IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/p/ags/midasp/11690.html
   My bibliography  Save this paper

The Economic Importance Of Crop Rotation Systems: Evidence From The Literature

Author

Listed:
  • Gebremedhin, Berhanu
  • Schwab, Gerald

Abstract

Agricultural sustainability requires that the individual farm firm be competitive and profitable while simultaneously enhancing environmental quality and the natural resource base upon which the farm firm and agricultural economy depends. The reliance of conventional agriculture systems on purchased inputs external to the firm presents possible challenges to the long-term sustainability of the system. Crop rotation systems are one cropping system alternative that can reduce agriculture's dependence on external inputs through internal nutrient recycling, maintenance of the long-term productivity of the land, and breaking weed and disease cycles. Decision criteria to choose among competing crop rotation systems can include impact on soil quality and fertility, environmental quality, and farm profitability. However, most of the comparative economic analysis work reviewed for this paper considered only farm profitability as a criterion to rank alternative crop rotation systems. Most rotation research is focused around a target crop that is the foundation for the crop rotation system. When corn is the target crop, comparative profitability performance of continuous corn vs. corn grown in rotation showed that neither system is consistently more profitable than another. Corn yield in Michigan does respond favorably to crop diversity. Wheat as the target crop in rotation tends to outperform continuous wheat both in terms of profitability and income risk. Sugar beet prices hold the key in determining the profitability ranking of alternative sugar beet-based crop rotations. Potato in rotations tends to outperform continuous potato both in terms of yield and profitability. Future studies addressing the economic performance of crop rotations need to consider the environmental benefits/costs both on and off the farm site that accrue to society.

Suggested Citation

  • Gebremedhin, Berhanu & Schwab, Gerald, 1998. "The Economic Importance Of Crop Rotation Systems: Evidence From The Literature," Staff Paper Series 11690, Michigan State University, Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:ags:midasp:11690
    DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.11690
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://ageconsearch.umn.edu/record/11690/files/sp98-13.pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.22004/ag.econ.11690?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Musser, Wesley N. & Alexander, Vickie J. & Tew, Bernard V. & Smittle, Doyle A., 1985. "A Mathematical Programming Model For Vegetable Rotations," Southern Journal of Agricultural Economics, Southern Agricultural Economics Association, vol. 17(1), pages 1-8, July.
    2. Gregory L. Poe & Richard M. Klemme & Shawn J. McComb & John E. Ambrosious, 1991. "Commodity Programs and the Internalization of Erosion Costs: Do They Affect Crop Rotation Decisions?," Review of Agricultural Economics, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, vol. 13(2), pages 223-235.
    3. Thomas W. Hertel & Kyle Stiegert & Harry Vroomen, 1996. "Nitrogen-Land Substitution in Corn Production: A Reconciliation of Aggregate and Firm-Level Evidence," American Journal of Agricultural Economics, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, vol. 78(1), pages 30-40.
    4. Anderson, Jock R. & Dillon, John L. & Hardaker, Brian, 1977. "Agricultural Decision Analysis," Monographs: Applied Economics, AgEcon Search, number 288652, November.
    5. Johnson, Roger G. & Ali, Mir B., 1982. "Economics Of Wheat-Fallow Cropping Systems In Western North Dakota," Western Journal of Agricultural Economics, Western Agricultural Economics Association, vol. 7(1), pages 1-12, July.
    6. Jeffery R. Williams, 1988. "A Stochastic Dominance Analysis of Tillage and Crop Insurance Practices in a Semiarid Region," American Journal of Agricultural Economics, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, vol. 70(1), pages 112-120.
    7. Ikerd, John E., 1991. "A Decision Support System For Sustainable Farming," Northeastern Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Northeastern Agricultural and Resource Economics Association, vol. 20(1), pages 1-5, April.
    8. William J. Brown, 1987. "A Risk Efficiency Analysis of Crop Rotations in Saskatchewan," Canadian Journal of Agricultural Economics/Revue canadienne d'agroeconomie, Canadian Agricultural Economics Society/Societe canadienne d'agroeconomie, vol. 35(2), pages 333-355, July.
    9. Anderson, Jock R. & Feder, Gershon, 2007. "Agricultural Extension," Handbook of Agricultural Economics, in: Robert Evenson & Prabhu Pingali (ed.), Handbook of Agricultural Economics, edition 1, volume 3, chapter 44, pages 2343-2378, Elsevier.
    10. Richard M. Klemme, 1985. "A Stochastic Dominance Comparison of Reduced Tillage Systems in Corn and Soybean Production under Risk," American Journal of Agricultural Economics, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, vol. 67(3), pages 550-556.
    11. Maynard, Leigh J. & Harper, Jayson K. & Hoffman, Lynn D., 1997. "Impact of Risk Preferences on Crop Rotation Choice," Agricultural and Resource Economics Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 26(1), pages 106-114, April.
    12. Wen-Yuan Huang & Rhona M. Lantin, 1993. "A Comparison of Farmers' Compliance Costs to Reduce Excess Nitrogen Fertilizer Use under Alternative Policy Options," Review of Agricultural Economics, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, vol. 15(1), pages 51-62.
    13. Novak, James L. & Mitchell, Charles C., Jr. & Crews, Jerry R., 1990. "Risk And Sustainable Agriculture: A Target-Motad Analysis Of The 92-Year "Old Rotation"," Southern Journal of Agricultural Economics, Southern Agricultural Economics Association, vol. 22(1), pages 1-10, July.
    14. Maynard, Leigh J. & Harper, Jayson K. & Hoffman, Lynn D., 1997. "Impact Of Risk Preferences On Crop Rotation Choice," Agricultural and Resource Economics Review, Northeastern Agricultural and Resource Economics Association, vol. 26(1), pages 1-9, April.
    15. Lazarus, Sheryl S. & White, Gerald B., 1984. "Economic Impact Of Introducing Rotations On Long Island Potato Farms," Northeastern Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Northeastern Agricultural and Resource Economics Association, vol. 13(2), pages 1-8, October.
    16. Phipps, Tim T., 1991. "Commercial Agriculture And The Environment: An Evolutionary Perspective," Northeastern Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Northeastern Agricultural and Resource Economics Association, vol. 20(2), pages 1-8, October.
    17. Fox, Glenn & Weersink, Alfons & Sarwar, Ghulam & Duff, Scott & Deen, Bill, 1991. "Comparative Economics Of Alternative Agricultural Production Systems: A Review," Northeastern Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Northeastern Agricultural and Resource Economics Association, vol. 20(1), pages 1-19, April.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Ahmadiani, Mona & Li, Chun & Liu, Yaqin & Fonsah, Esendugue Greg & Bliss, Christine & Brodbeck, Brent & Andersen, Peter, 2016. "Profitability of Organic Vegetable Production via Sod Based Rotation and Conventional Versus Strip Tillage in the Southern Coastal Plain," Sustainable Agriculture Research, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 5(4).
    2. Stevens, Andrew W. & Bradley, William B. & Knotts, William, 2019. "Crop Rotations and Risk Management in Mississippi Delta Agriculture," 2019 Annual Meeting, July 21-23, Atlanta, Georgia 291175, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    3. Trautman, Dawn & Jeffrey, Scott R. & Unterschultz, James R., 2012. "Beneficial Management Practice (BMP) Adoption -- Direct Farm Cost/Benefit Tradeoffs," Project Report Series 139638, University of Alberta, Department of Resource Economics and Environmental Sociology.
    4. Jolejole, Christina B. & Swinton, Scott M. & Robertson, G. Philip & Syswerda, Sara P., 2009. "Profitability and Environmental Stewardship for Row Crop Production: Are There Trade-offs?," 2009 Conference, August 16-22, 2009, Beijing, China 50920, International Association of Agricultural Economists.
    5. Boxall, Peter C. & Weber, Marian & Perger, Orsolya & Cutlac, Marius & Samarawickrema, Antony, 2008. "Results from the Farm Behaviour Component of the Integrated Economic-Hydrologic Model for the Watershed Evaluation of Beneficial Management Practices Program," Project Report Series 116268, University of Alberta, Department of Resource Economics and Environmental Sociology.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Gebremedhin, Berhanu & Schwab, Gerald & Harwood, Richard R. & Christenson, Donald & Bricker, Calvin, 1998. "A Stochastic Dominance Analysis Of Alternative Sugar Beet- And Navy Bean- Based Crop Rotations In Michigan," Staff Paper Series 11509, Michigan State University, Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics.
    2. Ritchie, John W. & Abawi, G. Yahya & Dutta, Sunil C. & Harris, Trevor R. & Bange, Michael, 2004. "Risk management strategies using seasonal climate forecasting in irrigated cotton production: a tale of stochastic dominance," Australian Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Australian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society, vol. 48(1), pages 1-29.
    3. John W. Ritchie & G. Yahya Abawi & Sunil C. Dutta & Trevor R. Harris & Michael Bange, 2004. "Risk management strategies using seasonal climate forecasting in irrigated cotton production: a tale of stochastic dominance," Australian Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Australian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society, vol. 48(1), pages 65-93, March.
    4. Hrubovcak, James & Vasavada, Utpal & Aldy, Joseph E., 1999. "Green Technologies for a More Sustainable Agriculture," Agricultural Information Bulletins 33721, United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service.
    5. McDonald, Jeffrey D. & Moffitt, L. Joe & Willis, Cleve E., 1997. "Application of mean-Gini stochastic efficiency analysis," Australian Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Australian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society, vol. 41(1), pages 1-18.
    6. Perry, Gregory M. & Rister, M. Edward & Richardson, James W. & Grant, Warren R., 1986. "Analyzing Tenure Arrangements and Crop Rotations Using Farm Simulation and Probit Analysis," Journal of Agricultural and Applied Economics, Cambridge University Press, vol. 18(2), pages 165-174, December.
    7. Ethridge, Don E. & Zhang, Ping & Dahl, Bill E. & Ervin, R. Terry & Rushemeza, Justin, 1990. "Cattle Ranching Production And Marketing Strategies Under Combined Price And Weather Risks," Western Journal of Agricultural Economics, Western Agricultural Economics Association, vol. 15(2), pages 1-11, December.
    8. Blank, Steven C. & Orloff, Steve B. & Putnam, Daniel H., 2001. "Sequential Stochastic Production Decisions For A Perennial Crop: The Yield/Quality Tradeoff For Alfalfa Hay," Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Western Agricultural Economics Association, vol. 26(1), pages 1-17, July.
    9. Murray-Prior, Roy B. & Whish, J. & Carberry, Peter S. & Dalgleish, N., 2003. "Combining biophysical and price simulations to assess the economics of long-term crop rotations," 2003 Conference (47th), February 12-14, 2003, Fremantle, Australia 57927, Australian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society.
    10. Kennedy, John O.S., 1980. "On The Derivation Of Indifference Curves For Estimating Consumer Surplus," Australian Journal of Agricultural Economics, Australian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society, vol. 24(3), pages 1-5, December.
    11. Kiker, Clyde F. & Bauman, Eric, 1984. "Producer Gas Fueled Irrigation: Evaluating The Potential Of A Technology," Southern Journal of Agricultural Economics, Southern Agricultural Economics Association, vol. 16(2), pages 1-8, December.
    12. Maynard, Leigh J. & Harper, Jayson K. & Hoffman, Lynn D., 1997. "Impact Of Risk Preferences On Crop Rotation Choice," Agricultural and Resource Economics Review, Northeastern Agricultural and Resource Economics Association, vol. 26(1), pages 1-9, April.
    13. Byrd, Mark M. & Escalante, Cesar L. & Wetzstein, Michael E. & Fonsah, Esendugue Greg, 2006. "A Farm-level Approach to the Methyl Bromide Phase-out: Identifying Alternatives and Maximizing Net Worth Using Stochastic Dominance and Optimization Procedures," 2006 Annual Meeting, February 5-8, 2006, Orlando, Florida 35265, Southern Agricultural Economics Association.
    14. Johnson, Frank & Spreen, Thomas H. & Hewitt, Timothy, 1987. "A Stochastic Dominance Analysis of Contract Grazing Feeder Cattle," Journal of Agricultural and Applied Economics, Cambridge University Press, vol. 19(2), pages 11-19, December.
    15. McCamley, Francis P. & Rudel, Richard K., 2001. "Shadow Price Implications Of Several Stochastic Dominance Criteria," 2001 Annual Meeting, July 8-11, 2001, Logan, Utah 36163, Western Agricultural Economics Association.
    16. Anderson, Kim B. & Mapp, Harry P., Jr., 1996. "Risk Management Programs In Extension," Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Western Agricultural Economics Association, vol. 21(1), pages 1-8, July.
    17. Liu, Xuanli & Miller, Gay Y. & McNamara, Paul E., 2005. "Do Antibiotics Reduce Production Risk for U.S. Pork Producers?," Journal of Agricultural and Applied Economics, Southern Agricultural Economics Association, vol. 37(3), pages 1-11, December.
    18. Norton, George W. & Alwang, Jeffrey, 1997. "Policy for Plenty: Measuring the Benefits of Policy-oriented Social Science Research," Staff Papers 232552, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics.
    19. Wallace, Garry E. & Samsul Huda, A.K., 2005. "Using climate information to approximate the value at risk of a forward contracted canola crop," AFBM Journal, Australasian Farm Business Management Network, vol. 2(1), pages 1-9.
    20. Serrao, Amilcar & Coelho, Luis, 2004. "Cumulative Prospect Theory: A Study Of The Farmers' Decision Behavior In The Alentejo Dryland Region Of Portugal," 2004 Annual meeting, August 1-4, Denver, CO 20245, American Agricultural Economics Association (New Name 2008: Agricultural and Applied Economics Association).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:ags:midasp:11690. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: AgEcon Search (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://edirc.repec.org/data/damsuus.html .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.