Determinants of Variability in U.S. Rice production Costs

摘要

This report identifies possible sources of cost variation among U.S. rice211u001eproducers and determines which common farm organizational and operator 211u001echaracteristics are statistically associated with costs of production. the main 211u001efindings are: (1) Most of the variation is explained by factors outside of the 211u001eoperator's control, such as weather, quality of land and other resources, and 211u001eshifts of input prices; (2) Significant determinants of per-unit production costs 211u001ewere capitalization costs (percent total depreciation claimed in 1992 relative to 211u001etotal production value), land tenure (percent of rice share-rented and percent of 211u001erice cash-rented), water management efficiency, and grain moisture level at 211u001eharvest; (3) Of all variables, capitalization costs relative to production value, 211u001eland tenure, water application efficiency, and grain moisture level at harvest 211u001ehad the greatest influence on per-unit cost variation, accounting for 94 percent 211u001eof total variance effects on a national level; (4) In the Arkansas non-Delta, 211u001ecapitalization costs, both land tenure variables, and moisture level at harvest 211u001ewere positively related to costs, while only capitalization costs and moisture 211u001elevel at harvest were significant variables in California. In the Mississippi 211u001eRiver Delta, capitalization costs, land share-rented, specialization, and water 211u001eefficiency were positively related to per-unit costs. In the Gulf Coast, 211u001especialization and capitalization levels were positive significant variables.