We utilize a treatment effects model to examine if there are differences in costs/profits for manure-using corn producers versus non-users. We find that manure users have lower peracre operating costs via reductions in fertilizer and soil conditioner costs; however, the use of manure reduces grain yields and ultimately leads to no difference in profit. Separate results indicate that manure-use restrictions do not affect costs or profits; thus policies could be in place to regulate manure usage without impacting the costs/profit structure of the farm.

In the wake of a severe economic crisis in the 1980s Costa Rica abandoned animport substitution model of development adopted in the 1960s andimplemented policies supporting foreign investment and the diversificationof its exports. This study presents an application of the model proposed byHerzer and Nowak-Lehnmann to test the hypothesis that export diversificationhas contributed to economic growth in Costa Rica via externalities oflearning-by-doing and learning-by-exporting over the period of 1965–2006.After using the autoregressive distributed lags and dynamic ordinary leastsquares models no long-run relationship was found between exportdiversification and growth.

This research analyzes two groundwater conservation policies in the Kansas High Plains located within the Ogallala aquifer: 1) cost-share assistance to increase irrigation efficiency; and 2) incentive payments to convert irrigated crop production to dryland crop production. To compare the cost-effectiveness of these two policies, a dynamic model simulated a representative irrigator's optimal technology choice, crop selection, and irrigation water use over time. The results suggest that the overall water-saving effectiveness can be improved when different policy tools are considered under different conditions. High prevailing crop prices greatly reduce irrigators' incentive to give up irrigation and therefore cause low enrollment and ineffectiveness of the incentive payment program. In areas with low aquifer-saturated thickness, the incentive payment program is more effective, whereas in areas with relatively higher water availability, the cost-share program could be a better choice.

Using manure as a substitute for commercial fertilizer could potentiallyreduce fertilizer costs and also reduce non-point source pollution.Livestock farmers in Missouri and Iowa were surveyed regarding their manuremanagement practices. Eighty-one percent of turkey farmers versus 5% of beeffarmers transferred manure to other farmers. Fifty-one percent of farmerswho transferred manure indicated it had been tested. Factors decreasingadoption included higher off-farm incomes, solid versus liquid manure, andmore animal units per acre. Factors increasing adoption included distancetransferred, a contract for the manure, payment, and thinking that manuretesting was profitable.

We estimate the demand for imported cotton in China and assess the competitiveness of cotton-exporting countries. Given the assertion that developing countries are negatively affected by U.S. cotton subsidies, our focus is the price competition between the United States and competing exporters (Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, India, and Uzbekistan). We further project how U.S. programs affect China's imports by country. Results indicate that if U.S. subsidies make other exporting countries worse off, this effect is lessened when global prices respond accordingly. If subsidies are eliminated, China's cotton imports may not fully recover from the temporary spike in global prices.

The inclusion of cover crops in cropping systems brings direct and indirect costs and benefits. Farmers will adopt and utilize cover crops as long as the perceived benefit of using them is positive. This paper examines the demographic and management factors affecting the adoption and perceived benefit (in terms of improved crop yield) of using winter annual cover crops. A double selectivity model of cover crop adoption and perceived yield gain was estimated using survey data of Alabama farmers examining cover crop use and management. Results may help in understanding factors shaping farmers' perceptions, adoption, and retention of cover crops.

A choice experiment with real products was used to investigate consumerwillingness to pay (WTP) for several low-input attributes of turfgrasses.The choice scenarios consisted of turfgrass plots, which varied in aestheticquality characteristics and were labeled with differing levels ofmaintenance requirements (irrigation, fertilizer, etc.), shade adaptation,origin, and price. A mixed logit model was used to analyze the choice dataand estimate consumer WTP. Our results suggest that low-input maintenanceattributes significantly influence consumer choice behavior and identify astrong consumer preference for reduced irrigation and mowing requirements.The introduction of low-input turfgrasses could be a viable strategy forreducing the maintenance inputs and costs for residential lawn care.

This article examines the impact of Bt corn adoption in the Philippines using an econometric approach that addresses simultaneity, selection, and censoring problems. Although previous literature emphasizes the importance of simultaneity and selection problems, this is the first study that addresses the issue of censoring in estimating the effects of Bt corn adoption at the farm in a developing country context. We show that Bt corn adoption provides modest but statistically significant increases in farm yields and profits. Furthermore, our results provide some evidence of inference errors that can potentially arise when censoring in the pesticide application variable is ignored in the estimation procedures.

This article identifies factors that influence agricultural economics professionals' job choice between academic and government employment. Respondents agreed that job responsibilities were the most important factor in choosing their current position. They also agreed that having a positive work environment, good salary, family time, adequate resources, and professional and social interaction were important job attributes. Proportionally more women than men regarded partner opportunities, nondiscrimination, time for child care, and supportive colleagues as very important attributes influencing their decisions. A binomial probit of respondents' current job sector indicates significant job choice determinants include sector preference (academic or government), previous professional experience, a positive work environment, and advancement opportunities.

The economic feasibility of soybeans, grain sorghum, and corn in annualrotation with winter wheat using reduced tillage and no-tillage systems inthe Central Great Plains was evaluated, with continuous wheat and grainsorghum also analyzed. Net returns were calculated using simulated yield andprice distributions based on historical yields, two historical annual priceseries, and 2011 costs. Stochastic Efficiency with Respect to a Function wasused to determine the preferred strategies under various risk preferences.The no-till wheat-soybean and reduced-till wheat-soybean systems are thefirst and second most preferred, regardless of the level of riskaversion.

I am perhaps not the best person to argue the case of Agricultural Economics over that of Applied Economics. WhenI came to Clemson in 1975, we were Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology. When the number of sociologists dropped to one in1990, we became Agricultural and Applied Economics. OurPh.D. program had already adopted the title Applied Economics in 1984. People like Jim Hite, Buddy Dillman, and MarkHenry were leaders in Environmental Economics and Rural Economic Developmentand were fans of Applied Economics. I strongly agreed withthese name changes at the time. Clemson was in the vanguard of similar namechanges across the country over the past 25 years. But, I wonder now if wewere wise or not.

So, here we are again, beating on a horse that, while not dead, is alreadyout of the barn.

When asked to speak to the question of whether the word “applied” should bein the title of our association, I understood that I was to make the casefor including “applied” in addition to the word “agriculture,” not replacingit. I think focusing narrowly on either “applied” or ”agriculture”needlessly reduces our options, and, in my view, excludes the preferredoption. My argument is for the title, Southern Agricultural and AppliedEconomics Association, or SAAEA. I am making a case for that change.

Tall fescue toxicosis adversely affects calving rate and weight gainsreducing returns to cow-calf producers in the south–central United States.This grazing study estimated animal and economic performance implications ofendophyte-infected fescue and calving season. Establishing novelendophyte-infected tall fescue on 25% of pasture acres resulted in improvedcalving rates (87% vs. 70%), weaning weights (532 lbs vs. 513 lbs), andpartial returns per acre ($257 vs. $217). Additionally, fall-calving cowshad higher calving rates (91% vs. 67%), weaning weights (550 lbs vs. 496lbs), and partial returns per acre ($269 vs. $199) than spring calvingcows.