Agricultural Producers' Decision-Making and Preferences In Relation To Economic Incentives, Climate and Weather Conditions

Abstract

This dissertation consists of three essays that analyze the decision-making and preferences of agricultural producers within the United States in relation to economic incentives, climate, weather and drought conditions. The first essay focuses on exploring Arizona beef producers’ willingness to join an alliance and preferences for vertical integration through alliances. The second essay aims to quantify the percent of cropland acreage in a county planted to cotton as a result of subsidized crop insurance. The last essay proposes to quantify the combined effect of insurance incentives, price change expectations, irrigation, climate, weather and drought conditions leading to the farmer’s decision to abandon all or part of their planted acres.