Ruminant livestock production in North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, and Wyoming is critical to the region's economy. Because of the economic significance of ruminant livestock production, producers in the four-state area are continually looking for opportunities to increase income and improve...

Education can play a critical role in moving farmers in developing countries away from environmentally harmful slash and burn agriculture. The present research examines the extent to which extension education can promote adoption of cropping systems other than slash and burn. Choice of cropping...

Variety release decisions involve a number of tradeoffs, usually between grower and end-user characteristics as well as significant uncertainties about agronomic, quality, and economic variables. In this study, methodologies were developed to value tradeoffs for grower and end-user...

Stochastic simulation was used to determine the marginal cost and optimal testing strategy (location and intensity) for an integrator conforming to proposed European Union traceability requirements for imported hard red spring wheat. Cost, risks and premiums were determined for exports of...

This study analyzes two farm bill proposals that would replace the Federal Agricultural Improvement and Reform Act: the U.S. House of Representatives Bill H.R. 2646 and the Senate Agriculture Committee proposal. Both proposals try to incorporate the additional emergency federal funding that...

The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), first enacted in 1985, seeks to achieve both conservation and agricultural supply control objectives through voluntary, long-term (10 year contracts) retirement of cropland. By fall 2000, the program had enrolled about 31.4 million acres nationwide, and...

This study analyzes three farm bill proposals that could replace the Federal Agricultural Improvement and Reform Act: The U.S. House of Representatives Bill H.R. 2646, the Senate Agriculture Committee Proposal, and the Agricultural Conservation Rural Enhancement (ACRE) Act. All proposals try to...

This study summarizes an analysis of uniform, topographical and other site-specific soil fertility testing procedures based on observations of various crops at various locations in North Dakota and one location in Minnesota for 2001 through 2004. Results showed little difference in economic...

Agricultural industries in small geographical areas with limited acreage tend to be overlooked by those not associated with the growing region or industry. Sugarbeets continue to be produced in a relatively small geographic area and on relatively limited acreage in Minnesota, North Dakota, and...

This article utilizes the Survey of Small Business Finances to compare and contrast trade credit practices of rural small business firms. The results show that these firms borrow money and then re-lend it to others in the form of trade credit. There is a strong direct relationship between...