Recent giannini_rrs items

An Economic Evaluation of the Hass Avocado Promotion Order’s First Five Years

Tue, 11 May 2010 00:00:00 +0000

This study evaluates the effectiveness of promotions conducted by the Haas Avocado Board

The Social Costs of an MTBE Ban in California

Tue, 26 Jun 2007 00:00:00 +0000

In the early 1990s, oxygenated gasoline was hailed as a partial solution to the nation’s air quality problems. Although the large-scale use of methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) as a gasoline oxygenate successfully improved air quality, it adversely impacted water quality and dramatically exposed leaking underground storage tanks. However, removing MTBE from gasoline could impose significant societal costs—in terms of both gasoline production costs and prices and possible air and water quality impacts. The analysis conducted for this report is based on a comprehensive and internally consistent cost-benefit framework and includes several cost categories largely neglected in prior MTBE analyses, including: (1) the cost to taxpayers of increased ethanol consumption; (2) increases in the cost of oil imports; (3) the effects of changes in gasoline prices on gasoline consumption and thus on automobile emissions; and (4) the potential effect of MTBE substitutes on water quality.

A Statistical Profile of Horticultural Crop Farm Industries in California

Tue, 26 Jun 2007 00:00:00 +0000

This report provides a detailed statistical profile of California’s horticultural farm industries based on survey data collected from approximately one-third of all horticultural crop producers in the state in the spring of 2002. The survey was designed to elicit information on the current status of horticultural farm industries on their risk management practices and attitudes. The industries featured in this study accounted for more than $17 billion of gross farm revenue in 2002. The statistical information presented is the most comprehensive ever undertaken for this important segment of California agriculture. The main body of the report describes industries in seven sections: 1) farm size and regional profile; 2) crop diversification; 3) marketing; 4) yield, price, and profit fluctuations; 5) risk management; 6) crop insurance; and 7) financial characteristics.

Farmers’ Adoption of Genetically Modified Varieties with Input Traits

Tue, 26 Jun 2007 00:00:00 +0000

We examine the determinants of the adoption of genetically modified (GM) corn and soybean varieties by Iowa producers using data collected from a survey of producers. The representative respondent increased or held constant his GM soybean acreage but decreased his GM corn acreage. Agreement with the statement that consumers will not accept some bioengineered foods was associated with a significant decline in the intended share of acreage devoted to GM corn but had no explanatory power for GM soybean planting intentions. Risk attitudes did not prove to be a significant explanatory factor, perhaps due to the existence of production risk and price risk, which may have offset each other in the acreage allocation decision. Other significant factors included gross farm income, the previous year’s acreage allocation, agreement with the statement that farmers will benefit from biotechnology, years of schooling (soybeans only), total corn acreage (corn only), and concern regarding European...

Economic and Environmental Impacts of Adoption of Genetically Modified Rice in California

Tue, 26 Jun 2007 00:00:00 +0000

Rice production in California is intensive in input usage. Weed resistance has led to growing chemical usage and has raised costs for many rice producers in California. In recent years, widespread adoption of genetically modified (GM) soybeans, corn, canola, and cotton has provided growers of those crops with new production alternatives that reduce chemical usage. But GM rice has not yet been approved for commercial production in California or elsewhere. One reason that GM rice production has been delayed is that this new technology is controversial. In California, environmental groups and organic rice farmers are opposed to any cultivation of GM rice in the state. We estimate the potential economic impacts of commercialization of GM rice in California. Our findings suggest that this new technology would most likely benefit the California rice industry and offer significant economic advantages to growers.

Marketing Order Impact on the Organic Sector: Almonds, Kiwifruit and Winter Pears

Tue, 3 Feb 2004 00:00:00 +0000

Marketing Order Impact on the Organic Sector: Almonds, Kiwifruit and Winter Pears

Transportation and Marketing Efficiency in the California Processing Tomato Industry

Thu, 6 Mar 2003 00:00:00 +0000

Transportation and Marketing Efficiency in the California Processing Tomato Industry

California Prune Board's Promotion Program: An Evaluation.

Thu, 6 Mar 2003 00:00:00 +0000

California is the world leader in prune production, accounting for about 99 percent of U.S. production and 70 percent of the world's supply. The industry, through the California Prune Board (CPB) and its various packers, especially Sunsweet Growers, the largest marketer of California prunes, has invested substantially in the promotion of prunes to consumers. This study analyzes the effectiveness of these expenditures in increasing consumer demand for prunes and, thereby, in raising industry revenues. The results from this project are useful for decision makers in the California prune industry as well as to researchers studying the effects of promotion on market demand. The analysis used to derive the results is also pertinent to other California commodity groups, in light of increased scrutiny surrounding generic promotion programs. The study was conducted under an agreement between the CPB and the University of California, and was carried out by a research team of faculty...

Economic Evaluation of California Avocado Industry Marketing Programs : 1961 - 1998

Thu, 6 Mar 2003 00:00:00 +0000

This report describes an economic study of the California avocado industry, including its economic history and markets, and presents an econometric model of supply, demand, and price. The objective of this study is to determine the effect of California avocado industry advertising and promotion expenditures on the demand and price for California avocados and to estimate the ratio of benefits to costs for marketing programs conducted by the California Avocado Commission. The econometric model used to evaluate the impact of industry advertising and promotion includes components for avocado supply, demand and equilibrium price. Following is a description of study results for each of the major components.

Avocado Supply: The two major determinants of annual avocado production, average yields and bearing acreage, are examined in some detail. Average yields, which are responsible for sharp year-to-year variations in total production, have become increasingly variable...

The Domestic and Export Markets for California Almonds

Thu, 6 Mar 2003 00:00:00 +0000

The Domestic and Export Markets for California Almonds