Master of Agribusiness / Department of Agricultural Economics / Vincent Amanor-Boadu / The literature shows that increases in incomes lead to changes in the allocation of income or expenditure shares to different food products. The purpose of this thesis is to identify the effect of income on expenditure share allocations among different food groups. The study was particularly interested in beans and how changes in incomes affect the share of bean expenditures. We used data from the 2010 Zambia Living Conditions Monitoring Survey (LCMS). The LCMS covers the whole country and provides segmentation of the respondents, across the region and rural versus urban. It also provides detailed information on the income and expenditure distributions of respondent households. This allowed for the achievement of the overall objective of this thesis: understanding how beans and other food products responded to income changes as well as other demographic and socio-economic variables. The food share is the proportion of total household income that was allocated to food. The results show that food averages about 40% of income but varied significantly across the four income groups. It was 92% for those earning less than ZMW300 per month and 37% for those earning between ZMW300 and ZMW750 per month. It was down to 22.6% for those earning between ZMW750 and ZMW2.1 million per month had a food share of total income of only 10.8%, similar to the average U.S. consumer. These averages were found to be statistically different across the income groups. We found that Zambians allocated about 40% of their food expenditure to cereals compared to 5% to pulses and 3.5% to beans. They allocated a higher proportion of their food expenditure to fruits and vegetables than to beans and/or to pulses. This shows that legumes are very low on the food hierarchy in Zambia. However, across income categories, it was found that consumers in the second income group (ZMW300 and ZMW750 per month) allocated the most of their food expenditure to beans, about 3.9%, while those in the highest income group (ZMW750 and ZMW2.1 million per month ) allocated the least, about 3%. The biggest influencing demographic factor for pulses and beans’ shares of food expenditure was locale, with urban consumers having about 1.1 and 0.8 percentage points higher share of food expenditures allocated to beans than rural consumers. The respective t-values were 15.58 and 16.96. All the demographic and socio-economic variables were statistically significant at or below the 5% level. There was no difference between the allocation of people in the highest income group and those in the lowest income group. The results suggest that if the long-term objective is to reap the nutritional benefits of beans, there may be value in focusing on two principal policy variables: education and income enhancement. However, because education is correlated with income, the benefits of undertaking this policy initiative would more than benefit the bean consumption. It should unleash across the economy a more productive workforce that understands the health benefits of its food choices.

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Agricultural Economics / Jeffery R. Williams / Over the last few decades there has been a shift in electricity production in the U.S. Renewable energy sources are becoming more widely used. In addition, electric generation plants that use coal inputs are more heavily regulated than a couple decades ago. This shift in electricity production was brought on by changes in federal policy – a desire for electricity produced in the U.S. which led to policies being adopted that encourage the use of renewable energy. The change in production practices due to policies may have led to changes in the productivity of electric generation plants. Multiple studies have examined the most efficient electric generation plants using the data envelopment analysis (DEA) approach. This study builds on past research to answer three questions: 1) Does the level of aggregation of fuel input variables affect the plant efficiency scores and how does the efficiency of renewable energy input compare to nonrenewable energy inputs; 2) Are policies geared toward directly or indirectly reducing greenhouse gas emissions affecting the production efficiencies of greenhouse gas emitting electric generation plants; and 3) Do renewable energy policies and the use of intermittent energy sources (i.e. wind and solar) affect the productivity growth of electric generation plants. All three analysis, presented in three essays, use U.S. plant level data obtained from the Energy Information Administration to answer these questions. The first two essays use DEA to determine the pure technical, overall technical, and scale efficiencies of electric generation plants. The third essay uses DEA within the Malmquist index to assess the change in productivity over time. Results indicate that the level of aggregation does matter particularly for scale efficiency. This implies that valuable information is likely lost when fuel inputs are aggregated together. Policies directly focused on reducing greenhouse gas emissions may improve the production efficiencies of greenhouse gas emitting electric generation plants. However, renewable energy policies do not have an effect on productivity growth. Renewable energy inputs are found to be as efficient if not more efficient than traditional energy sources.

Master of Science / Agricultural Economics / John A. Fox / This study examines consumer acceptance of omega-3 enhanced beef using data from a choice experiment and a retail trial. The retail trial was conducted in collaboration with La Vaca Meat Company, Littleton, CO which offered omega-3 enhanced beef products for sale both online and in-store. Prices were adjusted periodically, and online customers were surveyed to gather information about their purchase decisions. The choice experiment was included in an online survey conducted with a nationally representative sample of consumers. One version of the survey focused on ground beef and another focused on steak. Within each version separate treatments examined the impact of providing information about how levels of the most beneficial omega-3s could be enhanced in beef. The choice experiment evaluated how variation in meat attributes such as omega-3 content, safety, and tenderness influenced purchase decisions. Data from the choice experiment were analyzed using multinomial logit models. Results indicate that overall acceptance and willingness to pay for omega-3 enhanced beef was below that of grass-fed beef. Additional information about omega-3s increased willingness-to-pay for enhanced omega ground beef, but had no impact on willingness-to-pay for enhanced omega steak. The analysis showed significant heterogeneity in preferences, and, in particular, females had significantly higher willingness-to-pay for grass-fed ground beef than males. Average willingness-to-pay for grass-fed steak was estimated at $3.69/lb above conventionally raised product, compared to an estimated premium of $1.86/lb for enhanced omega steak. For ground beef the average premium for grass-fed product was estimated to be $1.27/lb compared to $0.79/lb for the enhanced omega product.

Master of Agribusiness / Department of Agricultural Economics / Allen Featherstone / Land values have a fascinating history after the first settlers started moving west in the 19th century. Much research has been done in agricultural economics with regards to land values and this subject will continue to be watched closely as we move further into the 21st century. The goal of this thesis is to understand the effect that ethanol plants have on the price of land around the ethanol plant. More specifically, the thesis addresses the question of “What impact do ethanol plants have on Kansas Land values?” The thesis also answers the question of “Are land values directly correlated to the proximity of an ethanol plant and if they are directly correlated, to what extent or how much more valuable is a parcel of land that is 30 miles to an ethanol plant compared to a parcel of land that is 70 miles?” As we move into the 21st century, the nation continues to look for alternative fuel sources. Ethanol produced from corn has played a key role in that search for an alternative fuel. In 2007, the state of Kansas proposed to have 29 ethanol plants built and/or operational in the near future. The majority of the ethanol plants were built in 2006 and 2007 with only 16 of those plants becoming operational. This thesis uses those 16 ethanol plants as the basis of this study. The study determines if land sale values from 2010 to 2013 were directly impacted based on the proximity to the closest ethanol plant. Corn is the main crop used in this study with regards to the production of ethanol. While other crops can be used to produce ethanol, the study only focused on the corn crops from 2010 to 2013. The trend in cash corn prices and basis data reflects the advent of the development of ethanol plants with a cash corn high of $8.05 in 2012 and a basis high of $1.84 above futures prices in 2013. In addition to cash corn prices and basis data, the study also collected land parcel sales from the years 2010 to 2013 with 9,279 total observations. Utilizing regression, an equation was estimated taking into account land price, size of land parcel sold in acres, quarter of year for sale, a year binary variable, the minimum distance of an ethanol plant to each parcel sale, the percent pasture acres, percent irrigation acres, rainfall, cropland productivity, and population density. Results indicated that land closer to an ethanol plant is priced at a premium compared to land further away. Land values will continue to be closely studied as we move into the 21st century. This study was able to provide a price point per mile of how much more valuable a land parcel is the closer it is located to an ethanol plant. While this study only factored in the closest ethanol plant to that land parcel sale, other factors such as including multiple ethanol plants located in the same town or ethanol plants that are close in proximity to each other could be further analyzed to continue research on this topic.

Master of Agribusiness / Department of Agricultural Economics / Vincent Amanor-Boadu / Most corporations seem geared to buy assets, not sell them. Estimates suggest corporations acquire three businesses for every one they divest (Mankins 2008). A corporation with a disciplined approach to divestiture seems more likely to sharpen strategic focus and deliver value to shareholders. This thesis defines and explores the concept of an orphan product as an opportunity for divestiture from a parent company and subsequent acquisition for a startup company. Orphan product is defined by reviewing literature and selecting the following criteria for a given product; the product has a lack of marketing support/focus, the product is not considered core to the parent company, product sales trend over a 5-year time frame is decreasing, cash flows are uncertain, market growth for the category the product competes in is smaller than the industry average, the product life cycle position is mature, and portfolio synergy is low due to the parent company having other products that deliver similar benefits. A scorecard is developed and used to score orphan characteristics of four products in the animal health industry. Two of the four products analyzed are classified as orphan products and therefore potential candidates for purchase by the startup company. A Strategy Canvas is developed and value curves are assigned per product to show how the startup company can market an acquired product relative to the critical success factors in the animal health industry (Kim and Mauborgne, 2005). A framework of critical questions is posed to each product resulting in recommendations for the startup on critical success factors to eliminate, reduce, raise, or create. For the orphan products, a recommendations include: raise price, increase marketing support, and/or create new factors to differentiate such as to offer additional services or to develop pricing models that are simple and clear. Application of this research can be applied to companies seeking to acquire animal health products that would like to better understand how to improve their chances for success.

Master of Science / Department of Agricultural Economics / Ted C. Schroeder / Electronic animal identification systems are becoming more common in livestock auction markets because of increased numbers of cattle being electronically identified. More cattle are being individually identified because of increasing enrollment in marketing alliances and verification programs. Also, the National Animal Identification System (NAIS) has increased awareness and perhaps use of electronic identification. In this study, individual characteristics of livestock markets were analyzed to determine how they relate to a livestock market operator's views, concerns, and knowledge of the NAIS as well as adoption of RFID reading equipment. Investments in RFID tagging services and RFID reading equipment by livestock markets were estimated and price premiums associated with RFID tagged and preconditioned cattle were estimated. Data were from a national survey of livestock auction markets and cattle transaction data were obtained from three Kansas livestock markets. Auction markets that indicated they currently plan to add a RFID tagging service are likely to have more knowledge of the NAIS program standards, how to adopt the NAIS practices, and the probable costs involved. Managers of facilities that sell a large volume of livestock annually tend to have a higher level of understanding of how to adopt the NAIS practices and be more knowledgeable of the NAIS standards than operators of smallvolume facilities. Managers of markets that have operating RFID reader systems tend to be more understanding of how to adopt the NAIS practices and of costs associated with adopting the NAIS. Livestock market managers tend to be highly concerned that adoption of individual animal identification systems will adversely impact sale speed and tend to view the NAIS as a threat to their business. Large volume facilities, facilities that have registered their premises, and facilities that plan to add a RFID tagging service are more likely to adopt RFID reader systems. Economies of scale exist in RFID system adoption and RFID tagging services for auction markets. Preconditioned and RFID tagged cattle brought a significant premium at only one of three facilities where data were collected.

Master of Science / Department of Educational Leadership / Sarah Jane Fishback / This study was influenced by the desire to better understand the factors that influence the salary County Extension Agents in Kansas who are employed by K-State Research and Extension. The purpose of the study was to determine factors or the correlation among factors that influence salary compensation. Information was retrieved regarding the 241 County Extension Agents employed in Kansas. Demographic data was compiled on the Extension Agents as well as the ten factors that could influence their salary compensation. The factors are as follows: 1. area within the state; 2. county population; 3. number of agents in the county; 4. director responsibilities; 5. gender; 6. months of Extension employment; 7. years of equivalent service outside of Kansas Extension; 8. change of county employment within Kansas Extension; 9. position type; and 10. level of education. Variable selection through backward elimination was performed identifying area, population, the number of Extension Agents in a county/district, whether the Extension Agent was a director, previous years of experience in an equivalent position outside of K-State Research and Extension, whether an Extension Agent was employed by K-State Research and Extension prior to their current position, months of experience in their current position with K-State Research and Extension, and whether an Extension Agent has a Master's degree and if that Master's degree was obtained prior to the start of their current position to be the most significant influences on salary. Multiple regressions of the data were then performed to determine the significant relationships among certain variables. The population-position-gender correlation was found to be significant as well as the correlation among position types and genders. Recommendations for further research were given including studying the affect of performance evaluations and cost of living on salary compensation. In addition, recommendations for further practices include an annual review of the salary gap among position types and gender to ensure equity of salary compensation. Furthermore, recommendations were given regarding the dispersion of the level of education and timeliness of completing a Master's degree salary compensation data.

Master of Agribusiness / Department of Agricultural Economics / Jeffery R. Williams / The economic feasibility of adding a pistachio roasting facility to the current operations of Tularosa Pistachio Groves (TG) was examined. A facility that roasts and processes 200,000 pounds of pistachio nuts was found to be the most economically viable for the available product grown by (TG) and other small growers in this area. This size facility optimizes the production capacity of the equipment needed for a small grower/processor and fully utilizes a fulltime skilled labor pool needed for the operation. Lower production levels utilize the same equipment on an intermittent schedule. Although operating costs are less when processing fewer pistachio nuts, the negative cash flows during the early period of the project are significant and make the lower production levels less financially viable. The primary reason the lower production quantities are less attractive is because the initial capital investment produced lower cash incomes in the early years of operation. Additional cash is needed for the operation costs, and principal and interest payments. Achieving maximum production to utilize the capacity of the facility sooner makes the project more financially feasible.

Master of Agribusiness / Department of Agricultural Economics / Ted C. Schroeder / Annual vaccination of the beef cow herd is a common management tool for most beef herd operations. However, no studies have established the minimal vaccination frequency needed to attain an acceptable herd production output with minimal financial inputs. The hypothesis of this study stated that the production output and profitability of the cow herd would not be decreased by vaccinating the cow herd at intervals of greater than one year. An animal's immune response to a vaccine or a direct challenge by a pathogen requires it to partition nutritional resources from other functioning biological systems within the body such as reproduction and lactation. According to the concept of diminishing returns, there is a point at which the cost of inputs (labor costs, vaccine costs and frequency of vaccination) does not result in corresponding levels of production output (measured by calf weaning weight, cow pregnancy rate and calf survivability). Thus, the objective of this thesis was to evaluate the effect of varying the interval of vaccination on cow reproductive productivity, calf productivity at weaning and herd profitability. It is important to note that this research study does not question the premises of vaccinating a cow herd or the effectiveness of the vaccines, but only investigates the time interval between vaccinations. This study consisted of approximately 1000 head of beef cattle divided between two ranch locations in south central South Dakota. Permanent and yearly production records were collected for each individual cow and calf for three production years 1998, 1999 and 2000. At each location cows were randomly assigned into four treatment groups:1) Group V0 – control or non-vaccinated, 2) Group V1 – vaccinated in 2000, 3) Group V2 – vaccinated in 1999 and 2000 and 4) Group V3 – vaccinated in 1998, 1999 and 2000. At the conclusion of this four year study, varying the interval of vaccinations did not decrease the production and the profitability of the treatment groups compared to the control group in the weaning weight and calf mortality models. However, in the pregnancy model conception rates were significantly reduced in 2 of the 3 treatment groups.

Master of Agribusiness / Department of Agricultural Economics / Brian P. Niehoff / The purpose of this thesis was to provide recommendations for improving the existing Farm Credit of the Virginia's, ACA (FCV) "Training of Today’s/Tomorrow's Association Leaders" (TOTAL) leadership development program. In the wake of pending retirements and increased competition for experienced and talented leaders, FCV has developed the TOTAL leadership development program. TOTAL is a competency based program designed to enhance the interpersonal skills of high potential leaders. An extensive literature review was performed to identify leadership development best practices. The best practices identified were as follows: having an organizational culture of leadership development, leaders developing leaders, 360-degree feedback, coaching and mentoring, and job assignments and action learning. An analysis of the existing TOTAL program yielded the identification of strengths, opportunities, and challenges. Finally, recommendations for improving the effectiveness of TOTAL were provided.