Progress 01/01/11 to 10/03/16
Outputs
Target Audience:Agriculture producers, farmers, students. Arkansas higher institutions, regional bioenergy businesses. and policy makers Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?1. Undergraduate students involved in the project have had opportuinities to further their education in graduate programs in bioenergy and specialty crop production- Mr. Woody Pipatchaisiri who was trained in the project is now a supervisor in a specialty crop production and marketing company in Texas; Mr. ShelemiaNyamuryekunge an undergraduate student trained in the project is now pursuing a Ph.D in New Mexico; Miss Angelia Smith a graduate student who worked on the project has had an opportunity to work for University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Division where she worked with specialty crop producers 2. The PI and private sector collaborators such as Bioenergy System LLC. have acquired the skills of using IMPLAN database software to analyze bioenrgy and specialty crop enterprises in Northeast Arkansas. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Presented the result at the Annual Agribusiness Conference at Arkansas State University in 2011 to over 1000 farmers and regional agribusiness stakeholders. Presented the results at the15th Annual Conference of Food Distribution Society, October10 -13, 2015; Philadelphia. Paul Armah (PI) et al. (2015) "Diversification into Specialty Crops Production as a Regional Economic Development Strategy for Northeast Arkansas".Presented at the 15th Annual Conference of Food Distribution Society, October10 -13, 2015; Philadelphia. Paul Armah and Kevin Humphrey(2012)Presented the project results to regional stakeholders as"Bioenergy Adoption in Northeast Arkansas Economy. at the 3rd Annual Renewable Energy Conference. November 15,2012 Paul Armah and Kevin Humphrey " Farm Scale Processing and Production- A Systems Approach to Processing Value-Added Biodeisel". (2012). Presented at the 32nd Annual Arkansas Land and Farm Development Corporation (ALFDC) conference, November 05, 2012Fargo. Arkansas Paul Armah and Jim Wimberly (2012) "Enterprise Level Comparative Economic Analysis of 3 Hypothetical Commercial Scale Bioenergy Facilities". Presented at Winrock Internationall and Arkansas State University Bioenergy Workshop for Association of Arkansas Counties, Little Rock April 04,2012 Paul Armah(2011). "The Economic Impact of Crude Oil and Ethanol Prices on Arkansas Livestock Feed Prices". 2011. Annual Renewable Energy Conference, Arkansas State University, April 18, 2011 Paul Armah, andMary Clayton. (2010) "The Economic Impact of Ethanol Production on Arkansas Corn-based Livestock Feed Prices". Abstract and Presentation. Food Distribution Research Society. Annual Conference, Sandestin Beach Golf Resort and Spa Sandestin, Florida, October 16 - 20, 2010. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
i. Trained students with bioenergy skills. 2.Outreach and seminar presentations to spcialty crop producers, farmers, and bioenergy stakeholders in Northeast Arkansas. 3.Journal publications 4. Graduate students research and thesis
Publications
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2016
Citation:
Paul Armah et. al. (2016). Diversification into Specialty Crops Production as a Regional Economic Development Strategy for Northeast Arkansas An Economic Impact Analysis : Journal of Food Distribution Research March 2016; Volume 47 Issue 1
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Progress 10/01/14 to 09/30/15
Outputs
Target Audience:Agriculture producers and farmers, Arkansas' higher institutions, independent agribusiness firms and processors,bioenergy developers and investors, agriculture input producers, experimental stations, students and regional policymakers Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Stakeholders, collaborators, farmers, bio-energy professionals and students involved in the project acquired new knowledge on the challenges of producing and marketing specialty vegetable and bio-energy crops in Northeast Arkansas. The financial analysis of the potential construction of bio-energy processing plant in the region provided increased knowledge to potential bio-energy developers, investors and policy makers on the challenges of developing a bio-energy industry in the region. Project participants and stakeholders acquired the use of various knowledge and techniques used in evaluating the economic impacts of diversifying into the production of alternative crops in the Northeast Arkansas region. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?1.Presented the result at the Annual Agribusiness Conference at Arkansas State University in 2011 to over 1000 farmers and regional agribusiness stakeholders. Presented the results at the15th Annual Conference of Food Distribution Society, October10 -13, 2015; Philadelphia. Paul Armah (PI) et al. Diversification into Specialty Crops Production as a Regional Economic Development Strategy for Northeast Arkansas, Presented at the 15th Annual Conference of Food Distribution Society, October10 -13, 2015; Philadelphia. 3.Diversification into Vegetable Crops Production as a Regional Economic Development Strategy for Northeast Arkansas What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Disseminate the project results to professionals and stakeholders at professional conferences. Collaborate with USDA Cooperative Extension Office to develop a Marketing resource platform "forward contract" platform to help specialty crop producers in the region to secure forward contracts for their perishable produce in order to reduce marketing risks. Publish the economic impact results of producing bio-energy and specialty crops on the Bio Energy System's and Winrock International Websites.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Completed the economic Impact analysis for specialty vegetable crops in Northeast Arkansas. 2.Trained graduate students on how to use IMPLAN software to analyze economic impact of specialty crop diversification in the region Graduate student completed a thesis in May 2015. "Economic Impact of Vegetable Production in Northeast Arkansas."
Publications
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Awaiting Publication
Year Published:
2015
Citation:
Evaluation of Commercial-scale Vegetable Production as an Economic Development Strategy for Northeast Arkansas-An Economic Impact Analysis
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Progress 10/01/13 to 09/30/14
Outputs
Target Audience: Agriculture producers and farmers,Arkansas' higher institutions, independent agriculture produce processors, bioenergy developers and investors, agriculture input producers, xperimental stations, students and regional policy makers. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Stakeholders, collaborators, farmers, bio-energy professionals and students involved in the project acquired new knowledge on the challenges of producing and marketing specialty vegetable and bio-energy crops in Northeast Arkansas. The financial analysis of the potential construction of bio-energy processing plant in the region provided increased knowledge to potential bio-energy developers, investors and policy makers on the challenges of developing a bio-energy industry in the region. Project participants and stakeholders acquired the use of various knowledge and techniques used in evaluating the economic impacts of diversifying into the production of alternative crops in the Northeast Arkansas region. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?
Nothing Reported
What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Disseminate the project results to professionals and stakeholders at prefessional conferences. Publish the economic impact results of producing bio-energy crops in Northeast Arkansas in a peer reviewed Journal.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Completed theeconomic Impact analysis for producing bio-energy, and specialty vegetable crops in Northeast Arkansas.
Publications
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Awaiting Publication
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Evaluation of Commercial-scale Vegetable Production as an Economic Development Strategy for Northeast Arkansas-An Economic Impact Analysis
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Progress 01/01/13 to 09/30/13
Outputs
Target Audience: The project collaborated and worked with row crop farmers in Northeast Arkansas,Bioenergy developers, businesses and investors, researchers and students in the same region,, The progress report has also been communicated to Winrock International, Bioenergy Systems, Arkansas State University, AP Innovations, Arkansas USDA, Farmers National. Changes/Problems: The major problem that this project faces is the ability to estimate how many bioenergy facilities that can be located in Northeast Arkansas. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Students at Arkansas State University have had the opportunity to be trained in economic impact analysis using IMPLAN software.Professionals from small businesses and consulting such as BioEnergy Systems LLC,Winrock International Arkansas State Universityinvolved in the project were trained in bioenergy evaluation processesand analysis. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Progress results of the project have been communicated to stakeholders, farmers, students and the general public through presentations at conferences(e.g Annual Agribusiness Conference at Arkansas State University with over 2000 attendants- mostly farmers. We also organized a seminar at Little Rock where the progress result was presented to policy makers, investers. farmers and students What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Identify the best biofuel to be produced in Northeast Arkansas. Evaluate whether at current gas prices the best biofuels produced in Northeast Arkansas will ever be cost competitive with fossil fuel .Whether row crop farmers can make profit by growing energy crops?
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Project has evaluated the deployment of a commercial-scale bioenergy enterprise(s) in northeast Arkansas which would encourage development of alternative (and relatively low input) agricultural crops in the region, This could be particularly attractive to some landowners/farmers. In addition, such deployment would provide numerous environmental benefits (including, for example, reduced agricultural inputs for energy crops compared to conventional crops, as well as reduced atmospheric carbon emissions). And, finally, The commercial-scale renewable bioenergy production that could be established in the regionwould have significant national security benefits, as evidenced by the growing commitments to biofuels and renewable electricity by the Department of Defense. Progress results of the research have beencommunicated to stakeholders, targeted audiences at conferences and seminars
Publications
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Progress 01/01/12 to 12/31/12
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Activities include collecting, analyzing alternative and bioenergy data using IMPLAN software to assess their impacts on Northeast Arkansas economy. Products include impacts of employment output, value added, etc. on the diversification of vegetables and bioenergy in the Northeast Arkansas economy, acquisition of skills in the use of IMPLAN software, and engagement of a graduate student on the research as thesis project. Dissemination activities include presentation of the results to stakeholders, farmers and bioenergy professionals at the 2012 Agribusiness Conference. PARTICIPANTS: Principal investigators are Paul Armah or Arkansas State University, Jim Wimberly of Bioenergy Systems, and Steve Young of AP Innovations Project Director is Annett Pagan of Winrock International. Project partners include Winrock International, Bioenergy Systems, Arkansas State University, AP Innovations, Arkansas USDA, Farmers National. Collaborators include Alan McVey of Arkansas State University, Gregory Phillips of Arkansas State University, Robert Young of Arkansas USDA, Jim Wimberly of Bioenergy Systems, Steve Young of AP Innovations, Wayne Miller of University of Arkansas Extension Service, Michael Popps of University of Arkansas. Project trained Craig Walker an undergraduate student and Kassy Whitener a graduate student on data collection and analysis using IMPLAN software. TARGET AUDIENCES: TARGET AUDIENCES: Target audiences include farmers who may diversify into vegetables and dedicated crops production, economic developers and investors who may invest in bioenergy industry in the region and policy makers. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
Stakeholders, collaborators, farmers and bioenergy professionals involved in the project acquired new knowledge on the challenges of producing and marketing vegetables and dedicated or bioenergy crops in Northeast Arkansas. The financial analysis of the potential construction of bioenergy processing plant in the region provided increased knowledge to potential economic developers, investors and policy makers on the challenges of developing bioenergy industry in the region. Project participants and stakeholders acquired the use of various knowledge and techniques on the economic factors affecting the diversification into alternative crops in the region.
Publications
- Armah Paul and Velumurugan P. Shanmugam (2012).Price Hikes in US Agricultural Commodity Futures Markets: An Empirical Efficiency Test. 53rd Annual Conference of the Food Distribution Research Society (FDRS): October 13-17, 2012. San Juan, Puerto Rico
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Progress 01/01/11 to 12/31/11
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Activities include collecting, analyzing alternative and bioenergy data using IMPLAN software to assess their impacts on Northeast Arkansas economy. Events include presenting the preliminary results at Agribusiness Conference, February 8, 2012, Arkansas State University, Jonesboro trainings. Products include impacts of employment output, value added, etc. on the diversification of vegetables and bioenergy in the Northeast Arkansas economy, acquisition of skills in the use of IMPLAN software, and engagement of a graduate student on the research as thesis project. Dissemination activities include presentation of the results to stakeholders, farmers and bioenergy professionals at the 2012 Agribusiness Conference. PARTICIPANTS: Principal investigaters are Paul Armah or Arkansas State University, Jim Wimberly of Bioenergy Systems, and Steve Young of AP Innovations Project Director is Annett Pagan of Winrock International. Craig Walker, a student at Arkansas State University also worked on the project. Project partners include Winrock International, Bioenergy Systems, Arkansas State University, AP Innovations, Arkansas USDA, Farmers National. Collaborators include Alan McVey of Arkansas State University, Gregory Phillips of Arkansas State University, Robert Young of Arkansas USDA, Jim Wimberly of Bioenergy Systems, Steve Young of AP Innovations, Wayne Miller of University of Arkansas Extension Service, Michael Popps of University of Arkansas. Project trained Craig Walker an undergraduate student and Kassy Whitener a graduate student on data collection and analysis using IMPLAN software. TARGET AUDIENCES: Target audiences include farmers who may diversify into vegetables and dedicated crops production, economic developers and investors who may invest in bioenergy industry in the region and policy makers. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Application for grant from USDA to fund the training of students in emerging renewable energy industry was not granted. This will significantly dely or affect the second part of the project.
Impacts
Stakeholders, collaborators, farmers and bioenergy professionals involved in the project acquired new knowledge on the challenges of producing and marketing vegetables and dedicated or bioenergy crops in Northeast Arkansas. The financial analysis of the potential construction of bioenergy processing plant in the region provided increased knowledge to potential economic developers, investors and policy makers on the challenges of developing bioenergy industry in the region. Project participants and stakeholders acquired the use of various knowledge and techniques on the economic factors affecting the diversification into alternative crops in the region.
Publications
- Abstract Armah, P.W., and Wimberly J. 2012. Economic Potential for Alternative and Bioenery Crops in Northeast Arkansas. 2012 ASU Agribusiness Conference, Jonesboro, Arkansas, February, 8, 2012.
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