NE177: Impacts of Structural Changes in the Dairy Industry

(Multistate Research Project)

Status: Inactive/Terminating

Project Menu

SAES-422 Reports

Annual/Termination Reports:

[05/31/2000] [05/31/2001] [12/04/2001] [11/12/2002]

Date of Annual Report: 05/31/2000

Report Information

Annual Meeting Dates: 10/22/1999 - 10/23/1999
Period the Report Covers: 01/01/1999 - 12/01/1999

Participants

Patricia Dyk (KY); Jeremy Foltz (CT); Gilbert Gillespie (NY); Douglas Jackson-Smith (WI); Jennifer McAdam (UT/ID), Wm. Alex Mcintosh (TX); Marci Ostrem (WI); Tony Shelton (Adminstrative Advisor); Stewart Smith (ME); and Henry Tyrrell (USDA/CSREES);

Brief Summary of Minutes

Minutes Attachment:

Attachment

Accomplishments

N/A

Publications

Impact Statements

Date of Annual Report: 05/31/2001

Report Information

Annual Meeting Dates: 10/20/2000 - 10/21/2000
Period the Report Covers: 01/01/2000 - 12/01/2000

Participants

Henry Tyrrell, CSREES Liaison, USDA;
Anthony Shelton, Admin. Advisor, NY;
Jeremy Foltz, CT;
Gil Gillespie, NY;
Catherine Groseclose, UT/ID;
Doug Jackson-Smith, WI;
Jennifer McAdam, UT/ID;
Wm. Alex McIntosh, TX;
Margot Rudstrom, MN;
Stewart Smith, ME;
Loren Tauer, NY;
Mike Tunick, ARS, PA;
Chris Wolf, MI;

Brief Summary of Minutes

Minutes Attachment:

Attachment

Accomplishments

Cooperating Agencies and Principal Leaders: Frank Allaire,*% Ohio State University Bradford Barham, University of Wisconsin-Madison William Crist, University of Kentucky Tricia Dyk, University of Kentucky Jeremy Folz,* University of Connecticut Lori Garkovich,* University of Kentucky Gilbert Gillespie,* Chair, Cornell University Catherine Grossclose, Utah State University Douglas Jackson-Smith,* University of Wisconsin-Madison Rick Krannich, Utah State University William Lazarus, University of Minnesota Thomas Lyson, Cornell University Jennifer McAdam,* Utah State University Wm. Alex McIntosh,* Texas A&M University Margot Rudstrom,* University of Minnesota Carolyn Sachs,*% Pennsylvania State University Harry Schwarzweller, Michigan State University Anthony Shelton,* Administrative Advisor, Cornell University Stewart Smith,* University of Maine Loren Tauer, Cornell University Peggy Tomasula, USDA/ARS/ERRC, Pennsylvania Michael Tunick, USDA/ARS/ERRC, Pennsylvania Henry Tyrrell,* CSREES liaison, USDA Chris Wolf* Michigan State University Wynne Wright, University of Minnesota * voting member from participating state state fully active in 2000 state activities limited in 2000 % state previously active, not active in 2000 Progress of the Work and Principal Accomplishments: Overview: Members of the technical committee are generally progressing toward completing the research protocols agreed upon at the 1996 NE-177 meeting in Vermont. Differences in progress across states is generally related to availability of funding from host institutions and independent sources. All states now actively participating in the project have now selected study areas and have conducted surveys of dairy farms in those areas. Those states with later data collection have generally followed the core methodologies and measurement instruments developed by the states that began data collection earlier (WI, MI, and NY), so the database of comparable information across states is building. Specific progress toward both the project objectives outlined in the revised NE-177 proposal (October 1996 through September 2002) is summarized below: NE-177 Objective 1, Determine the interrelationships among and relative importance of social, economic, technological and political environments, regional conditions, and entrepreneurial strategies affecting restructuring of the dairy industry in different dairy localities. All states actively participating have made progress on improving our understanding of the underlying patterns of structural change in their dairy sectors, and on the factors that seem to explain the observed pace and character of change in each state. Because the various states participating in the project are at different stages of development, only beginning systematic efforts were made in 2000 to explore across states the significance of contextual factors in explaining regional variation in patterns of dairy sector restructuring. The 2000 annual meeting provided a valuable forum for exchanging information and perceptions, and for making plans to bring the data collected into a unified data set. A panel session at the annual meetings of the Rural Sociological Society in Washington, DC in August of 2000 was a forum for presenting emerging findings. NE-177 Objective 2: Identify, examine, and assess the effects of structural change in the dairy sector on local communities and related enterprises. This objective on exploring the farm-community linkages that are central to the revised NE-177 project has proven to be the most difficult to carry out. Wisconsin has gathered detailed information about the purchasing patterns of local farmers and combined that with information about farm residents‘ participation in community social and cultural life. Most other states have collected data on farm residents participation in community life. Wisconsin has surveyed non-farming community members. New York has conducted interviews with local officials, agency staff, and non-dairy farming community members. Most states have been able to gather important secondary data about their study communities. We expect that we will be in a good position to begin to share comprehensive data and findings with one another at our 2001 annual meeting (currently scheduled for October 11-13, 2001 in Logan, Utah). Usefulness of the Findings: Although not all states have progressed as far as we originally envisioned (at the fall, 1996 meeting), we believe that project activities have generated significant findings. We have shared instruments and preliminary findings at our annual meetings, and seven of the articles in Dairy Industry Restructuring (Volume 8 of Research in Rural Sociology and Development, JAI Press) were authored by authored by current or former project participants. Specific experiences from four states provide examples of the kinds of impacts NE-177 research has had to date. In Wisconsin, for example, information about patterns of structural change in their three study communities have helped scientists and policy makers identify a lack of new entrants (as opposed to an epidemic of exits) as the primary driver of accelerated declines in dairy farm numbers. The Wisconsin work has also challenged the perception that most of the dynamic changes are occurring at the upper end of the dairy herd size spectrum (for example, modest, incremental expansion among traditional family-labor dairy farms has brought more new cows into the sector in the 1990s than have the more highly publicized large-scale expansions). In Kentucky, the realization that many dairy farmers orient their production decisions around the labor and capital demands of tobacco-raising has led to a reassessment of the decision-making models we use to understand farmer behavior. In New York, an analysis of baseline survey results were used to examined the relationships among different indicators of farm operators‘ community engagement, (including involvement in non-agriculturally- related organizations, involvement in local agricultural activities, and interpersonal networks) and two measures of dairy farm performance and two measures of future plans. Their results provided empirical support for relationships between farmers‘ and farm households‘ integration into the social and economic fabric of their community and their dairy farm performance and forward looking plans. In Connecticut research results were input for community forum examining the future for dairying in a town with declining dairy farm numbers and considerable urban pressure. The town meeting, attended by more than 600 people, led to a local right-to-farm initiative being passed unanimously. Work Planned for Next Year: At the October, 2000 meeting of the technical committee, we assessed the current state of data collection and made plans for combining existing and projected data by the time of our next annual meeting. Principles for sharing data from different sources were developed. Also, plans were made for additional data collection and analyses. Specific plans are outlined in the 2000 NE-177 technical committee meeting minutes.

Publications

Butler, L.J., Wolf, C. 2000. "California Dairy Production: Unique Policies and Natural Advantages." Pp. 141-161 in Dairy Industry Restructuring, edited by H.K. Schwarzweller and A.P. Davidson. Volume 8, Research in Rural Sociology and Development. New York, NY: JAI Press, Elsevier Science, Inc. Doye, D., Jolly, R., Hornbaker, R., Cross, T., King, R.P., Lazarus, W.F., Yeboah, A. Case Studies of Farmers‘ Use of Information Systems. Review of Agricultural Economics 22(2000):567-585. Foltz, J.D., Chang, H.H. 2000. "The Adoption of rBST on Connecticut Dairy Farms." submitted to American Journal of Agricultural Economics Foltz, J.D., Jackson-Smith, D, Chen, L. 2000. "Do Purchasing Patterns Differ Between Large and Small Dairy Farms? Econometric Evidence from Three Wisconsin Communities." submitted to Agricultural and Resource Economics Review Garkovich, L., Crist, W., Dyk, P. 2000. Kentucky Dairy Farms and Tobacco Production. Pp. 291-308 in Dairy Industry Restructuring, edited by H.K. Schwarzweller and A.P. Davidson. Volume 8, Research in Rural Sociology and Development. New York, NY: JAI Press, Elsevier Science, Inc. Jackson-Smith, D., Barham, B. 2000. Dynamics of Dairy Industry Restructuring in Wisconsin. Pp. 115-140 in Dairy Industry Restructuring, edited by H.K. Schwarzweller and A.P. Davidson. Volume 8, Research in Rural Sociology and Development. New York, NY: JAI Press, Elsevier Science, Inc. Lyson, T.A., Guptill, A.E., Gillespie, G.W. 2000. Community Engagement and Dairy Farm Performance: A Study of Farm Operators in Upstate New York. Pp. 309-323 in Dairy Industry Restructuring, edited by H.K. Schwarzweller and A.P. Davidson. Volume 8, Research in Rural Sociology and Development. New York, NY: JAI Press, Elsevier Science, Inc. Mcintosh, W.A, Luedke, A. 2000. Competing Explanations of Successful Dairy Farming in Texas. Pp. 229-263 in Dairy Industry Restructuring, edited by H.K. Schwarzweller and A.P. Davidson. Volume 8, Research in Rural Sociology and Development. New York, NY: JAI Press, Elsevier Science, Inc. Morse, G.W., Lazarus, W.F.. Failures Lead to Success in Dairy Business Retention and Enhancement Programs. In Small Town and Rural Economics Development: A Case Studies Approach, Peter V. Schaeffer and Scott Loveridge, ed., Westport, Connecticut: Praeger, 2000. C Abstracts in Proceedings: Koehler, R., Lazarus, W.F. Swine Manure - Does it Add or Subtract From Your Bottom Line? In 2000 Minnesota Pork Conference Proceedings, St. Paul: University of Minnesota Extension Service, December 2000. Rudstrom, M.V., Alford, E.A. How Profitable are Minnesota Grazing Dairies? Selected paper, AAEA Annual Meetings, Tampa FL., August 2000. C Reports: Buttel, F.H., Jackson-Smith D.B., Moon, S. 2000. A Profile of Wisconsin‘s Dairy Industry, 1999. PATS Research Summary, No. 4. Madison: Program on Agricultural Technology Studies, University of Wisconsin. Doye, D., Jolly, R., R. Hornbaker, Cross, T., King, R.P., Lazarus, W.F., Yeboah, A., Rister, E. Farm Information Systems: Their Development and Use in Decision Making A publication of the NC-191 regional committee on Farm Information Systems.‘ North Central Regional Research Publication 345, Iowa State University, Extension Distribution Center, Ames, IA, August 2000. Foltz, J. 2000 "Profitability of Connecticut Dairy Farms." Connecticut Dairy Project Extension Fact Sheet. Available in adobe acrobat at http//www.sp.uconn.edu/~foltz/factsheets.html. Foltz, J. 2000 "Connecticut Dairy Farm Statistics Summary." Connecticut Dairy Project Extension Fact Sheet. Available in adobe acrobat at http//www.sp.uconn.edu/~foltz/factsheets.html. Foltz, J. 2000 "Technology Use on Connecticut Dairy Farms." Connecticut Dairy Project Extension Fact Sheet. Available in adobe acrobat at http//www.sp.uconn.edu/~foltz/factsheets.html. Foltz, J. 2000 "RBST Use on Connecticut Dairy Farms." Connecticut Dairy Project Extension Fact Sheet. Available in adobe acrobat at http//www.sp.uconn.edu/~foltz/factsheets.html. Foltz, J. 2000 "Rotational Grazing on Connecticut Dairy Farms." Connecticut Dairy Project Extension Fact Sheet. Available in adobe acrobat at http//www.sp.uconn.edu/~foltz/factsheets.html. Jackson-Smith, D., Barham, B. 2000. The Changing Face of Wisconsin Dairy Farms: A Summary of PATS‘ Research on the Character and Pace of Structural Change in the 1990s, Program on Agricultural Technology Studies, Research Report, 7. Jackson-Smith, D., Moon, S, Ostrom, M., Barham, B. 2000. Farming in Wisconsin at the End of the Century: Results of the 1999 Wisconsin Farm Poll, Wisconsin Farm Research Summary. Program on Agricultural Technology Studies, #4. Lazarus, W.F. Minnesota Farm Machinery Economic Cost Estimates for 2000. FO-6696, University of Minnesota Extension Service, July 2000. Also accompanying spreadsheet template, http://apecon.agri.umn.edu/crop.html. Lazarus, W.F., Morse, G.W., Platas, D., Guess-Murphy, S. Economic and Local Government Impacts of the Minnesota Pork Industry, Final Research Report Prepared for the Minnesota Pork Producers Association. March 2000. Wolf, C., Harsh, S., Bucholtz, S., Damon, A., Lloyd, J. 2000. "Michigan Dairy Farm Industry: Summary and Analysis of the 1999 Michigan State University Dairy Farm Survey." Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station Research Report 573.

Impact Statements

Date of Annual Report: 12/04/2001

Report Information

Annual Meeting Dates: 10/12/2001 - 10/13/2001
Period the Report Covers: 01/01/2001 - 12/01/2001

Participants

Henry Tyrrell, CSREES Liaison, USDA;
Anthony Shelton, Admin. Advisor, NY;
Jeremy Foltz, CT;
Gil Gillespie, NY;
Catherine Groseclose, UT/ID;
Doug Jackson-Smith, UT/ID;
Jennifer McAdam, UT/ID;
Wm. Alex McIntosh, TX;
Margot Rudstrom, MN;
Stewart Smith, ME;
Rick Krannick, UT;
Patrick Berends, CA;
Eliza Waters, WI;
Trisha Dyk, KY;

Brief Summary of Minutes

Minutes Attachment:

Attachment

Accomplishments

Cooperating Agencies and Principal Leaders: Frank Allaire,*% Ohio State University Bradford Barham, University of Wisconsin-Madison William Crist, University of Kentucky Tricia Dyk, University of Kentucky Jeremy Foltz,* University of Connecticut Lori Garkovich,* University of Kentucky Gilbert Gillespie,* Chair, Cornell University Catherine Grossclose, Utah State University Douglas Jackson-Smith,* Utah State University Rick Krannich, Utah State University William Lazarus, University of Minnesota Thomas Lyson, Cornell University Jennifer McAdam,* Utah State University Wm. Aex McIntosh,* Texas A&M University Margot Rudstrom,* University of Minnesota Carolyn Sachs,*% Pennsylvania State University Harry Schwarzweller, Michigan State University Anthony Shelton,* Administrative Advisor, Cornell University Stewart Smith,* University of Maine Loren Tauer, Cornell University Peggy Tomasula, USDA/ARS/ERRC, Pennsylvania Michael Tunick, USDA/ARS/ERRC, Pennsylvania Henry Tyrrell,* CSREES liaison, USDA Chris Wolf* Michigan State University Patrick Berends, Fresno State University * voting member from participating state state fully active in 2000 state activities limited in 2000 % state previously active, not active in 2000 Progress of the Work and Principal Accomplishments: Overview: Members of the technical committee are generally progressing toward completing the research protocols agreed upon at the 1996 NE-177 meeting in Vermont. Baseline surveys have been completed in a number of states. Surveys of non-dairy farming segments of the dairy dependent communities have been undertaken in a number of states. Work is progressing on development of an aggregate data set containing common variables across actively participating states. Secondary data from the Census of Agriculture (1985, 1992, 1997) has been compiled for states, counties and zip codes for participating states. Zip code information was compiled for those states working with specific communities. NE-177 Objective 1, Determine the interrelationships among and relative importance of social, economic, technological and political environments, regional conditions, and entrepreneurial strategies affecting restructuring of the dairy industry in different dairy localities. Consolidation of data from the state surveys was the focus of 2001. Common data variables in state surveys were identified in a number of areas, farm demographics, dairy technology, cropping practices, community attachment and involvement, farmer attitudes and goals, and manure handling practices. The grid formed the bases for the development of an aggregate dataset across all actively participating states. A number of spreadsheets from the 1987, 1992 and 1997 Census of Agriculture were developed for the actively participating states. At the State level, data for dairy (as defined by SIC) was summarized. Where appropriate, county and zip code data was also summarized. A common set of descriptors was developed. Each participating state will use the common descriptors so dairy communities can be compared and contrasted. Much can be learned about similarities and differences as they relate to underlying causes of structural change. Both Connecticut and Wisconsin did work in the area of entry/exit. In Connecticut, the number of dairy farms remaining in a town is an influential factor in the decision to exit dairy farming. Wisconsin discovered that farmers leaving dairy could be clustered into 2 groups; 1) Those who were late in their careers and chose to exit and 2) Those who were early in their dairy career and were forced to exit. NE-177 Objective 2: Identify, examine, and assess the effects of structural change in the dairy sector on local communities and related enterprises. This objective on exploring the farm-community linkages that are central to the revised NE-177 project continues to be the most difficult to carry out. Understanding linkages between dairy farming and non-dairy farm residents is an important component of NE-177. A mail questionnaire was developed by New York, Maine and Texas, for the general public. This common survey instrument will provide data from the general non-dairy farming public in the dairy dependent communities. Texas is awaiting Internal Review Board approval on the survey instrument. Usefulness of the Findings: There has been significant progress to the development of a common database across all actively participating states. While most states are seeing declines in the number of small dairy farms, the underlying causes of the declines differ across states. The decline in farm numbers in Kentucky can be attributed to the decline in tobacco industry. Without the financial support of tobacco, the decline in dairy farm numbers accelerated. Loss of small dairy farms in Wisconsin appears to be driven by farmer age. Technology adoption was a focus of several states. The use of bovine somatotropin (rbST) was examined in Wisconsin, Maine, and Connecticut. In Connecticut, it was found that younger, better-educated farmers with larger herds were more likely to adopt rbST. The Maine results indicated that farmers choosing to use rbST are likely to have more education and less farming experience than farmers who adopt management intensive rotational grazing (MIRG). The use of total mixed ration (TMR) technology was examined in Minnesota. Major factors influencing TMR adoption include facility type and herd size. Farmers with tie-stall barns are less likely to use TMRs. Farms with milking herds of more than 80 cows had a very high probability of adopting TMRs. Connecticut had a nmber of outreach activities in the past year. At the state level the extension activities associated with the dairy project followed two approaches: one to bring results of our research to policy makers and farmers, and the other to work specifically with one of the communities on maintaining their dairy industry. The Connecticut dairy project organized two conferences to present dairy research. The first, held in the fall was a breakfast for legislative leaders to present our findings (and pancakes) to the legislators at the beginning of a legislative session in which they were going to be considering their support for the Northeast Dairy Compact and for the states farmland preservation program. Then in the spring an interdisciplinary conference on the outlook for the Connecticut dairy industry was held and attended by farmers, policy makers, and college of agriculture personnel. The project has also worked with the town of Woodstock, which has the most dairy farms of any Connecticut town, on right to farm legislation, meetings between dairy farmers and non-farmers, town manure management plans, and other planning and zoning issues related to maintaining the rural character of the town. As part of this process, the town held a Celebration of Agriculture town fair in September (pancakes were provided). Work Planned for Next Year: At the October, 2001 meeting of the technical committee, we assessed the current state of data collection and made plans for combining existing and projected data by the time of our next annual meeting. While some additional data collection would be done in 2001, most states will focus on using the existing data in a combined dataset. An organized symposium on the topic of technology adoption on dairy farms will be proposed for the American Agricultural Economics Association annual meetings. Specific plans are outlined in the 2001 NE-177 technical committee meeting minutes.

Publications

Refereed Journal Articles Foltz, Jeremy D. and Hsiu-Hui Chang. :"The Adoption of rBST on Connecticut Dairy Farms." Accepted for publication at the American Journal of Agricultural Economics Foltz, Jeremy D., Douglas Jackson-Smith, Lucy Chen. Forthcoming. "Do Purchasing Patterns Differ Between Large and Small Dairy Farms? Econometric Evidence From Three Wisconsin Communities." Agricultural and Resource Economics Review. Spring 2002. Foltz, Jeremy D. and Bruce Larson. "Understanding Public Support for Farmland Preservation Programs: Theory and Empirical Evidence" 2000. submitted to Land Economics. Foltz, Jeremy D. and Gillis Lang. 2001. "The Adoption and Profitability of Rotational Grazing on Dairy Farms in Connecticut" Submitted to the Agricultural and Resource Economics Review Rudstrom, Margaretha. "Total Mixed Ration Adoption on Minnesota Dairy Farm." Submitted to Journal of Agribusiness Rudstrom, Margaretha, Hugh Chester-Jones, Avanish Singh, Dennis Johnson and Roger Imdieke. "Pasture-Based Versus Feedlot Growing Dairy Heifers: A Comparison of Animal Performance and Costs." Submitted to Journal of American Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers Abstracts in Proceedings: DiGiacomo, G. and M. Rudstrom. Organic Grazing Dairy: Profitability and Financial Efficiency Under Alternative Pricing scenarios, 1998-99. AAEA Annual Meetings, Chicago IL, August 2001. Reports: Barham, Bradfird L., Douglas Jackson-Smith and Sunung Moon. "Use and Implication of Bovine Somatotropin for the Wisconsin Dairy Sector in the 1990s". Program on Agricultural Technology Studies, Research Report No. 9. June 2001. Foltz, Jeremy. 2001. "Profitability of Dairy Farms in Connecticut." Chapter 2. in The Outlook for the Connecticut Dairy Industry Foltz, Jeremy. 2001. "Technology Adoption on Connecticut Dairy Farms." Chapter 3. in The Outlook for the Connecticut Dairy Industry Foltz, Jeremy. 2001. "Dairy Farming in Connecticut." Connecticut Dairy Project Extension Fact Sheet. Foltz, Jeremy. 2001. "Dairy Farming in Connecticut." Connecticut Dairy Project Extension Fact Sheet. Foltz, Jeremy. 2000 Profitability of Connecticut Dairy Farms Connecticut Dairy Project Extension Fact Sheet. Available in adobe acrobat at http//www.sp.uconn.edu/~foltz/factsheets.html Foltz, Jeremy. 2000 Connecticut Dairy Farm Statistics Summary Connecticut Dairy Project Extension Fact Sheet. Available in adobe acrobat at http//www.sp.uconn.edu/~foltz/factsheets.html Foltz, Jeremy. 2000 Technology Use on Connecticut Dairy Farms Connecticut Dairy Project Extension Fact Sheet. Available in adobe acrobat at http//www.sp.uconn.edu/~foltz/factsheets.html Foltz, Jeremy. 2000 RBST use on Connecticut Dairy Farms Connecticut Dairy Project Extension Fact Sheet. Available in adobe acrobat at http//www.sp.uconn.edu/~foltz/factsheets.html Foltz, Jeremy. 2000 Rotational Grazing on Connecticut Dairy Farms Connecticut Dairy Project Extension Fact Sheet. Available in adobe acrobat at http//www.sp.uconn.edu/~foltz/factsheets.html Foltz, Jeremy, 2000. "The Connecticut Dairy Project." Text and Posters for Legislative Briefing, December, 2000. Jackson-Smith, Douglas and Bradford Barham, "Historical and Regional Trends in the U.S. and Wisconsin Dairy Sectors" Wisconsin Family Farm Facts No. 11. Current research findings from the Program on Agricultural Technology Studies. June 2001. Jackson-Smith, Douglas and Bradford Barham, "The Aggregate Performance of the U.S and Wisconsin Dairy Sectors" Wisconsin Family Farm Facts No. 12. Current research findings from the Program on Agricultural Technology Studies. June 2001. Jackson-Smith, Douglas and Bradford Barham, "Dynamics of Expansion on Wisconsin Dairy Farms in the 1990s" Wisconsin Family Farm Facts No. 13. Current research findings from the Program on Agricultural Technology Studies. June 2001. Jackson-Smith, Douglas and Bradford Barham, "Dynamics of Entry and Exit on Wisconsin Dairy Farms in the 1990s" Wisconsin Family Farm Facts No. 14. Current research findings from the Program on Agricultural Technology Studies. June 2001. Jackson-Smith, Douglas and Bradford Barham, "Technology Adoption among Wisconsins Dairy Farmers in the 1990s" Wisconsin Family Farm Facts No. 15. Current research findings from the Program on Agricultural Technology Studies. June 2001. Lazarus, W.F. "Executive Summary," "Current Situation and Recent History: Geographic Distribution and Size of Enterprise in Minnesota Animal Agriculture," "Forces Affecting Structural Change in the Minnesota Livestock Industry," and "Literature Review Update: Industry Structure and Competitiveness, and Profitability and Economic Viability," sections of Final Technical Working Paper on Topics D, E & F: Economic Structures, Profitability & External Costs, Generic Environmental Impact Statement on Animal Agriculture in Minnesota, prepared by the University of Minnesota for the Minnesota Environmental Quality Board, June 2001. Lazarus, W.F., J. Conlin, K. Edberg, S. Carpenter, D. Johnson, and J. Linn. "Economic Topic IID, Industry Structure and Competitiveness, and Economic Topic IIE, Profitability and Economic Viability", in A Summary of the Literature Related to the Social, Environmental, Economic and Health Effects, Generic Environmental Impact Statement on Animal Agriculture, prepared by the University of Minnesota for the Minnesota Environmental Quality Board, July 1999. Lazarus, W. "For Small Farms: Household Income Safety Net Better Than Commodity Programs?" and "Safety Net Programs Hard to Implement," University of Minnesota Extension Service news releases, August 3, 2001, on the Internet at http://www.extension.umn.edu/, also published in The Land, August 17, 2001; Agweek, September 3, 2001; and to be in Fruit Growers News, September 2001 Edition. Rudstrom, M.V. "Dairy Farming in Stearns County: Summary and Analysis of the 2000 Dairy Farm Survey". Staff Paper No. P01-5, Department of Applied Economics, University of Minnesota, June 2001. Rudstrom, M.V., G.J. Cuomo, D.J. Johnson, and M. Reese. "Beef Stockers and Dairy Heifers Grazing Standing Corn." 2001 Meet the Researchers, American Farm Bureau Federation Annual Convention. January 7-9, 2001. Orlando FL. Conference Proceedings Singh, A. M.V. Rudstrom, D.G. Johnson, M.H. Reese, and G.C. Cuomo. "Grazing Corn for Finishing Beef Stockers on Pasture". 2001 Minnesota Cattle Feeder Report. University of Minnesota Extension Service, February 2001.

Impact Statements

Date of Annual Report: 11/12/2002

Report Information

Annual Meeting Dates: 08/12/2002 - 08/13/2002
Period the Report Covers: 01/01/2002 - 12/01/2002

Participants

Allaire, Frank - allaire.1@osu.edu - Ohio State Univ.;
Barham, Brad - barham@aae.wisc.edu - Univ. of WI;
Crist, William - wcrist@ca.uky.edu - Univ. of KY;
Dyk, Tricia - pdyk@pop.uky.edu - Univ. of KY;
Foltz, Jeremy - jfoltz@canr1.cag.uconn.edu -Univ. of CT;
Garkovich, Lori - lgarkov@pop.uky.edu - Univ. of KY;
Gillespie, Gil;
Grossclose, Catherine - Utah State Univ.;
Jackson-Smith, Douglas - douglasj@hass.usu.edu - Utah State Univ.;
Krannich, Richard - krannichr@hass.usu.edu - Utah State Univ.;
Lazarus, William - lwf@ne177.temp.umd.edu - Univ. of MN;
Lyson, Thomas - lta@ne177.temp.umd.edu - Cornell University;
McAdam, Jennifer - Utah State Univ;
McIntosh, W. A. - mcintosh@rsocsun.tamu.edu - Texas A&M Univ.;
Rudstrom, Margot - rudstrmv@caa.mrs.umn.edu -Univ. of MN;
Sachs, Carolyn - csachs@psu.edu - Penn. State Univ.;
Schwarzweller, Harry - schwarzw@pilot.msu.edu - MI State Univ.;
Shelton, Anthony - ams5@cornell.edu - Cornell Univ.;
Smith, Stewart - ssmith@maine.edu - Univ. of ME;
Tauer, Loren - lwt1@cornell.edu - Cornell Univ.;
Tomasula, Peggy - ptomasula@arserrc.gov - USDA;
Tunick, Michael - mtunick@arserrc.gov - USDA;
Tyrell, Henry - htyrrell@reeusda.gov - USDA;
Waters, Eliza - eswaters@students.wisc.edu - Univ. of WI;
Willis, Cleve - willis@nre.umass.edu - Advisor, Univ. of MA;
Wolf, Chris - wolfc@pilot.msu.edu - Michigan State Univ.

Brief Summary of Minutes

bers of the technical committee are progressing toward completing the research protocols agreed upon at the 1996 NE-177 meeting in Vermont. The actively participating states have completed surveys. Survey data has been compiled in each state. The major accomplishment in meeting the research objectives this year is the creation of a merged dataset that contains core variables common across participating states. The merged dataset now allows for comparisons and analysis across states. The data and supporting documentation was distributed to the active participants of NE-177. Funding from the USDA Regional Rural Development Centers was used to support the merging of state data sets. Using the merged data set, preliminary research results were presented at the American Agricultural Economics Association meetings and the Rural Sociological Society meetings. It is anticipated more research results will be forthcoming in 2003. Specific progress toward both the project objectives outlined in the revised NE-177 proposal (October 1996-September 2002) is outlined below.

NE-177 Objective 1, Determine the interrelationships among and relative importance of social, economic, technological and political environments, regional conditions, and entrepreneurial strategies affecting restructuring of the dairy industry in different dairy localities.

Actively participating states made significant strides in meeting objective one. Data from state surveys were merged into a joint dataset. Active states received copies of the merged data set and supporting documentation. Preliminary work was done with the merged dataset with preliminary results were presented in an organized symposium, Technology and Productivity in the U.S. Dairy Sector, at the American Agricultural Economics Association meetings in Long Beach CA in July 2002. The work presented represented an effort to exploit the merged dataset to investigate key technology productivity issues in the dairy industry across different states. The existence of the merged dataset makes analyses across states a reality.

Census of Agriculture data will be used to provide background information to larger changes in dairy production in the study area states. State Census of Agriculture data for dairy farms in participating states has been compiled. Specific population census information has been identified. The information will be used to develop study area descriptions for each participating state.

NE-177 Objective 2: Identify, examine, and assess the effects of structural change in the dairy sector on local communities and related enterprises.

Progress is being made in meeting this objective. Common linkage variables are compiled in the merged dataset. There now exists a dataset of farm expenditure data and community attachment and participation data that will again, allow cross-state analyses to be conducted. Preliminary research results on community attachment and involvement were presented at the 2002 Rural Sociological Society meetings in Chicago IL.

Usefulness of the Findings:

Much of the past year was spent on developing the merged dataset. The existence of the merged dataset now clears the way for cross-state analyses.

Work Planned for Next Year:

At the August 2002 meeting of the technical committee, the merged dataset was the topic of discussion. Areas of analyses were identified and specific uses of the merged dataset were discussed. Specific plans are outlined in the 2002 NE-177 technical committee meeting minutes.

Accomplishments

The major accomplishment in meeting the research objectives this year is the creation of a merged dataset that contains core variables common across participating states. The merged dataset now allows for comparisons and analysis across states. The data and supporting documentation was distributed to the active participants of NE-177. Funding from the USDA Regional Rural Development Centers was used to support the merging of state data sets. Using the merged data set, preliminary research results were presented at the American Agricultural Economics Association meetings and the Rural Sociological Society meetings.

Publications

Barham, B. The adoption and disadoption of rbST on U.S. Dairy Farms, AAEA Annual Meetings, Long Beach CA, July 2002 Jackson-Smith, D., C. Grossclose, R. Krannich, J. McAdam and H. Davis. Comparative Analysis of Dairy Herd Expansion and Exit Patterns. Rural Sociological Society Annual Meetings, Chicago IL, August 2002. McIntosh, W.A. Texas Dairy Farm Community Involvement and Perception of Problems in the Local Dairy Community. Rural Sociological Society Annual Meetings, Chicago IL, August 2002. Rudstrom, M.V Total Mixed Ration (TMR) adoption on U.S. Dairy Farms: Are There Differences in Adoption Patterns Across States?, AAEA Annual Meetings, Long Beach CA, July 2002 Wolf, C. Technical Efficiency and Technology Adoption on U.S. Dairy Farms, AAEA Annual Meetings, Long Beach CA, July 2002