Agricultural Productivity and Producer Behavior

Agricultural Productivity and Producer Behavior
Author: Wolfram Schlenker
Publisher: University of Chicago Press
Total Pages: 316
Release: 2019-11-13
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 022661980X

Agricultural yields have increased steadily in the last half century, particularly since the Green Revolution. At the same time, inflation-adjusted agricultural commodity prices have been trending downward as increases in supply outpace the growth of demand. Recent severe weather events, biofuel mandates, and a switch toward a more meat-heavy diet in emerging economies have nevertheless boosted commodity prices. Whether this is a temporary jump or the beginning of a longer-term trend is an open question. Agricultural Productivity and Producer Behavior examines the factors contributing to the remarkably steady increase in global yields and assesses whether yield growth can continue. This research also considers whether agricultural productivity growth has been, and will be, associated with significant environmental externalities. Among the topics studied are genetically modified crops; changing climatic factors; farm production responses to government regulations including crop insurance, transport subsidies, and electricity subsidies for groundwater extraction; and the role of specific farm practices such as crop diversification, disease management, and water-saving methods. This research provides new evidence that technological as well as policy choices influence agricultural productivity.

Weather Economics

Weather Economics
Author: James A. Taylor
Publisher: Elsevier
Total Pages: 141
Release: 2016-04-06
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 1483159558

Weather Economics presents the papers and discussions at a symposium held at the Welsh Plant Breeding Station on March 13, 1968. The book discusses the cost of British weather; the effect of the weather on farm organization and farm management; and the weather and machinery work-days. The text also describes the basic frost, irrigation and degree-day data for planning purpose; the variations in the marginal value of agricultural labor due to weather factors; and the areal patterns in the value of early potato production in Southwest Wales in 1967. The weather and risk in forestry, as well as the use of cost/benefit studies in the interpretation of probability forecasts for agriculture and industry are also encompassed.

Climate and Food Security

Climate and Food Security
Author:
Publisher: Int. Rice Res. Inst.
Total Pages: 613
Release: 1989
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 971104210X

Food security and agricultural research; Climatic variability and crop yields; Climatic vulnerability of major food crops; Climatic variability and factors of agricultural production; Climate modeling and climate change; Social and economic implications of climate-food interaction; Strategies for coping with climatic fluctuation and change.