"Results in this study demonstrate that GMO strategies use available information, extract and transform it through resource investments that are not compensated by energy-efficient results, and this trend are likely to increase due to ecosystem reaction. Moreover, resources invested into a process that stores information in seed that does not maximize power is counterproductive, and this singular approach reduces opportunities to explore other patterns and alternative plant breeding and production system strategies that may provide more consistent and sustainable system performance in the long term."
Paul Hixson Collection., Reports on a speech by representatives of the American Soybean Association expressing concern about resources being directed by the U.S. Agency for International Development toward aiding foreign competitors. They suggested changing emphasis of government programs from helping other countries grow more soybeans to helping them use more soybeans.
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 169 Document Number: D08994
Notes:
Datu Case Studies, Datu Research, Durham, North Carolina. Summary of a case study posted on the website of the National Association of Conservation Districts, Washington, D.C. 2 pages., Study shows adoption of conservation practices boosted net income $83-110 per acre.
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 32 Document Number: D10581
Notes:
306 pages., PhD dissertation in agricultural economics, Texas A&M University, College Station. Only the abstract stored in ACDC., Via database., Results indicate the soybean checkoff program has been highly effective over the study period returning $6.9 in revenue to soybean producers for every checkoff dollar spent.
26 pages., via online journal., This paper employs the patent data of four major genetically modified (GM) crops, soybeans, cotton, maize and rapeseed, to illustratee how the innovation of GM crop technology diffused and distributed globally over time. Data collected from the Derwent Innovation Index, were employed to construct country patent citation networks, from 1984 to 2015, and the results revealed that developed countries were early adopters, and the primary actors in the innovation of GM crop technology. Only seven developing countries appeared in the country citation network. Most developed countries were reluctant to apply GM crop technology for commercial cultivation. Private businesses stood out in the patent citation network. The early adoption and better performance of developed countries can be explained by the activities of large established private companies.
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 82 Document Number: D10831
Notes:
10 pages., via website AgWeb's Farm Journal, In their story, “Plowed Under, The Next American Farm Bust Is Upon Us,” (paywall) the Wall Street Journal reported on the tough times we’re facing in agriculture. They are tough. And, as a corn and soybean farmer, it’s painful to see. But farmers are nothing if not resilient. And we’ll survive this one too.
Available online at www.centmapress.org, Results showed that different segments of producers had distinctive purchasing behaviors. Specifically, analytic-oriented producers tended to focus on product performance and less on the relationship with suppliers when buying their inputs. They also tended to be loyal to input brands, rely less on dealers/retailers and salespeople, and they are willing to change suppliers more often than other producers. Intuitive-oriented producers valued more the relationship with the supplier and are interested in contacting the salesperson if they need a product. Balanced-oriented producers declared to be less loyal to brands, but were more stable in terms of not changing input suppliers frequently.
February 5 issue via online. 3 pages., Describes the addition as a way for editors and advertisers to connect with corn and soybean growers, in particular, during the growing season.
18 pages., via online journal, The aim of this paper is to investigate the perceptions of small-scale farmers in Brazil towards genetically modified (GM) crops based on a sample of 15 focus groups involving 111 individuals. The analysis of the corpus shows heterogeneous perceptions regarding these crops, shaped by diverse factors, including economic prospects and concerns with the impact on health and the environment. There are many misgivings about these effects among the farmers, who are keen to receive unbiased information on the topic. These uncertainties affect them more as consumers, as most would prefer eating GM-free food, than as producers, as they consider other aspects, especially economic feasibility, when deciding what to grow. Although most farmers believe they should have a voice in decision-making on agricultural issues, few have made concerted efforts to be heard.
Author emphasizes the value of farm broadcasters in sharing information about the numerous initiatives supported by the agricultural organizations such as the American Soybean Association.
Benavidez, Justin R. (author), Ribera, Luis A. (author), and Thayer, Anastasia (author)
Format:
Paper
Publication Date:
2020
Published:
International
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 201 Document Number: D11717
Notes:
Paper presented at the 2020 Agricultural and Applied Economics Association Annual Meeting, Kansas City, Missouri, July 26-28, 2020. 20 pages., Authors assessed the impact of tweets by U.S. President Donald Trump on agricultural commodity prices during the trade war with China. Results indicated tht days with high counts of tweets with keywords associated with the 2018-2019 trade war led to statistically significant structural breaks in the price series for hogs, corn, cotton, and soybeans.
USA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C.
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 201 Document Number: D11770
Notes:
Online via AgriMarketing Weekly. 1 page., U.S. Department of Agriculture reports that more than 90 percent of corn, soybean, and cotton acreage involves herbicide-resistant varieties. Currently, 92 percent of U.S. cotton acres are planted with genetically-engineered, insect-resistant seeds and 83 percent of U.S. corn acres.
18 pages, via Online Journal, Plant-based milk alternatives–or mylks–have surged in popularity over the past ten years. We consider the politics and consumer subjectivities fostered by mylks as part of the broader trend towards ‘plant-based’ food. We demonstrate how mylk companies inherit and strategically deploy positive framings of milk as wholesome and convenient, as well as negative framings of dairy as environmentally damaging and cruel, to position plant-based as the ‘better’ alternative. By navigating this affective landscape, brands attempt to (re)make mylk as simultaneously palatable and disruptive to the status quo. We examine the politics of mylks through the concept of palatable disruption, where people are encouraged to care about the environment, health, and animal welfare enough to adopt mylks but to ultimately remain consumers of a commodity food. By encouraging consumers to reach for “plant-based” as a way to cope with environmental catastrophe and a life out of balance, mylks promote a neoliberal ethic: they individualize systemic problems and further entrench market mechanisms as solutions, thereby reinforcing the political economy of industrial agriculture. In conclusion, we reflect on the limits of the current plant-based trend for transitioning to more just and sustainable food production and consumption.
