A floor and trade policy in Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs) is the market mechanism by which U.S. biofuel consumption mandates are met. A conceptual model is developed to study the impact of RINs on stimulating investment in cellulosic biofuel refineries. In a two-period framework, we...

A prominent facet of recent changes in agriculture has been the advent of precision breeding techniques. Another has been an increase in the level of information inputs and outputs associated with agricultural production. This paper identifies ways in which these features may complement in...

Site-specific management of inputs in agricultural production is receiving increased attention because of new technologies and concerns about excessive input use. This paper provides a microeconomic analysis of its implications. It shows that profit decreases with an increase in the variability...

One of the more intriguing alternatives under consideration for the 1995 Farm Bill is the "Iowa Plan." This idea originated with a group of Iowa's farm and commodity organizations. It is receiving increased attention from national farm organizations, academics, and politicians. The basic premise...

The efficiency of redistribution and the level of government costs of revenue assurance are compared with current farm programs. The results suggest that a revenue assurance program using a fixed base acreage and actual or county average yields to ensure whole farm revenues could provide a...

Legislation passed in 1996 changed the way the U.S. federal government acts to reduce risks faced by U.S. crop products. The authors compare the new, alternative forms of revenue insurance to the 1990 deficiency payment program and to a ''no-program'' alternative. They estimate the effects of...