23 pages, Rice is a staple crop in Nigeria. Even with a push to increase domestic production, little is known about the functionality of Nigeria’s open bag markets and the preferences of consumers for specific rice attributes. Our study uses a hedonic price model to identify quality attribute preferences of consumers and potential market failures. Our results indicate that Nigerian consumers prefer rice with homogenous long slender kernels and a low presence of broken rice and are indifferent to chalkiness. The findings are useful as they can inform future strategies for rice breeders, domestic policy makers, and rice exporters.
25 pages, Using linked data from multiple years of the U.S. Census of Agriculture, this study identifies farm and operator characteristics associated with beginning farm survival, growth, and success. Success is defined as continuing in business for 5 years without a decline in farm real estate asset value. The results indicate which types of beginning farms and farmers are likely to survive and grow—information which could be useful in targeting program resources. By identifying policy-amenable variables that correlate with both farm survival and business expansion, the results also suggest possible mechanisms for increasing the success of beginning farms.
21 pages, Produce that does not meet sellers’ esthetic standards may be redirected to alternative uses or wasted, but consumer trends indicate potential marketability of blemished produce. We conduct a nonhypothetical experimental auction to elicit consumer willingness-to-pay (WTP) for produce of varying degrees of blemish and test whether valuations are affected by (1) information on food waste resulting from grocery stores’ esthetic standards and (2) additional information on the environmental impacts of food waste. WTP for blemished produce increases as consumers become informed, but the information effects vary by blemishing degree. Market simulations indicate that introducing blemished produce can increase retailer revenue.
