Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-j824f Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-09T16:21:30.898Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Modeling to Generate Alternatives in a Multiperiod Context: Apple Growers and Alar

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 May 2017

Martha A. Kimball
Martha A. Kimball*
Affiliation:
Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, University of Massachusetts, Amherst
Get access

Extract

Farm management decision making would be enhanced if solutions to farm problems were offered as a set of feasible alternatives, rather than as a single “best” solution for achieving favorable results. A farm manager could evaluate an array of alternatives against the farm's unique characteristics, which frequently are difficult to quantify and model, and select the most efficient action for the farm. Often, when agricultural economists use optimization, a single optimal solution is presented, with the corresponding best method for implementation. If the optimal solution is not appealing, the farmer does not move toward more efficient practices because alternatives are not offered. It is possible, however, to eliminate black-and-white solutions and increase the choices offered to operators. Two techniques for this are the examination of nearly optimal solutions (NOS) and modeling to generate alternatives (MGA).

Type
Articles
Information
Northeastern Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics , Volume 17 , Issue 2 , October 1988 , pp. 139 - 146
Copyright
Copyright © 1988 Northeastern Agricultural and Resource Economics Association 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Footnotes

Appreciation and acknowledgment is expressed to Cleve E. Willis, Barry C. Field, all anonymous reviewers, and the editor for their comments.

References

Autio, W. R., “The 1985 Alar™ Survey.” Fruit Notes 51 (1986):20–21.Google Scholar
Brill, E. D., Chang, S. Y., and Hopkins, L. D., “Modeling to Generate Alternatives: the HSJ Approach and an Illustration Using a Problem in Land Use Planning.” Management Science 25 (1982):221–235.Google Scholar
Burton, Robert O. Jr., Gidley, J. S., Baker, B. S. and Reda-Wilson, K. J. “Nearly Optimal Linear Programming Solutions: Some Conceptual Issues and a Farm Management Application.” American Journal of Agricultural Economics 69 (1987):813–818.Google Scholar
Hanlon, W. L., Willis, C. E., and Christensen, R. L. A Framework for Long Range Apple Varietal Decisions. Massachusetts Experiment Station, University of Massachusetts, Bull 621, 1976.Google Scholar
Kimball, M. A., and Autio, W. R. “An Economic Analysis of Orchard Rejuvenation in Response to the Reduction or the Elimination of the use of Alar.” presented at the Northeast Agricultural and Resource Economics Association annual meeting, June 1987.Google Scholar
Kimball, M. A., and Autio, W. R. Rejuvenating McIntosh Orchards: A Response to Alar Reduction. Cooperative Extension Service, University of Massachusetts, C-187, 1987.Google Scholar
Willis, C. E., and Petraglia, L. “Modeling to Generate Alternatives: A Philosophical Twist.” Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, University of Massachusetts, Research Paper Series 87-1, March 1987.Google Scholar
Willis, C. E. and Hanlon, W. L. “Temporal Model for Long-Run Orchard Decisions.” Canadian Journal of Agricultural Economics 24 (1976):17–28.Google Scholar