This paper evaluates scale economies and efficiencies for Rural Credit Cooperatives (RCCs) in China using both parametric and nonparametric techniques. Diseconomies of scale and allocative inefficiency are found. The results reveal the need for RCCs to decrease their size and the need for...

The IFAMR is published quarterly by the International Food and Agribusiness Management Association (IFAMA). www.ifama.org

Health care costs particularly those associated with chronic health conditions such as cancer have been significantly increasing for both individuals and governments in the past decades, prompting the demand for preventative medical initiatives, such as functional food, and spawning a new...

Sustainability initiatives are frequently imposed on upstream supply chain members by their more powerful downstream partners. This paper assesses the challenges of estimating costs and benefits for participants and the difficulties associated with identifying their locations and effects in the...

This study examines the impact of genetically modified maize on labor, cost, and input substitutability for smallholders in South Africa. Data was collected during the 2009- 2010 maize production season from 184 households with a total of 212 maize plots in two regions, Hlabisa and...

An optimization model to sequence wine flow through the production process is developed. The model is formulated as a mixed integer program and accounts for winemaking specifications, market conditions, grape availability, and tank capacity. An empirical example is provided to demonstrate...

Changes in international trade agreements while retaining protectionist sugar policies have led to the opportunity for confectionery manufacturers to relocate to take advantage of favorable international trade policies. Results suggest that NAFTA did not have a significant impact on location...

The Seattle-Tacoma consumers have been paying higher prices for fresh milk than consumers in other Western states of United States. For instance, the retail price for whole milk averaged $3.27/gallon during the period of April 1999- April 2003 in Seattle-Tacoma, while it did not go beyond...

The objective of this paper is to determine the impact of ethanol production on the sweetener market in the U.S. It was found that ethanol production has increased corn demand and prices, and therefore, may have a negative impact on HFCS production and increase the demand for sugar.

Cotton price relationships between major cotton producers and New York cotton December future price are investigated by the regression model, the VAR model and the error-correction model, the error-correction model generates the hedge ratios that display the largest value in size in most of the...