VTechWorks Repository :: Browsing by Author "Kerns, Waldon R."

Browsing by Author "Kerns, Waldon R."

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Analysis of firm desirability among Virginia's economic development directors
Bailey, Thomas M. (Virginia Tech, 1996-08-10)
The primary objective of this thesis is to examine the preferences local-level economic development directors possess for different firm characteristics when deciding whether to offer incentives. The thesis examines the different incentives that exist in Virginia and finds that incentive activity has been steadily increasing since 1990. The historical rates of business activity reveal that more non-manufacturing firms locate and expand in metropolitan areas, but manufacturing firms in non-metropolitan areas hire more people per firm. The results indicate that this is not due to an explicit strategy of Virginia's economic development directors. A comparison is made between community economic development goals and important firm characteristics as perceived by local-level economic development directors. A rank-ordered logit model is then used to measure the willingness to pay for various firm characteristics. The results indicate that economic developers are willing to pay for increases in firm investment, increases in wages per employee, and decreases in the probability of a firm closing or moving. Economic developers in Virginia are not willing to pay directly for increases in firm employment, but firm employment is important in its indirect effect on the willingness to pay for wages. The linkages of a firm with a community (community (measured by sales impact, the employment multiplier, and overall employment impact) were insignificant variables for all economic developers.
Commonwealth's land use : proceedings of a conference
Conference on the Commonwealth's Land Use (1975 : Charlottesville, Va.) (Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Extension Division, 1977)
A compilation of fifteen papers presented before a Conference on the Commonwealth's Land Use, plus one additional paper. This Virginia-oriented publication contains papers concerning the developing state-level land-use decisionmaking process, the function of state and local government in land-use decisions, the federal land-use concerns, the alternatives for administering state land-use policy, the development of land-use policy in the Commonwealth, the Virginia Supreme Court's decisions relating to land use, the impact of court decisions on growth management, the open-space regulations of some local governments, the land-use issues affecting development of low- and moderate income housing, the issues associated with interbasin water transfer, the status of areawide waste treatment control, and the American Law Institute's Model Land Development Code.
Demand for water resources information: a conceptual framework and empirical investigation
Osborn, Carl T. (Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1986)
This study develops and presents a conceptual framework which builds upon and extends the economics of information literature. Combining observations which emerge from a review of literature concerning organizational decision processes, this framework considers the nature of the demand and value for water resource information by individuals who participate in the decision making process found within public water management organizations. Based upon this conceptual framework the paper reports the results of an empirical model relating decision participant use of the Water Resource Council' s Second National Water Assessment and hypothetical expenditures on "national assessment type information" to personal and agency characteristics in two water basin management situations; instream versus offstream water use competition in the Missouri River basin, and low freshwater inflows to Chesapeake Bay. In addition, results of a contingent ranking investigation designed to estimate marginal water information values are presented and the potential use of the contingent ranking method by agencies in water data collection discussed. Results of the investigations indicate that previous use of specific water information products and the level of expenditures made on certain types of water information are influenced by personal and organizational characteristics. Consequently, there can exist no "correct" information system and thus no "correct" data collection plan in the absence of knowledge concerning information value. Moreover, results indicate that contingent ranking procedures involving items of information may be successfully conducted in a mail survey format and that the information value estimates derived through this technique can be employed to promote greater efficiency in water data investment.
Economic incentives for institutional change: the case of the Virginia Wetlands Act
Carriker, Roy R. (Virginia Tech, 1976-11-12)
The case of the Virginia Wetlands Act of 1972 is presented as a problem setting within which to explore the view that some institutions provide economic services, and that pressure for institutional change result from changes in demand for these services. A general hypothesis to be tested in the case of the Virginia Wetlands Act is that institutional change to assure protection of ecologically productive wetlands was associated with increases in demand for those goods, services, and activities dependent in some way on the ecological services of wetlands. More specifically, it is hypothesized that net social benefits from preservation of wetlands have been increasing more rapidly than net social benefits from development uses of wetlands which destroy marsh vegetation. This research used a case study approach to examine the influence on residential land prices of waterfront situation of residential sites achieved by filling or draining salt-marshland. The market value of land, as used in this study, is defined within the context of an economic theory of rent. A land value comparison technique based upon multiple regression analysis was used to identify market price differentials attributable to waterfront amenities of marshlands as residential sites. Changes in this differential over time are taken as a measure of the time rate of increase in social benefits attributed to development uses of marshes. For purposes of comparison, estimates were made of the time rate of increase in social benefits attributable to preservation of wetlands. The ecological productivity of wetlands is essential to maintenance of marine species in the Chesapeake Bay. A major source of demand for marine species is the recreation sport fishing industry. Using estimates generated by other studies of parameters for the demand for sport fisheries, and time series observations on variables which influence demand for sport fishing in the Chesapeake Bay, estimates were made of the time rate of change in social benefits attributable to ecological productivity of undeveloped wetlands. Other sources of value for undisturbed wetlands were also noted. The findings were generally consistent with the view that institutional change in the case of the Virginia Wetlands Act was associated with an increase in the net social benefits associated with wetlands preservation, relative to benefits associated with development uses of wetlands.
An Evaluation of Past Performance of the Two-Year Agricultural Technology Program at Virginia Tech as Perceived by Program Graduates
Kantrovich, Adam Joseph (Virginia Tech, 2000-04-20)
The review of the literature reveals the historical nature of Vocational Education programs and how they relate to the importance of Virginia Tech's two-year post-secondary Agricultural Technology Program. The literature review also provides a historical review of information regarding Virginia Tech's Agricultural Technology program, brief histories of other post-secondary land-grant two-year agricultural programs, vocational education philosophers, and two-year program evaluations. The purpose of this study was to perform an evaluation of past performance of the two-year Agricultural Technology Program at Virginia Tech as perceived by the two-year program graduates. The study focused on two points, a) the graduate's opinions with regards toward the improvement of the program on behalf of the students, and b) the strength and weaknesses of the program in order to determine what the program has accomplished and where it should be headed. Five research questions guided this study: 1. How pleased were the graduates with the education they received through the Agricultural Technology Program? 2. What is the salary range of the graduate's first job after graduation and what is their present salary range? 3. What were the strengths and weaknesses of the program as perceived from the graduates? 4. What are the Agricultural Technology graduates current occupations? 5.What recommendations do the graduates have for the improvement of the Agricultural Technology Program? A survey instrument was used as the research method for the collection of the data. A pilot study was performed to test the survey instrument. Three rounds of survey instruments were sent to increase the possible response rate. A non-respondents study was performed to determine if there was a difference between the respondents and non-respondents of the survey instrument. Frequencies, mean, median, mode, and standard deviation were used in the analysis of the data. The population consists of all of those that graduated from the two-year Agricultural Technology Program at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University from the date of the programs first graduation class (1989) to the fall semester of 1998. Because there was such a small number of subjects within the population, to prevent sampling error, and to be able to prevent any deviation of assumptions between the sample and the population the whole population was mailed an evaluation instrument. All three of the mailings yielded a total 215 received survey instruments for a 62% response rate from an N of 343. This left a total of 128 or 37% non-respondents. A reliability test was run in SPSS using the Cronbach Alpha method, also know as Alpha coefficient, the Standard Item Alpha = .7661. The major conclusions of the study were that the Agricultural Technology Program graduates were pleased with the overall education that was received at Virginia Tech, the mean salary for the graduates first job was between $18,000 and $23,999, the mean of the graduates current job is between $24,000 and $29,999, the major strengths to the program were the mandatory internship requirement, the hands-on courses, and the advisors for the program, the weaknesses of the program are issues with the transferability of credit hours to the four-year program, additional computer and technology courses and information are needed, and a lack of available elective course offerings. Just over 78% of the program graduates are employed within the field of agriculture and 16% have gone back to farm ownership or to work on the family farm. Some of the major recommendations that were made by the program graduates were to offer additional courses and options, add more emphasis to computers and technology, additional job placement services, and to allow students to take more four-year courses. Based on the findings recommendations were made about further studies for the addition of courses, faculty, program options, more emphasis of technology in courses, curriculum development, job placement, and credit hour transferability. Specific recommendations were made for an external review to be performed of the Agricultural Technology Program, a formal review of curriculum, additional courses in computers and technology, and further research to be performed with regards to policy change in transferability of credit hours to the four-year program, addition of courses offered as electives, and for students to take courses provided by the four-year program.
Financial costs and economic tradeoffs of alternative manure management policies on dairy and dairy/poultry farms in Rockingham County, Virginia
Parsons, Robert Lee (Virginia Tech, 1995)
This study examines farm-level financial costs and environmental benefits from three alternative manure management policies, incorporating all manure (INCORP), limit nitrogen applications to agronomic recommendations (NLIMIT), and phosphorus applications limited to crop removals (PLIMIT), on representative 60, 100, and 150-cow dairy and dairy/poultry farms. Current nutrient applications are manure-based, with each farm substituting poultry litter for commercial fertilizer. Potential field-level nutrient losses estimated by EPIC, a soil/plant growth simulation model, indicate the highest nitrogen losses on grass hay and pasture and the highest phosphorus losses on no-till com. The highest nutrient applications and nutrient losses occur on the 60 and 100-cow dairy/poultry farms. INCORP is ineffective at significantly lowering nutrient losses. NLIMIT reduces nitrogen losses by 30% and phosphorus losses by 6%. PLIMIT is the most effective policy, lowering both nitrogen and phosphorus losses over 34%. The largest farm-level reduction in nutrient losses is on the 60-cow dairy/poultry farm. Ryelage was the only crop yield that varies under the alternative policies. Financial simulation with FLIPSIM indicates that INCORP and NLIMIT do not affect farm financial performance. PLIMIT reduces farm net cash income and ending net worth as farms substitute commercial fertilizer for poultry litter. PLIMIT does not cause dairy farms to go out of business but does significantly reduce their cash available for family living expenses below minimum requirements. Dairy/poultry farms maintain adequate cash incomes under PLIMIT. PLIMIT lowers net cash income on all county dairy and dairy/poultry farms by 8% to 16% under litter disposal costs of $10 to $40 per ton. The smaller land-intensive 60-cow dairy/poultry farm has the largest decrease in cash income while the smallest decrease is on the 150-cow dairy/poultry farm. The 100 and 150-cow dairy/poultry farms maintain higher ending net worth than corresponding size dairy farms at disposal costs of $40 per ton. County net cash farm income declines by $2.57 to $5.16 per pound of reduced nitrogen losses and $15.68 to $31.44 per pound of reduced phosphorus losses. The study indicates that NLIMIT reduces nitrogen losses without affecting farm incomes whereas reducing both nitrogen and phosphorus losses under PLIMIT substantially reduces farm income. Nutrient management plans need to be directed at smaller land-intensive farms to achieve substantial nutrient loss reductions.
The fiscal impacts of use-value taxation in Prince William County, Virginia
Fung, Cheryl (Virginia Tech, 1995-11-15)
Concern that high property taxation of agricultural land encourages its conversion to nonagricultural uses has led to the adoption of use-value taxation practices. Use-value taxation has had mixed results as a deterrent to the conversion of agricultural and open space land. It has been argued that use-value taxation does not succeed in retaining open space along the rura1-urban fringe (Stocker 1975; Ferguson), and further that such programs may actually lower the community's property tax base significantly (Tiebout; Anderson 1993). Additionally, when land is taxed by its use-value rather than market-value, the local tax base declines curtailing local public services and consequently reducing the attractiveness of the community for residential, commercial and industrial land uses (Abeyratne and Johnson, Bickerdike, Netzer, Oates). This study seeks to determine the fiscal impacts of use-value taxation and incurred and immediate revenues generated by a particular land use project. By comparing the net impact on the property tax rate of different land uses, the effectiveness of land use taxation policies for communities can be determined. The fiscal impact of alternative land uses are measured using The Virginia Impact Projection (VIP) model. The empirical models employed are based on a static cross-sectional econometric analysis of Virginia counties initially developed by Johnson and Keeling and updated for the current analysis using more recent data. The empirical equations are used to construct a fiscal impact assessment (simulation) model. The simulation model allows the comparison of impact and baseline scenarios developed using alternative land uses. It was found that the impact of farmland enrollment in use-value assessment programs is not as large when net impacts are considered rather than sole consideration of the direct property tax revenue changes.
Future Farmers of Virginia Chapter Chats May 1962
Myers, John W.; Brewer, Douglas; Munsey, Bobby; Moon, J. T.; Kerns, Waldon R. (The Future Farmers of Virginia, 1962-05)
Groundwater quality and the use of lawn and garden chemicals by home owners
Kerns, Waldon R.; Appleton, Bonnie Lee, 1948-2012 (Virginia Cooperative Extension, 1997)
Discusses ways to have a productive garden or beautiful landscape without damaging the groundwater supply.
Groundwater quality and the use of lawn and garden chemicals by home owners
Kerns, Waldon R.; Appleton, Bonnie Lee, 1948-2012 (Virginia Cooperative Extension, 1991)
Discusses ways to have a productive garden or beautiful landscape without damaging the groundwater supply.
Nongovernmental organizations role in the establishment of resource management areas in Richmond County and Mathews County
Cook, Stephen T. (Virginia Tech, 1991-04-05)
In 1988, the Virginia General Assembly passed the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act to protect the water quality of the Bay and its tributaries. In order to accomplish this immense task, counties, cities, and towns in Tidewater, Virginia have been given the task of establishing regulations outlined by state guidelines. In many instances, rural localities do not have the financial and technical resources available to implement these state guidelines. To fill these voids, nongovernmental organizations can provide the expertise needed to meet these demands; however, there has been relatively little documentation of the direct affects NGOs have had upon local jurisdictions in implementing guidelines, specifically Resource Management Areas as established by the Chesapeake Bay Local Assistance Board. The Friends of the Piankatank, the Peninsula Coalition for Environmental and Economic Stability, and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation comprise a few of the many NGOs that personify the need for active involvement in the Commonwealth's pledge to cure the Bay. How these organizations play a significant role in the delineation of Management Areas in rural localities is pertinent to the success of the program. To explore the role that NGOs played in rural localities, two case studies were analyzed: (1) Richmond County: The Chesapeake Bay Foundation Connection, and, (2) Mathews County: Regulations on the Horizon. These two counties were chosen because of the different approach each has taken to implement state regulations in their community. A section on the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act and the dynamics of nongovernmental organizations precede the case studies.
Proactive industrial targeting: an application of the Analytical Hierarchy Process
Cox, Anna M. (Virginia Tech, 1996-07-05)
The purpose of this study is to devise a methodology to target industries that would incorporate community preferences in the targeting process. A case-study approach was taken and included three Virginia counties. The most distinctive feature of this research is the use of the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), a method that allows participants to weigh the importance of subjective and objective criteria. Seven firm impacts are used to score the attractiveness of a firm, including economic, public, and environmental impacts. The vector of priority weights obtained from the AHP are applied to the initial score calculated for the impacts of each industry, creating a ranking of preferred industries that are recommended for targeting. From this research it is concluded that community preferences should be an integral part of industrial targeting and economic development in general. State-level policies should be as flexible as possible in order for local level governments to be able to use those policies to attract firms that help that community meet its goals. Rather than focusing energy creating a large number of jobs, community preferences indicate that more effort needs to be spent to attract non-polluting firms that offer higher paying jobs.
Proceedings of a conference on land use and the Chesapeake Bay
(Virginia Cooperative Extension Service, 1985)
The inflow of land-based pollutants has decreased productivity of the Chesapeake Bay. Better land-use management practices can improve the service-providing capacity of the bay. Specific approaches to management of pollutant sources are discussed. Solutions to some institutional, ethical, and legislative issues are presented for action on both the individual and collective level in a series of 15 papers.
Protecting and preserving rural land uses : issues, problems, institutions, proceedings of a conference
(Extension Division, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1982-09)
A Conference on Protecting and Preserving Rural Land Use in Virginia produced twelve papers, ten devoted to land-use policy and two to water policy. For the proceedings, the papers are presented in four subsets: land-use issues, case studies and methods, and water policy. The available supply of cropland, the impact of an expanding metropolis on an urbanfringe locality, and the way changes in culture impact land are discussed as issues. The case studies examine the transferable development rights program of Calvert County, Maryland; the development rights purchase program of Suffolk County, New York; and the development of differential taxation and tax-relief programs by states. Among the methods examined are zoning, transferable development rights, purchases of development rights, and timing and placement of utilities. The problems of changing water law from the Riparian Rights Doctrine to an alternative system and of implementing areawide water quality programs are discussed.
Public policy on ground water quality protection : proceedings of a national conference, April 13-16, 1977 at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
National Conference on Public Policy on Ground Water Quality Protection (1977) (Virginia Water Resources Research Center, 1978)
Sustainable use of soil resource base in the Dominican Republic:a farm level economic analysis of soil conservation practices
Hwang, Sang Won (Virginia Tech, 1992-06-05)
Income effects associated with specific levels of erosion reduction for a representative farm in the Bao watershed area in the Dominican Republic are examined in a linear programming framework. Estimation of costs expected in response to specific levels of erosion reduction and the income effects of changes in agricultural policies on the farmer's ability to conserve soil are examined. Results indicate that income losses will be substantial when complying with soil loss standards without introducing soil conservation practices. Net income reduction of 36% can be expected with a reduction in soil loss by 50%. With the introduction of soil conservation practices, substantial reductions in erosion can be obtained with only a minor reduction in net income. For example, with grass strips, 50% reduction in soil loss can be expected with only a 7% reduction in income. Analysis of the effects of changes in agricultural policies indicates that restricting access to credit and changes in tenure from secure land holdings to lack of land titles does not affect the incentive to conserve soil in the short run. Furthermore, analysis of effects of changes in agricultural pricing policies indicates that the promotions of coffee, sweet potatoes, and beans represent the least-costly means of meeting the twin goals of erosion reduction and income maintenance.
Urban water runoff and water quality control
Wildrick, John T.; Kuhn, Kurt W., 1953-; Kerns, Waldon R. (Virginia Water Resources Research Center, 1976-12)
Willingness to pay for property and nonproperty flood hazard reduction benefits: an experiment using the contingent value survey method
Thunberg, Eric M. (Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1988)
The Water Resources Development Act of 1986 has increased attention to the ability of flood control benefit assessment methods to serve the joint need of assessing the economic and financial feasibility of a project. The Contingent Value Method is identified as an alternative flood control benefit assessment method. The findings of a case study to test the potential for the Contingent Value Method to be used in future flood control benefit assessment studies is presented. An empirical analysis of willingness to pay offers is conducted to determine the importance of property and nonproperty considerations in willingness to pay is also presented. The study findings suggest that landowners are willing to pay for the property effects and the effects of flood control on the community at large. The study findings do not support a relationship between willingness to pay for flood control and the landowner's level of anxiety over the prospect of future flooding. The findings do suggest that the contingent value method has the potential to be applied to flood control. Prior to any such application, however, several survey design and implementation issues need to be addressed.

Browsing by Author "Kerns, Waldon R."

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