Soybeans are one of the most valuable crops in the world and are characterized by their multi-purpose uses: food, feed, fuel and other industrial usages such as paint, inks, and plastics. Out of 183.9 million tons of world supply/demand of soybeans in 2001-03 year, about 10% of them were...

In 2007, the National Soybean Research Laboratory in collaboration with the Iowa Agricultural Statistical Service conducted a survey of the specialty soybean and corn activities in the State for the 2006 crop year. Out of 55,879 corn and soybean farmers in Iowa, 5,000 farmers were randomly...

In 2007, the National Soybean Research Laboratory in collaboration with the Iowa Agricultural Statistical Service conducted a survey of the specialty soybean and corn activities in the State for the 2006 crop year. Out of 55,879 corn and soybean farmers in Iowa, 5,000 farmers were randomly...

Recent changes in U.S. energy policy have prompted the growth of the bio energy market. The ability to quickly enter and respond to the opportunities of this market is critical to an agribusiness’ success. Understanding entry into this rapidly growing bio energy market,however, is not well...

The protection of intellectual property rights has been a contentious issue over the last 20 years. Industrialized nations have moved to knowledge-based economies and simultaneously trade barriers have fallen, making intellectual property vulnerable. Adding to this vulnerability are conflicting...

Structural change in US agriculture has disrupted the traditional organization of the supply chain. Not only does the scale increase of firms common during the industrial period (1970-1995) continue, but also with the rise of a knowledge-based economy, new organizational forms and supply chain...

Controversy surrounding confined animal feeding operations (CAFO) is becoming more commonplace. In several regions of the country CAFOs and local residents have had disputes over odors emanating from these operations. Viewing the CAFO as jointly producing products with utility (e.g., meat) and...

Firms within the food supply chain must decide what information to provide and how to provide it. This applies to collecting information from upstream suppliers as well as to supplying information to downstream customers. Components of this vertical information situation include farmer supplier...