Agricultural Production Economics Research Articles

Energy productivity and greenhouse gas emission intensity in Dutch dairy farms: A Hicks–Moorsteen by‐production approach under non‐convexity and convexity with equivalence results

AbstractThe agricultural sector is currently confronted with the challenge to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, whilst maintaining or increasing production. Energy‐saving technologies are often proposed as a partial solution, but the evidence on their ability to reduce GHG emissions remains mixed. Production economics provides methodological tools to analyse the nexus of agricultural production, energy use and GHG emissions. Convexity is predominantly maintained in agricultural production economics, despite various theoretical and empirical reasons to question it. Employing non‐convex and convex frontier frameworks, this contribution evaluates energy productivity change (the ratio of aggregate output change to energy use change) and GHG emission intensity change (the ratio of GHG emission change to polluting input change) using Hicks‐Moorsteen productivity formulations. We consider GHG emissions as by‐products of the production process by using a multi‐equation model. Given our empirical specification, non‐convex and convex Hicks‐Moorsteen indices can coincide under certain circumstances, which leads to a series of theoretical equivalence results. The empirical application focuses on 1,510 observations of Dutch dairy farms for the period of 2010–2019. The results show a positive association between energy productivity change and GHG emission intensity change, which calls into question the potential of on‐farm, energy‐efficiency‐increasing measures to reduce GHG emission intensity.

The role of the economics of agricultural production and morality in the development of entrepreneurship in the countryside

The role of the economics of agricultural production and morality in the development of entrepreneurship in the countryside

Management analysis of cost effectiveness of beef cattle breeding and its determinants

Subject. This article analyzes the meat production of the Republic of Tatarstan and the respective enterprises' competitiveness. The article discusses principles and measures to enhance the effectiveness of beef cattle breeding, and identifies its determinants. Objectives. The study aims to determine key directions for enhancing the effectiveness of the beef cattle breeding sector and its development. Methods. The study is based on comparison, systematization and generalization of data, and the methods of economic and statistical analysis. Results. To evaluate to what extent the meat productivity of cattle depends on its determinants and how they correlate, we performed a correlation and regression analysis by addressing the multiple correlation. We built a multiple-factor correlation and regression model of business activity of agricultural enterprises in the Predvolzhskaya Natural and Economic Zone for 2019. We figured out that 500 young growing cattle and livestock constitute the optimal size of cattle breeding enterprises in the Predvolzhskaya Natural and Economic Zone in the sampled population. Conclusions. The cost effectiveness of the overall agricultural production and certain types of products mostly depends on the scale of key sectors presented in agricultural enterprises and the extent of production concentration. In the market economy, the stable and effective performance of agricultural enterprises mainly depends on the relationship between the production and reprocessing of products. The findings can be used to outline methodological principles of the agricultural production economics, effectiveness, attain and increase the appropriate competitiveness of beef cattle breeding enterprises.

Shifting from tobacco growing to alternatives in Malawi? A qualitative analysis of policy and perspectives.

Tobacco is the primary export commodity in Malawi and an important contributor to foreign earnings. The entrenchment of tobacco interests within government has partly explained why Malawi has lagged in its efforts to address the health consequences of tobacco and has been a vocal opponent of global tobacco control. Despite the extensive historical and entrenched relationship between the economy of Malawi and tobacco production, there have been important shifts at the highest policy levels towards the need to explore diversification in the agricultural sector. There is explicit recognition that alternatives to tobacco production must be pursued. This study provides an analysis of the policies and perspectives that characterize contemporary government approaches to tobacco and alternatives in Malawi by interviewing key government officials working on tobacco policy and reviewing recent policy documents. This research finds that there is openness and movement towards reducing tobacco growing in Malaw, including efforts to reduce tobacco dependency. Rather than a singular tobacco policy discourse in the country, there is a somewhat conflictual set of policies and perspectives on the future of tobacco in Malawi. Informing these policies and perspectives is the interplay between the economics of agricultural production (tobacco vs other crops), global markets (ranging from the ability to generate export earnings to the inability to compete with wealthier countries' non-tobacco crop subsidies) and the lack of developed supply and value chains other than those created by the transnational tobacco industry. The implications for government policy supporting a move away from tobacco dependence are not straightforward: there is a need to fill the supply chain gap for alternative crops, which requires not only strong intersectoral support within the country (and some challenge to the residual pro-tobacco narratives) but also international support.

Improving the competitiveness of dairy products of Ukrainian producers in accordance with European standards

Improving the competitiveness of dairy products of Ukrainian producers in accordance with European standards

Economic Results of Winter Wheat and Winter Rye Production in Organic Farms – a Case Study

Studies on the economics of agricultural production in organic farms are carried out on a small scale but deliver important information about the situation of organic agricultural producers. The aim of this paper is to examine the economic and production results of organic farms cultivating winter wheat and winter rye in relation to the results of conventional farms (by way of case study). The paper used actual accounting data collected in the Agrokoszty system and Polish FADN and direct interviews with organic farmers. For detailed comparison of the economic results the methodology of calculating gross margin was used. When compared to conventional farms, the winter wheat and winter rye production results were weaker in organic farms, and a lower yield of grain was demonstrated. The selling price of organic grain was more favourable only for winter wheat. The surveyed farmers indicate the will to continue organic production. However, it is necessary to develop the organic product market and for further financial support for this production sector.

Prolonged Heat Stress Altered Autophagy Signaling in Oxidative Skeletal Muscle

Prolonged heat stress represents a continuing threat to human health and agricultural production economics. Despite this broad, negative impact little is known about underlying pathological mechanisms, which has limited the development of etiological interventions and left clinicians and producers with only cooling and rehydration strategies. The purpose of this investigation was to determine the extent to which prolonged heat stress altered autophagic signaling in oxidative skeletal muscle. We hypothesized that heat stress would induce autophagy independent of the volitional caloric restriction that accompanies heat stress. To test this hypothesis pigs were treated as follows: thermoneutral (TN; 20°C), heat stress (HS; 35°C), or were house in thermoneutral conditions but pair‐fed to the heat stress group (PFTN) for seven days. Upon euthanasia the red portion of the semitendinosus muscle was collected for subsequent measures of relative protein abundance. We determined that markers of autophagy initiation, including phosphorylated adenosine monophosphate activated protein kinase (AMPK) and Unc51‐like kinase 1 (Ulk1), were increased approximately 3‐fold (p<0.05) in HS compared to TN and PFTN. Similarly, nucleation markers, PI3 kinase class III and Beclin‐1, were increased approximately 3‐fold (p<0.05) in HS compared to TN and PFTN. We also discovered that elongation markers autophagy related gene (Atg)12 and Atg16 were increased 2‐ and 4‐fold (p<0.05), respectively, in HS compared to TN and PFTN, while Atg5 was similar between groups. Markers of autophagosome formation including microtubule‐associated protein 1A/1B‐light chain (LC3) II and the LC3 II/I ratio were increased 5‐fold (p<05) in HS and PFTN compared to TN while LC3 I was similar between groups. Sequestosome 1 (SQSTM1/p62) is consumed during autophagosomal degradation by the lysosome and is thus an inverse correlate of autophagic degradation. We discovered that relative protein abundance of p62 was increased 5‐fold (p<0.05) in HS compared to TN and PFTN. In partial support of our hypothesis, these data indicate heat stress‐mediated induction of autophagic signaling is largely independent of reduced feed intake. Further, these data also suggest a HS‐mediated stalling of autophagic degradation despite prolonged reduced feed intake.Support or Funding InformationThis work supported by USDA grants 2014‐67015‐21627 and 2011‐67003‐30007.

The grey partridge in the UK: population status, research, policy and prospects

Numbers of grey partridges (Perdix perdix) have declined catastrophically over the last 50 years in the UK. By contrast, the Partridge Count Scheme of the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) shows an 81 % increase on participating UK sites since 2000. We explore the background and reasons for this conflicting picture. GWCT research has led to scientifically proven recommendations for improving the UK partridge environment, ranging from habitat requirements to predator density. The research has influenced UK government policy, which now includes one of the most conservation–oriented and flexible agri–environment schemes in Europe, allowing land managers to recover much of the cost of grey partridge habitat creation. Culling common predators is not covered by agri–environment schemes, so it is primarily shooting estates with private gamekeepers that have implemented the full package of management measures. The future fate of the grey partridge in the UK rests on the balance between the economics of agricultural production, agri–environment measures and shooting.

De la création des Écoles vétérinaires à l’évolution de la notion de contagion aux 19e et 20e siècles

The creation of the Veterinary Schools in the 18th century would reveal a plethora of scientists, some of whom would be the precursors of Pasteur, some rivals, others followers collaborators or friends of the Master. Among the precursors let us name Chabbert, Huzard, Girard, Delafond, Renault, Toussaint, Galtier ; among the rivals: Chauveau, Arloing, Cornevin and Thomas; among the followers, collaborators or friends of Pasteur: Bouley, at first a resolute spontaneist, then the most fervent in defense of Pasteur (President of the Academy of Medicine and of the Academy of Sciences) and Nocard, Director of the School in Alfort, an important collaborator of Pasteur. Later, there was Leclainche, who created the International Office of Epizootics, and who was President of the Academy of Sciences; Guérin, who with Calmette developed the BCG vaccination; Ramon, the father of anatoxins (vaccines against diphtheria, and tetanus, combined vaccines, adjuvants to immunity). Thus, the creation of the Veterinary Schools contributed not only to the evolution of the notion of contagion, to the amelioration of animal health and the economics of agricultural production, but also to serious advances in human care, and to the protection of public health.

Reducing soil erosion and the loss of soil fertility for environmentally-sustainable agricultural cropping and livestock production systems

My proposals for reducing soil erosion are based on my experience of assessing erosion, largely in Britain, both of cultivated land and of upland grazings. I have assessed the extent and rates of erosion in the field mostly by using easily- and rapidly-used photographic and measurement techniques, rather than by using experimental plots set up either in the field or laboratory which overstate erosion. Policies which have governed the economics of agricultural production have also been examined. Much of the increase in occurrence of runoff and soil erosion in Britain is due to changes in land use and in intensity of use since the Agriculture Act was passed in 1947, and especially since joining the Common Market in 1973, with its even greater emphasis on paying for increased production. The increasing numbers of animals grazing the land, especially sheep, led to the initiation and erosion of bare soil in the uplands and to trampling and puddling of soils in lowland pastures. There is evidence that runoff from the land, and sedimentation of water courses have also increased. In the cultivated lowlands, the expansion in area of land drilled to winter cereals, the increase in area of land sown to maize or used to rear outdoor pigs, changes in farming techniques, and larger machines working in larger fields can explain much of the increase in erosion. Reversing some of these changes, for example by lowering the intensity of grazing and inserting grass (set-aside) into the arable rotation will reduce the extent of erosion. Other techniques to reduce erosion are well-known but need national and international agricultural policies that improve farmers' incomes to bring them into use. In developed countries, erosion need not reduce soil fertility, as nutrients removed from the soil by animals or crops can be affordably replaced. This may not be so in other parts of the world. Education of farmers also has a vital role to play in persuading them to use the land more sustainably, for many of the impacts of erosion such as flooding and pollution of water supplies bear on society as a whole, not just farmers who are themselves little affected. The principles devised to reduce erosion in developed countries are likely to be successful in developing countries. However, it may take many years for better and more sustainable agricultural policies at national and international level to be devised and brought into being.

Production economics: Worthwhile investment?

Agricultural production economics research is examined within a broad framework of scientific development and utilization. Recent findings in selected areas of the subdiscipline are examined and opportunities for further fruitful inquiry are identified. A few ‘stylized facts’ emerge from recent work and suggest the need for much careful hypothesis testing, model exploration, and empirical sensitivity analysis in the future.

Nonparametric Analysis of Production Efficiency: Discussion

When I was invited to be a discussant in this session dealing with nonparametric analysis of production and consumption, my initial response was rather mixed. On one hand, I teach a graduate-level course in applied statistics, and one of the topics I cover is nonparametric statistics and its application to the biological sciences. Hence, I thought it would be interesting to relate what I cover in class with what is used in applied agricultural production economics research. On the other hand, I am not familiar with this approach since I have not used the nonparametric programming method for efficiency analysis in my past research. Thus, together with my graduate students, we started applying the nonparametric production efficiency analysis in order to gain a better understanding of this approach. The deeper we got into the research topic, I realized that there was very little relationship between what is called nonparametric statistics by statisticians and nonparametric methods used to analyze production efficiency.

A Second Perspective on Earl O. Heady's. Economics of Agricultural Production and Resource Use. Englewood Cliffs NJ: Prentice Hall, 1952

A Second Perspective on Earl O. Heady's. <i>Economics of Agricultural Production and Resource Use</i>. Englewood Cliffs NJ: Prentice Hall, 1952

BOOK REVIEWS

Book reviewed in this article:Australian Agriculture. Reconciling Change and Tradition. By Kkeith O. Campbell.Surveys of Australian Economics Volume 2. Edited by F. H. GruenEconomics (Australian Edition): Principles, Problems, Policies. By John Jackson and R. Mcconnell.The Economics of Agricultural Production. By Edward Witkowski and Arnold Wells.An Introduction to Economics for Students of Agriculture. By Berkeley Hill.Agricultural Modernization, Poverty and Inequality. By David S. Gibbons, Rodolphe de Koninck and Ibrahim Hasan.Cattle, Economics and Development. By Raymond Crotty.

Witkowski, Edward, and Arnold Wells. The Economics of Agricultural Production. Sherman Oaks, Calif.: Alfred Publishing Co., 1979, xi + 231 pp., $@@‐@@14.95

American Journal of Agricultural EconomicsVolume 62, Issue 1 p. 162-162 Publication Witkowski, Edward, and Arnold Wells. The Economics of Agricultural Production. Sherman Oaks, Calif.: Alfred Publishing Co., 1979, xi + 231 pp., [email protected]@[email protected]@14.95 John A. Miranowski, John A. Miranowski Iowa State UniversitySearch for more papers by this author John A. Miranowski, John A. Miranowski Iowa State UniversitySearch for more papers by this author First published: 01 February 1980 https://doi.org/10.2307/1239491AboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL No abstract is available for this article. Volume62, Issue1February 1980Pages 162-162 RelatedInformation

Verification of Linear Programming Solutions, with Emphasis on Supply Implications

Linear programming (LP) models have been developed for a wide range of normative purposes in agricultural production economics. Despite their widespread application, a pervading concern among users is reliability — how well does a particular model actually describe and/or predict real world phenomena when it is so designed.Much attention has been devoted in recent years to methods for making programming models produce results more in line with those actually observed. These efforts have included development of more detail in production activities and restrictions, incorporation of flexibility constraints into recursive programming systems, specification of more realistic behavioral properties, and development of guidelines for reducing aggregation error.

Reviews

Book reviewed in this article: The Welsh Cattle Drovers. By J. Colyer. University of Wales Press, Cardiff Agricultural Production Economics and Resource‐Use. By Martin Upton. Oxford University Press Agricultural Policy and Economic Growth in Nigeria, 1962–1968. By J. C. Wells. Oxford University Press Agriculture and the State. Edited by Brian Davey, T. E. Josling and A. MacFarquhar Food and Poverty. By Radha Sinha. Croom Helm, London. 1976. 196 pages Rice and Risk— Decision Making among Low Income Farmers. By J. A. Bournassett

Federal-State Research Programs in the Economics of Agricultural Production - - Needs and Prospects for the Future

This paper is concerned with research priorities, future directions in production economics research, and organizational problems for the Federal-State cooperative research effort. The topic of foreign development and trade is an important one for production economists. However, the emphasis of this paper is “production economics in our domestic commercial agriculture.” In terms of the perspective and scope of this specific subject, several related matters should be considered.

Relevant Research Areas and Organizational Questions Relative to Federal-State Research Programs in the Economics of Agricultural Production

In dealing with the subject of federal-state research programs, I shall summarize areas and topics for research as visualized by some of those engaged in production economics research in the southern region, and raise some questions relative to organization for Federal-State cooperation on research programs.Complicating the problem of coordination of effort is the traditional compartmentalization of research and the entanglement one often encounters in administrative procedures when encroaching into areas and topics of research claimed by others.

PRODUCTION ECONOMICS AND THE MODERNIZATION OF TRADITIONAL AGRICULTURES

A traditional agriculture operates in a relatively static physical, economic and cultural environment and as a consequence becomes relatively well adjusted to that environment. Modernization of agriculture occurs when substantial and continuing change in the decision‐making environment provides incentives to make new farming decisions. Farming then becomes dynamic as farmers attempt to reach constantly shifting points of equilibrium. Agricultural production economics in low income countries has been too much applied to a search for disequilibria within the given static environment and not enough to the possibilities and results of deliberately changing that environment.