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Fish feed pricing model from 2001 to 2015
No full textModern aquaculture relies on the use of formulated feeds, which can represent 50 to 60% of the total cost of fish production. However, there are no publicly available historical series of fish feed prices, hindering past economic evaluations of production systems and even the forecasting of strategies for the sector. This study deals with the development of a model that calculates feed prices based on the idealized composition of two commercial feeds (32 and 28% crude protein) and the deflated monthly prices of inputs, taxes, and margins of a hypothetical industry. The generated prices are within the dispersion of feed prices found in the literature, indicating that the model is consistent. However, the variation between the prices collected is very large, indicating the need to maintain a constant periodic survey of fish feed price information as a market reference
Financial viability of installing a green coconut husk processing unit.
No full textThe national production of coconut ( Cocos nucifera ) destined for fresh and processed coconut water consumption in 2014 was approximately 1.5 billion fruits. Tons of husks were mostly discarded in city dumps and landfills, thus wasting a potentially highly applicable and low-cost raw material. This study aims to determine the financial viability of installing a green coconut husk processing unit for the production of powder and raw fibers. The unit will be implemented in the municipality of São Luís (MA). The technical criteria used as a reference were developed and tested by the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation [Embrapa] Tropical Agroindustry. For the viability calculations, the financial criteria used were net present value [NPV], discounted payback period, and internal rate of return [IRR], in addition to sensitivity analysis of scenarios. The largest capital investment was allocated to the unit's physical facilities, totaling R 284,650.00. The project is financially attractive, generating an NPV of R$ 361,458.00 and an IRR of 16%, compared to a minimum acceptable rate of return of 7.13%, with the invested resources expected to be returned in the sixth year. The project is sensitive to price variations in the products sold
Economic potential of using micro-terracing in coffee plantations: a case study
No full textAmong the main problems currently faced by mountain coffee farming is the high cost of production, decisively influenced by the scarcity and high cost of labor. This work aimed to carry out an economic feasibility analysis of the use of micro-terracing in coffee plantations in the interior of São Paulo state. The study compared the production costs in two systems: semi-mechanized (micro-terracing) and manual, over a period of 10 years. The data were collected on a rural property in the municipality of São Sebastião da Grama, São Paulo, in an area of 12 ha, already established and in production. For revenues, the value of a 60 kg bag of processed Arabica coffee was considered at R$ 410.00. The financial indicators used were: Net Present Value [NPV], Internal Rate of Return [IRR] and discounted payback. Micro-terracing presents itself as an economically viable alternative; The project's cash flow demonstrates positive NPV values using minimum attractive rates of return ranging from 6% to 20%; an IRR of 41% and a discounted payback period of two years. The largest contribution to reducing the production cost of the terraced land comes from the labor budget item, both in cultivation practices and harvesting. The cash flow considering the micro-terraced area is positive and higher than that of the compared area
Fleet Management in the Construction Industry: Innovation, Value Proposition, and Impact on Client-Company Relations
No full textCompanies have been seeking innovative solutions that add value and contribute to their development. In this scenario, a company in the civil construction sector developed the Fleet Management service, which offers clients new and updated tools at a fixed monthly cost, functioning like a rental, but with significant differentiators that distinguish it from others. The objective of this work was to analyze the creation of the Fleet Management service and its respective value proposition, as well as the impacts of its implementation on customer relations and the benefits generated for the company. A single case study methodology was employed. Data was collected from the company's main departments, and the analysis was based on internal reports and unstructured interviews. The identification of critical points within the civil construction segment, highlighting the lack of concern for the tool fleet, as well as the lack of knowledge of the real costs involved in its acquisition and maintenance, led the company to identify that paying for the use rather than ownership of the tool would be more efficient for clients. The creation of the service and its value proposition were based on offering services, not selling products. The service strengthened and deepened relationships with customers, providing the company with gains in profitability, market share, and product mix, increasing brand credibility in the national market
Rail transport and soybean outflow in MATOPIBA
No full textBrazilian soybean production is developing at an accelerated pace, and new agricultural regions are being formed according to the need and opportunity for expansion. These new agricultural frontiers bring with them significant challenges, mainly regarding the logistical infrastructure available in each region for transporting the harvest. Understanding this infrastructure is fundamental for planning investments in these regions, calculating and estimating the costs of buying and selling grains and inputs, both for producers and for cooperatives, resellers, and trading companies. This study aimed to describe the current road and rail transport of soybeans from MATOPIBA and the potential for expanding rail transport for grain exports, as well as its benefits and obstacles for those operating in the soybean supply chain in the region. A qualitative research method was adopted, based on various publications. It was observed that to achieve international competitiveness and develop agricultural areas further from ports, the new agricultural regions need governmental and private support to overcome their logistical bottlenecks and invest in alternative modes of transport, such as the implementation of a rail system linking the interior to Brazilian ports. It has been proven that rail transport is the ideal mode for soybean distribution, offering lower costs and greater transport safety, resulting in increased investment and development for the entire soybean supply chain in Brazil's new agricultural frontiers
Using data mining to obtain seemingly hidden information about students.
No full textThe process of obtaining information from large databases, known as "Knowledge Discovery in Databases" (KDD), has been used by large companies to suggest books, films, or music, respectively, according to user preferences. This was achieved through techniques that analyze patterns to facilitate decision-making. This group of techniques is called data mining. The objective of this study was to use data mining techniques to discover seemingly hidden patterns in a questionnaire regarding student satisfaction in twelve areas of life. The dataset used for this study was collected through a questionnaire answered by a group of students from Master in Business Administration (MBA) courses at an educational institution located in the city of Piracicaba, in the state of São Paulo. This dataset was compiled and analyzed using the "Waikato Environment for Knowledge Analysis" (WEKA) software, which, through data mining techniques, was able to establish trends in student satisfaction in twelve pre-established areas of life. The tool demonstrated the efficiency of data mining techniques in discovering patterns for the proposed scenario
Feedlot costs of beef cattle in the city of Colômbia, SP
No full textBeef cattle feedlots make it possible to intensify meat production, since a large number of animals are concentrated in small areas. Presently, the mains problems faced by livestock farmer are the high cost of the activity, a return of the animal weight and uncertainties of the market. In this sense, the objective of this study was to analyze the economic indexes of a typical feedlot in Brazil and to identify the main items that affected the activity. A total of 2,579 Nellore bulls were confined in a farm located in the municipality of Colombia, state of Sao Paulo for a period of 110 days. Adaptation, growth and finishing diets were offered with a duration of 14, 40 and 56 days, respectively. Economic indicators, such as gross margin, contribution margin index and break-even point, were analyzed in a descriptive way and grouped into tables. The activity resulted in a total revenue of R 450,000 and a profit margin of 5.7%. The components of the effective operational cost that exert the greatest influence on the costs of the feedlot activity are the acquisition of the animals and the feeding. The economic indexes indicated that the activity was profitable and is paying in the short ter
The Reservoir System of the Cache La Poudre Valley
No full textContents: Introduction --- The Cache la Poudre River and Valley --- Settlement and Development (Rotation of Crops – Water Requirements) --- Reservoir System (Sites – The Cache la Poudre Reservoir – The Windsor Reservoir – The Larimer and Weld Reservoir – The Water Supply and Storage Company's Reservoirs – The North Poudre Reservoir System – Other Reservoirs – Reservoir Embankments and Outlet Construction – Water for Filling Reservoirs – Exchange of Water – The System of Exchange in Poudre Valley – The Value of Reservoirs) --- The Discharge of the Cache la Poudre River and the Rights to Its Waters --- Conclusions
The American Farmer
No full textContents: The American Farmer: The First 200 Years (Wayne D. Rasmussen) -- This Land of Ours (Orville Krause and William D. Anderson) -- The Farmer and His Farm (Donald D. Durost) -- R & D for Farms (Jane Porter) -- The Farm Family: New Viewpoints (Helen W. Johnson) -- Women in Agriculture (Vivian D. Wiser) -- From Farm to Consumer (Alden C. Manchester) -- Stewpot to Supermarket (Alden C. Manchester and Corrine Le Bovit) -- Farm Problems and Programs (Gladys L. Baker) -- Farming for World Markets (Authur B. Mackie) -- The Farmer and the Environment (Environmental Studies Staff) -- Farming in the Third Century...and Beyond (Don Paarlberg) -- The Decade Ahead (Leroy Quance) -- Contributors
Investing in Research for U.S. Agricultural Productivity and Competitiveness
No full textSome key takeaways: • U.S. and Florida agriculture depends critically on raising productivity for growth and competitiveness • Productivity growth can also reduce environmental footprint of Agriculture – less land, fewer GHG emissions per unit of output • U.S. agricultural productivity has begun to stagnate – R&D investment is falling and lagging behind major competitors – this puts at risk U.S. agricultural trade competitiveness – production becomes more resource intensive