Progress 10/01/18 to 09/30/19
Outputs
Target Audience:First, peer-reviewed published papers add empirical and applied knowledge to agricultural economists, agronomists, entomologists, and ecologists. Second, information and insights derived from the published research and outreach efforts, on-going and other works were communicated to producers of small grains, specialty and organic crops, and livestock and to agribusiness managers in Montana, the northern Great Plains, and the United States.Lastly, research findings were used as part of developing and integrating into the learning environment for undergraduate students in the Agricultural Business major and graduate students in the Masters of Applied Economics program at Montana State University Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?I attended and presented my research at three professional meetings, including the NC-213 Marketing and Delivery of Quality Grains and BioProcess Coproducts group; NCCC-134 Applied Commodity Price Analysis, Forecasting, and Market Risk Management groups; andthe Western Agricultural Economics Association's annual conference. Presenting at these meetings and seminars allowed me to obtain feedback on my work, learn about the state-of-the-art research occuring in the agricultural economics community, and strengthen professional connections. Participating in the NC-213 meeting in particular provided me with an opportunity to obtain a broad, integratedunderstanding current and future issues that will inform research related to the objectives of this project. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Many of these topics have been incorporated into my Economics of Agricultural Marketing (upper division undergraduate course) curricula through examples and discussion of state-of-the-art knowledge. The research was presented at annual professional meetings for agricultural economists, at two annual USDA regional group meetings, and at 9 outreach meetings with producers in the northern Great Plains. The results of the research and implications have also been disseminatedthrough outreach events, traditional classroom instruction, presentations at annual professional meetings, webinars, and blog/podcast media form. The research was also presented in a less technical manner using the AgEconMT.com blog and podcast communication platform. Many of the blog posts are picked up by larger agricultural media distributors, reaching a wide audience. Lastly, I have been interviewed and written guest articles for popular press approximately 15 times this year. These pieces are circulared to a wide audience of producers and agribusinesses in the northern Great Plains, nationally, and internationally What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?I have several papers that are currently in different parts of the research and publication process. I am continuing to work on projects that will seek to model and provide better forecasts for wheat protein schedules in the northern Great Plains, identify changes and market power issues in US fertilizer markets, assess the impacts of tax law changes on the pricing behaviors of agricultural marketing cooperatives, and assess the impacts of US trade policies on crop basis across the United States. These topics relate directly to objectives 2 and 3 of this multistate project. I also plan to remain active in the numerous professional meetings and societies, which will enhance my research and visibility in the profession. Additionally, I remain active in producing applied blog posts, podcasts, and extension publications to reach a broad audience. I already have several outreach and research seminar presentations set up in 2020 directly related to goals covered by this project.I will, as always, incorporate my research and other research related to this project into undergraduate curriculum of the course that I instruct. Lastly, as the outgoing chair of the NC-213 group, I remain active in the group's leadership. This year, I will be in charge of the two awards that NC-213 gives out during its annual meeting.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Numerous research projects have been developed and either published or in progress that directly relate to the goals of this project.The work "Agro-economic returns were reduced for four years after conversion from perennial forage" looks at optimal conversion of land that has been enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program. Specifically, we consider returning land into production using a cropping system that includes peas. After adjusting grain prices using historical discounts and premiums for test weight and protein content at Montana grain elevators, pea-wheat net returns were reduced for four consecutive years in three economic scenarios, and for 2 yr in a fourth scenario by a 4-yr cumulative average of (USD) $731 ha-1 (45%). We conclude annual crop yield and economic returns were compromised for 4 yr following 10 yr of an alfalfa-dominated perennial cropping system. In "Impacts of Agricultural Management Systems on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services in Highly Simplified Dryland Landscapes," we consider howdrylandcrop and animal production regions with high economic and social values can be optimally managed to maintain economic , environmental, and socialsustainability. While previous studies assessing the impacts of agricultural management systems on biodiversity and their services focused on more diversified mesic landscapes, there is a dearth of such research in highly simplified dryland agroecosystems.An analysis of the land use changes due to agricultural expansion within the Golden Triangle, a representative agricultural area in the NGP, indicated that the proportion of land conversion to agriculture area was 84%, 8%, and 7% from grassland, riparian, and shrubland habitats, respectively. Our results showed this simplification was associated with a potential reduction of pollination services. Also, our economic analysis projected that if 30% parasitism could be achieved through better management systems, the estimated potential economic returns to pest regulation services through parasitoids in Montana, USA alone could reach about $11.23 million. Although land use changes due to agricultural expansion and industrialized farming threaten the sustainability of dryland agroecosystems, this impact can be partially offset by coupling ecologically-based farming practices with adaptive management strategies. The publication "Does Farm Size Matter? Distribution of Crop Insurance Subsidies and Government Program Payments Across U.S. Farms" investigated how proposed agricultural policies for the 2018 Farm Bill could affect the benefits to agricultural crop producers versus the costs to taxpayers. We use a farm business-level dataset about farms' receipts of crop insurance subsidies, Agricultural Risk Coverage, and Price Loss Coverage payments, and then simulate the effects four different policy measures that have been proposed in the U.S. House of Representatives and/or U.S. Senate. Our results indicate that the proposed changes would largely impact farm business who are in the top 5-7% of the farm income distribution, while potentially creating over $2 billion in savings to taxpayers. These results provide important insights and considerations for crafting economically effective farm policies. Lastly, the numerous blog posts directly address applied, measurable issues related to wheat markets in a timely and relevant fashion. This year, topics focused on international trade issues, recovery from drought, pea and lentil market outlooks,and wheat quality valuation and volatility.
Publications
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
Miller, P., A. Bekkerman, J. Holmes, C. Jones, R. Engel. 2019. Agro-economic returns were reduced for four years after conversion from perennial forage. Agronomy Journal. 111(5):2292-2302.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
Adhikari, S., A. Adhikari, D. Weaver, A. Bekkerman, F. Menalled. 2019. Impacts of Agricultural Management Systems on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services in Highly Simplified Dryland Landscapes. Sustainability. 11(11):3223-3239.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Awaiting Publication
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
Bekkerman, A., and M. Taylor. Competing for Wheat in the Great Plains: Spatial Variation of Basis Across Elevator Types. Forthcoming in Review of Industrial Organization.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Awaiting Publication
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
Bekkerman, A., T. Gumbley, and G. Brester. The Impacts of the Renewable Fuel Standards on Spatial and Vertical Price Relationships in the U.S. Fertilizer Industry. Forthcoming in Applied Economics Perspectives and Policy.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
Bekkerman, A. "The Impacts of the Renewable Fuel Standards on Spatial and Vertical Price Relationships in the U.S. Fertilizer Industry." Presented at the Western Agricultural Economics Association, Couer d'Alene ID, July 2019
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
Bekkerman, A. "We Asked, They Answered: Montana(ish) Farmer's Grain Production and Elevators' Grain Grading Decisions," Presented at the NC-213 Annual Conference, Ames, IA, February 27, 2019
|