The purpose of this study is to evaluate potential changes in the length of product life cycles in the US seed corn industry. We use the observed survival time on the market for hybrids sold during 1997-2009 to conduct a survival analysis. Our empirical results show that the average lifetimes of...

Farmers in Pakistan have been growing cotton that contains the first generation of Bt gene since 2002. The cultivation of these varieties, although formally unapproved and unregulated, increased rapidly after 2005. In 2007, nearly 60 percent of the cotton area was under BT varieties. This paper...

This poster presents the potential impact of Bt cotton adoption in Pakistan. The size and distribution of economic benefits from the commercial adoption of Bt cotton in Pakistan are examined under four hypothetical scenarios. The adjusted economic surplus model is used to measure total benefits...

This article examines the effects of R&D on cotton yield and relationship between R&D and commodity support programs. The results indicate that yield elasticities with respect to cotton R&D is around 0.2-0.5 based on different regions. It further indicates that R&D increases government...

The U.S. nursery industry is highly complex, and affected on their demand side by the construction industry and on their factor supply side by the market for low-skill labor, which in turn is influenced by gyrating construction activity as well as southern-border immigration. We examine an...

We used a state contingent approach to give a detailed analysis of the uncertainty surrounding seed trait adoption. Our framework emphasizes the role of timing and information in farmers’ adoption decisions. The inherent embeddedness of seed traits results in timing restrictions and the...

Corn yield is determined by soils, weather, seed used and other technology choices. Global population and per capita income growth trends as well as demand from the energy sector have placed great stress on cropland use. Global cropland acres and/or yield per acre will need to increase. Whether...

Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) regimes for plant breeding are generally justified on the basis that they encourage innovation. Introduction of IPR regimes for plant varieties in the United States has led to increased concentration, but it is less clear whether IPRs have promoted useful...

2010 AAEA Presidential Address; forthcoming in January 2011 AJAE in shortened version.