Increasingly, interdisciplinary research is being touted as a way to solve real-life problems of interest to the taxpayers who support research at public universities. The purpose of this paper is to examine the benefits of interdisciplinary agricultural research involving economists and natural...

This study identifies and analyzes factors that contribute to the success of small farms. Particular attention is given to the effect of participation in marketing and supply cooperatives on the success of small farms. Using modified net farm income per dollar of assets and operator’s...

The elimination of the quota program in 2002 reduced the barrier to entry into the peanut shelling industry. Peanut producers have expressed interest in integrating up to peanut shelling and marketing their own peanuts to peanut manufacturers. The peanut shelling and manufacturing sectors are...

Pasture-raised livestock production offers opportunity for product differentiation and enhanced sustainability. Shopper surveys at three Michigan retail locations measured consumers’ attitudes and beliefs regarding pasture-raised livestock products, and willingness to pay for...

A survey was used to gauge consumer preferences toward four fresh pork attributes: juiciness, tenderness, marbling, and leanness. The survey elicited consumer willingness-to-pay a premium for an improvement in these attributes. Approximately one-half of the respondents were willing to pay some...

A new paradigm is needed in extension marketing programs. Attempts to help producers time the market, either through cask sales or futures trading, appear to be of little benefit. Marketing extension programs need to place less emphasis on outlook and futures trading and more emphasis on simple...

Agricultural cooperatives have been restructuring, by way of mergers, acquisitions, joint-ventures, and strategic alliances, to increase efficiencies to remain competitive in a changing business environment. The research evaluating the reorganization of cooperatives has revealed that less than...

This paper examines determinants of consumers’ willingness to pay a premium for grass-fed and organic dairy by using survey data collected from several south-eastern states. Ordered and Heckman probit regression techniques were used to identify the significance of consumer characteristics...