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Article
Publication date: 27 July 2012

Christine A. Wilson, Charles B. Moss and D. Scott Brown

The purpose of this research is to examine the usability and communication methods of the Agricultural Resource Management Survey (ARMS) data. Recommendations for improving access…

268

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this research is to examine the usability and communication methods of the Agricultural Resource Management Survey (ARMS) data. Recommendations for improving access and usability are proposed to Economic Research Service (ERS).

Design/methodology/approach

The current methods for accessing the ARMS data are described. Several accounting issues related to the usability of the data are presented. Cost of production issues related to the data are also discussed.

Findings

Recommendations to ERS include: increase efforts to disseminate the ARMS results more widely, make the ARMS web tool easier to access, develop partnerships with universities, increase the value of the web tool by providing more information on the data that are already available, consider the accounting items of extraordinary income, inventory valuations, and nonmonetary income and consider issues related to cost of production items.

Originality/value

By identifying the factors limiting the current use of the ARMS data, changes can be made that may result in wider dissemination and use of the data.

Details

Agricultural Finance Review, vol. 72 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0002-1466

Keywords

Book part
Publication date: 1 January 2014

Lasse Mertins and Lourdes Ferreira White

This paper proposes and tests a model to explain the outcomes of three different information presentation formats. Based on cognitive fit theory, information visualization formats…

Abstract

Purpose

This paper proposes and tests a model to explain the outcomes of three different information presentation formats. Based on cognitive fit theory, information visualization formats that best fit task characteristics are expected to lead to improved decision-making outcomes. We apply the Judgment and Decision-Making framework (Bonner, 2008) to investigate how certain factors can impact decision quality.

Design/methodology/approach

This study tests whether certain production variance presentation formats (percentages, dollar amounts, and schematic faces), task complexity, understanding of the presentation format, motivation, and effort increase the accuracy of a supervisor’s bonus calculation. A total of 281 students and professionals participated in this experiment. Their responses were examined using regression analysis.

Findings

Our results indicate that individuals mostly prefer the percentages presentation format and that the use of the percentages presentation format, a lower level of task complexity, and a better understanding of the variance presentation format lead to more accurate calculations in the experimental task.

Research implications

Our study provides a call for further research on factors that influence the choice of presentation format as a potentially fruitful area for management accounting researchers.

Practical implications

We exhort practicing management accountants to exert direct influence on employees’ decision making through the use of variance presentation formats that fit their tasks and promote understanding.

Originality/value

Our experiment introduced two major innovations: it uses an interactive data visualization approach allowing subjects to select their preferred presentation format; and it focuses on production variances, a topic that has received less attention in the academic managerial accounting literature, but is still very relevant to practitioners.

Article
Publication date: 27 July 2012

Allen M. Featherstone, Timothy A. Park and Jeremy G. Weber

The purpose of this paper is to discuss opportunities to obtain more information from the Agricultural Resource Management Survey (ARMS). Specifically, the paper will explore the…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to discuss opportunities to obtain more information from the Agricultural Resource Management Survey (ARMS). Specifically, the paper will explore the issue of survey nonresponse, the development of pseudo panels, and more frequent updating of cost of production data on an enterprise basis.\

Design/methodology/approach

Researchers from the Land Grant University System and the Economic Research Service have relied on ARMS to evaluate the effect of agricultural, macroeconomic, and other factors on the US farm sector, farm businesses, and the households that manage them. This paper will identify gaps in understanding and proposes approaches to extract additional information from ARMS.

Findings

The relevance of ARMS in the future will depend on the ability to continue to understand potential pitfalls and areas of additional research that can develop new procedures to extract additional information. Three issues which are in need of further study include continuing to examine the issue of non‐response, refining methods to develop pseudo panel data, and examining methods to develop commodity specific financial information between the commodity specific surveys.

Originality/value

The National Research Council completed a review of ARMS to address challenges in keeping the survey relevant into the future. However, research that examines the construction of financial statements and other information had not been conducted since the early 1990s. This study fills part of that gap.

Details

Agricultural Finance Review, vol. 72 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0002-1466

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 27 July 2012

Steven C. Blank and Danny Klinefelter

The Agricultural Resource Management Survey (ARMS) conducted annually by the USDA's Economic Research Service collects data on US agriculture, ranging from production practices to…

198

Abstract

Purpose

The Agricultural Resource Management Survey (ARMS) conducted annually by the USDA's Economic Research Service collects data on US agriculture, ranging from production practices to the financial condition of farm and ranch enterprises and the farm household. The purpose of this article is to consider what could make ARMS useful from a farmer's point of view.

Design/methodology/approach

A Delphi method is used to gather input from a panel of experts.

Findings

Results show that increasing the usability of the ARMS to agricultural producers involves expanding the content and relevance of the data collected. Specific types of data needed are identified. Also, recommendations are made concerning how the usefulness and relevance of the data could be increased by refining the sample frame. Finally, it is argued here that after making some adjustments to the ARMS sample frame to create nationally representative data, the ARMS project could serve as a hugely important basis for reporting economic performance levels for American agriculture.

Originality/value

This study offers insights from agricultural finance experts on how the ARMS could be improved to expand the quality and usefulness of its output for both professionals and agricultural producers.

Details

Agricultural Finance Review, vol. 72 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0002-1466

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 31 December 2002

Jeffrey Hyde, Jeffrey R. Stokes and Phoebe D. Engel

Automatic milking systems (AMSs) are a relatively new technology characterized by uncertainty and irreversibility. The choice to invest in such a system is analyzed in a real…

Abstract

Automatic milking systems (AMSs) are a relatively new technology characterized by uncertainty and irreversibility. The choice to invest in such a system is analyzed in a real options framework. Alternative financing arrangements, depreciation methods, and other factors are investigated to determine their influence on the optimal investment decision. The results suggest that farm capital structure, loan term, and depreciation method have little impact on the investment decision. The primary determinant in the AMS technology adoption decision appears to be whether the AMS will last longer than the existing parlor.

Details

Agricultural Finance Review, vol. 63 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0002-1466

Keywords

Abstract

Details

Agricultural Finance Review, vol. 72 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0002-1466

Book part
Publication date: 7 June 2013

John C. Beghin, Anne-Celia Disdier and Stéphan Marette

We formally investigate the effects of an inspection system influencing safety of foreign and domestic food products in the domestic market. Consumers purchase domestic and…

Abstract

We formally investigate the effects of an inspection system influencing safety of foreign and domestic food products in the domestic market. Consumers purchase domestic and imported food and value safety. Potential protectionism à la Fisher and Serra (2000) can arise: inspection frequency imposed on foreign producers set by a domestic social planner would be higher than the corresponding policy set by a global social planner treating all producers as domestic. The domestic social planner tends to impose most if not all of the inspection on foreign producers, which improves food safety for consumers and limits the production loss for domestic producers. Despite this protectionist component, inspections address a potential consumption externality such as health hazard in the domestic country when unsafe food can enter the country undetected. We then calibrate the analytical framework to the U.S. shrimp market incorporating key stylized facts of this market. Identifying protectionist inspection requires much information on inspection, safety, damages, and costs. We also investigate how to finance the inspection policy from a social planner perspective. Financing instruments differ between the domestic and international welfare-maximizing objectives.

Details

Nontariff Measures with Market Imperfections: Trade and Welfare Implications
Type: Book
ISBN: 978-1-78190-754-2

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 October 1995

B.A. Murtagh and J.W. Sims

Describes a procedure for modelling the costs of production anddistribution between several production facilities with economies ofscale and many customers who are widely…

1174

Abstract

Describes a procedure for modelling the costs of production and distribution between several production facilities with economies of scale and many customers who are widely dispersed. The problem takes the form of a large transportation problem on which is superimposed a cost minimization problem involving variable production quantities. These costs involve fixed costs for initiating production and variable costs with diminishing returns to scale. Models the problem as a non‐linear integer programming problem and then solves it using a recently developed non‐linear integer algorithm. Describes two applications in Australia and New Zealand and illustrates how comparison with a mixed‐integer linear programming formulation shows a significant improvement.

Details

International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management, vol. 25 no. 8
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0960-0035

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 February 2000

WILLIE TAN

This study uses the Tornqvist index to estimate the total factor productivity (TFP) for the Singapore construction industry between 1980 and 1996. Throughout the period, the main…

Abstract

This study uses the Tornqvist index to estimate the total factor productivity (TFP) for the Singapore construction industry between 1980 and 1996. Throughout the period, the main contribution to real construction output growth was capital accumulation. TFP was found to be negative, indicating that construction productivity growth has not been spectacular, even in a dynamic and rapidly growing economy such as Singapore. The result is in broad agreement with previous estimates of TFP for the entire Singapore economy. A lot needs to be done to improve construction productivity, as the industry cannot continue to grow by increasing factor inputs indefinitely without an accompanying rise in efficiency.

Details

Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, vol. 7 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0969-9988

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 November 1968

ALLEN F. BREWER

PARTS 12–15 IN A SERIES OF THIRTY‐ONE SHORT ARTICLES DESIGNED TO EMPHASIZE TO MANAGEMENT EXECUTIVES THE SAVINGS THEY CAN EFFECT AND FOR WHICH THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE BY GIVING…

Abstract

PARTS 12–15 IN A SERIES OF THIRTY‐ONE SHORT ARTICLES DESIGNED TO EMPHASIZE TO MANAGEMENT EXECUTIVES THE SAVINGS THEY CAN EFFECT AND FOR WHICH THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE BY GIVING THOUGHT AND ATTENTION TO THE CORRECT LUBRICATION OF THEIR PLANT AND MACHINERY.

Details

Industrial Lubrication and Tribology, vol. 20 no. 11
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0036-8792

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