Using linked data from multiple years of the U.S. Census of Agriculture, this study identifies farm and operator characteristics associated with beginning farm survival, growth, and success. Success is defined as continuing in business for 5 years without a decline in farm real estate asset value. The results indicate which types of beginning farms and farmers are likely to survive and grow—information which could be useful in targeting program resources. By identifying policy-amenable variables that correlate with both farm survival and business expansion, the results also suggest possible mechanisms for increasing the success of beginning farms.

This paper analyzes public willingness to support farmer adoption of best management practices in Oklahoma’s Fort Cobb Watershed, a multiuse area for agriculture, residential water provision, and recreation. The study uses Oklahoma’s Meso-Scale Integrated Sociogeographic Network survey to conduct a contingent valuation analysis of a hypothetical, one-time tax that would support farmer adoption of pasture and riparian buffer management practices. Respondent heterogeneity is modeled using beta-binomial regression. Public support for the hypothetical program is stronger for the tandem implementation of riparian buffer establishment and pasture expansion (willingness to pay [WTP] = $290) and riparian buffer establishment (WTP = $317).

This analysis examines aggregate structural changes in the United States dairy industry, 1987–2017. We estimate the likelihood of operation changes in herd size, entry, or exits for each of the lower 48 states using a semiparametric Markov process model. Small- and medium-sized dairy longevity correlates with higher dairy margins and productivity improvements. An increase in consumer expenditures on dairy products is associated with smaller operation exits. Industry dynamics exhibit a persistent trend toward consolidation in most states. The exit probability for each state and all size classes has increased significantly for most states since 2002.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) offers a portfolio of flood risk mitigation options for high-risk homeowners, hoping to reduce flood damages. Buyout (home acquisition) and home retrofit (e.g., home elevation) are candidates available to homeowners. FEMA has recently amended and increased its buyout efforts. This study examines homeowners’ stated preference for buyout and home elevation contracts using survey data. Results indicate multiple factors influence the decision to participate in home acquisition and elevation programs. Importantly, we find that preferences vary with the timing (whether the contract is offered before or after a damage event) of the contract offered.

The Pasture, Rangeland, Forage (PRF) insurance program is aimed to assist producers to manage the risk of forage loss due to the lack of precipitation. However, limited attention has been given to understanding the implications of policyholders’ coverage selection decisions. In this study, three alternative risk-efficient portfolio selection strategies are assessed in to the context of the PRF program. Proposed methods consider all the decision parameters and program restrictions, and they highlighted the underlying relationships between expected revenue, risk, and choice of the coverage parameters. Selection strategies are illustrated by examining the optimal coverage for a grid in South Texas.

The European Union provides firm support to the maritime sector to reach the policy objectives in the Common Fisheries Policy. This paper analyzes to what extent the investment support to aquaculture and fish processing firms in Sweden increases firm investment activity. By doing so, the paper also quantifies the amount of investments that would have been undertaken also without support (deadweight losses, DWL). The results show that the support increases investment in aquaculture with a factor of 0.65, thus with a DWL of 35%. The corresponding number for fish processing is a DWL of 77%.

This article evaluates Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Revenue Protection (RP) used in conjunction as an optimal risk management strategy for representative producers in the Corn Belt and Mississippi Delta. Using a simulation procedure to produce representative farm revenues, we find it is optimal under expected utility for producers to enroll in RP, despite having RP through ARC. Results are robust across alternative sampling methods and regions. These findings imply that ARC is better suited as a complementary program, and that it is optimal for a producer to enroll in higher coverage levels than we currently observe.

United States (US) sugar policy buffers domestic sugar producers against subsidized and dumped world market sugar resulting in generally higher US sugar prices compared to world prices. A fixed-effects panel regression is used to estimate factors associated with US sugar-containing-product (SCP) retail prices. SCPs are defined by sucrose being a primary ingredient. Explanatory variables in the regression were US sugar prices, SCP characteristics, firm size, firm past financial performance, and macroeconomic variables. Macroeconomic variables, firm past financial performance, and SCP weight were statistically significant in explaining SCP prices. Increases in US sugar prices were not associated with higher SCP prices.

This paper evaluates the impact of an increase in the federal or state minimum wage on the egg industry, where labor is a key input. This analysis uses an for Iowa, a key egg-producing state. When spread across the industry, the total negative effects of the increased minimum wage do not appear to be economically significant. This is due largely to the Iowa egg industry’s current equilibrium wage of $13.50 an hour. Thus, a $15.00 minimum wage adds only $1.50; however, to stay competitive, egg industry employers likely would increase their wage above $15.00. Despite these seemingly small effects, egg producers may struggle in the short run to respond to immediate labor expenses should Iowa or the United States not phase in its minimum wage over the course of several years.

Academics worry grade inflation lowers standards; whereas, employers are concerned grades may not distinguish students’ abilities. These concerns are dismissed if higher grades reflect improved academic achievement and not inflation. Potential grade inflation is examined using data from 17,696 classes between 1985 and 2019 in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Texas A&M University. Evidence of systemic grade increase is found after controlling for institution, instructor, and student characteristics. Grade increases are partially explained by recruiting better and more female students. Grade inflation, however, may be associated with increased hiring of graduate students and other instructors.

This study determines which factors are associated with the use of rotational grazing and the frequency with which Tennessee producers rotate cattle during the summer months. Survey data were used to estimate an ordered response model with sample selection. Most respondents used rotational grazing, and the most frequent rotational schedule was rotating cattle one to two times per month. Factors including labor, capital, knowledge, and water availability influenced the use of rotational grazing and the frequency of rotating cattle. The insights from this study can inform the development of incentives to promote more intensive use of rotational grazing.