Week 1: Course Overview

Aug 23 & Aug 25

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Referenced Journal Articles and Resources:
  • Keshav, S. How to Read a Paper. Link
  • Just, R.E. & Pope, R.D. (2001). The Agricultural Producer: Theory and Statistical Measurement. In B. Gardner & G. Rausser (Eds.), Handbook of Agricultural Economics, Volume 1 (pp. 629-741). Elsevier Science B.V. Link: Link
  • Sunding & Zilberman (2001). The Agricultural Innovation Process: Research and Technology Adoption in a Changing Agricultural Sector. In B. Gardner & G. Rausser (Eds.), Handbook of Agricultural Economics, Volume 1 (pp. 207-261). Elsevier Science B.V. Link
  • Kumbhakar, S. C., Wang, H.-J., & Horncastle, A. P. (2015). A Practitioner's Guide to Stochastic Frontier Analysis Using Stata. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
  • Cochrane, John H. (2005). Writing Tips for Ph.D. Students. Link
  • Chaubey, V. (2017). The Little Book of Research Writing: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform.
  • Gentzkow, M. & Shapiro, J.M. (2014). Code and Data for the Social Sciences: A Practitioner's Guide. Link
  • Head, Keith. The Introduction Formula. Link

Week 2: Producer Theory and Analysis - Perennials

Aug 30 & Sep 1

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Assigned Readings for 8/30:
  • French, B.C. & Matthews, J.L. (1971). A Supply Response Model for Perennial Crops. American Journal of Agricultural Economics, 53(3): 478--490. Link
  • Arak, M. (1968). The price responsiveness of Sao Paulo coffee growers. Food Research Institute Studies 8, 211–-223. Link
Assigned Readings for 9/1:
  • Wickens, M.R. & Greenfield, J.N. (1973). The Econometrics of Agricultural Supply: An Application to the World Coffee Market. The Review of Economics and Statistics, 55(4): 433--440. Link
  • Devadoss, S. & Luckstead, J. (2010). An Analysis of Apple Supply Response. International Journal of Production Economics, 124: 265--271. Link

Week 3: Producer Theory and Analysis - Optimal Perennial Production

Sep 6 & Sep 8

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Assigned Readings for 9/6:
  • Working Paper (Handed out in class)
  • Samuelson, P.A. (1976). Economics of Forestry in an Evolving Society. Economic Inquiry, XIV: 466–492.

Week 4: Producer Theory and Analysis - Optimal Perennial Production

Sep 13 & Sep 15

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Assigned Readings for 9/13:
  • Working Paper (Handed out in class)
  • Samuelson, P.A. (1976). Economics of Forestry in an Evolving Society. Economic Inquiry, XIV: 466–492.
  • Haile, M.G. (2015). Worldwide Acreage and Yield Response to International Price Change and Volatility: A Dynamic Panel Data Analysis for Wheat, Rice, Corn, and Soybeans. American Journal of Agricultural Economics, 98(1): 172-190.
  • Handout 1: Modeling Expected Prices
Referenced Articles and Resources:
  • Cairns, R.D. (2017). Faustmann's Formula's for Forests. Natural Resource Modeling, 30(1): 52-73.
  • Salo, S. & Tahvonen, O. (2002). On Equilibrium Cycles and Normal Forests in Optimal Harvesting of Tree Vintages. Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, 44: 1-22. >
  • Nerlove, M. & Bessler, D.A. (2001). Expectations, Information, and Dynamics. In B. Gardner & G. Rausser (Eds.), Handbook of Agricultural Economics, Volume 1 (pp. 629-741). Elsevier Science B.V.

Week 5: Writing and Presenting in LaTeX

Sep 20 & Sep 22

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Week 6: Advanced Producer Theory: Annual Production, Risk, and Technology

Sep 27 & Sep 29

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Assigned Readings for 9/27:
  • Handout 1: Modeling Expected Prices (Handed out in class 9/27)
  • Chavas, J.P. & Holt, M.T. (1990). Acreage Decisions Under Risk: The Case of Corn and Soybeans. American Journal of Agricultural Economics, 72(3): 429-538. Link
  • Haile, M.G. (2016). Worldwide Acreage and Yield Response to International Price Change and Volatility: A Dynamic Panel Data Analysis for Wheat, Rice, Corn, and Soybeans. American Journal of Agricultural Economics, 98(1): 172-190. Link
  • Just, D.R., Khantachavana, S.V., & Just, R.E. (2010). Empirical Challenges for Risk Preferences and Production. Annual Review of Resource Economics, 2: 13-31. Link
Assigned Readings for 9/29:
  • Handout 2: Modeling Risk (Handed out in class 9/29)
  • Liu, E.M. (2013). Time to Change What to Sow: Risk Preferences and Technology Adoption Decisions of Cotton Farmers in China. The Review of Economics and Statistics, 95(4): 1386-1403. Link
  • Perry, E.D., Hennessy, D.A., & Moschini, G. (2021). Uncertainty and Learning in a Technologically Dynamic Industry: Seed Density in U.S. Maize. American Journal of Agricultural Economics, 104: 1388-1410. Link
Referenced Articles and Resources:
  • Moschini, G. & Hennessy, D.A. (2001). Uncertainty, Risk Aversion, and Risk Management for Agricultural Producers. In B. Gardner & G. Rausser (Eds.), Handbook of Agricultural Economics, Volume 1 (pp. 87-153). Elsevier Science B.V.
  • Nerlove, M. & Bessler, D.A. (2001). Expectations, Information, and Dynamics. In B. Gardner & G. Rausser (Eds.), Handbook of Agricultural Economics, Volume 1 (pp. 629-741). Elsevier Science B.V.

Week 7: Efficiency and Productivity Analysis

Oct 04 & Oct 06

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Assigned Readings:
  • Chambers, R.G., Pieralli, S., & Sheng, Y. (2020). The Millennium Droughts and Australian Agricultural Productivity Performance: A Nonparametric Analysis. American Journal of Agricultural Economics, 102(5): 1383-1403. Link
Referenced Articles and Resources:
  • Fried, H., Lovell, C., & Schmidt, S. (2008). The Measurement of Productive Efficiency and Productivity Change. Cambridge: Oxford University Press.
  • Kumbhakar, S. C., Wang, H.-J., & Horncastle, A. P. (2015). A Practitioner's Guide to Stochastic Frontier Analysis Using Stata. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
  • Cook, W.D. & Seiford, L.M. (2008). Data envelopment analysis (DEA) -- Thirty years on. European Joiurnal of Operational Research, 192: 1-17.

Week 8 & 9: Efficiency and Productivity Analysis

Oct 11 & Oct 13

Download Dairy Data

Download Python Notebook

Download STATA do file

Assigned Readings (10/13):
  • Chambers, R.G., Pieralli, S., & Sheng, Y. (2020). The Millennium Droughts and Australian Agricultural Productivity Performance: A Nonparametric Analysis. American Journal of Agricultural Economics, 102(5): 1383-1403. Link

Week 10: Efficiency and Productivity Analysis: SFA

Oct 25 & Oct 27

SFA Lecture Slides

Download Reading Notes

Download SFA Notes

Download SFA STATA do file

Assigned Readings (10/27):
  • Mayen, C.D., Balagtas, J.V., & Alexander, C.E. (2010). Technology Adoption and Technical Efficiency: Organic and Conventional Dairy Farms in the United States. American Journal of Agricultural Economics, 92(1): 181-195. Link
  • Lohr, L. & Park, T.A. (2006). Technical Efficiency of U.S. Organic Farmers: The Complementary Roles of Soil Management Techniques and Farm Experience. Agricultural and Resource Economics Review, 35(2): 327–338. Link

Week 11: Efficiency and Productivity Analysis: SFA

Nov 1 & Nov 3

Download Lecture Notes

Assigned Readings:
  • Lohr, L. & Park, T.A. (2006) Technical Efficiency of U.S. Organic Farmers: The Complementary Roles of Soil Management Techniques and Farm Experience. Agricultural and Resource Economics Review, 35(2): 327- 338.Link
  • Mayen, C.D., Balagtas, J.V., & Alexander, C.E. (2010) Technology Adoption and Technical Efficiency: Organic and Conventional in the United States. American Journal of Agricultural Economics, 92(1): 181-195. Link

Week 12 & 13: Advanced Market Models: EDM

Nov 08 - 17

Lecture Slides

Assigned Readings (11/08):
  • Wohlgenant, M.K. (2012). Consumer Demand and Welfare in Equilibrium Displacement Models. In J.L. Lusk, J. Roosen, and J.F. Shogren (eds), The Oxford Handbook of the Economics of Food Consumption and Policy. Link
Assigned Readings (11/15):
  • Okrent, A.M. & Alston J.M. (2012). "The Effects of Farm Commodity and Retail Food Policies on Obesity and Economic Welfare in the United States." American Journal of Agricultural Economics, 94(3): 611-646. Link
Assigned Readings (11/16):
  • Rutledge, Zachariah, and Mérel, Pierre. 2022. "Farm Labor Supply and Fruit and Vegetable Production." American Journal of Agricultural Economics, 94(3): 1 - 30. Link

Week 12 & 13: Advanced Market Models: EDM

Nov 08 - 17

The Agricultural Innovation Process Lecture Notes

Assigned Readings (12/01):
  • Conley, T.G. & Udry, C.R. (2010). Learning about a New Technology: Pineapple in Ghana. American Economic Review, 100(1): 35-69. Link
  • Mas, A.& Moretti, E. 2009. Peers at Work. .American Economic Review, 99 (1): 112-45. Link
  • Hill, A. & Burkhardt, J. (2021). Peers in the Field: The Role of Ability and Gender in Peer Effects among Agricultural Workers. American Journal of Agricultural Econpomics, 103: 790-811. Link