Farmer productivity by age was estimated, allowing for differences because of efficiency and returns to scale. Using Census of Agriculture data, estimates vary by state, but returns to scale average 1.07. Efficiency increases average 4.5 percent every ten years of age, to the age interval 35 to...

Each state's agricultural production diversification is measured for 1984 and 1988. Very little difference existed between the type of index used or the year computed. Linear regressions of the coefficient of variation of receipts on diversification measures implies diversification among states...

The productivity of farmers at six different age cohorts was computed by estimating production functions using 1987 census data. The results suggest that farmers of different ages operate with slightly different technologies and use various inputs at different efficiencies. Compared with...

Farm performance measures based upon 10 years of individual farm data are linearly regressed on risk preferences of 41 dairy farmers. Greater aversion to risk produces a lower average but more stable income, although the importance of risk preferences in determining long-run performance appears...

A control model of the U.S. dairy sector was constructed to determine optimal policy when bovine somatotropin is released. Social welfare defined as consumer plus producer surplus minus adjustment and net government costs was maximized. Control variables were the milk support price and...