Effects of manure use and use restrictions on variable production costs and net incomes for United States corn producers.

摘要

We utilize a treatment effects model to examine if there are differences in costs/profits for manure-using corn producers versus non-users. We find that manure users have lower per-acre operating costs via reductions in fertilizer and soil conditioner costs; however, the use of manure reduces grain yields and ultimately leads to no difference in profit. Separate results indicate that manure-use restrictions do not affect costs or profits; thus policies could be in place to regulate manure usage without impacting the costs/profit structure of the farm.