Long Term Planning for Crop Production (pdf)
Karen Klonsky, Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, University of California, Davis
The selection of enterprises for the farm must be made in the context of the overall farm business strategy and long run vision. In addition, the proposed crop should be a reasonable choice for your farm with respect to soil and climate conditions and available resources. The following discussion will focus on permanent crop enterprises, but the basic concepts presented pertain to annual crops as well as livestock enterprises.
Managing Risk With Revenue Insurance (pdf)
Robert Dismukes, Economic Research Service, USDA Keith Coble, Agricultural Economics Department, Mississippi State University
Crop revenue insurance offers farmers a way to manage revenue variability that results from yield and price risks. Commodity-level revenue insurance, particularly for corn, soybeans, and wheat, has become a major part of the subsidized federal crop insurance program. Whole-farm revenue insurance, based on combined revenue from all commodities produced on a farm, is a more broad-based approach, but is difficult to administer.
2007 Adjusted Gross Revenue (pdf)
Risk Management Agency Fact Sheet No. 1906. (2 pp.) November 2006.
Agricultural Contracts and Risk Management (pdf)
Rachael E. Goodhue, Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, University of California, Davis, and Leo K. Simon, Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, University of California, Berkeley
A grower’s risk management strategy must address a number of types of risk. Agricultural production is risky in a number of ways, including the quantity and quality of production and the costs of essential inputs. Agricultural marketing introduces additional sources of risk. Crop insurance and agricultural contracts are management tools which aid growers in managing production risks.
The Power of Producer Collaboration (pdf)
Shermain D. Hardesty, Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, University of California, Davis
Cooperative organizations play an important role in strengthening market access and competitive returns for specialty crop producers. Key economic conditions face specialty crop producers. The cooperative structure is utilized to benefit these producers, with reduced market risk often associated with these benefits.
Enhancing Producer Returns: The United Potato Growers Association (pdf)
Shermain D. Hardesty, Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, University of California, Davis
In 2005 the United Potato Growers of America (UPGA) was created as a federation of regional cooperatives. As a young organization, UPGA provides a classic demonstration of the power of producer collaboration through the cooperative structure. It is developing strategies and implementing programs to increase and stabilize grower returns.
Making Sustainability Matter (pdf)
The Hartman Group, Bellevue, WA
The Hartman Group is a consulting and consumer insights leader offering a wide range of services and products, specializing in the health and wellness marketplace.
"Sustainability" is the marketing buzzword of the year. For consumers, sustainability involves preserving a certain way of life, allowing them the ability to control their surroundings. The dynamics of sustainability in US consumer culture will continue to change and evolve. Through further exploration and understanding, companies can leverage consumer values to tap into consumer desires and emotional aspects of sustainability.
The Emerging Farm Bill and California Agriculture: How is it Shaping Up? (pdf)
Daniel A. Sumner, University of California Agricultural Issues Center, and Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, University of California, Davis
Congress has yet to craft a new Farm Bill that will govern food, farm and rural policy in the United States for the next five years or so. The House and Senate versions of the Farm Bill include additional support for several crops, such as sugar, wheat and soybeans as well as some new spending for nutrition, environmental programs, pest protection and R&D, directed towards issues of importance to fruit, vegetable and tree nut industries.
Examining EU Policies Applied to Processing Tomatoes (pdf)
Bradley J. Rickard, Agribusiness Department, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, and Daniel A. Sumner, University of California Agricultural Issues Center, and Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, University of California, Davis
International trade in fruits, vegetables, processed products and other high unit-value products has been expanding rapidly relative to trade in bulk commodities. At the same time, most analysis of the effects of agricultural border measures and domestic support on trade patterns has dealt with bulk commodities with much less analysis for horticultural products. Here we examine policies applied to the processing tomato industry.