Le Chen, Roderick M Rejesus, Zachary S Brown, Christopher N Boyer, James A Larson
{"title":"Dynamically optimal cover crop adoption","authors":"Le Chen, Roderick M Rejesus, Zachary S Brown, Christopher N Boyer, James A Larson","doi":"10.1093/erae/jbaf018","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/erae/jbaf018","url":null,"abstract":"This paper develops a stochastic dynamic programming model to investigate optimal cover crop adoption policies, accounting for cumulative effects on soil fertility, uncertain future fertilizer and output prices, irreversibility of sunk machinery costs and flexibility in the timing of adoption over time. Based on data from a 35-year cotton field experiment in West Tennessee (1984–2018), we first estimate the static and dynamic yield effects of cover crop adoption and then use these estimates to evaluate the decision of a representative cotton farmer to adopt three cover cropping practices—hairy vetch, winter wheat and crimson clover—under conventional till and no-till production systems. Econometric estimates imply significant cumulative effects of cover crops on yields, as well as static and dynamic substitution effects between cover crops and nitrogen fertilizer inputs. With these substitution effects implying increasing marginal profit from soil fertility, our analysis suggests a threshold level of soil fertility level, above which it is optimal to adopt cover crops and below which it is not. Adoption of cover crops is more favored if no-till practices have been implemented. Moreover, in the presence of sunk costs that have not yet been incurred, the optimal strategy is to postpone the adoption of cover crops in both conventional till and no-till fields until crop prices improve, the cost of adoption decreases, or fertilizer prices increase. Our results also indicate that when fertilizer prices are higher, cover crop adoption in no-till systems can lead to substantial fertilizer cost savings, with the amount of those fertilizer cost savings increasing over time as soil health further improves.","PeriodicalId":50476,"journal":{"name":"European Review of Agricultural Economics","volume":"20 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-06-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144202048","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ruslana Rachel Palatnik, Michael Borowitzka, Gal Hochman, David Zilberman
{"title":"Evolution of innovation and production supply chains: the case of microalgae-based β-carotene","authors":"Ruslana Rachel Palatnik, Michael Borowitzka, Gal Hochman, David Zilberman","doi":"10.1093/erae/jbaf019","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/erae/jbaf019","url":null,"abstract":"Establishing new bio-based sectors requires effective implementation of innovation and production supply chains, often competing with established synthetic technologies. Our analytical model conceptualizes the competition between an incumbent industry and a competitive fringe, each producing differentiated products. Although motivated by the β-carotene case, the model is versatile and applicable to other contexts involving novel products entering markets dominated by established technologies. Developed by university researchers and commercialized by start-ups, natural β-carotene was eventually integrated into major synthetic corporations. Initially niche and costly, it gained market competitiveness through innovation and expanded applications, driving technological advancements and significantly benefiting the broader algae-based industry.","PeriodicalId":50476,"journal":{"name":"European Review of Agricultural Economics","volume":"57 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-05-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144113912","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Relationship between crop diversification and farm efficiency: Does farm size matter?","authors":"Toho Hien","doi":"10.1093/erae/jbaf016","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/erae/jbaf016","url":null,"abstract":"Crop diversification has gained interest due to its role in climate change adaptation. While previous studies have focused on farm productivity and income variability, this study examines the relationship between crop diversification and farm performance, considering farm size, socio-economic status and location. Using French Farm Accountancy Data Network data from 2010 to 2022, we analyse 19,822 observations from 3,246 crop-focused farms. Results show that small farms benefit from crop diversification, while large farms face income challenges from diversification. Additionally, crop diversification increases the efficiency of larger farms. The results highlight the need for flexible policies to balance economic viability with environmental objectives.","PeriodicalId":50476,"journal":{"name":"European Review of Agricultural Economics","volume":"41 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-05-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144066841","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Bridging the rural divide: The impact of broadband grants on US agriculture","authors":"Minhae Kim, Jayash Paudel","doi":"10.1093/erae/jbaf015","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/erae/jbaf015","url":null,"abstract":"Since 2002, the Community Connect Grants (CCG) Program has provided financial assistance to provide broadband service in rural, economically challenged communities where service does not exist. We employ the event study model to show that a zip code receiving the grant experiences a 9.3 per cent increase in crop productivity after three years. This positive effect is predominantly driven by low-income areas that see a consistently positive increase in crop productivity, ranging from 6.3 to 13.8 per cent. Our findings conclude that policies designed to expand high-speed broadband infrastructure in rural areas can further develop the agricultural sector through gains in productivity.","PeriodicalId":50476,"journal":{"name":"European Review of Agricultural Economics","volume":"119 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-05-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143920281","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Meilin Ma, Shira Bukchin-Peles, Jeffery K Tomberlin, David Zilberman
{"title":"The economics of circular bioeconomy supply chains: Theory and case studies","authors":"Meilin Ma, Shira Bukchin-Peles, Jeffery K Tomberlin, David Zilberman","doi":"10.1093/erae/jbaf012","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/erae/jbaf012","url":null,"abstract":"Circular bioeconomy employs advanced life science technologies to utilize renewable natural resources to produce goods and is a key part of the sustainable development strategy. Most circular-bioeconomy supply chains, however, are still in their infancy. We propose a conceptual model that characterizes the farm decision to adopt the circular use of agricultural residues such as animal waste and corn stover. The model highlights the complementarity between farm outputs and the residue and pins down key determinants of adoption. We illustrate how the economic forces work by examining two budding circular-bioeconomy supply chains—biochar and black soldier fly.","PeriodicalId":50476,"journal":{"name":"European Review of Agricultural Economics","volume":"10 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143893139","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The impact of the Crimea annexation on agricultural trade: A structural gravity approach","authors":"Dimitrios Dadakas, Renáta Pitoňáková, Evangelos Ioannidis","doi":"10.1093/erae/jbaf010","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/erae/jbaf010","url":null,"abstract":"We examine the impact of the 2014 Russian annexation of Crimea on global agricultural trade flows. Using a structural gravity model with a Poisson Pseudo Maximum Likelihood (PPML) estimator and intra-country sales, we differentiate the effects of the war from those of the sanctions on trade. We estimate conditional General Equilibrium PPML counterfactual scenarios and apply a “conventional two-step approach” to assess trade potential for Russia, Ukraine and European Union members. Our results suggest that while both Russia’s and Ukraine’s trade flows benefited during the post-annexation period, sanctions had a negative impact, with Russia experiencing more severe effects.","PeriodicalId":50476,"journal":{"name":"European Review of Agricultural Economics","volume":"33 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-04-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143875949","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The effect of heat stress on risk and efficiency in dairy farming","authors":"Iordanis Parikoglou, Robert Finger","doi":"10.1093/erae/jbaf013","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/erae/jbaf013","url":null,"abstract":"Our study employs a stochastic frontier model that explains short- and long-run production risk and efficiency with respect to heat stress conditions and other farm specific characteristics. We use an unbalanced dataset of specialist Swiss dairy farmers between 2003 and 2014. We find that farms are not able to reduce production risk towards heat stress in the short run. We also find that farm-specific characteristics explain risk and efficiency patterns in short and long run. Our results hold important policy implications regarding sustainability and resilience of dairy farming towards heat stress, with generalizations in the European policy context.","PeriodicalId":50476,"journal":{"name":"European Review of Agricultural Economics","volume":"238 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-04-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143837134","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Aswini Kumar Mishra, Ashok K Mishra, Kamesh Anand, Swayam Ranjan
{"title":"Risk spillovers between crude oil and agricultural commodities in India: Insights from two major global disruptions","authors":"Aswini Kumar Mishra, Ashok K Mishra, Kamesh Anand, Swayam Ranjan","doi":"10.1093/erae/jbaf011","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/erae/jbaf011","url":null,"abstract":"This study examines the dynamics of the integration of and risk transmission between India’s crude oil price index and nine agricultural commodity spot prices. The study uses daily price volatility data from June 2015 to December 2023 and a time-varying parameter vector autoregressive framework to investigate short-term and long-term connectedness dynamics. The results show a strong relationship between crude oil and agricultural commodity prices in India. Soybean oil is a significant transmitter within the network, and crude oil emerges as a primary net recipient. The average total connectedness index (TCI) value was about 36 per cent, with 27 per cent in the short term and 8.9 per cent in the long term. The average TCI value during the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) period was 32.6 per cent, and that during the Russia–Ukraine war period was 24.3 per cent, with volatility spillovers in the network occurring primarily in the short term. Dynamic variations in connectedness over time highlight the impact of specific events, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia–Ukraine war. This study identifies the net transmitters and net receivers of volatility shocks within a network, providing insights that can help with portfolio diversification and strategic decision-making.","PeriodicalId":50476,"journal":{"name":"European Review of Agricultural Economics","volume":"183 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-04-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143822825","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Unravelling theory in choice analysis: do consumers fill in the blanks?","authors":"Anna Kristina Edenbrandt, Barbara Häsler","doi":"10.1093/erae/jbaf009","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/erae/jbaf009","url":null,"abstract":"Unravelling theory postulates that consumers assume products without quality information are of the lowest quality. In a discrete choice experiment (DCE) with 1987 respondents from the UK, we find evidence against this assumption. Affirmative disclosure, which indicates only quality above the lowest level, lowers marginal utilities compared to complete disclosure. The development in food choice DCE studies, from textual and complete towards visual and affirmative increases mean willingness to pay and error variance. This suggests that analysts should carefully consider how attributes are presented when designing DCEs to avoid biased welfare estimates, especially when aiming for accurate market predictions or policy advice.","PeriodicalId":50476,"journal":{"name":"European Review of Agricultural Economics","volume":"183 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-03-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143736502","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Why did U.S. food retailers voluntarily pledge to go cage-free with eggs?","authors":"Xiao Dong","doi":"10.1093/erae/jbaf007","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/erae/jbaf007","url":null,"abstract":"I develop a model of provision competition between food retailers to examine one potential economic rationale behind voluntary cage-free egg pledges. I show that competition pushes retailers to a prisoners’ dilemma equilibrium where retailers incur fixed costs to offer both non-cage-free and cage-free eggs to steal or prevent the loss of some basket-shopping consumers. In a dynamic setting, retailers can potentially sustain an equilibrium of higher profits by collectively withholding non-cage-free eggs. I show that changing supply conditions and consumer trends could have led to such an equilibrium with pledges acting as a signal to potentially facilitate tacit coordination.","PeriodicalId":50476,"journal":{"name":"European Review of Agricultural Economics","volume":"70 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-03-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143653372","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}