Landowners in the Lower Mississippi Valley or Delta may be willing to consider alternative land uses for some acreage, particularly for marginal agricultural lands. Recreational hunting, fishing, and wildlife watching opportunities on private land for public use may be a possible way to provide income to landowners and restore marginal lands as a contributor to the local economy. Previous studies have identified that landowners often chose not to engage in recreational leasing due to liability concerns. Thus, an institutional change that reduces liability risk to landowners may increase the amount of private land available for public recreation and reduce transaction costs associated with liability mitigation. These possibilities were examined using primary data obtained from a mailed questionnaire sent to agricultural landowners in the Delta region of Arkansas and Louisiana. About 14% of landowners indicated that they would be willing to allow fee-based recreation under the current institutional environment. If the Arkansas and Louisiana recreational use statutes were amended giving greater liability protection to landowners, the number of landowners that would be willing to allow fee-based recreation on their lands would increase to over 20% in Arkansas and nearly 24% of owners in Louisiana. Clearly, an institutional change that reduces the liability risk to landowners can increase the potential amount of private land that could be used for fee-based recreation, again particularly so for Louisiana. Over 40% of landowners have land that is marginal for agricultural purposes with the average ownership of marginal land being slightly more than 100 acres. Owners of marginal land were particularly responsive to an institutional change providing greater liability protection. Risk averse landowners were more unlikely and risk seeking landowners were more likely to allow fee-based recreation under the current institutional environment. Following an institutional change it was observed that risk preference was no longer a significant predictor of the willingness to allow fee-based recreation indicating that the element of risk was diminished. Transaction costs associated with liability are evident and amending the recreational use statute appears to produce a reduction in expected WTA reflecting a transaction cost savings to landowners.

Dollarization has been suggested as an option for emerging economies. This policy might, among other goals, promote trade between a country adopting the dollar and the United States. Recent research suggests that adopting a common currency increases bilateral trade. Those findings have been widely critiqued for the lack of consistency over different currencies specially the case of dollarization. This thesis is primarily concerned with the impact of dollarization in El Salvador regarding bilateral trade flows. Utilizing the framework of the Gravity Model, bilateral trade flows for 13 trading partners of El Salvador were examined. This study found that dollarization has had a positive effect on bilateral trade flows. The findings were not only large but statistically significant.

Two severe Hurricanes, Katrina and Rita, caused devastating damages in the northern Gulf of Mexico during late summer and early fall 2005. Louisiana was the most heavily impacted state, where both storms made initial landfall. The storms caused billions of dollars in damages to public and private infrastructure, with particularly strong impacts to coastal fishing businesses. Numerous assessments of coastal fisheries infrastructure damage were developed by state and federal agencies following the storms. The range of estimates varied greatly (from $275 million to $3.5 billion), because of a wide range of methods and assumptions. This study describes two alternative damage assessment methods that utilize a combination of economic and biophysical data that can be used to produce rapid and geographically-specific estimates of commercial fisheries infrastructure damages. Using a Geographic Information System (GIS) framework, location data was geo-coded for more than 100,000 addresses of commercial seafood infrastructures in 22 coastal parishes. Economic damage curves for seafood infrastructures were then fit using a combination of primary and secondary data. These damage curves were related to each location using data on maximum storm surge height simulated by the ADCIRC model via the LSU Hurricane Center. The first damage model, a form of partial income capitalization, estimated total damages to commercial seafood infrastructures at $269 million. The second model, in which revenue losses are discounted over a five-year period, produces a total of damage estimate of $455 million. As suspected, of Plaquemines Parish received the highest overall economic damages, as this parish was contained a high concentration of fisheries infrastructure and was the initial point of landfall for hurricanes. Conversely, Cameron Parish, the initial point of landfall for Hurricane Rita, had only the 6th highest damages. This outcome reflects the ability of the models to account for the geographic concentration of fisheries infrastructure, as well as the trajectory and intensity of a particular storm. The results of these applications can be used to guide damage assessments through more strategic allocation of recovery funding for short and long-term objectives.

As a result of increased cultured activities, the world shrimp market has been expanded significantly during the past two decades. Because the growth in world supply has exceeded that of growth in demand, the deflated world shrimp price has fallen significantly since the mid-1980s. While a large producer of shrimp (primarily in the Gulf of Mexico), the United States is also the worlds largest importer. In general, the Gulf of Mexico dockside price is determined by the world export price and, as such, the Gulf of Mexico price has fallen sharply in recent years. This study quantifies the impact on the U.S. Gulf of Mexico dockside shrimp price associated with increased cultured shrimp activities and concomitant increased exports to the U.S. market. For purposes of analysis, a set of import demand and export supply equations were estimated. Specifically, import demand equations were estimated for three countries (regions) that account for the majority of shrimp imports the United States, Japan, and the European Union. Similarly, export supply equations, were developed for the three primary warm-water shrimp producing regions Asia, South America, and Central America. Finally, an inverse demand equation associated with U.S. Gulf of Mexico shrimp production was estimated. Results suggest that the increased cultured production from the three regions has had a significant impact on the Gulf of Mexico dockside price. For example, results indicate that the Gulf of Mexico dockside price is expected to decline by approximately 3.5% for every 10% increase in Asian production of cultured shrimp. Similarly, analysis suggests that the estimated decline in dockside price associated with a 10% increase in South American cultured shrimp production is 2.2%. While an increase in Central American cultured shrimp production was also found to significantly reduce the dockside price, increases in captured shrimp production were found to have a greater impact.

The EPA has identified agriculture to be a major contributor of nonpoint source water pollution. The production of rice poses two major water quality issues: the application of a large amount of water that is held on the field for long periods of time during the growing season and the disposal of that water at a later time in the production cycle. Louisiana has developed the voluntary adoption of Best Management Practices (BMPs). These practices have been promoted through educational programs such as the Master Farmer program. This program, developed by the LSU AgCenter, targets conservation practices that are both environmentally and economically beneficial. This study assessed the current adoption of 20 Best Management Practices (BMPs) in the Southwest Louisiana rice industry and provided policy recommendations based on the results. The practices were grouped into five management areas: erosion and sediment management, water management, nutrient management, pesticide management, and wildlife habitat management. A mail survey was conducted to determine producer awareness of water quality legislation, adoption of BMPs, participation in Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) cost share programs, additional sources of on-farm revenue, environmental attitudes, and socioeconomic information. The results show that the most significant variables include: awareness of the Coastal Nonpoint Pollution Control Act, educational programs and consultation with LCES personnel, attendance of grower meetings, farm size, intention to pass the farm to a family member, and the leasing of the majority of land to others. The recommendations of this study are to continue the promotion of educational programs and producer involvement with LCES agents

Bourriaque, Ryan Joseph, B.A. Louisiana State University, 2005 Master of Science, Summer Commencement, 2008 Major: Agricultural Economics Spatial Economics of the Louisiana Wetland Mitigation Banking Industry Thesis directed by Assistant Professor Rex Caffey Pages in thesis, 86. Words in abstract, 265. ABSTRACT Wetland mitigation banking has become prevalent in many states across the US, with the number of banks increasing 780% from 1992 to 2005. Louisiana led the nation in the total number of banks in 2006 with 96. Despite rapid growth associated with this industry, economic data in regards to the market for wetland mitigation bank transactions has been lacking. Mitigation bank transactions were collected (n=165) for the period 1997 through 2006 from the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources and the US Army Corps of Engineers New Orleans District. Data were evaluated for economic, spatial, temporal, and other descriptive characteristics. Average credit price for the period was $6,382, three to seven times lower than prices of wetland mitigation credits in states adjacent to Louisiana. Evidence of bimodal price trends prompted analysis of market segregation. Wetland credit prices ranged from $4,000-$20,000 for coastal mitigation credits and from $3,000-$10,000 for non-coastal mitigation credits. A modified hedonic regression model was developed using spatial econometric and statistical software. Twenty-three variables were evaluated for their influence as price determinants, with 11 factors chosen in the final model (Adj. R2 = .69). Parallel sub-models were developed for coastal and inland markets with marginal effects estimated for significant and continuous variables. Major drivers of credit price included sales volume, proximity to population centers, time, and rural land values. Competition within a particular market (watershed) had a positive influence on price, an indication that demand is exceeding supply in this infant market. Findings and recommendations from this study could prove beneficial to policy advisors, bank sponsors, as well as prospective investors in the industry.

Sales by ornamental nurseries in the United States have grown, recently, at an impressive rate. For example, sales of the greenhouse and nursery crops component increased about 18% from 2000 to 2006 (USDA, 2007). The evolution of a diverse set of market channel alternatives, including the garden center, landscaper, home center, mass merchandiser and re-wholesaler channels, has been one of the reasons for this growth. Knowledge about growers use of the individual marketing channels is indispensable for the development of appropriate sales strategies for better income and profits. Periodic survey data indicates that the re-wholesaler channel is a frequently used alternative, and in recent years, there has been the perception that this is one of the fastest-growing channels in the industry. Utilizing a survey conducted in 2004, this study aims to estimate the impacts of growers business characteristics on (i) market channel choice, and on (ii) proportion of producers sales through each market channel, by firm size and by region. These objectives are achieved by using the multinomial logit model and the two-limit tobit models. The producers choices about marketing channels and the proportion of sales through each of these channels are a function of business characteristics including firm age, categories of plants sold, trade shows attendance, contracts with specific kinds of buyers, and advertising expenditures. The estimated coefficients and marginal effects calculated for each model suggest that producers with a more diversified marketing strategy were associated with higher use of the mass merchandiser and garden center channel. Furthermore, producers selling specific categories of plants chose different marketing channels. Trade shows advertising had a strong positive impact on choice and sales to the re-wholesaler and mass merchandiser channels. The results demonstrate that sales to specific channel are affected by the location of the nurseries. Producers in the West used the re-wholesaler channel more than did producers in the South. Large firms in the Northeast behaved differently than large firms in the South when they used any marketing channel except for re-wholesaler. This studys results support the thesis that nurseries characteristics affect marketing channel choice and sales addressed toward specific middleman.

This study addresses the issue of antidumping investigations and their effect on trade of agricultural products. The question which this study addresses is whether antidumping is helping domestic industries or is simply diverting trade away from the named countries to the non- named countries (countries not mentioned in the antidumping petition). Antidumping has emerged as an important tool in the hands of importing countries over the last two decades The World Trade Organization (WTO) has defined dumping as a situation of international price discrimination. Dumping occurs when exporting countries are selling the product in the international market at a price lower than the prices in the domestic market. By the implementation of the Article VI of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994 (The Antidumping Agreement), dumping is considered as an introduction of any product in the commerce of another country at less than its normal value. According to that article, WTO members can impose antidumping measures if after investigation, the following facts are proved: (i) that dumping is occurring, (ii) that the domestic industry producing the same product in the importing country is affected by material injury, and (iii) that there is causal link between the two. In 2001, at Doha, Qatar the WTO initiated a new round of global trade talks and an agenda was been signed declaring the new trade-remedy laws. The trade-remedy laws, though being in compliance with the WTO, have been viewed by the developing nations as a form of hidden protection for the developed world. This study focuses on the U.S. antidumping investigation cases of agricultural products. Information about the agricultural antidumping investigation cases which were filed during the time period 1994-2004 is considered. The study results suggest that there is no significant trade diversion from the named countries to the non-named countries but that total imports decline as a result of a decline in imports from named countries.

The overall goal of this research is to empirically analyze shrimp fishermen behavior to help improve the management of the Gulf of Mexico shrimp fleet. Given that optimal management requires consideration of more than the net benefits derived from shrimp harvesting, this research also seeks to provide an empirical framework that would allow future investigators to measure benefits lost through bycatch-related management actions. This paper expands on previous fishing behavior literature by focusing on two of the most important short-run decisions confronting Gulf of Mexico shrimp fishermen (where to fish and how long to fish). A better understanding of these factors can provide useful information to policy makers in designing and implementing more effective policies. This study uses panel data for up to 15 years, which is a combination of the Coast Guard Vessel Operating Unit File and the Shrimp Landing File from National Marine Fisheries Service. In the location choice analyses, the U.S. Gulf of Mexico is divided into three areas: FL, LAM, and TX. For each area a conditional logit and mixed logit based on Random Utility Model are run to analyze the influence of fishermens past choice decision on current choice (state dependence), and the fishermens difference in preferences (preference heterogeneity). The results show that past experience does affect current decision, but the influence dies out fast. In addition, fishers are different in their preference in many aspects. Also, it seems that fishermens risk attitudes can change over the years. Their tolerance towards congestion exhibits changes over time too. As for their trip length decision, it seems that diesel price is negatively related to the length of days fished, so is the price difference between large and medium sized shrimp. Further, there seems to be a pattern that the trip length is increasing over the years. The incorporation of unobserved heterogeneity into the location choice and duration models corrects the potential biasedness in estimates and improves the goodness-of-fit considerably, aside from provides intuitive economic interpretations.

The increasing trends of integrated and concentrated broiler production results in a serious threat to environment through excessive litter production and lack of its proper disposal. Production concentration in limited area is a major source of surface as well as ground water pollution. Nonpoint source pollution from broiler litter applied on land remains a major concern in Louisiana and elsewhere in Southeastern USA. This study examines alternative approaches to reduce pollution originating from broiler production. First, I evaluate why some producers adopt BMP faster than others and what kind of factors affect the time to adoption decision. The duration model is employed to allow the censored observation while evaluating the impact of farm and individual specific characteristics on time to adoption decision. The information and awareness about the BMPs and the negative effects of broiler production on water-bodies are found to be the main factors to encourage the adoptions. Larger farmers are also the early adopters of BMPs. The existing literature finds voluntary BMP implementation serves only as complementary-instrument to economic-incentive-based approaches. Therefore, the option of economic-incentive based approach to mitigate water pollution becomes crucial. I evaluate the factors associated with the incentive level that motivates broiler producers to either terminate the production practices or pay pollution abatement costs so as to reduce pollutant entering water resources. I attempt to answers the question of what is the minimum amount that a broiler producer is willing to accept to forgo the production practice so as to reduce pollution generation. It is found that broiler producers are willing to terminate production only if the government payment is very high as compared to the profit from the production. However, the producers willingness to pay pollution abatement tax is comparatively small, if they were to pay to mitigate the water pollution at their current production technology.