VTechWorks Repository :: Browsing by Author "Kline, Ralph G."

Browsing by Author "Kline, Ralph G."

Now showing 1 - 12 of 12

Adjustments in a farm business in response to an energy crisis
Burton, Robert O. Jr. (Virginia Tech, 1976-07-07)
Comparing farms using different corn tillage methods, farms using reduced corn tillage had higher returns to fixed resources than farms using conventional corn tillage in all cases, except when energy prices were increased by 50, 75, and 100 percent. At these higher energy price increases, since conventional corn tillage had lower energy costs per unit of feed produced, conventional corn tillage was more profitable. Quantities and costs of energy used to produce the feed for the cow herd were directly related to what crops were produced and what quantities of feed were purchased. Farms using reduced corn tillage were consistently the higher energy users compared with farms using conventional corn tillage, except when 75 and 100 percent energy price increases occurred; but this result might have been different if energy used to produce the purchased feed had been considered. Reductions in returns to fixed resources, when energy quantities are restricted, are much more severe than reductions in returns to fixed resources with energy price increases.l1 This result indicates that if government were faced w~th the choice of an energy conservation policy based on large energy price increases, or an energy conservation policy based on a strict rationing of energy inputs, the strict rationing policy would probably cause greater reductions in livestock farmer's income.
Demand for selected classes of convenience food in the United States
Hull, David B. (Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1982)
The focus of this research was the problem of identifying the economic and demographic factors that determine household expenditure for convenience food in the United States. A major objective was to measure, for various classes of convenience food, the response of expenditures to changes in demand determinants so that food expenditure profiles can be simulated for households with different characteristics and constraints. Another major objective was to determine the effect of the meal preparer's value of time on household use of convenience food. The work of others on similar models of food demand has been extended to include analysis of the effects of the sex and employment status (market-orientation) of the meal preparer, the value of the meal preparer's time, household size, income and age-sex composition. Other factors in the models include region, race, urban setting and season. The functions were specified from a theoretical model developed from the theory of the household production function. Foods used by households as reported in the 1977-78 Nationwide Food Consumption Survey were divided into classes of nonconvenience, basic convenience, complex convenience and manufactured convenience food. Nonconvenience foods are raw, unprocessed foods or ingredient foods. Basic convenience foods are single ingredient foods with limited culinary expertise embodied, usually providing a type of preservation convenience. Complex convenience foods are multiple ingredients, highly prepared foods. Manufactured convenience foods include products which have no home prepared counterpart. For the three convenience classes, nonincome-earning female meal preparers all had positive elasticities of the value of time. Except for the basic convenience food model, the income-earning female meal preparers had positive value of time elasticities. The nonmarketoriented female meal preparers had negative elasticities of value of time in the nonconvenience class. The income elasticity for all food classes ranged from 0. 03in the nonconvenience food expenditure model to 0.08 in the complex convenience food model. The significance of statistical tests on the range of income elasticities verifies that the food categories investigated are neither inferior nor luxury goods, and that demand models for all food at home that ignore the effects of the value of time would overestimate the elasticity of expenditure with respect to income.
An ecologic-economic perspective for coastal zone management
Conopask, Jeff Virgil (Virginia Tech, 1975-08-31)
The issue of land resource management has recently taken on meaning not previously associated with the term. Federal, state and local governments as well as highly organized public and private groups have identified land resource management as a critical issue of this decade. Many existing private and public institutions are being challenged and new institutional arrangements are being forged to deal with land resource management issues. One of the most commonly recognized critical land management areas is the narrow band of land and water known as the coastal zone. Although regional studies have dealt with one or more of these problem areas in the past, the intensive multiple use of this particular geographic area has focused attention on it from a multiple disciplinary vantage point. This study attempted to demonstrate the usefulness of economic-ecological analysis in seeking solutions to the allocation of coastal zone resources to alternative uses.
Economic analyses of the effects of calving season on beef cow-calf-forage systems
Brabrand, Andrew Beverly (Virginia Tech, 1976-10-07)
Important implications of the study are: beef cow-calf production is competitive over a wide range of beef prices and it may increase farm returns to feed small amounts of corn silage rather than grow additional pasture even when the weaned steer calf-corn ratio is quite low.
Economic feasibility of using weather-altering technology on apple orchards in Virginia
Greaser, George Landis (Virginia Tech, 1977-02-15)
Apple producers in Virginia are affected by adverse weather factors which cause poor or lower than normal yields. These weather factors such as freeze kill of bloom and lack of rainfall cause decreases in production and, therefore, decreases in revenues received by apple producers. These weather factors, although they can not be completely controlled, can be altered by wind machines and overhead sprinkler systems. Therefore, the major purpose of the study was to determine if these types of weather-altering technologies could be economically feasible for use in Virginia. The first step in determining the economic feasibility of the two systems was to determine which weather factors are effected by the adaptable technology stated above. This information was received from studies completed in Utah, Georgia, Florida, California, and Washington State. The second step was to gather production data and weather data in the same general geographical location in Virginia to be used to develop a yield response equation and determine the weather variables which affect production. This information was then transferred to. a simulation model, which determined the values of the economic criteria used when making investment decisions. The major findings of the study were: (1) that the overhead sprinkler system is the investment with the best economic criteria values and should be the investment used in situations where an orchard is of dwarf and semi-dwarf type rootstock and where there is an adequate supply of water, and (2) wind machines are also shown to be economically feasible to use in orchard situations and can be implemented in orchards with older seedling type trees and in orchards where there is an inadequate supply of water to operate an overhead sprinkler system.
The effect of available resources on the forage-grain feeding ratios and forage production systems on selected Virginia grade A dairy farms
Reynolds, Robert K. (Virginia Tech, 1962)
Dairy farmers in Virginia are confronted with the problem of continually re-organizing and adjusting their farming operations in an effort to maintain or improve their competitive position. Increasing competition in dairying within the state, as well as potential competition developing in areas outside of the state, makes it essential that dairymen operate efficiently. In particular, they must give careful consideration to various ways of reducing their production costs. Feed costs make up 50 to 60 percent of the total cost of producing milk. Consequently, the feeding program on any dairy farm greatly affects the cost of producing milk and, ultimately, the net return to the farmer. This study had four objectives: (1) to determine the available resources and their restrictions on the farms included in this study; (2) to determine an optimum forage and grain production system and forage to grain feeding ratio for three levels of milk production per cow with milk sales at the blend price not to exceed the present total base sales; (3) to determine which of the three levels of milk production is the most profitable at the present blend price of $5.73 per 100 pounds; (4) to study the effect of changes in the price of milk on the relative profitability of the three levels of production per cow and the forage-to-grain feeding ratios when the amount of profitable milk production is less than the present base.
The effects of various wage rates on farm organization and structure in Southwest Virginia: a study minimizing average outlay when obtaining specified income levels
Givan, William D. (Virginia Tech, 1968-12-15)
This study was undertaken to evaluate the effects of various wage rates on the minimum amounts of resources needed to obtain specified income levels on farms in Southwest Virginia. In addition, the aggregate effects of these wage rates on the structure and organization of farms in this area was determined. A linear programming model with added average outlay as a minimization criterion was constructed to determine the optimum resource use and enterprise combinations for' three representative farms to achieve operator labor incomes of $3,500, $5,000, $7,000, respectively. An aggregation model was used to determine the aggregate effects of these changes on farm organization and structure in the area. The study indicated that there are presently a large number of farms in the area with open land acreage below the minimum required to provide full-time productive employment for the operator. When available cropland is not sufficient to enable an individual to obtain a specified income, it is more profitable, in terms of minimizing average outlay, to purchase additional open land in order to obtain additional tobacco acreage and other cropland, than to utilize large amounts of existing unused pasture. An increase in hired labor wage rates, when an individual farm is achieving a specified income, may result in the hiring of additional labor, however, added amounts of non-labor inputs would increase at a faster rate than increases in amounts of labor used. Should all farms in the area adjust to attain the income levels specified in the study, farm numbers would decrease. An increase in the production of crops and livestock enterprises would result. This increased production would result in gross returns from the sales of crops of more than three times the amount presently received from crop sales in the area, and returns from livestock sales would be more than twice the amount presently received. This production would be produced by a total labor force of one-half, or less, the present labor force available on the farms in the study area. The results of this analysis substantiate the results of earlier studies which indicate that capital will be substituted for labor as farm wages are increased, and, an increase in aggregate farm production can be obtained with a decrease in total farm labor utilized. A need for some type of labor-saving innovation, as increased price supports for burley tobacco, will become necessary as the price of labor and other farm inputs increase. A study devoted to the development and analysis of some type of policy to encourage the combination of the smaller farms into larger, more efficient units is in order if all farm operators are to earn income levels comparable to that of off-farm employment. The resulting production from such a change would alter the type of farming presently conducted in the area.
Estimated costs and returns for selected crop and livestock enterprises in southwest Virginia
Oliver, James D.; Kline, Ralph G. (Virginia Agricultural Experiment Station, 1966-06)
Study to determine the most profitable combination of beef cow and calf farms in Washington and Smyth counties. This report contains the enterprise budgets prepared for the analysis
Growth rate differential analysis of employment and wage earnings in Virginia's sub-regions, 1960-1970
Choi, Jae Sun Sun (Virginia Tech, 1975-01-11)
The overall purpose of this study was to provide information concerning the comparative and competitive abilities of industries and regions within the State and to aid in understanding the changing levels and location of economic activity. Ninety-six counties of Virginia were clustered into eight homogeneous sub-regions by use of clustering analysis and stepwise multiple discriminant analysis. Growth rate differential analysis was performed for each of the eight study sub-regions. Industrial location patterns of the sub-regions of Virginia were examined in terms of location quotients and coefficients of specialization. It was found that the natural resources oriented industries such as agriculture, mining, food production, lumber production, and stone and clay production were highly represented in the rural sub-regions. Manufacturing as a whole was highly represented in the rural industrialized sub-regions; however, the weighted shares of the state total manufacturing employment in these sub-regions were not as great as that of the urban sub-region delineated in the study which showed relatively low representation of manufacturing. There was strong evidence that the manufacturing in the rural sub-regions was in general the rural-oriented manufacturing industries such as food, textile, apparel, stone and clay products, and furniture products. Urban oriented industries such as trade, transportation, contracted construction, services, finance and insurance and government were highly represented in the urbanized subregion. The opposite was true of the rural sub-regions. In the State of Virginia, most of the urban oriented industries were growing faster than the natural resources oriented industries such as agriculture, mining, lumber products, and food products. Unemployment was also declining in terms of percentage change during the 1960-1970 decade. At the sub-regional level, only the urbanized sub-region showed higher than State average growth in both employment and earnings. The other regions showed relative declines in both employment and earnings when compared to the State. Seven of the eight sub-regions of Virginia suffered comparative disadvantages in terms of industrial mixes showing declines in both employment and earnings. The urbanized region benefited from increases in employment and earnings due to both favorable industrial mix and wage structure. Urban oriented industries in general showed comparative abilities in urban areas, while the rural-oriented industries suffered comparative disadvantage in both urban and rural areas. Manufacturing, in general, enjoyed greater comparative abilities in rural areas than in urban areas. Performances of the sub-regions also showed similar trends as the comparative abilities of the regions. All of the sub-regions except the urban sub-region suffered relative declines in their shares of total state employment and earnings. Both rural and urban oriented industries in the urban sub-region showed successful performances, while most of the rural oriented industries suffered competitive disabilities in the rural regions expressed in terms of growth of employment and earnings. The employment projection for the year of 1980 showed that unless the present regional industrial mix for each of the regions is altered, the regional variation in employment growth would be greater during the 1970-1980 decade than in the 1960-1970 decade.
A policy analysis of the United States vegetable oilseeds, oils, and oil products industry with special emphasis on optimal control
Lamm, Ray McFall (Virginia Tech, 1977-07-05)
The objectives of the study were to develop a discrete dynamic model to explain the duality of supply flows from production and inventory-stocks, to specify a monthly sectoral model of the United States vegetable oilseeds, oils, and oil products industry, to analyze policy alternatives using simulation, and to evaluate the potential of optimal control theory for stabilizing prices in the industry. A theoretical model of consumer and producer behavior was developed which, following optimization and aggregation, yielded a 4 equation simultaneous representation of a general market system. On the basis of the theoretical model an empirical model of the industry was constructed which included 4 sub-models, each simultaneous or block simultaneous in structure. The first sub-model consisted of 14 equations and included the final products of the industry--cooking oil, shortening, ma.rgarine, and peanut butter. The second industry sub-model consisted of 17 equations and included the markets for finished soybean oil, semi-finished soybean oil, soybeans, and soybean meal. The third industry sub-model consisted of 18 equations and included the markets for finished and semi-finished cottonseed oil, peanut oil, and peanuts. The fourth sub-model consisted of 10 equations and included the markets for palm and coconut oil. Each sub-model was estimated using OLS or 3SLS. The data base consisted of 136 observations covering the period January 1965 to April 1976.
A polyperiod risk programming analysis of smallholder farm development in Kenya
Lugogo, J. A. (Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1983)
Educators in local school systems who have been assigned the task of developing programs for gifted children often experience difficulty deciding what giftedness is. This difficulty stems from the fact that neither researchers nor educators agree as to which of a myriad of abilities actually constitute giftedness. Research literature on cultural differences suggests that a solution to the problem might lie in the development of a definition based on the attitudes and perceptions of the population to whom the definition is to be applied. In light of these suggestions, this study focused on the development of a definition of giftedness based on the attitudes and perceptions of the residents of a rural county in Appalachia. The site specific definition was subsequently compared with the most widely used conventional definition, i.e., the federal definition. A second focal point of the study was the elicitation of a list of respondents' perceptions of means of identifying gifted children and a list of appropriate educational services for these children. Again, the site specific elements were compared with their conventional counterparts. The Renzulli/Hartman Scale for Rating Behavioral Characteristics of Superior Students served as a basis of comparison for the identification criteria. The conventional approach to the provision of services was derived from a synthesis of a body of literature describing special educational services for gifted children. The data collection centered around the determination of local attitudes and perceptions. The methodology, the Heuristic Elicitation Methodology, is one that is used by anthropologists and psycholinguists who seek to assess the knowledge, beliefs, attitudes and preferences of specific groups. For the respondents, giftedness is a global concept comprising 18 elements. These elements are perceived as being closely related to each other in that they share a number of common features. The analysis also resulted in 16 items that are attributes of gifted people. Finally, the analysis showed that there are 13 kinds of educational services that are appropriate for gifted children. Some of these gifts/talents, attributes, and services are similar to their conventional counterparts; others are not.
Supply response and the land conversion process in the rural-urban fringe
Bertelsen, Michael K. (Virginia Tech, 1978-07-05)
The objective of this research was to investigate the nature of landowner supply-response behavior as it related to the land conversion process in the rural-urban fringe. Emphasis was placed on the derivation of the farmer's dynamic supply-response curve of agricultural land for urban uses since the nature of this curve has important implications for land-use policy alternatives in fringe areas. It was argued that the aggregate land market approach to land use policy analysis in the rural-urban fringe is generally inappropriate for practical and theoretical reasons. Consequently, a disaggregated micro model based on the proprietary land unit was developed to explain the land conversion process. The theoretical model is composed of three cost and two demand components. The interaction of these components results in a dynamic supply-response curve of agricultural land for urban uses which is discontinuous over a wide range for many classes of landowners. The theoretical model was tested through discriminant analyses of data collected from a study area where there exists heavy urban demand for agricultural land. The data included information on landowners over time, physical characteristics of the tracts of land, transfer information and· various demand variables. Results of the empirical analyses provided support for the hypotheses incorporated into the theoretical model. Specifically, empirical evidence was found to support the hypotheses that (1) individual farmers' supply response curves are discontinuous over a wide range, (2) farmers' fixed capital investment is a primary cause of the discontinuity, (3) farmers with less fixed capital investment will generally have more elastic supply-response curves which are discontinous over a smaller range, and (4) speculators' supply-response curves will generally be highly elastic and continuous. Various implications of the theoretical model for land-use policy analysis and land-use patterns in the rural-urban fringe are discussed. Particular attention was given to an analysis of Virginia's use-value assessment program based on the theoretical model. It was found that such a program will not "save" agriculture in fringe areas but will raise land price and subsidize speculative activities. Such a program might be more successful in achieving its stated goals if it were implemented in areas on the outlying edge of the rural-urban fringe.

Browsing by Author "Kline, Ralph G."

Results Per Page

Sort Options