food safety as
important in their purchasing decisions. Sixty-four
percent judged farmers primarily responsible for a
safe food supply. Health counselors had the highest
ranking as credible information sources, but family
and friends were their primary information source.
Students were indecisive about the role of biotech-
nology and the environmental impacts of food pro-
duction on their purchasing decisions.
Survey of Organic Farming with an Innovative
Marketing Approach for Organic Produce in
Kentucky. A4wana Nanga Mawampanga, Lionel
Williamson, and David L. Debertin, Univ. of Ky.
A mail survey of consumers of organically
grown produce organized in Kentucky First buying
clubs was conducted throughout Kentucky at the
end of the 1994 growing season. Results show,
among other things, that the consumers of organi-
cally grown produce are very well educated, have
above average incomes, and hold strong opinions
regarding the effects of agri-chemicals on health
and the environment.
Exclusive Marketing/Procurement Agreement
Impacts on Transactions Prices in the Fed Cat-
tle Market: An Experimental Economics Ap-
proach. Tracy L. Dowty and Clement E. Ward,
Okla. State Univ.
Exclusive marketing/procurement agreements
between cattle feeding firms and meatpacking firms
have increased in importance over the last decade.
This study was designed to determine how these
agreements affect transactions prices within the fed
cattle market under an experimental economic set-
ting, A pooled cross-section, time series transac-
tions price model was developed based on previous
research to estimate the impacts that numerous
variables have on fed cattle transactions prices. Re-
sults indicate that exclusive marketing/procurement
agreements had a positive impact on fed cattle
transactions prices. Additionally, the results indi-
cated that transactions prices are positively affected
when the economic agents that operate firms within
the Fed Cattle Market Simulator are provided with
economic incentives,
Nutritional Attributes as Reasons for German
Consumer Fruit Consumption. U! J. Florkowski,236 Journal of Agricultural and Applied Economics, July 1996
Univ. of Ga., B. Bruckne< and I. Schonhoj Institute
for Vegetable Crop and Ornamental Plant Re-
search, Grossbeeren, Germany.
To meet the German consumer expectations
concerning fruit consumption, this study links con-
sumer characteristics and reasons for fruit con-
sumption focusing on fruit vitamin, minerals, and
fiber content. The data were collected through a
mail survey implemented in the Berlin metropoli-
tan area in Germany in 1994, An order probit ap-
proach was used to estimate three equations repre-
senting the degree of agreement with a statement
referring to the vitamin, fiber, or minerals content.
In general, respondents indicated paying more at-
tention to the vitamin content than to minerals or
fiber. Variables influencing the selection of a cate-
gory describing the amount of attention paid to nu-
tritional attributes included gender, age, and em-
ployment status.
Factors Influencing Consumers’ Use or Non-Use
of the New Food Labels. Zacch 1. Olorunnipa,
Florida A&M Univ.
This study uses the binomial logit model to
examine the influence of selected socioeconomic
variables on consumers’ use or nonuse of the new
food labels in food item purchase decisions, The
results indicate that educational level, household
income, frequency of grocery shopping, awareness
of the change in labeling pattern, and the desire to
avoid obesity are significant determinants of con-
sumers’ use of the new food labels.
TITLE: Resource and Environmental Eco-
nomics
Multivariate Procedures for Estimating Rural
Land Snbmarkets. Gary A. Kennedy, Steven A.
Henning, Lonnie R. VandeveeC and Ming Dai, Lu.
State Univ.
Principal component analysis and cluster analy-
sis represent multivariate procedures that may be
used to estimate relatively homogeneous rural land
submarkets. These procedures, along with 13 phys-
ical and socioeconomic variables, were used to
identify rural land submarkets in Louisiana. Princi-
pal component analysis was used to detect the pres-
ence of multiple rural land submarkets in the data.
Cluster analysis was then used as a basis for identi-
fying eight contiguous rural land submarkets in
Louisiana. These procedures provide an improved
delineation of rural land submarkets over tradi-
tional methods, which were based largely on sub-
jective judgment.
Economics of Intensifying Aquiculture Pro-
duction: Water Circulation Versus Filtration.
Pierre-Justin Kouka, Carole R. Engle, Nathan
Stone, and Martha Rowan, Univ. of Ark.
A linear programming model was developed to
evaluate the economics of intensifying aquiculture
production through water circulation and filtration.
Catfish and baitfish were the species studied to con-
duct the analysis. Results should help provide rec-
ommendations to fish farmers on cost-effective
technologies to intensify production without ad-
verse impact on water quality. At high catfish stock-
ing densities, expected benefits outweighed in-
creased costs, and water circulation was selected to
reduce the burden of heavy environmental regula-
tions. However, at low catfish stocking densities,
farmers would choose not to adopt any of the tech-
nologies because of the minimal impact of fishpond
water on environmental safety. Fish prices did not
affect the outcomes, but an increase in yield of bait-
fish would lead to the adoption of new technologies
at medium stocking densities,
TITLE: Quantitative and Research Methods
The Concepts, Design, and Analysis of Neural
Networks: A New Analytical Tool for Agricul-
tural Economists. Muhammad Z. Ahmed and
Glenn A. Helmers, Univ. of Neb~
Neural networks offer an approach to forecast-
ing which is model free, nonparametric, and multi-
variate, in which the nature of the relationship is
determined by the data rather than predetermined
by the tool. Based on the learning and generaliza-
tion properties of the human brain, NN builds up a
knowledge base which can be used to predict future
events or values. To increase understanding of, this
effective but less-familiar approach, the concepts,
design, and analysis of back-propagation (BP), the
most popular network, are demonstrated. A step-
by-step procedure of BP is laid out. Issues in com-
putation and implementation of BP are discussed.
NN and regression methods are compared.Posters 237
TITLE: Rural and Community Development
Consumer Survey for Downtown Revitalization.
David Zimet, NFREC, and Glenn Israel, Univ. of
Fla.
The Quincy, Florida, Downtown Merchants As-
sociation requested assistance in developing a mar-
keting and recruitment plan. UF extension special-
ists designed a phone survey and trained 30 high
school students to conduct phone interviews. The
process was coordinated by the director of Main
Street Quincy, Inc. As a result of the survey, mer-
chants are planning joint advertising, coordinating
extended hours one evening per week, and carrying
some additional types of goods. They also have bet-
ter information concerning spending to assist in
business recruitment efforts. It was found that
safety is of greater concern to shoppers than is
parking.
TITLE: Teaching
Innovations in Distance Learning Education:
Applications for Teaching and Extension. C.
Parr Rosson, III, and Christina Rountree, Texas
A&M Univ.
Fiber-optic technology has revolutionized edu-
cational opportunities through compressed video
applications. Few teachers and extension educators
are effectively utilizing these recent innovations to
expand outreach capability and improve teaching.
Tighter budgets, fewer faculty, and the need to
share highly specialized expertise across states, re-
gions, and even nations will require that educators
become adept at using more cost-effective distance
education systems. The purpose of this poster is to
exhibit how compressed video has been used to im-
prove classroom teaching techniques and enhance
extension education programs. Lessons learned
from teaching and extension experiences which in-
tegrate multi-media technology and software, along
with the demonstration of an instructional video,
will be highlighted.
TITLE: Extension
Geographic Analysis of Louisiana Cotton Pro-
ducers and Their Attitudes Towards the Boll-
Weevil Eradication Program. Richard E Kaz-
mierczak, JE, Bradley C. Smith, Kenneth W Paxton,
and E. Jane Luzac Lu. State Univ.
Regional differences in Louisiana cotton pro-
duction not only affect the economic organization
of farms, but may also affect the attitudes and opin-
ions of producers concerning pest management ac-
tivities, the environment, and the proposed Louisi-
ana Boll Weevil Eradication program. Using data
collected from a mail survey, this study graphically
examines how various cotton producer socioeco-
nomic and attitudinal measures vary across the
state. Results suggest that cotton producers are not
as monolithic in their attitudes as previously as-
sumed, thereby requiring that extension education
programs be more carefully targeted.
Adapting Beef Production Practices to NAFTA-
Induced Market Conditions. Timothy D. Hewitt,
David J. Zimet, North Florida Research and Edu-
cation Centec and Sharon Fox Gamble, Volusia
County Extension Oftice, Fla.
Lower U.S. tariffs and a reduction in Mexican
export restrictions that resulted from the North
American Free Trade Agreement have increased
imports of Mexican cattle into the United States.
The increased imports have contributed to some
changes in market conditions. Cattle prices have
declined over the past two years. Premiums have
been reduced for selected selling practices such as
uniformity and preconditioning. The changing con-
ditions have implications regarding production and
management practices for small producers. A sur-
vey of small herd operations in three regions of
Florida was conducted to identify production prac-
tices that pay under changing market conditions
and to learn if producers are adapting to these
changes.
TITLE: Agribusiness
Influence of Breed Type on Cattle Feeding Pro-
duction Profitability. C. Cruse, W J. Florkowski,
J. McKissick, and R. Stewart, Univ. of Ga.
Cattle and carcass quality attributes are influ-
enced by sire breed, Classifying all breeds into
three types, i.e., American, British, and Continen-
tal, cattle and carcass quality were evaluated using238 Journal of Agricultural and Applied Economics, July 1996
data from a cattle improvement program. Results
identified differences between the breed type and
the net profits received by farmers. Other specific
live cattle and carcass quality attributes identified
as important in affecting profits, yet genetically de-
termined, included fat thickness, ribeye area, and
quality grade. Cattle quality improvement pro-
grams emphasizing the proper selection of breed-
ing stock seem to contribute to profits received by
farmers.
TITLE: Professional Issues
Expanding Economic Emphases in Research by
Utilizing Multidisciplinary Research Teams: A
Case Study from Georgia. C. Robert Starkj J<,
Univ. of Ga.
Substantial opportunities for expanding eco-
nomic emphases in agricultural research can exist
when agricultural economists utilize multidiscipli-
nary research teams. A survey is presented of phy-
sical scientists at a major agricultural experiment
station with no research economists located on-
site. The responses identify physical scientists’ re-
search experiences with economists and compare
the economic contributions expected versus deliv-
ered. Physical scientists’ perceptions of major ad-
vantages and disadvantages from having an agricul-
tural economist on the research team are presented
with some projections as to whether the physical
scientists will seek to include an agricultural econo-
mist on future research teams.
Award-Winning Graduate Paper
The Dynamics of Convenience and the Brazilian
Soybean Boom. Darren L. Frechette, N.C. State
Univ.
This paper investigates the slope of the soy-
beans futures price profile, U.S. and Brazilian soy-
beans are harvested on an alternating semiannual
cycle that generates predictable dynamic behavior
in the soybean futures market. Because corn and
soybeans are storage substitutes, their physical stor-
age costs move together and can be isolated sepa-
rately from crop-specific marginal convenience
yields along the futures price profile. The Kaldor-
Working convenience yield hypothesis is tested for
the international soybean market, and storage risk
is measured.

POSTERS: ANNUAL MEETINGS, SAEA, GREENSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA, FEBRUARY 1996

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