We use multiple measures of agricultural total factor productivity (TFP) change to examine the relationship between agricultural productivity and poverty in developing countries. We employ a stochastic frontier analysis to estimate agricultural TFP changes for 113 countries using output distance...

This study seeks to determine the workings of a system of acreage allocation given price and yield uncertainty so as to identify the role that uncertainty in market output has in acreage allocation decisions.

The objective of the paper is to provide an estimate of the use value of the High Plains aquifer in agriculture. A region-wide production function for the crop sector is estimated. Using the production response to irrigation we estimate the value of groundwater for agriculture in $231/acre at...

Using data from a survey of Iowa farmers we examine producers’ willingness to supply corn stover, corn cobs and energy grasses for biomass markets. We identify factors that affect producers’ interest in growing biomass crops as well critical barriers to participation. Choices among biomass...

This paper reports SERF analysis to help rice landlords in the Upper Coastal Bend of Texas evaluate alternative crop insurance combinations of yield loss and prevented planting coverage levels given uncertainty related to surface irrigation water curtailment. For baseline and high curtailment...

We model water use, aquifer recharge and producer returns over 30 years in three watersheds to determine impact of modified water cost and construction of reservoirs. To maintain groundwater resources, raising cost of pumped water by a buffer value to the aquifer resource and using surface...

We measure Malmquist index of total factor productivity (TFP) changes in the agricultural sector of Brazil and Argentina during 1971-2002. The TFP change index is further decomposed into efficiency change and technical change. We then compare the cumulative TFP growth and its components in both...

Economic returns to Burkina Faso cotton producers from selling to the government parastatal are compared to those that could be obtained by selling on the international spot market. Based on historical prices, for certain levels of risk aversion, the parastatal price would be preferred to the...

This study analyzes the impact of climatic variability on ethanol trade between the Brazil and the U.S over a study period of 30 years, from 1980-2009. An econometric model was set up to estimate a net export supply function for Brazil, and a net import demand function for the U.S, as impacted...