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Modeling producer responses with dynamic programming: a case for adaptive crop management

Author

Listed:
  • David Boussios
  • Paul V. Preckel
  • Yigezu A. Yigezu
  • Prakash N. Dixit
  • Samia Akroush
  • Hatem Cheikh M'hamed
  • Mohamed Annabi
  • Aden Aw‐Hassan
  • Yahya Shakatreh
  • Omar Abdel Hadi
  • Ayed Al‐Abdallat
  • Jamal Abu El Enein
  • Jamal Ayad

Abstract

Past research found agricultural producers’ conditional responses during the growing season are important adaptations to weather and other stochastic events. Failing to recognize these responses overstates the risks confronting producers and understates their ability to respond to adverse circumstances. Dynamic programming (DP) provides a means for determining optimal long‐term crop management plans. However, most applications in the literature base their analysis on annual time steps with fixed strategies within the year, effectively ignoring conditional responses during the year. We suggest an alternative approach that captures the strategic responses within a cropping season to random weather variables as they unfold, reflecting farmers’ ability to adapt to weather realizations. We illustrate our approach by applying it to a typical cereal farm in Karak, Jordan. The results show that including conditional within‐year responses to weather reduces the frequency of fallowing by 23% and increases expected income by 9%.

Suggested Citation

  • David Boussios & Paul V. Preckel & Yigezu A. Yigezu & Prakash N. Dixit & Samia Akroush & Hatem Cheikh M'hamed & Mohamed Annabi & Aden Aw‐Hassan & Yahya Shakatreh & Omar Abdel Hadi & Ayed Al‐Abdallat &, 2019. "Modeling producer responses with dynamic programming: a case for adaptive crop management," Agricultural Economics, International Association of Agricultural Economists, vol. 50(1), pages 101-111, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:agecon:v:50:y:2019:i:1:p:101-111
    DOI: 10.1111/agec.12469
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    1. Schuurman, Daniel & Weersink, Alfons & Delaporte, Aaron, 2021. "Optimal Sequential Crop Choices for Soil Carbon Management: A Dynamic Programming Approach," 2021 Annual Meeting, August 1-3, Austin, Texas 314042, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.

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