Browsing by Author "Thilmany, Dawn, advisor"
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Item Open Access Assessing the market channel performance of Colorado fruit and vegetable producers(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2017) Christensen, Jeremiah Q., author; Thilmany, Dawn, advisor; Jablonski, Becca, advisor; Uchanski, Mark, committee memberThe growing popularity of locally sourced fruits and vegetables in the United States provides an opportunity for small and mid-sized farms to improve viability through sales to local markets. However, there is little research that looks at differences in business performance in these markets, and specifically, how labor allocation and marketing expenditures may vary by market. Based on the Market Channel Assessment Tool (MCAT) protocol developed in New York, variable costs (except those associated with production) and revenues were collected via market channel through farm interviews and labor logs recorded by producers during a one-week period spanning the peak marketing season in 2016 in Colorado. Following the New York model, it is expected that richer cost and revenue information can be used to support improved market decisions related to balancing market channel portfolios for individual farm participants. Moreover, aggregated data was used to establish performance benchmarks by market channel and region for producers to use for comparisons to peers. In addition, a two-dimensional fixed effect model quantified the impact of farm level attributes on market channel profitability. Results indicate channel profitability is positively impacted by the share of harvest labor involved in marketing and number of market channels, while negatively impacted by the share of labor facilitating sales (staffing market stands or making calls to buyers) and the number of crops grown. Extension agents and other agriculture support providers can use these results to support more involved farm market channel decision-making and efficient variable input expenditure recommendations.Item Open Access Community, individual, and referendum characteristics affecting support for conservation in Colorado(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2018) Chriestenson, Chad, author; Thilmany, Dawn, advisor; Jablonski, Becca, committee member; Weiler, Stephan, committee memberThis study investigates support for conservation amongst Colorado residents. It is pertinent given both the state's limited supply of natural resources such as water and the increasing demand for other agricultural resources such as open space along the rapidly expanding urban fringes. This is also the first such study performed in the Rocky Mountains and results indicate demand for environmental goods differs when compared to other regions in the United States. The research is performed in two distinct steps. First, revealed preferences are analyzed. These come from conservation referenda data. The analysis proceeds in an analogous manner to previous studies. The Heckman two-step process is used to determine factors affecting both appearance and passage of referenda at the county and municipal level across the state. Results indicate that larger population, higher educational attainment, home-rule charter, pre-existing support, and a lower proportion of white people all increase the likelihood of a referendum appearing on the ballot. A focus on wildlife conservation in addition to open space language within the referenda, increases the likelihood of passage, relative to simply focusing on open space. An unexpected finding is that language directing funds toward open space and conservation of agricultural resources or water decreases this likelihood. Second, stated preferences are analyzed via the results of a demographically representative survey commissioned by the Colorado Department of Agriculture. Factor analysis is utilized to determine that most responses appear to be explained by three underlying factors: the value Coloradan's place on the continued existence of agriculture in the state, a measure of views toward human's interaction with the environment, and the perceived relationship between agriculture and the environment. An ordered probit model is used to investigate how these factors, demographic variables, and survey responses affect resident's support for using public funds to help farmers conserve agricultural resources. Results indicate support for conservation decreases with age. They also suggest that those who support conservation of these resources do not appear to care about the mechanism by which they are conserved, they only care that they are conserved. Combined results from the two components of this study show younger residents with higher levels of educational attainment are more likely to support conservation. They indicate that Coloradan's stated and revealed preferences do not fully align. For instance, residents appear to support the idea of conserving water yet don't follow through in the voting booth when language including water is in a referendum. The opposite is true of wildlife conservation. Respondents appear indifferent to connecting land conservation with wildlife in their survey responses, yet referenda results suggest they are more likely to vote for such policies.Item Open Access Exploring labor dynamics: Indigenous identity, wage differentials, and poverty risk among Mexican-born farmworkers in the U.S. agricultural sector(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2024) Coronel-Bautista, Jorge, author; Thilmany, Dawn, advisor; Hill, Alexandra E., advisor; Pena, Anita A., committee memberThis thesis examines the challenges faced by Mexican Indigenous farmworkers within the U.S. agricultural landscape, with a specific focus on an observed wage differential when compared to their Mexican Non-Indigenous counterparts. While existing research has extensively investigated various facets of the U.S. farm labor force, there remains a gap in understanding the specific economic and earnings hurdles encountered by Mexican Indigenous farmworkers. Most of the existing literature has concentrated on overarching demographic trends, farm labor productivity, and the ramifications of immigration policies, leaving the experiences and labor market outcomes of Mexican Indigenous farmworkers insufficiently examined. This research explores the relationship between Indigenous identity, wages, and poverty within the U.S. agricultural sector, using data from the National Agricultural Workers Survey (NAWS) spanning 2003 to 2020. This study focuses on Mexican-born workers, distinguishing between Indigenous and non-Indigenous individuals. Over 17 years, we found a significant average wage gap of -5.25% between the two groups, with Indigenous farmworkers earning less. We investigate the factors contributing to the observed wage gap and examine the relationship of Indigenous identity and farmworkers' earnings. Specifically, we analyze whether Indigenous identity is independently associated with lower earnings among farmworkers, while controlling for various factors that may explain differences in earnings compared to Non-Indigenous counterparts. Additionally, we explore if Indigenous identity increases one's risk of poverty, while also controlling for factors influencing this risk. We conduct additional analyses by examining whether Indigenous identity affects earnings within specific farmworker cohorts. The second data approach examines the distribution of farmwork weeks worked in the past year by Indigenous farmworkers surveyed by the NAWS. It explores the average characteristics of Indigenous farmworkers who have worked very few weeks compared to those who have worked more extensively. The third is a marginal effects analysis which quantifies the economic significance of employee and employment characteristics on earnings across Indigenous and Non-Indigenous farmworkers. This approach enables us to assess the specific cumulative influence of Indigenous identity on earnings, while also considering the average effects associated with Indigenous status. Findings from this research will identify the determinants of the wage gap between Mexican-Indigenous and Mexican-Non-Indigenous farmworkers, potentially attributable to observable characteristics (such as education and years of experience), Indigenous identity (indicative of wage discrimination), or a combination of both. Depending on the results, we can recommend policy initiatives aimed at improving educational attainment and other skills for Mexican-Indigenous farmworkers, enabling them to earn wages comparable to their Non-Indigenous counterparts. Additionally, we can inform new legislation seeking to improve the types of work arrangements between Indigenous farmworkers and agricultural employers, in efforts to take a step towards preventing wage discrimination based on Indigenous identity as part of those work arrangements.Item Open Access Exploring local food purchasing patterns during COVID-19: insights from a nationwide consumer survey(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2021) Edmondson, Hailey Elizabeth, author; Thilmany, Dawn, advisor; Jablonski, Becca, committee member; Prasad, Joshua, committee memberThe onset of the COVID-19 pandemic shocked many aspects of life, and food was no exception. One very large shift that occurred, and was likely influenced by both economic and public health shocks, was in the ways that people purchased food, particularly in the use of new market channels. The following study, as of a larger USDA Agricultural Marketing Service project interested in impacts of COVID-19 on local and regional food systems, investigates local market channel use. In particular, we investigate the extent to which increased interest in local food markets is observed across a national sample and, if so, how it correlates with consumers' behavior-influencing traits like food values and COVID-19 impacts. This study contributes to existing literature through its collection of a large, national consumer survey dataset with a novel focus on local and regional market channels and more in-depth understanding of shifting consumer preferences for non-traditional market channels. We find that a nearly one third of our survey sample used new local and regional market channels during COVID-19, and that individual COVID-19 impacts and values related to local and social welfare were significant predictors of new market channel use. We also find that COVID-19 risk, exposure, and income and employment impacts significantly affect likelihood of new local market adoption. Identifying these traits and values of consumers participating in new market channel behaviors provides valuable insight for local food system practitioners strategizing for a post-COVID future, such as implementing values-based marketing and leveraging technology.Item Open Access Exploring the overall, distributional and resiliency implications of investments in rural outdoor tourism: the case of Fishers Peak State Park(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2023) Schuck, Skyler, author; Thilmany, Dawn, advisor; Weiler, Stephan, committee member; Hill, Rebecca, committee member; Bayham, Jude, committee memberThe recently christened Fishers Peak State Park offers great potential to give a much-needed boost to the economy of Las Animas County, specifically the town of Trinidad. State parks tend to draw tourism and may even improve the quality of life for current citizens or potential new workforce entrants (a benefit to employers), representing direct and spillover economic and societal benefits to the region. Yet, not all in the region may experience the same benefits. This paper seeks to estimate the overall and distributional income effect of the new state park through traditional empirical tourism expenditure modeling and input-output model analysis, with particular attention to and consideration for how different development approaches may affect outcomes. The framing and applied case study of this work is intended to serve as a toolkit for rural communities seeking to more holistically evaluate infrastructure development options to help them maximize the strength of key economic indicators that are keystones for economic resiliency. We seek to apply the same tourism and hospitality dependency methodology from Watson & Deller (2022) to assess resiliency in the region. But, to contribute to more nuanced understanding of the region's potential impacts, the analysis will apply a more focused lens by using refined location quotients for employment concentrations and data from the restricted QCEW, and by using both the Great Recession (2007-2009) and COVID-19 Pandemic (2019-2021) as shocks.Item Open Access Modeling the impact of transaction costs and alternative supply sources on water market activity in the western U.S.(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2017) Bauman, Allison, author; Goemans, Christopher, advisor; Thilmany, Dawn, advisor; Pritchett, James, committee member; Arabi, Mazdak, committee member; Warziniack, Travis, committee memberTo view the abstract, please see the full text of the document.Item Open Access Rebuilding local food systems: marketing and economic implications for communities(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2011) Gunter, Allison Lynn, author; Thilmany, Dawn, advisor; Bunning, Marisa, committee member; Pritchett, James, committee memberThe research community has identified value chains as one of the most successful ways for small and mid-scale distributors, focused on providing locally sources foods to structure their businesses. The concept of value chains is still relatively new, so by conducting case studies of successful value chains this thesis provides insight into the best practices for new value chains, organized based on the value chain's main customer. After conducting case studies, the next step was to address one of the claims made by local food proponents: that increased local food consumption has a positive impact on the economy of a community. The local school food procurement program studied in this paper provides evidence that yes, the direct impact on the local economy is positive when there is an increase in local food purchasing. But that impact is quite small and may or may not cover the cost of investment necessary to build the necessary infrastructure. Moreover, that positive impact is dependent on some important linkages between the new food distribution enterprise and other economic actors (workers, owners) in the community.Item Open Access Selected aspects of the economics surrounding equine disease(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2016) Kibler, Michelle L., author; Thilmany, Dawn, advisor; Pendell, Dustin, committee member; Costanigro, Marco, committee member; Traub-Dargatz, Josie, committee memberThe equine industry, from an economic perspective, is largely understudied with much of the existing research conducted on economic contribution studies (College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Kentucky, 2013; Rephann, 2011; Conners et al., 2011; Deloitte Consulting LLP, 2005; Swinker et al., 2003) and the Thoroughbred sector of the industry (Maynard and Stoeppel, 2007; Poerwanto and Stowe, 2010; Plant and Stowe, 2013). Few studies have investigated the economic impacts of equine disease and/or equine disease outbreaks to individuals, regions, or states (USDA-APHIS-VS, 2003; Conners et al., 2011). This collection of studies aims to contribute to existing equine economic research by investigating the impacts of equine disease outbreaks in a variety of ways that complement and reinforce each component part’s findings. Equine owner’s experience two major types of costs when their horse has an infectious disease: direct costs of treating the horse for the disease (e.g., veterinarian expenses) and indirect costs (e.g., lost daily use of the horse). Utilizing survey data collected nationwide, estimates of daily horse use value (DHUV), as well as, respondent preferences regarding disease treatment options was obtained. Results suggest that the average horse owner is willing to pay between $11.99 and $17.84 to reduce the number of non-use (rest) days required. Respondents showed preferences for administration of oral medications over intramuscular injection medications, all else equal, and a preference for treatments requiring fewer number of doses per day. To expand upon the estimated DHUV, a survey of equine owners/riders/trainers, etc. provides data to estimate the lost DHUV experienced by respondents when their horse develops a disease as it relates to equine events. Results suggest DHUV, of those surveyed, to be impacted by income level, the frequency of equine events attended by distance and whether a planned equine event is upcoming or not. An important contribution to the previous study estimating daily use values of equids is the incorporation of a timing aspect related to equine events (i.e., length of time until a planned equine event). This generated the expected results and informed the conclusion that DHUV does vary as days until the next event decreases. As anticipated, equine owners assigned a higher daily value the use of their horse when an event was three weeks away compared to when there was no immediate event, and more specifically, the daily value increased by a difference of $4.14. In addition to effects on the equine owners, there are economy-wide implications from equine disease outbreaks as well. As one example, equine events drive tourism for the local economies for locations where th+H4ey are held, by generating revenue to multiple local industries. The economic impact from tourism activities surrounding equine events includes monies spent by event spectators, exhibitors and volunteers who reside outside the region and the “inflow of non-resident monies” used to purchase food/drink, lodging, fuel and gifts/souvenirs within the area of the event. Recent disease outbreaks in Colorado and other locations in the United States have caused equine travel restrictions, quarantines and the cancellation of equine events. Using survey data collected at a nationally attended equine event along with existing estimates of event attendee expenditures, the economic losses associated with canceled or reduced attendance at equine events are estimated. Loss estimates for the total effect from canceled or compromised attendance for this one national event range between $500,000 and $107 million depending on assumptions of the nature and severity of the outbreak.Item Open Access Spatial dimensions of natural resource decisions: private responses to public resource decisions(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2012) Goldbach, Rebecca, author; Davies, Stephen, advisor; Thilmany, Dawn, advisor; Goemans, Christopher, committee member; Weiler, Stephan, committee memberThis dissertation illustrates how the use of spatial economics, as opposed to non-spatial methods, can enrich economic research related to natural resources decision-making. This research encompasses three distinct, but complementary, papers, based on two datasets that vary in richness and scale, and one data-driven model that will detail how data will need to be collected to inform natural resource infrastructure projects in a developing economy. The first essay uses cutting-edge spatial econometric techniques to evaluate the location decisions of private outdoor recreation providers. Here, I find clustering of outdoor recreation opportunities and that private providers are attracted to areas with existing public outdoor recreation opportunities when making their own location decisions. The second essay focuses on a specific form of privately provided outdoor recreation, agritourism, and again finds that the more existing outdoor recreation, the more agritourism trips will be taken. The second essay uses a hurdle travel cost model and focuses on the demanders, as opposed to the suppliers, of private outdoor recreation. The findings reveal that agritourists gain substantial consumer surplus (with averages ranging from $93 to $465) from their trip, and that the model treatment of multi-destination agritourists impacts the estimated consumer surplus. The first two papers use author-created outdoor recreation measures that are introduced in this dissertation. These measures were created to complement the USDA-Economic Research Service Natural Amenities Index, with input from the creators of the Natural Amenities Index, and have potential to be used in many natural resource and economic development studies as the Natural Amenities Index has been. In contrast to the other essays, the third essay recognizes that spatial relationships can be important in evaluating an economic question, even when dense spatial datasets are not available. The study uses an Equilibrium Displacement Model to evaluate water management and storage policies for a canal system in Afghanistan, a country where war and poverty have damaged infrastructure and made it difficult to collect accurate data. Producers' spatial location on the canal is of key importance to understanding their decisions and the failure to account for these spatial relationships could lead to misinformed policy decisions. The Equilibrium Displacement Model results show that water management and storage policies have different impacts on producers based on their spatial location on the canal. Through the use of three very different models, this dissertation illustrates the importance of incorporating spatial impacts when evaluating policies related to natural resources.Item Open Access The economic contribution of river recreation and tourism in the Little Yampa Canyon, Colorado(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2023) Burkard, Matthew, author; Thilmany, Dawn, advisor; Hill, Rebecca, committee member; Bayham, Jude, committee member; Guo, Tian, committee memberThe Yampa River is a key driver of outdoor recreation and tourism opportunities to the city of Craig, Colorado and the surrounding Moffat County, drawing in river-based recreators and tourists from surrounding areas. So, opportunities to enhance access are important to a region that seeks to further diversify its economic portfolio in light of broader transitions occurring in the energy and agriculture sector. A land acquisition proposal by the Bureau of Land Management seeks to expand public access to the Yampa River and the nearby recreation amenities and improving highway access to the current Little Yampa Canyon Special Recreation Management Area, while protecting additional wildlife habitat and fisheries. The purpose of this research is to collect and analyze outdoor recreation and tourism spending data from resident and non-resident recreators near Craig, Colorado to ascertain one set of potential benefits of such an investment. This research employs an intercept survey at key access points along the Yampa River near the proposed land acquisition to capture recreator information such as dollar amounts spent across common expenditure categories, typical recreation habits, user perceptions of current and proposed recreational resource access and qualities, and demographic information. This paper utilizes an input-output methodology via IMPLAN to produce economic contribution estimates using data received from intercept surveys to quantify both the baseline contribution of recreation near Craig, Colorado and the potential, additional expenditure Craig would receive with an increase in local and publicly accessible recreation opportunities provided through the BLM's land acquisition. This paper also performs a sensitivity analysis to estimate economic contributions at lower levels of participation as compared to an estimated typical year. Using spending data combined with user responses, this paper seeks to provide key insights into user perceptions for consideration in future policy and management decisions impacting Moffat County's recreation and tourism economy, with insights important to greater Northwest Colorado as well.