This research forecasts peak call volume to allow a centralized call center to minimize staffing costs. A Gaussian copula is used to capture the dependence among nonnormal distributions. Peak call volume can be easily and more accurately predicted using the marginal probability distribution with...

Producer-owned business models are rapidly evolving. Producer-owned, value-added ventures face a number of organizational challenges, including capital acquisition, security exchange registration, antitrust exemption, borrowing eligibility, and operational flexibility. This paper examines the...

The objective of the study is to determine how grain-based ethanol, cellulosic-based ethanol, and biodiesel production could influence cropping patterns in the Southern Plains. The study analyzes current and potential biofuel crop production and projects cropping changes at various biofuel prices.

The paper summarizes the harvesting and transportation costs of biomass in an individual producer’s framework versus a cooperative framework using a feasibility template developed in MS Excel. The cost is compared between individual producer having 1000 acres of land and a cooperative with...

The number of operating wineries in the United States has doubled during the past decade. Most of this growth has been due to a large number of entrepreneurial landowners developing their own small acreage vineyards and trying to branch into winemaking. However, wineries are capital-intensive...

Audited financial statements of 22 Oklahoma cooperatives were used to investigate the success of mergers in improving financial performance. Five categories of annual financial ratios were calculated for each firm. Paired difference tests were used to analyze the success of the merger in...

Country elevators competed chiefly through increased efficiency in grain handling and transportation. The development by the railroads of more favorable rates for multi-car shipments (unit train) has led grain cooperatives and other agribusiness firms to invest in high speed rail load out...

Characteristics and potential loan volume growth of different borrower types is assessed relative to the opinions of Oklahoma Farm Credit senior officials and loan officers. Senior officials are more positive relative to the characteristics of non-traditional borrowers; however, both agree these...