European Union (EU) traceability requirements impose added costs and risks on suppliers. A stochastic simulation model is developed to determine optimal testing strategies and marginal costs to conform to EU traceability requirements for exports of non-genetically modified (non-GM) wheat from...

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the dynamics of R&D investments, and the structure of the seed distribution sector using novel data sets that have not been used before to describe competition in these industries. The results describe four sets of issues of particular importance. One is...

One of the impacts of higher prices along with greater volatility in futures, basis and spreads is that there is pressure for greater use of cash contracts for grain. Indeed there has been growth in contracting for a number of competing crops in recent years. There is a wide array of cash...

One of the impacts of higher prices along with greater volatility in futures, basis and spreads is that there is pressure for greater use of cash contracts for grain. There is a wide array of cash contracts with varying terms that pose major strategic alternatives for buyers and the marketing...

The grain shipping industry is highly competitive and has become technically advanced during the past decade. These changes, along with the introduction of innovative shipping mechanisms, have made logistics management an important source of opportunity and risk for grain shippers. A stochastic...

The purpose of this paper is to review past trade relations in the grains sector between the United States and Canada and to document trade barriers and the potential for the evolution of reciprocal trade. Historical trade flows between the United States and Canada in the grains sector are...

A stochastic optimization model was developed to determine optimal testing strategies, costs, and risks of a dual marketing system. The model chooses the testing strategy (application, intensity, and tolerance) that maximizes utility (minimizes disutility) of additional system costs due to...

Questions have emerged in the United States and Canada regarding the role and function of quality in international markets. One has been the definition and composition of different market segments, with a particular focus on higher quality customers. In this study, trends in U.S. wheat exports...

Consistency of functional characteristics in hard red spring (HRS) wheat is a concern confronting sellers and buyers. This research analyzes contract incentives for importers with respect to cost and potential risk of acceptance. A principal-agent framework is utilized to examine contract...