Wen-Yuan Huang

THE ADOPTION OF IPM TECHNIQUES BY VEGETABLE GROWERS IN FLORIDA, MICHIGAN AND TEXAS

Factors influencing the adoption of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) techniques are studied using survey data from individual vegetable producers from Florida, Michigan, and Texas. Farmers who adopt IPM tend to be less risk averse and use more managerial time on farm activities than nonadopters. Adopters are also more likely to operate large, irrigated farms and use more family labor. Locational factors and the type of crop grown are also influential in IPM adoption. The analysis uses a logit framework and introduces adopter categories first conceptualized by rural sociologists.

Economic Impacts of EPA's Manure Application Regulations on Dairy Farms with Lagoon Liquid Systems in the Southwest Region

EPAs new restrictions on land application of manure nutrients by concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) could decrease the net return of 6-17% of the medium and large dairy farms with lagoon systems in the southwestern United States. Many of the other dairy CAFOs in the region could achieve higher net income under the restrictions if they reduce feed costs by better utilizing manure and expanding homegrown feed production.

An assessment of the potential risks of groundwater and surface water contamination by agricultural chemicals used in vegetable production

Abstract This study identifies agricultural chemicals used in vegetable production in Arizona, Florida, Michigan and Texas that are potential contaminants of groundwater and surface water, which, in turn, pose risks to human health. Arizona and Florida are more likely to have nitrate leaching problems than Michigan or Texas. The potential for pesticide leaching is relatively high in Arizona head lettuce production and Michigan asparagus production but only moderate in Florida tomato production and Texas watermelon production. The potential for soil-adsorbed runoff and solution runoff in Arizona head lettuce, Florida tomatoes and Michigan asparagus is low to moderate. The potential for these sorts of losses in Texas watermelon production is relatively high. Vegetable production around Phoenix, Arizona, in southeast Texas, and in the entire State of Florida is located such that groundwater aquifers which supply drinking water are vulnerable to contamination.

Nitrogen fertilizer application timing: A decision theoretic approach for United States cotton

Abstract This paper is concerned with a farmers decision on the timing of nitrogen fertilizer application. It shows that for dryland cotton production, a split application of nitrogen fertilizer whereby some fertilizer is applied before and some after planting is the optimal strategy. Additionally, a risk‐averse cotton farmer, as compared to a risk‐neutral farmer, will apply more nitrogen fertilizer prior to planting. Finally, for irrigated cotton, the application of nitrogen fertilizer during the growing season is the optimal strategy. The results of the analysis explain the observed nitrogen fertilizer timing decision of cotton farmers.

An assessment of alternative agricultural policies to reduce nitrogen fertilizer use

Abstract The costs associated with using different crop rotation patterns designed to reduce the use of nitrogen fertilizer under alternative agricultural policy options are measured. The policy options considered include those incorporated in the Food Security Act of 1985, a No Farm Program option, a Nitrogen Fertilizer Tax option, a Corn Sales Tax option, and a Limiting Nitrogen Fertilizer Use option. To achieve an objective of reducing the nitrogen available for potential leaching into groundwater, crop rotation patterns associated with limiting nitrogen fertilizer use appear to have the lowest cost to the farmer, while a corn sales tax has the highest cost. The costs are computed based on data from the Iowa State University experiment farm at Kanawha, Iowa.

Using Insurance to Enhance Nitrogen Fertilizer Application to Reduce Nitrogen Losses to the Environment

The advantage of using insurance to help a farmer adopt a best nitrogen management plan (BNMP) that reduces the impact of agricultural production on the environment is analytically and empirically demonstrated. Using an expected value analysis, it is shown that an insurance program can be structured soas to reduce a farmers cost of bearing the adoption risk associated with changing production practices and, thus, to improve the farmers certainty equivalent net return thereby promoting the adoption of a BNMP. Using the adoption of growing-season only N fertilizer application in Iowa as a case study, it is illustrated how insurance may be used to promote the adoption of this practice to reduce N fertilizeruse. It is shown that it is possible for a farmer and an insurance company both to have an incentive to develop an insurance adoption program that will benefit both the farmer and the insurance company, increasing net social welfare and improving environmental quality in Iowa.

Timing Nitrogen Fertilizer Application to Reduce Nitrogen Losses to the Environment

The advantage of using insurance to help a farmeradopt a best nitrogen management plan (BNMP) thatreduces the impact of agricultural production on theenvironment is analytically and empiricallydemonstrated. Using an expected value analysis, it isshown that an insurance program can be structured soas to reduce a farmers cost of bearing the adoptionrisk associated with changing production practicesand, thus, to improve the farmers certaintyequivalent net return thereby promoting the adoptionof a BNMP. Using the adoption of growing-season onlyN fertilizer application in Iowa as a case study, itis illustrated how insurance may be used to promotethe adoption of this practice to reduce N fertilizeruse. It is shown that it is possible for a farmer andan insurance company both to have an incentive todevelop an insurance adoption program that willbenefit both the farmer and the insurance company,increasing net social welfare and improvingenvironmental quality in Iowa.

The potential risks of groundwater and surface water contamination by agricultural chemicals used in vegetable production

Abstract This study identifies those agricultural chemicals used in vegetable production in Arizona, Florida, Michigan, and Texas that are potential contaminants of groundwater and surface water which, in turn, pose risks to human health. Arizona and Florida are more likely to have nitrate leaching problems than Michigan or Texas. The potential for pesticide leaching is relatively high in Arizona head lettuce production and Michigan asparagus production but only moderate in Florida tomato production and Texas watermelon production. The potential for soil‐adsorbed runoff and solution runoff in Arizona head lettuce, Florida tomatoes, and Michigan asparagus production is low to moderate. The potential for these sorts of losses in Texas watermelon production is relatively high. Vegetable production around Phoenix, Arizona, in southeast Texas, and in the entire state of Florida is located such that groundwater aquifers which supply drinking water are vulnerable to contamination.

The effect of crop rotation on reducing excess nitrogen fertilizer use

Abstract Among the various policy options available to reduce the excess application of nitrogen, including restricting the nitrogen fertilizer application rate and taxing nitrogen fertilizer, adoption of a soy-bean–corn rotation, while coincidentally limiting the nitrogen fertilizer application rate, will have the lowest compliance cost for a farmer. This rotation also will be the most efficient option, by maintaining a profitable level of crop production irrespective of the ratio of the nitrogen fertilizer price and the corn price. Using rotation on cropland with a high potential for leaching will have a smaller compliance cost relative to that found when the cropland has moderate leaching potential.

The Economic Impacts of Restricting Agricultural Uses of Manure on Hog Farms in Southern Seaboard

ABSTRACT EPA in December, 2000 proposed rules that would bring more livestock operations under regulation and restrict manure application more closely to crop nutrient needs. This paper, using individual whole-farm modeling applied to survey data, assessed the impacts of the proposed regulation on hog farms in the Southern Seaboard region. Results showed impacts would be particularly severe on large-size farms (over 2,500 pigs) applying manure to Bermuda hay. Feeding hogs a phytase diet that reduces phosphorous in manure reduced the income loss for farms with limited acres for applying manure.