Articles
“Optimal Social Distancing and the Economics of Uncertain Vaccine Arrival” by Terrence Iverson, Larry Karp, and Alessandro Peri
Feb. 18, 2021
The current, increased optimism about the imminent arrival and distribution of a COVID vaccine in the U.S. leads to an increased optimal level of social distancing. Under current circumstances, a …
“COVID-19 Relief Programs Have Kept U.S. Farm Income High but Shortchanged California Producers” by Aaron Smith
Feb. 18, 2021
The federal government has taken significant actions to mitigate the effects of COVID-19 on the economy. Congress has passed two large bills, the $2.2 trillion CARES Act in April 2020, …
“A Progress Report on California’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Act” by Arthur R. Wardle, Paige Griggs, and Ellen Bruno
Feb. 18, 2021
Regions of California will face significant reductions in water use in the coming years. This article provides an update on the progress made thus far towards implementing the Sustainable Groundwater …
“Guacamole from Mexico Fuels Surge of Avocado Imports” by Hoy F. Carman
Dec. 11, 2020
This article looks at factors associated with recent rapid growth in demand for processed avocados, including adaptation and adoption of High-Pressure Processing (HPP) technology. California producer- and importerfunded research and …
Continue reading "“Guacamole from Mexico Fuels Surge of Avocado Imports” by Hoy F. Carman"
“By-Product Use in California Dairy Feed Has Vital Sustainability Implications” by Scott Somerville, Daniel A. Sumner, James Fadel, Ziyang Fu, Jarrett D. Hart, and Jennifer Heguy
Dec. 11, 2020
Milk cow feed rations in California include a huge variety of byproduct feeds that contribute a substantial share of nutrition. Byproduct use helps moderate feed costs, provides important income to …
“2018 Trade War, Mitigation Payments, and California Agriculture” by Colin A. Carter, Jiayi Dong, and Sandro Steinbach
Dec. 11, 2020
The U.S. substantially increased a number of import tariffs in 2018, precipitating a trade war that was very costly to U.S. agriculture, given its dependence on international trade. The losses …
“COVID-19 and Urban Water Consumption” by Mehdi Nemati
Oct. 13, 2020
This article examines the impacts of COVID-19 restrictions on water usage in California, using anonymized customer water consumption daily data from a midsized city in Northern California (City). Results suggest …
Continue reading "“COVID-19 and Urban Water Consumption” by Mehdi Nemati"
“Going Nuts for More Bees: Factors Influencing California Almond Pollination Fees” by Brittney K. Goodrich and Jennie L. Durant
Oct. 13, 2020
Due to low almond prices, 2021 pollination expenses will be scrutinized. Using grower survey data, we find the following were associated with higher pollination fees and potential benefits for growers: …
“Modifying Marketing Orders to Face New Challenges” by Rachael E. Goodhue and Harry M. Kaiser
Oct. 13, 2020
Growers’ strategies to enhance the economic sustainability of their farms are constantly evolving to address changing markets and production conditions. State or federal marketing orders enable farmers, farmer-organizations, and, in …
“Assessing the Costs and Benefits of Winter Cover Cropping in California” by Ellen Bruno, Alyssa DeVincentis, Samuel Sandoval Solis, and Daniele Zaccaria
Aug. 13, 2020
Winter cover cropping is a promising agricultural management practice that boosts soil health. This article discusses a benefit-cost analysis of winter cover crop adoption and introduces a web-based interactive calculator …
