Utilizing an input-output approach, this paper reports the local economic impacts from the expansion of an ethanol plant in Missouri. With the expansion ofthe U.S. ethanol industry in the form of both new and expandingplants both types of growth should be taken into account. This research...

The selection of herd bulls is important in determining profitability of commercial ranchers and cow-calf operators as well as purebred producers. In this research, the key attributes of bulls – based on visual, performance, and ultrasound data – are valued using a traditional...

Mailbox milk prices from a representative dairy operation in Illinois are used to gauge the farmlevel hedging effectiveness of Class III milk futures traded on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. Predominantly used by manufacturers and end users to price cheese, the Class III milk futures are not...

Production records for swine producers specializing in niche markets (e.g., natural) are analyzed to determine the factors impacting profitability. The data span a cross section of 42 niche pork producers and record their 2006 production costs. Profitability was measured by the net margin...

Cellulosic-based ethanol production is a cornerstone of current and proposed U.S. renewable fuels policy. Indeed, some recent proposals include a nearly five-fold increase in renewable fuels production, the majority of which would have to come from cellulosic ethanol. U.S. farmers will clearly...

Agribusinesses, producers and farm managers rely heavily on forecasts made by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and other government agencies in forming expectations that drive management decisions. While agency forecasts are a valuable and low cost source of forecast information, it is...