Concentration in the beef packing industry has been rising for the past 25 years. Many studies of market power in beef packing are based on the conjectural variations framework, which depends on accurate estimates of packer input and processing costs. We propose an alternative measure of packer...

This paper uses a new market analysis methodology to examine price and trade relationships in eight Pacific Rim factor and product markets central to the Canadian and U.S. pork industries. The new method enables direct estimation of the frequency with which a variety of market conditions occur,...

Hedging in the live cattle futures market has largely been viewed as a method of reducing producer's price over a rather lengthy production period (three to six months). Meat packers and processors also face price risk. However, packers' and processors' price risk lies on the upside (i.e., risk...

Beef packing has become an extremely concentrated industry, yet studies have found that little, if any market power exists. We propose and test alternative measures of behavior that may better describe how packers control purchases from feedlots, using confidential data collected by the USDA...

A second-price Vickrey-style auction is used to determine the willingness to pay (WTP) for credence attributes found in "cause" coffees. WTP estimates were then compared with actual market price information. The results indicate positive average bids for the cause coffees. However, premiums were...

Feeder calf prices are examined from a national video auction sales from 2004-2006. Many cattle, lot, and market characteristics significantly impact feeder cattle basis. Auction prices were adjusted for quality differences and for transportation costs and compared across regions. Basis was...

The dynamic relationship between daily cash and futures prices is investigated using time series analysis. The procedure involves causality tests between the two price series. The results show that futures price movements lead cash prices, implying that prices are discovered in the futures market.

The IFAMR is published quarterly by the International Food and Agribusiness Management Association. Visit website: www.ifama.org