Recent discussions of a subtherapeutic antibiotic ban in U.S. livestock gives rise to much speculation regarding industry impacts. Swine producers are heterogeneous; thus, a ban on subtherapeutic antibiotics could affect producers of different sizes, cost structures, different production systems...

Traditional market power analyses of the U.S. cigarette manufacturing industry consider monopoly power exertion by manufacturers in selling cigarettes to consumers. Market characteristics combined with government policy make it plausible that manufacturers exert monopsony market power in...

Consolidation in meatpacking has elicited many market power concerns and studies. A noncooperative, infinitely repeated game theory model was developed and an empirical model estimated to measure beef packing firm behavior in cattle procurement. Experimental market data from three semester-long...

The Fed Cattle Market Simulator (FCMS), an experimental market, was used to estimate impacts from two meatpacking firm mergers. Data were collected from two FCMS workshops with large agribusiness firms. Experimental mergers involved the two smaller packers in the market in one case and the two...

Economies of size studies can be categorized according to the methodology employed. Two recent studies for cattle slaughtering and beef fabrication that varied widely in methodology and data were compared using a binary variable regression model. Despite differences in data and the methodology...

This article addresses the cross training of employees in large agribusiness firms that hire employees having varying degrees and backgrounds. The successful use of an experiential fed cattle market simulator in cross training is described. Evaluations of workshop participants evidence the...

A conceptual framework for examining implications of excess slaughtering capacity in meatpacking is presented. Excess capacity stems from two sources: percentage plant utilization based on line speed and based on length of operating time per given period. Data from a mail survey of 310...