Journal of Agricultural & Resource Economics

Abstract An evolving policy landscape is set to drastically alter agricultural land use throughout the southwestern U.S. More stringent groundwater management policies are already diminishing water allocations for agriculture, prompting significant increases in land fallowing.

Abstract This study investigates farmers' preferences for policies promoting climate adaptation strategies. The results indicate that farmers prefer policies including technology subsidies, technical training, and agricultural insurance. Furthermore, the analysis reveals significant complementarity effects between technology subsidies and technical training, technology subsidies and agricultural insurance, as well as agricultural insurance and agricultural production trusteeship.

Abstract This study evaluates the economic impacts of foreign mergers and acquisitions (M&As) in the United States agrifood sector from 2010Ð2019. We discover differential effects based on the type of country from which the acquiring company originates. M&As from developing countries negatively affect gross domestic product and employment, suggesting a strategy of acquiring capabilities and resources rather than improving productivity.

Abstract Undocumented workers are an important part of the workforce in many sectors of the U.S. economy, particularly in the agrifood sector. The Trump administration is deporting undocumented workers.This study quantifies the impacts of a mass deportation policy on the U.S. economy and on key sectors using a multi-regional general equilibrium model that includes an undocumented workforce and the movement of migrants across countries.

Abstract We examine how diagnosed lactose intolerance and overweight/obesity affect household purchases of dairy milk and plant-based milk alternatives (PBMA) from 2011 to 2020 using Nielsen Homescan and health survey data. Applying a Heckman two-step model, we find that households with lactose-intolerant members increase purchases of lactose-free milk and PBMA while reducing dairy milk. Households with overweight or obese members shift toward fat-free milk and away from whole milk and PBMA.

Abstract An EASI model is adopted to investigate the demand structure for dairy and non-dairy milk types in the United States, using weekly time-series data from January 2017 to August 2023. The demands for almond, cashew, and oat plant-based milk alternatives (PBMA) and lactose-free and traditional white milk are elastic, but inelastic for coconut, rice, and soy PBMA and organic milk. Almond and oat are complements, while cashew and coconut are substitutes.

Abstract Recreational fisheries increasingly face pressure to balance diverse angler preferences with ecological sustainability. This study uses Best-Worst Scaling to evaluate how anglers in Utah's Blue Ribbon Fisheries prioritize site attributes. Results indicate high value on both abundant fish and natural beauty. Latent Class Analysis identifies two segments: catch-focused and eco-focused anglers.

Abstract Nitrogen response models are often estimated as plateau type models. Existing plateau models are nonlinear in the parameters. The model introduced here is a multi-degree spline plateau model, which is linear in parameters. The linearity allows using approximation methods so that estimating a spatially varying coefficient model with Bayesian Kriging could be a commercially feasible approach to guide precision nitrogen applications.

The spread of chronic wasting disease (CWD) has threatened the future of the hunting economy in North America. A discrete choice experiment survey of deer hunters showed a progressively higher premium for sites with lower CWD rates, revealing the trade-off between the disease prevalence and other site attributes.

Abstract We compare the accuracy of crop condition models from existing literature in forecasting U.S. corn and soybean yields. The data for the study consists of weekly state and national crop condition ratings from the USDA over 1986 through 2022. A battery of statistical tests is applied to perform out-of-sample forecasts over 2000 through 2022.