Agricultural Economics electronic theses and dissertations (MU)
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The items in this collection are the theses and dissertations written by students of the Department of Agricultural Economics. Some items may be viewed only by members of the University of Missouri System and/or University of Missouri-Columbia. Click on one of the browse buttons above for a complete listing of the works.
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Item Analysis of farm machinery investment : an application using mixed integer programming(University of Missouri--Columbia, 1967) Vogt, Francis Emile"Objectives: The chief objective of this study was to determine for various types of farms, by the use of mixed integer programming, the organizational plan and allocation of resources that will achieve maximum profits for each operator. Optimal plans were computed in each case in such a way as to determine the profitableness of expanding operations to include larger equipment, namely, a larger tractor and a larger combine than had previously been used. In order to determine the level of capital at which either or both items of equipment would become feasible for a particular type of farm, capital limits were increased in increments of $10,000 and $15,000. For each optimal plan computed the acquisition of additional land or the hiring of additional labor was permitted if necessary to achieve optimum conditions at the given level of capital. As a further explanation of the objectives of this study, if a specific farmer on a medium size farm currently owns and operates a three-plow tractor with matching equipment and a six-foot power take-off combine, would it be to his advantage to purchase a five-plow tractor and a nine foot self-propelled combine and corn header? If so, how much additional land should he buy and how much money should he borrow in order to profit by this investment? Or, in the case of a large-scale farm, would it be profitable for a certain farmer now operating a four-plow tractor with equipment and a nine-foot self-propelled combine to change over to a five-plow tractor and a twelve-foot self-propelled combine? Again if it proves advantageous to expand, to what extent must he increase his farm size and how much more capital will he need? These are just two examples of the types of cases that have been considered 1n this study designed to determine the profitability or expanding equipment in the optimal plans for various types of farms in Northeast Missouri."--Page 2.Item Farm planning-- : a review and conceptualization of control data for computer techniques(University of Missouri--Columbia, 1969) Martin, Kenneth F."Objectives of the study: The overall purposes of the study were two-fold. First, to describe and evaluate several comparative forward planning techniques currently in use or in the developmental stage. Second, to conceptualize control data needed from an individual farming operation for budgeting farm plans with any, or all, of the three new planning techniques described in this study, and to develop and test transmittal forms designed to acquire this information. A brief history of comparative farm planning procedures used in Missouri, and a review of other budgeting techniques preceded the fulfillment of these objectives. More specifically, the objectives of this study were as follows: 1. To describe, for comparative purposes, the block budgeting and linear programming techniques currently used in Missouri. 2. To describe and evaluate a revised hand budgeting procedure and the tentative plan for a computerized farm planning system to be developed at the University of Missouri. 3. To conceptualize control data needed to budget plans with the revised budgeting process or the computerized farm planning system, and develop transmittal forms to acquire this data. 4. To test the revised budgeting process, using the control information forms, on a selected case study farm."--Page 7.Item An analysis of factors influencing loan classifications of Production Credit Association borrowers(University of Missouri--Columbia, 1976) Kramme, Roy George"OBJECTIVE OF STUDY: The objective of this investigation was to develop a quantitative model to evaluate the validity of credit ratings of selected PCA borrowers, using financial as well as non-financial data. Specific objectives were: (1) To identify characteristics associated with problem, vulnerable, and loss-loan borrowers. (2) To apply a linear discriminant model to borrower characteristics in which the borrowers were classified as problem, vulnerable, and loss loans to ascertain if they possess unique characteristics and can be appropriately classified as three distinct borrower groups."--Page 15.Item The endogenization of government policy instruments in the U.S. wheat sector(University of Missouri--Columbia, 1985) Spackler, J. Keith; Bredahl, Maury E.Based on the simultaneity of decisions by government agricultural policymakers and market participants, this thesis presented a theoretical crops model endogenizing government programs, and empirical evidence supporting this procedure. The theoretical crop model contained basic relations for production, usage, inventories, and policy instruments, and included key cross-linkages between each of the relations. These interactions combined with the temporal relationships inherent in governmental response and agricultural production suggested a model which is less stable dynamically than a exogenous-policy model. Using the theoretical model as a basis, the empirical model of the U.S. wheat sector was then estimated using an iterative instrumental variables procedure. Subsequent analysis of the short- and long-run impact multipliers of the empirical model confirmed the destabilizing effect of program endogenization. Overall, this study suggests that government program endogenization may provide insights to policymakers on responses to their actions, providing assistance in reaching economic goals of optimal resource allocation.Item A projection of changes in U.S. food budget shares(University of Missouri--Columbia, 1985) Perso, Robin Karl; Johnson, Stanley R."PURPOSE: Many previously documented studies have indicated that demographic factors affect food purchasing decisions and aggregate food consumption behavior. The primary objective of this study is to provide an economic analysis concerning possible future changes in domestic food consumption patterns and the demand for food to the year 1995. This study utilizes a variety of assumptions about changes in the supply and types of foods consumed that may occur as a result of (1) shifts in important demographic features of U.S. households, (2) changes in the income distribution patterns of U.S. households, and (3) technological advances which may be reflected in food cost changes. A secondary objective of the analysis is to evaluate the implied changes in food consumption patterns for their nutritional implications. The focus of this portion of the study is whether the projected changes in food consumption patterns will have impacts on the nutritional status of U.S. households or household members that should be brought to the attention of those who design and implement food and agricultural policy."--Page 4.