The primary purpose of this study is to evaluate the role of the US in the worldwide production and trade of pistachios, identify and estimate the major factors affecting export demand for US pistachios in 21 major markets, accounting for 78 percent of total US pistachio exports. The study estimated the impacts of US pistachio own price, cross price, importing markets’ GDP, real exchange rates and effect of food safety shocks. A panel data analysis was conducted using data from 1989 to 2009. A Houseman test indicated that the random effects estimator was the chosen estimator. Elasticity analysis indicated that US pistachio demand showed own price elastic, income elastic and real exchange rate elastic, while cross price and food safety shock inelastic. The paper also investigated effects of marketing orders in different industries to reinforce the findings by Alston et al. in 2005 on the Pistachio Order. The review concluded with a general positive effect. Consequently, to maintain international market share, US pistachio producers need to take advantage of their advanced technology and reputation for higher food safety standards, comply with regulations under the marketing order, focus on product diversification and find solutions to improve current food safety issues.

This study analyzes the effectiveness of the Cooperatives Working Together (CWT) program. This program is believed to have improved the farm-level price of milk since it began in July 2003. To date, no publicly available analysis addressing this question has been conducted. Total milk removed by the program was determined and expressed as a percentage of total milk produced nationally during the same time frame. Elasticity measures from prior studies were adapted to determine the impact of the program. This analysis suggests the program has had a significantly positive effect on the price of milk. Issues dealing with future action were identified and discussed. In addition to analyzing the effectiveness of the CWT program, a survey was conducted among Utah dairy producers who had recently exited the industry. It was determined that the majority of these producers were older and did not exit through the CWT program. The primary reasons for their exit were their older age, low milk prices, and lack of family interest in continuing to operate the dairy.