This paper evaluated the impact of the adoption of less tillage practices on the overall efficiency of a sample of Kansas farms. The paper also explored the relationship between overall efficiency, farm size, and less tillage. Farms that have adopted less tillage practices were relatively more...

This paper examined the relative importance of farm size, farm type, managerial ability, capital structure, operator age, family size, and off-farm income in explaining farm growth rates. Farm type, managerial ability, and operator age were significantly related to farm growth rates.

A sample of Kansas farms was used to examine the relationship between overall efficiency and farm characteristics. Overall efficiency was significantly related to operator age, farm size, and farm type. Approximately 26.7% of the farms were in the top one-third overall efficiency category for...

This paper examines the technical efficiency (TE) of a sample of farms in North-Central Kansas practicing conventional and no-till practices. A stochastic frontier production model with technical inefficiency effects is used to obtain individual farm TE values and to explain sources of technical...

The purpose of this paper is to examine the financial performance of a sample of crop/beef cow farms using the operating profit margin ratio and farm growth as relevant measures. Farms were divided into four performance categories: low profit/low growth; low profit/high growth; high profit/low...

This paper determined the optimal crop rotation in South Central Kansas. The model incorporated net return, risk, and water quality. In general, water quality improved as tillage was reduced within a rotation type and by adding an alfalfa rotation. The optimal crop rotation mixes included wheat,...

This study used 30 years of continuous data for 135 farms in Kansas to explore changes in productivity using Malmquist productivity indices (MPI). The indices were used to determine whether there was productivity convergence or divergence in Kansas farms. The results showed there was significant...

Cattle feeders face risks from fluctuating fed cattle, feeder cattle, and feed prices and cattle performance. Closeout data on 7293 pens of steers are studied to determine the relative impacts of prices and animal performance on cattle feeding profits and cost of gain. Results indicate the...

Purpose – This paper aims to develop and utilize a conceptual framework to examine the impact of liquidity and solvency on cost efficiency for a sample of Kansas farms. Design/methodology/approach – A standard cost-efficiency model is modified to incorporate liquidity and solvency ratios....