University of Minnesota, Duluth
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Oddziaływanie rolowanych należności krótkoterminowych na płynność finansową MŚP sektora przetwórstwa rolno-spożywczego
No full textThe rationale for addressing this topic stems from the significant role of deferred payment practices in shaping rolled receivables among SMEs in the agri food processing sector, particularly under the dominance of large buyers resulting from contractual power asymmetry and limited enforceability. The study aimed to determine the scale and dynamics of rolled short-term receivables in 2016-2022 and to assess their impact on SMEs’ financial liquidity. The analysis applied the quick ratio in two variants: the traditional one, based on total short-term receivables, and a corrected version excluding rolled receivables from the calculation base. The assessment was complemented by trend analysis and chain index dynamics. The results show that rolled receivables constitute a persistent component of SMEs’ current assets, with a temporary increase in 2020 followed by a return to earlier levels. Adjusting liquidity ratios for rolled-over receivables reveals a systematic overestimation of accrual liquidity. This adjustment leads to a lower, more reliable assessment of companies' payment capacity, substantially different from traditional measures. The proposed inclusion of rolled receivables and their share in short-term receivables introduces an analytical element previously absent from liquidity assessment, enabling an evaluation of solvency that more closely reflects actual cash flows. / Synopsis. Uzasadnieniem podjęcia tematu jest znacząca rola praktyk odroczonych płatności w kształtowaniu rolowanych należności MŚP sektora przetwórstwa rolno spożywczego w warunkach przewagi dużych odbiorców, wynikającej z asymetrii siły kontraktowej i ograniczeń egzekucyjnych. Celem artykułu było określenie skali i dynamiki rolowanych należności krótkoterminowych w latach 2016–2022 oraz ocena ich wpływu na płynność finansową MŚP. Zastosowano analizę wskaźnikową płynności szybkiej w dwóch wariantach: tradycyjnym, opartym na należnościach krótkoterminowych ogółem oraz skorygowanym, w którym z podstawy obliczeń wyłączono rolowane należności. Analizę uzupełniono o ocenę trendów i dynamiki łańcuchowej. Wyniki wskazują, że rolowane należności stanowią trwały element struktury aktywów obrotowych, a ich udział wykazał przejściowy wzrost w 2020 roku, po czym powrócił do poziomu z lat wcześniejszych. Korekta wskaźników płynności o należności rolowane ujawnia systematyczne przeszacowanie płynności memoriałowej. Korekta ta prowadzi do obniżonej, bardziej wiarygodnej oceny zdolności płatniczej przedsiębiorstw, znacząco różniącej się od wyników tradycyjnych wskaźników. Zaproponowane ujęcie rolowanych należności i wskaźnika ich udziału w należnościach krótkoterminowych wprowadza do analizy płynności element dotąd nieuwzględniany, umożliwiając ocenę wypłacalności z perspektywy bliższej rzeczywistym przepływom pieniężnym
Economic And Behavioural Effects Of Farmers’ Adoption Of Integrated Pest Management Practices In Low- And Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis
No full textThe adoption of integrated pest management practices has been widely promoted in low- and middle-income countries to enhance farmers’ economic outcomes. The main challenge is the lack of quantitative synthesis of scholarly works to ascertain whether, for farmers in these countries, those who adopt a single component or a full bundle of integrated pest management practices achieve higher yields, farm income, food security and reduced pesticide use compared to non-adopters. The review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) methodology. A total of 24 studies were used for the review based on strict inclusion and exclusion criteria. Meta-analysis was employed to combine the individual and overall effect sizes across these studies. The results indicate that there is evidence that adopting integrated pest management practices has the potential to lead to a large improvement in crop yield for farmers. The findings also reveal that such adoption causes a small effect in food security level, and a moderate to large effect in farm income for farmers. The evidence further suggests that adopting these practices does not directly lead to behavioural change among farmers in reducing synthetic pesticide use. Overall, the findings demonstrate that adopting integrated pest management practices is a promising strategy for improving farmers’ economic outcomes in low- and middle-income countries. Policymakers and development partners should not only focus on IPM programmes for economic improvements for farmers, but also address behavioural barriers to ensure effective and consistent adoption for the desired environmental benefit
The Actuarial Performance of Prevented Planting Buy-Up Coverage
No full textOn November 28, 2025, the USDA Risk Management Agency finalized the elimination of the 5% prevented planting (PP) buy-up option. Using policy-level data from 2011–2024, this brief examines whether buy-up coverage historically degraded the actuarial performance of the Federal Crop Insurance Program. While theory suggest that optional PP coverage could lead to adverse selection, national-level results show that buy-up loss ratios (0.818) were lower than base coverage (0.866). These findings suggest that buy-up premiums adequately covered additional indemnities
DISEÑO DE UN MODELO DE PROMOCIÓN DEL TURISMO RURAL EN EL EJIDO LEÓN GUZMÁN DE LERDO, DURANGO: UNA ALTERNATIVA PARA EL DESARROLLO SOSTENIBLE
No full textThis study was conducted in the ejido of León Guzmán, municipality of Lerdo, Durango, with the aim of designing a model for promoting rural tourism as a sustainable alternative for the economic development of the community. The proposal seeks to generate marketing opportunities for a group of women entrepreneurs engaged in the production of preserved chilies, jams, traditional Lagunera food, and other local products. In the current context, where cities offer fewer and fewer opportunities for interaction with nature, rural tourism has had a positive impact on agricultural areas by diversifying employment, strengthening cultural identity, and revaluing work in the countryside. The research was conducted through a case study with a qualitative approach, supported by principles of strategic management. The results show that the León Guzmán ejido has competitive advantages derived from its location on Federal Highway 49, the constant flow of visitors to the Francisco Zarco Dam, and the gastronomic and traditional knowledge of local producers. The proposed model contemplates the integration of local products into tourist experiences, the design of promotional strategies, and links with educational and government institutions. It is concluded that its implementation represents a viable alternative for sustainable rural development as it promotes female empowerment, promotes women's empowerment, economic diversification, and contributes to the preservation of the cultural and natural heritage of the Comarca Lagunera region
Economic Value of Instream Flow in Montana's Big Hole and Bitterroot Rivers
No full textInstream flow is valuable to recreationists who rely on flows for fishing, boating, and other forms of river recreation. Instream flow is also valuable to many members of society, whether they visit the rivers or not, because flows maintain ecosystem stability and associated fish and wildlife habitat. This study estimates the economic value of these recreation and preservation benefits along the Big Hole and the Bitterroot Rivers in Montana. Valuation and participation information was obtained from recreationists who were interviewed along the rivers, and from households that were sampled using mail and phone surveys. Both dichotomous-choice and open-ended contingent valuation questions were used in these surveys to estimate the value of instream flow. In addition, methodological issues of additivity of preservation values and apportionment of total value into use and nonuse categories were investigated. Results indicate substantial economic value for maintaining instream flows above minimum levels, with most of the value attributable to preservation motives
Ending Prevented Planting Buy-Ups Changes Insurance Choices and Expands Program Risk
No full textPrevented planting (PP) coverage is a key component of the Federal Crop Insurance Program, providing indemnities when adverse weather prevents timely planting and reimbursing early-season production costs. Historically, producers could enhance this protection through optional PP buy-up coverage, which increased PP indemnities without affecting coverage against other yield or revenue losses. Recent policy changes eliminate all PP buy-up options beginning with the 2026 crop year, embedding planting-season risk management entirely within the underlying insurance coverage decision. This article examines whether and how producers can substitute higher coverage levels for the loss of targeted PP buy-up protection. Using administrative data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Risk Management Agency, the analysis documents both the mechanical feasibility of coverage-level substitution and observed producer responses following the earlier removal of the 10 percent buy-up in 2018. Results show that modest increases in coverage can approximate former buy-up protection at intermediate coverage levels, but substitution becomes nonlinear and constrained as producers approach the 85 percent coverage ceiling. Observed behavior indicates gradual and incomplete shifts toward higher coverage among former buy-up users, with limited adjustment among producers already near coverage limits. Overall, the findings suggest that eliminating PP buy-ups reduces producers’ ability to manage planting-season risk in a targeted manner and shifts risk management toward broader, costlier coverage choices. This transition has implications for producer-paid premiums, program subsidies, and the overall exposure of the Federal Crop Insurance Program to in-season losses
Agricultural Credit
No full textExcerpt: In 1900 it took 8,000. These figures are merely one indication of the need for increased and better coordinated credit facilities for farmers in modern times. There are three types of financial aid to farmers—direct grants, with no expectation of repayment; loans by Government-subsidized agencies to farmers in a weak financial position; and loans on a regular business basis, with repayment at interest. This article deals with credit of the last type, which in turn may be long-term credit, intermediate credit, or short-term credit. In addition to the other facilities for credit to farmers in the United States, the article describes the present Farm Credit system with its main divisions—the Federal land banks and national farm-loan associations, the Federal Farm Mortgage Corporation, the production credit corporations and production credit associations, the Federal intermediate credit banks, and the banks for cooperatives. The article gives advice about where to get credit and how to use it wisely and discusses some of the basic considerations involved in a credit system adequate for current needs
Resource-use Efficiency in Raw Cashew Nut Production in Kerala, India
No full textAim: To analyze the Resource use efficiency related to raw cashew nut production in Kerala
Study Design: Data was collected using a structured questionnaire administered to 120 randomly selected respondents.
Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted in the Kannur and Kollam districts of Kerala from 2023-2024.
Methodology: The analysis employed production function analysis through the Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) method using the mathematical form of the Cobb-Douglas production function. The simple descriptive statistics were used to analyze the Socio-economic profile of sample farmers.
Results: The findings revealed that most farmers were elderly and dependent on agriculture (72.5%), with marginal (47.5%) followed by small farmers (31.7%), and had a good literacy level. The study stated that manure (p-value; 1.4E-13), and human labour, (0.032), were found to be significant and positively impacted cashew output, and the age of plants (0.019) was found to be significant but negatively related to the yield. This states that with an increase in the age after reaching the yield decreasing phase i.e. of age (> 30 years) the yield starts declining. The analysis also indicated inefficiencies in resource use: manures were underutilized (r>1 i.e. 3.65) whereas labour (r<1 i.e. 0.143) was overused.
Conclusion: Raw cashew cultivation efficiency was analyzed using the Cobb-Douglas function, showing organic manure and labour as significant factors. With increasing returns to scale, better resource use can boost production. Extension programs can enhance farmers' knowledge, improve labour efficiency, reduce costs, and increase profitability. Youth involvement is vital for sustaining cashew production
The Role of Farmer Field and Business School (FFBS) in Improving Access to Agricultural Extension Services to Smallholder Farmers in Iringa Rural District, Tanzania
No full textInnovative and holistic approaches, such as the Farmers Field and Business School (FFBS), are essential for advancing agricultural practices and improving smallholder farmer livelihoods. In Tanzania, while evidence suggests that FFBS enhances access to extension services, its specific role remains undocumented. This study used an exploratory sequential mixed method to explore FFBS's role in improving smallholder farmers' access to extension services. The study involved 43 FFBS beneficiaries from CARE International’s FFBS scale-up project, selected through snowball sampling until data were saturated. This approach was chosen due to the challenges of accessing a comprehensive list of active participants and of ensuring that diverse perspectives are included. Data were collected using in-depth interviews, key informant interviews, focus group discussions (FGD), document review, and observation. Findings suggest that FFBS significantly enhances access to extension services through capacity-building in agronomy, climate resilience through sustainable agricultural practices, market linkages, gender empowerment, and information dissemination. The FFBS programme utilizes innovative experiential learning techniques, including hands-on training in sustainable agricultural practices, to equip farmers with practical knowledge and skills. Despite the positive outcomes, FFBS has not fully facilitated the transition of smallholder farming into large-scale commercial agriculture, highlighting challenges in scaling up production. The study suggests that all FFBS elements need to be fully applied to realize their innovative benefits. Policy implications include the need to improve resource access, particularly capital, technology, and markets for smallholder farmers, integrate FFBS into national extension programs, and promote gender-inclusive capacity-building to scale up agricultural productivity and sustainability
Socio-economic Impact of Technological Interventions on Sheep Farming Productivity
No full textAims: The study aimed to assess the impact of technological interventions on sheep farming productivity and farmer livelihoods in Krishnagiri district, Tamil Nadu. The primary objectives should be improved production and profitability of sheep farming.
Methodology: A benchmark survey of 200 sheep farmers was conducted to identify production challenges. Fifty farmers were selected for targeted interventions, prioritizing women and marginalized groups. The interventions included introducing improved rams to reduce inbreeding, strategic supplementary feeding during flushing, pregnancy, and lactation, hydroponic fodder and Azolla supplementation, ethno-veterinary first aid training, and improved marketing strategies. Farmers underwent training, and the impact was assessed through productivity and economic indicators.
Key Findings and Discussion: The interventions significantly improved reproductive efficiency and lamb growth. Conception rates increased from 50–60% to over 80%, while prenatal nutritional support enhanced birth weight and weaning weight by over 20%. Lactation-phase supplementation led to a 15% increase in postnatal lamb growth. Farmers observed a reduction in lamb mortality and faster weight gain, enabling earlier market sales. The introduction of improved rams and better nutrition resulted in increased meat yield and profitability. Ethno-veterinary practices improved flock health, and training enhanced marketing efficiency. Farmers reported higher incomes, selling more animals per cycle and reducing rearing costs.
Conclusion: Strategic technological interventions significantly enhanced sheep farming productivity and farmer income. Improved breeding, nutrition, and health management practices resulted in better reproductive efficiency, lamb survival, and economic gains. The study highlights the importance of integrating scientific innovations into traditional sheep farming systems for long-term sustainability and rural development