Theses and Dissertations

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Open Access
Banana marketing performance in Blantyre Agricultural Development Division, Malawi
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 1990) Ndengu, Joseph D., author
This study provides insight into the complexities underlying the marketing of bananas in Blantyre Agricultural Development Division (A.D.D.), in southern Malawi. While farmers formed the core of the study, varying numbers of wholesalers/dealers, retailers and truckers were also contacted. A dualistic system of marketing operated in the area; that is, farmers sold their bananas both directly to consumers and also through middlemen. Sales, in order of importance based on patronage, were directly to the urban markets by the farmers themselves, to the middlemen/traders, to the village or roadside markets and lastly to the local markets. The most important problem was that of transportation, especially in getting the bananas to the urban markets. The main issue was the condition of the outlet road system. It appears that there is a lot of risk taking on the part of the truckers who opt to operate in the area. A detailed market performance analysis was not possible due to the paucity of relevant data. However, imperfect indicators of performance were highlighted. These included physical losses as bananas passed through various channels; price setting by market authorities; erratic supplies and inconsistent volume measures. Retail prices for a period of 69 days showed highly significant differences among mean prices of the three grades of bananas - large, medium and small. There appeared to be no relationship at all between the price movements for the large and medium size bananas. However, those for large and small, as well as medium and small, showed considerably higher degrees of positive association.
Open Access
Survey and analysis of issues in rural to urban water transfers in Colorado Water Divisions 1 and 2
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 1993) Maxwell, Maureen Kay, author; Young, Robert A., committee member; Ward, Robert C., committee member; Kean, John M., committee member
Historically, the dominant use of water in Colorado has been irrigation. However, new demand is being driven by urban needs. The amount of unappropriated water available for cities to claim is decreasing. Good dam and reservoir sites are becoming more scarce and costly to develop. Increasingly, the purchase of rural water rights for transfer to urban use is being used to help fulfill the demand. The transfer of rural water to urban use, however, is controversial and has given rise to charges that important effects of water transfers are not given proper consideration in water allocation decision making. The questions that people are raising about the transfer of agricultural water to urban use - economic and social changes in the areas of origin, environmental effects of transfers of water, access to the decision making process - can be described as "livelihood" issues. The public debate highlights the issues that people think are important to water transfer. It does not make clear what is actually known about the relevance and details of these issues, nor is it clear whether these issues are considered by the water courts and to what extent. This study attempts to examine these livelihood issues and find out why they are important to the public and what the research reveals about them. The study also examines water court documents to determine if these issues play a role in water allocation decisions. This study explores the livelihood issues surrounding agricultural-to- municipal transfers of water, examining the economics of such transfers; the social, cultural, and political issues for water importing and exporting areas; the environmental and ecological aspects of water transfers; and the institutions that allocate water in Colorado. The results of a study of water court applications to transfer rural water to cities are reported. The study examines agricultural-to-urban water transfer cases in Colorado Water Divisions 1 and 2 for the years 1977 through 1991. It attempts to develop a picture of such transfers in the two busiest water basins in Colorado, and to identify what information is available about these transfers in the legal system used to allocate water in Colorado, what issues of transfers are addressed by that system, and to identify who participates in the system.
Open Access
Comparing methodologies to estimate tourists' nonconsumptive use values of recreation, roadways and ranches: international and domestic applications
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2007) Ellingson, Lindsey Jo, author; Seidl, Andrew, advisor
The objective of this dissertation is to compare two nonmarket valuation methods to estimate tourists' nonconsumptive use values of scenic viewscapes in three applications. The two nonmarket valuation techniques analyzed are the contingent behavior and contingent valuation methods. The contingent behavior method asks respondents their intended visitation behavior contingent on a hypothetical change to the good or service in question. The contingent valuation method asks respondents their willingness to pay for a hypothetical change to the good or service in question. The three applications evaluated in this research are a National Reserve in Bolivia, a scenic roadway in Argentine Patagonia and ranch open space in Routt County, Colorado. Specifically, respondents were asked their willingness to pay and travel behavior contingent on improved park service (i.e. tourist information center and naturalist guides) at Eduardo Avaroa Reserve in Bolivia. In Argentina, visitors were asked their willingness to pay and travel behavior to Glaciers National Park contingent on differing levels of development (i.e. telecommunication and mining infrastructure) along the roadway from El Calafate, the gateway community, to Glaciers National Park. For Routt County, tourists were asked how many fewer (or more) dollars per day and number of days they would travel to Routt County if existing ranchlands were converted to urban uses (i.e. housing and other resort development). Quantitative comparative analysis is conducted across the applications to determine whether there is a difference among contingent behavior and contingent valuation responses. The results show that the two methods produce statistical and policy relevant different results. In addition, other analyses were conducted evaluating differences based on survey elicitation languages, tour package purchases, using pictures to measure different levels of development, survey responses across time and regional impact analyses.
Open Access
Bioeconomic modeling of livestock production, rangeland management and forage systems in a dynamic context
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2008) Ritten, John Patrick, author; Frasier, W. Marshall, advisor
This work focuses on optimal livestock management in a dynamic framework. The first essay utilizes linear programming to analyze proper herd management during periods of drought. It also examines the use of summer hay as an option to alleviate the negative impacts of drought on cattle producers. Findings show that while financial returns are greatly impacted by varying cattle prices, optimal management decisions are driven more by weather changes than price changes. Further analysis shows that although allowing summer feed improves long term returns to producers, the main benefit of such a strategy is the ability to carry increased inventories though drought, with the increased returns coming post-drought. The second essay utilizes dynamic programming to determine proper stocking rates when future forage production is related to current use of rangelands. The model maximizes the Bellman Equation using a Chebychev interpolation process. Results show that profit maximizing producers will leave just over half of total production as standing forage. Further analysis shows that while returns are impacted by both cattle and corn prices, optimal management decisions do not change with changes in either of these. Stocking decisions are mainly driven by animal efficiency and land productivity. The third essay adds the element of stochastic weather to the model utilized in the second essay. Specific attention is given to how producers make stocking decisions in the face of random weather events. Again, producers leave just over half of carrying capacity as standing forage when acting optimally. However, if growing season precipitation is unknown at the time the stocking decision is made actual standing forage may vary from this desired outcome, resulting in a decrease in future stocking rates. It is shown that a producer with knowledge of growing season precipitation will be more profitable than a producer without this knowledge on average by 21%. Again, stocking decisions are mainly driven by land productivity and animal efficiency as well as whether or not a producer has knowledge of current year precipitation.
Open Access
Challenges and solutions in combining RP and SP data to value recreation
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2008) González-Sepúlveda, Juan Marcos, author; Loomis, John B., advisor
Valuing resources that lack a market could be a complicated endeavor due to the lack of appropriate prices. Non-market valuation methods have been the tools used to compensate for this shortcoming in the process of incorporating such resources into the economic analysis. Without these methods we would overlook the importance that such goods and services have to society and bias the related policy recommendations we present as economists. This dissertation looks at joining two of the most commonly used non-market valuation methods, namely, the Travel Cost Model (TCM) and the Contingent Valuation Method (CVM), and their application to valuing recreation in El Yunque National Forest in Puerto Rico. The combination of TCM and CVM in a joint estimator allows us to test the consistency between the two methods and uncover potential issues that each may be suffering from. The study finds that the geographical limitations of the study can cause underestimation of willingness to pay when using TCM. Furthermore, it shows that CVM can suffer from the same sampling issues as TCM when the samples are collected on site. Besides pointing out these problems, this work presents alternative ways in which they can be addressed. Finally, we provide another example that imposing a common underlying utility can significantly improve the joint use of these models.
Open Access
The economic benefits of off highway vehicle recreation in Larimer County, Colorado
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2008) Deisenroth, Daniel, author; Loomis, John B., advisor; Bond, Craig A., committee member; Kling, Robert W., committee member
This thesis estimates the non-market benefits associated with Off Highway Vehicle (OHV) recreation in Larimer County, Colorado. We use a Travel Cost Model (TCM) and a Contingent Valuation Model (CVM) to estimate benefits to three different types of users: Dirt Bike Riders, All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) Riders, and 4-Wheel Drive (4x4) users. Using CVM we find the consumer surplus estimates to be between $87 and $207 per person per day, depending on model specification. This equates to a per summer per trail consumer surplus between $282,908.50 and $674,997.80, and a Larimer County OHV surplus per summer to be between $1,026,542 and $2,449,249. These results are consistent with previous research on OHV recreation (e.g. Englin et. al, 2006, Loomis, 2006). We also find that for our sample, the travel cost model does not find significance in the travel cost variable. We believe that this may be due to our open-ended travel cost question, or due to the fact that most OHV recreationists are traveling from the same area.
Open Access
A computable general equilibrium analysis of aggregates materials recycling and waste disposal policy alternatives
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2009) Miller, Michael D., author; Davies, Stephen, advisor; Cutler, Harvey, advisor
The work presented in this dissertation is intended to provide community leaders insights into possible aggregates material disposal and recycling policy alternatives. In this work four main policy alternatives are examined-a tax on landfill deposits, a subsidy for the purchase of recycled aggregates materials, a requirement that all industries in the community increase their consumption of recycled aggregates, and a requirement that the top five producers of aggregates waste supply greater amounts of materials to recycling facilities. The scenarios reported include "base case" situations and sensitivity analysis. For the sensitivity analysis, there are changes in the levels of taxation, subsidy, required use of the recycled materials, and required supply waste to be recycled. Additionally, the percentage of materials being sent to landfill and the percentage of materials being recycled is adjusted in order to measure the impacts of the tax and subsidy on communities with differing levels of recycling already in place. Two other policy alternatives are also analyzed and briefly discussed: (1) The model is allowed to respond to changes in the prices of intermediate goods; and (2) Tax and subsidy rates are changed simultaneously. This dissertation finds that, as a result of the limited economic impact of the aggregates materials industry (compared to the local economy in total), landfill deposit taxes and materials purchase subsidies have little impact on the community's economic well being. However, due to the rather "painless" nature of these policies, implementation of these policies do not preclude their use in laying the groundwork for other, more impactful solid waste material disposal approaches. The implementation of the two regulatory policy alternatives has significant positive impacts throughout the economy, but carries with them greater unknown liabilities that are beyond the scope of this dissertation.
Open Access
Valuation of natural resources in a small mountain community: three essays in non-market valuation and rural development
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2009) Cline, Sarah A., author; Seidl, Andrew, advisor
Natural resources are important to rural economies in terms of the amenities they provide and the economic opportunities they generate for the surrounding communities. In many rural areas, open space provided by ranchlands provides important amenities to tourists and residents. In addition, land use may also affect the local water quality and thus produce further impacts on local amenities and regional economic opportunities. This dissertation looks at the value of ranchland open space and water quality in Chaffee County, Colorado. The value of ranchland open space and water quality to visitors to Chaffee County is estimated using non-market valuation techniques. Two joint-methods are used to obtain values for ranchland open space and water quality. The first method combines travel cost and contingent behavior data, while the second method uses travel cost, contingent behavior and contingent valuation information to estimate values for these resources. A third application combines regional economic analysis with the non-market valuation data to estimate the impacts of decreased natural resource quality on the local economy. The results show loss of ranchland open space will result in welfare losses to visitors to the county and that associated impacts from decreased water quality could significantly increase those losses.
Open Access
Factors influencing the adoption of best management practices for feedlot ammonia emissions
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2009) Davidson, Carolyn Hathaway, author; Pritchett, James G., advisor; Koontz, Stephen R., committee member; Davis, Jessica G., committee member
Gaseous ammonia emissions from feedlot operations pose serious risks to human and ecosystem health. In particular, nitrogen deposition in Colorado's Rocky Mountain National Park may be associated with livestock feeding in the western Corn Belt and Colorado. Feedlot operators can implement a variety of Best Management Practices (BMPs) to reduce ammonia emissions. These BMPs vary in effectiveness, simplicity, managerial time, effort and financial capital. Although the ammonia-mitigating potential of various BMPs is well-researched, little research examines the barriers that prevent feedlot operations from adopting these BMPs. This research uses discrete choice modeling to evaluate factors influencing adoption for the average producer as well as subsets of producers. Explanatory variables include farm characteristics as well as operator perceptions of cost, profitability, ease of adoption, and environmental impact. Size of operation and perception of profitability of a given BMP most impact probability of adoption, indicating that cost-sharing programs may assist adoption.
Open Access
Economic impact of feral swine transmitting foot-and-mouth disease to livestock in Kansas
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2010) Cozzens, Tyler William, author; Pendell, Dustin L., advisor; Pritchett, James, committee member; Shields, Martin, committee member
In the United States, concern has arisen regarding the potential introduction of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), a foreign animal disease, and its subsequent spread by feral swine populations into domestic livestock. Feral swine are ideal candidates to potentially spread FMD, because they are free ranging with sizeable home ranges, frequently contact domestic livestock, have high fecundity and populations are expanding geographically throughout the United States. Feral swine surveillance is becoming a solution to safeguard and mitigate the potential for feral swine to transmit FMD to domestic livestock (e.g., cattle, pigs, and sheep). The potentially devastating economic impacts were evidenced by the economic impact of FMD in the UK and Taiwan (FAO, 2009; Yang et al., 1999). It has been estimated that if FMD were to enter the U.S. the economic losses would be $14 billion (Paarlberg et al., 2002). Such large potential losses are an example of the important economic contribution that livestock production makes to the larger U.S. economy. The objective of this research is to analyze the farm level impacts of alternate surveillance systems in feral swine in the event of a FMD outbreak in Kansas. Specifically, a disease spread model is used to model and evaluate the spread of FMD in Kansas. Output from the disease spread model is incorporated into a partial equilibrium model to determine the changes in prices. The change in prices for grains and livestock are then used to evaluate the farm level impacts in Kansas using whole farm budgets. Results obtained from the disease spread model indicate that under no surveillance the largest amount of animals are destroyed, 2,599,419, with a duration of 193 days. Under twice per month surveillance, 2,555,768 animals are destroyed and the outbreak lasts 189 days. Once per week surveillance shows that 2,585,666 animals are destroyed and the duration lasts 192 days. The NAADSM results for Kansas show that the states livestock industry could potentially face large livestock losses from feral swine transmitting FMD. The impacts to the average farms in Kansas show that producers with a large amount of livestock, in particular swine, see the biggest percentage changes in net income levels. This would be expected as pig and hog prices decrease once the FMD outbreak occurs and return to base levels in quarter four showing that there is a loss in swine prices from a FMD outbreak. Cattle prices initially decrease once the FMD outbreak occurs but then increase above base levels showing that average farms have the potential to regain lost revenues. The whole farm income results indicate that a producer not in the quarantine zone has the potential to capitalize on increasing livestock prices once the trade restrictions are lifted after quarter three.
Open Access
Vaccination strategies for a foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in southwest Kansas
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2010) Greathouse, Brian Dean, author; Pendell, Dustin L., advisor; Hill, Ashley E., committee member; Seitzinger, Ann Hillberg, committee member; McFadden, Dawn Thilmany, committee member
Globalization has expanded market opportunities for U.S. livestock producers. With the increase in world travel and globalization of agriculture, the possibility of transmitting a highly contagious foreign animal disease to the U.S. is higher. Therefore, it is critically important to develop and assess economic implications of emergency management plans in the event a contagious livestock disease outbreak was to occur in the U.S. For example, the United Kingdom experienced a severe FMD outbreak in 2001. By the end of the outbreak, 221 days after it started, 2,026 cases of FMD had been confirmed, over six million animals were destroyed, and the disease had spread to Ireland, France, and the Netherlands. Thompson et al. (2002) estimated losses from FMD in the UK at £5.8 to £6.3 billion ($8.47 to $9.20 billion U.S.). Responding to public opposition in the UK to the eradication measures, as well as the demand for an alternative destruction approach because of limited carcass disposal due to concerns about water (burial) or air pollution by smoke (burning), the USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) - Veterinary Service (VS) recently unveiled its vision for the future called VS 2015. According to APHIS (2009), VS 2015 "will allow the organization to place greater emphasis on disease prevention, preparedness, detection and early response activities" (page 1). There are several forces driving this initiative and its focus: diseases that were once eradicated or controlled are beginning to emerge again, changes in the industry structure (an increase in the number of large-scale, production-intensive operations), advances in technology, public awareness of diseases, demand for protein (especially in developing countries), and shrinking federal budgets (which has an increased emphasis on optimal allocation of resources). Combining APHIS's VS 2015 vision and the recent advances in FMD vaccines, it is imperative that policies are developed with input from both the epidemiological and economic sciences. The purpose of this study is to estimate the epidemiological and economic impacts associated with the various emergency vaccination strategies in the event of a FMD outbreak in a large cattle feeding region, where large-scale depopulation activities might not be feasible. In this study, we will compare the impacts of using vaccination as a way to control the spread of FMD on the time of detection and across herd size. Additionally, we investigate the changes in producer and consumer welfare associated with: the optimal timeframe in which officials have to begin the vaccination strategy; and destruction or alternative marketing channels for vaccinated animals (i.e., what happens if all vaccinated animals are destroyed vs. if the vaccinated animals are not destroyed.) To achieve the objectives of this study, a stochastic epidemiological disease spread model is used to simulate a hypothetical FMD outbreak outside of this thesis. Results from the disease spread model are then incorporated into an equilibrium displacement model (EDM). The EMD is a set of supply and demand equations that incorporates multiple commodities, multiple marketing levels within the farm-retail marketing chain, and international trade. The results obtained from the epidemiological model indicate that varying the number of herds detected before vaccination commenced had a minor impact on the number of animals destroyed, number of animals vaccinated and the length of the outbreak. The economic results suggest that no vaccination has the smallest decline in producer welfare when compared to the vaccination scenarios. Varying the number of herds detected before vaccination begins has little impact on producer and consumer welfare. When destroying the vaccinated animals, the impacts are larger at the producer levels compared to the scenarios when animals are not destroyed. As would be expected, when the export markets are closed longer, the impacts are larger. The various scenarios studied suggest the total producer meat surplus decreases between $15,810.6 and $21,324.9 million. The total consumer meat surplus decreases $2,581.8 and $5,875.6 million.
Open Access
A cost-benefit analysis of preventive management for zebra and quagga mussels in the Colorado-Big Thompson System
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2010) Thomas, Catherine M., author; Bond, Craig A., advisor; Goemans, Christopher G., advisor; Champ, Patricia A., committee member; Waskom, Reagan M., committee member
The introduction of zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) and quagga mussels (D. bugensis) to the western U.S. has water managers considering strategies to prevent or slow their spread. In Colorado, the Department of Wildlife (CDOW) has implemented a statewide mandatory boat inspection program. This study builds a bioeconomic model to simulate a mussel invasion and associated control costs for a connected Colorado water system, and compares the costs of the CDOW boat inspection program to the expected reduction in control costs to infrastructure. Results suggest that preventative management is effective at reducing the probability that mussels invade, but the costs may exceed the benefits of reduced control costs to infrastructure. The risk of invasion, the spatial layout of a system, the type of infrastructure, and the level of control costs associated with a system are key variables in determining net benefits of preventative management.
Open Access
Determinants of investment: sexed semen in dairy cattle
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2010) McCullock, Katelyn, author; Hoag, Dana, advisor; Seidel, George, committee member; Wailes, William, committee member; Parsons, Jay, committee member
The process of sexing semen through flow cytometry has achieved results in several species, including humans. Potentially, the dairy industry has the ability to earn large gains from sexed semen because of the need for all female herds. This research examined key components in the areas of technology, management, and market environment that affect the adoption of sexed semen on a commercial dairy farm. A spreadsheet was built to simulate the interactions among these areas of interest and regression was used to map and simplify the results. Three scenarios were compared on a case farm using sexed semen. Results identify Dairy heifer calf price had the most impact on profitability of this technology. Conception rate and technology variables affecting conception rate also had significant impacts on return on investment.
Open Access
Water use in the western U.S.: irrigated agriculture, water leases, and public preferences
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2010) Thorvaldson, Jennifer Lynn, author; Pritchett, James, advisor; Frasier, Marshall, committee member; Bright, Alan, committee member
In the western U.S., water continues to be reallocated from agricultural to urban uses as a result of rapid population growth and urbanization. However, the negative implications of permanent rural-to-urban water transfers call into question the economic practicality and social acceptability of additional transfers. While some of the short-term economic impacts of permanent water transfers have been estimated, less attention has been given to the longer-term impacts of such transfers. There is also a need to evaluate the economic and social viability of emerging alternatives to permanent water transfers. In addition to assessing the economic contribution of irrigated agriculture, this dissertation assesses the economic and social viability of water transfers and some of their alternatives, from the perspectives of both farmers and urban households. Chapter 1 provides a brief overview of western water law and motivation for the research. Chapter 2 assesses some of the longer-term effects of reduced irrigated acreage on the economic health of western rural counties. First, the relationship between irrigated agriculture and rural economic health is modeled via regression analysis of secondary data. The modeled relationship is then examined for structural breaks to test whether there is a minimum level of irrigated land necessary to sustain the economic health of rural agricultural communities. In Chapter 3, a survey of households in the western U.S. uncovers public perceptions and preferences regarding water use, conservation, and reallocation; current levels of water knowledge; and willingness to pay a fee in support of various water conservation and reallocation programs. In Chapter 4, a survey of irrigators in eastern Colorado is used to estimate a supply curve for leased water and to identify some of the factors that influence farmers' decision to lease their water. Chapter 5 concludes and suggests areas for further study. The research results will be useful to rural community leaders who are concerned with the evolution of their communities as their resources transition to urban use; urban planners as they consider water supply options; western households as they face the costs of water supply and reallocation programs; policymakers as they consider implementation of water lease markets; and farmers as they consider selling or leasing their water rights.
Open Access
Valuing ecosystems and economic services across land-use scenarios in the Prairie Pothole region of the Dakotas
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2010) Gasciogne, William R., author; Hoag, Dana, advisor; Koontz, Lynne, committee member; Loomis, John, committee member; Goldstein, Josh, committee member; Koontz, Stephen, committee member
This thesis uses biophysical values derived for the Prairie Pothole Region (PPR) of North and South Dakota, in conjunction with value transfer methods, to assess the environmental and economic tradeoffs under different policy-relevant land use scenarios over a 20-yr. time period. The ecosystem service valuation is carried out by comparing the biophysical and economic values of three focal services ( carbon sequestration, reduction in sedimentation, and waterfowl production) across three focal land uses in the region (i.e. native prairie grasslands, lands enrolled in the Conservation Reserve and Wetlands Reserve Programs (CRP/WRP), and cropland). This study finds that CRP/WRP lands cannot mitigate (1 for 1) the loss of native prairie from a social welfare standpoint. Furthermore, land use scenarios in which native prairie loss was minimized and CRP/WRP lands were increased provided the most societal benefit. The scenario modeling projected native prairie conversion results in a social welfare loss valued at over $2.5 billion over the policy period, when considering the study' s three ecosystem services, and a net loss of $1,888,237,567 when reductions in commodity production is accounted for. By quantifying ecosystem and economic tradeoffs of future land use scenarios, this thesis aims to help policy makers and natural resource managers make more knowledgeable, efficient, and defensible decisions.
Open Access
Accounting for spatial substitution patterns and bioeconomic feedback loops: an economic approach to managing inland recreational fisheries
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2011) Deisenroth, Daniel B., author; Bond, Craig A., advisor; Loomis, John B., advisor; Goemans, Chris, committee member; Davies, Stephen, committee member; Myrick, Chris, committee member
This dissertation consists of three papers which address separate but related issues in recreational fisheries management. Paper one estimates the economic contribution of the private, recreation-based aquaculture industry in the Western United States. Paper two presents a method for combining models of site selection with input-output models in order to better estimate the true economic impacts of augmentation or deterioration of recreational sites. Finally, paper three presents a dynamic, bioeconomic model of a recreational fishery and uses that model to simulate what would happen over time to anglers and fish populations (as well as value to anglers) if fish stocking were to be halted at a single recreational fishery. All three papers are policy relevant today given the increased pressure from (and litigation filed by) environmental groups to reduce fish stocking due to conflicts with native and endangered species. Paper one explores the economic contribution of the private, recreation-based aquaculture industry in the Western United States. New sectors are constructed in IMPLAN input-output software using data gathered between 2007 and 2010 from producers and their direct customers (stocked fisheries). Information from a third survey of anglers in Colorado and California is integrated to predict the short-term shocks that would occur to various industries if anglers at privately stocked fisheries were to discontinue fishing (simulating a hypothetical collapse of the industry). Accounting for both the backward and forward linkages of the private, recreation-based aquaculture industry's production, model results indicate that for every dollar of fish stocking, $36 dollars of recreational angler-related expenditures are supported, and that the total economic contribution of this industry in the Western United States is roughly $2 billion annually. This is the first study addressing the forward linkages and total economic contribution of this industry in the Western United States. Paper two addresses a similar issue as paper one, but goes further to account for substitution patterns among anglers. Using information from a survey of anglers in 2009, a repeated nested logit (RNL) model of angler spatial substitution behavior is estimated. Then, the RNL is used to predict changes in angler days associated with changes in fishery attributes. By linking the RNL and input-output model, better insight is gained into the economic losses associated with augmentation or deterioration of stocked fishing sites. Results indicate that if a single site is closed within the region of analysis, of the 29,500 anglers that will no longer fish at that site, only 6,500 anglers will leave the region of analysis (the rest substituting to other in-region sites). Standard impact analysis would therefore overestimate the economic impacts of such a policy by 450%. Results are similar when catch rates are reduced by 50% at one site, with 14,000 anglers leaving that site but only 3,000 leaving the region. The third and final paper of this dissertation presents a means by which managers may manage inland recreational fisheries from a dynamic bioeconomic perspective. A discrete-time, discrete-space, infinite time horizon numerical model of a fishery is built in GAMS software to reflect responses of anglers to the fishery and responses of the fishery to anglers over time. A data-driven random utility model is used to inform angler response and value functions in this dynamic bioeconomic model. Results from one region in California indicate that a) current fish stocking levels may be inefficiently high, and b) elimination of fish stocking programs at popular lakes may not lead to a crash in fishery populations, since anglers will simply substitute to other nearby fisheries (rather than "fish-out" the lake). Managers who can predict the intertemporal effects of fishery management alternatives in this way will be able to better meet the demands of recreational anglers.
Open Access
The economic value of whitewater sports in the Cache la Poudre Canyon, Colorado
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2011) McTernan, James A., author; Loomis, John B., advisor; Goemans, Christopher G., committee member; Shields, Martin, committee member
This thesis estimates the non-market benefits associated with non-commercial Whitewater Sports in the Poudre Canyon of the Cache la Poudre River. We used a Contingent Valuation Model (CVM) and a Travel Cost Model (TCM) to estimate benefits to all non-commercial users at two different river locations. Using CVM, we found the consumer surplus estimates to be between $55.36 and $93.36 per trip, depending on the model specification. This equates to a per season consumer surplus of between $596,283 and $1,005,581 for a 30 day season and between $1,192,620 and $1,917,894 for a 60 day season. For the TCM, consumer surplus was estimated at either $88.01 or $129.41 depending on the specification. This equates to ranges of per season consumer surplus of $947,956 and $1,393,875 respectively for a 30 day season and $1,895,999 and $2,787,880 respectively for a 60 day season.
Open Access
Rural prosperity initiative: propensity-score analysis of income and crop production effects from a comprehensive micro-irrigation program in Zambia
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2011) Nicoletti, Christopher Kevin, author; Kroll, Stephan, advisor; Graff, Gregory, committee member; Weiler, Stephan, committee member
This study seeks to expand the current literature of the impacts of technology adoption for smallholder farmers. It does so through an empirical investigation of the relationship between micro-irrigation technology investment, farmer-group enrollment and five key income and crop-production indicators of smallholder farmer-households in four rural Zambian regions. Micro-irrigation technologies were purchased by farmer-households, and were not randomly assigned. As such, the paper utilizes a propensity-score matching methodology to reduce self-selection bias, thereby estimating the causal effects of micro-irrigation technology investment on household incomes and crop production. By stratifying the sample, impacts were estimated for six combinations of treatment using three distinct matching algorithms. Regional and gender-specific treatment effects were estimated for the impact of farmer-group enrollment with micro-irrigation investment, and for the incremental impact of micro-irrigation investment when the farmer-household is already enrolled in a farmer-group. The study finds robust and positive effects of micro-irrigation investment and farmer-group enrollment on total crop incomes and total crop revenues, for the whole sample. Regional impacts of technology investment are less robust because of sample size limitations, but remain positive and significant in two of the four intervention areas. Female- and male-headed households both had positive and robust impacts on crop incomes, but female-headed household treatment effects were larger in magnitude. The findings of this study suggest that investment in micro-irrigation technologies and enrollment in a farmer-group lead to higher crop incomes for smallholder farmers in Zambia, and may reduce gender gaps in farmer earnings.
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 member
The 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.
Open Access
Food access issues on the suburban/urban interface: a case study for Longmont, CO
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2011) Phillips, Megan Elizabeth, author; Thilmany, Dawn D. (Dawn Denise), advisor; Graff, Gregory D., committee member; Shields, Martin, committee member
Traditional literature on food deserts focuses on rural and urban areas, often blaming suburban areas for supermarket abandonment while simultaneously praising suburban areas for their rich food environments. This research shows that despite a dense concentration of supermarkets and other food outlets in the suburban area of Longmont, Colorado, a segment of residents still experience significant challenges in securing fruits and vegetables. However, unlike rural and urban food deserts, distance does not appear to be a significant barrier, perhaps because Longmont exhibits urban center characteristics and suburban characteristics given its proximity to metro-Denver. A community based food assessment complete with a survey, focus groups, and listening session was used to gather data, and then to explore characteristics that explained perceived barriers, ordered probit models and summary statistical analysis were utilized. Results from the models predict that alternative modes of transportation (not one's own car) and ethnicity increase perceived challenges in purchasing/receiving fruits and vegetables. Also, while some primary sources of fruits and vegetables (natural grocery stores, ethnic markets, and seasonal outlets) are associated with increased fruit and vegetable consumption, our expectations that education and income would influence consumption were not discovered. These findings challenge common notions about food deserts and food access issues, as well as their recommended solutions. Alternative solutions to addressing food access are discussed in the context of areas, such as Longmont, along the urban/suburban interface. Overall, it is suggested that food access issues in Longmont are not due to market failures, but instead due to mismatched infrastructure. Several policy proposals and projects are suggested.