Russell E Tronstad

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• Kubota, C., Kubota, C., Meng, C., Masoud, S., Son, Y., Tronstad, R., Son, Y. J., & Tronstad, R. E. (2019). Advanced Technologies for Large-Scale Plant Factories—Integration of Industrial and Systems Engineering Approach in Controlled Environment Crop Production. In Plant Factory Using Artificial Light. Elsevier. doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-813973-8.00033-6
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  Abstract Industrial and systems engineering has been widely applied to analyze and optimize complex processes in various industries taking a highly computational approach. Plant factory-based production systems can utilize the same approach to effectively increase efficiency and reduce the cost of crop production under controlled environment. This chapter introduces our transdisciplinary work of integrating controlled environment crop production technologies, industrial and systems engineering, and agricultural economics using plant propagation nursery industries and their supply chain as a model case.
• Frisvold, G. B., Frisvold, G. B., Reeves, J. M., Tronstad, R., & Tronstad, R. E. (2006). Bt Cotton Adoption in The United States and China: International Trade and Welfare Effects. In AgBioforum. AgBioForum.
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  Many studies report that Bt cotton has led to significant yield gains, reduced insecticide use, or both in different countries. With rare exception, these studies examine adoption in one region in isolation from adoption in others. This article summarizes the global impacts of Bt cotton adoption in the United States and China based on results from a three-region model of the world cotton market. In 2001, adoption of Bt cot-ton in China and the United States increased world cotton production by 0.7% and reduced the world cotton price by 1.4 cents per pound. Global economic benefits were $836 million. Consumer surplus increased $63 million. Chinese producers gained by $428 million and US producers by $179 million. The fall in world price reduced rest-of-world (ROW) producer surplus by $349 million. Net rest-of-world benefits were $69 million, however, because purchaser gains outweighed producer losses.
• Frisvold, G. B., Frisvold, G. B., & Tronstad, R. E. (2003). Economic Effects of Bt Cotton Adoption and the Impact of Government Programs. In Economic and Environmental Impacts of Agbiotech: A Global Perspective. Springer, Boston, MA. doi:10.1007/978-1-4615-0177-0_14
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  Plants expressing a gene extracted from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), a soil bacterium, produce a protein toxic to budworms, bollworms, and other Lepidopteran insects. Use of Bt cotton can reduce yield losses to budworms and bollworms and reduce the need for pesticides. In 1995, the year prior to Bt cotton introduction, nearly two thirds of cotton acreage in the United States was treated with insecticides to control tobacco budworms, cotton bollworms, and pink bollworms, at a cost of $373 million. Growers treating for budworms and cotton bollworms averaged four applications, while growers treating for pink bollworm averaged 3.3 applications. Bollworms and budworms still reduced US cotton yields by 4%—over one quarter of abillion dollars worth of cotton (Williams, 1996).

Journals/Publications

• Mpanga, I., Ijato, T., Dapaah, H., & Tronstad, R. (2024). Fishpond Water Potential on Vineyard Soil Health: An Exploratory Study of a Circular System. Horticulturae, 10(4). doi:10.3390/horticulturae10040390
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  Climate variabilities continue to hinder sustainable food production with an increasing need to use resources such as water and soil efficiently. The quest for these efficiencies in agriculture systems drives innovations among farmers. However, limited data on farm practices, such as irrigating with fishpond water and their effects on soil health, hinder their adoption as climate-smart innovations. In a nearly twenty-year-old vineyard with two distinct irrigation practices (irrigation with recycled fishpond water and irrigation with ditch water), this study was carried out as an exploratory study to investigate the influence of recycling fishpond water on soil health parameters and yield. Soil samples were taken from two different irrigation fields in summer and winter for lab analysis on soil health parameters (organic matter and carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, microbial biomass, and microbial respiration). Averages over the two seasons of field measurements indicate that long-term irrigation using recycling fishpond water increased the measured soil health parameters (organic matter (13%), organic carbon (30%), nitrogen (17%), phosphorus (46%), microbial biomass (18%), and microbial respiration (56%)) in both summer and winter months when compared to fields receiving just ditchwater irrigation. Using water in a way that can improve soil health increases biodiversity and improves the efficiency of our limited water resources in semi-arid agricultural lands, and this strategy is a climate-smart tool that can help reduce water risks in dry agricultural regions such as Arizona.
• Mpanga, I., Neumann, G., Brown, J. K., Blankinship, J., Tronstad, R. E., & Idow, J. (2023). Grape pomace enhances maize, wheat, and grape performance in semi-arid soils. Journal of Plant Nutrition and Soil Science, 15.
• Sall, I., Tronstad, R. E., & Chin, C. (2023). Alfalfa Export and Water Use Estimates for Individual States.. Western Economics Forum, 18.
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  Alfalfa hay is an important crop for the U.S., comprising 15.46 million acres on average over the last three years (2020-2022). In 2019, the farm value of alfalfa slightly exceeded wheat to be the third most valuable crop in the U.S., behind corn and soybeans. Alfalfa is crucial for the dairy industry, feedlot sector, equine industries, and agricultural exports. Alfalfa exports have been criticized as their source can be from water-scarce states. However, state-level export data are not readily available. Thus, we provide estimates of state-level alfalfa exports using port data (1994-2001) and Forage Products data (2002-2022) from U.S. trade online to help describe the amount of alfalfa that is being exported at the state level. We also provide estimates of the amount of water utilized by alfalfa exports for the seven exporting states using a range of water use estimates from various sources and USDA/NASS data.
• Tronstad, R. E., & Sall, I. (2023). U.S. Export and Domestic Feed Price Trends, 1994-2022.. Western Economics Forum, 54-66.
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  U.S. hay exports have been growing in importance in recent years with alfalfa hay representing most of this increase. Forage export prices have been steadily increasing since the early 2000s, and China has emerged as a major importer of alfalfa in the last decade. In general, real prices for alfalfa, other hay, corn, and soybeans have all trended higher over the 1994-2022 period. However, the spread between export and domestic prices has trended larger for other hay and alfalfa, while the spread for corn and soybeans has been flat. This result is believed to be related to the fact that hay is bulky to move and transport, such that it does not possess the same level of arbitrage between regions that grain transport enjoys. Essentially, all alfalfa and other hay exports originate from the seven most western states of our forty-eight contiguous states as well.
• Chowdhury, B. B., Son, Y., Kubota, C., & Tronstad, R. E. (2021). Automated Workflow Analysis in Vegetable Grafting using an Ultra-Wide Bank based Real-Time Indoor Location Tracking System. Computer and Electronics in Agriculture, 194, 1-14. doi:10.1016/j.compag.2022.106773
• Mpanga, I., Sserunkuma, H., Tronstad, R. E., Pierce, M., & Brown, J. (2022). Soil Health Assessment of Three Semi-Arid Soil Textures in an Arizona Vineyard Irrigated with Reclaimed Municipal Water. Water, 14(18), 1-15.
• Tronstad, R. E. (2022). A Dynamic HMM-Based Real-Time Location Tracking System Utilizing UHF Passive RFID. IEEE Journal of Radio Frequency Identification.
• Tronstad, R. E. (2022). Soil Health Assessment of Three Semi-Arid Soil Textures in an Arizona Vineyard Irrigated with Reclaimed Municipal Water. Water.
• Isaac, M. K., Tronstad, R. E., Guo, J., LeBauer, D. S., & Idow, J. (2021). On-Farm Land Management Strategies and Production Challenges in United States Organic Agricultural Systems. Current Research in Environmental Sustainability, 1-7.
• Masoud, S., Meng, C., Chowdhury, B., Son, Y., Kubota, C., & Tronstad, R. E. (2021). GRANDES: an online decision support tool for grafting nurseries. Acta Horticulturae, 125-132. doi:https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2021.1302.17
• Sall, I., & Tronstad, R. E. (2021). Simultaneous Analysis of Insurance Participation and Acreage Response from Subsidized Crop Insurance for Cotton. Journal of Risk and Financial Management.
• Tronstad, R. E., Gupta, R., & Kubota, C. (2021). Cost estimates for grafted, non-grafted, and direct- seeded cantaloupes 1. Acta Horticulturae, 141-146. doi:DOI: 10.17660/ActaHortic.2021.1302.19
• Sall, I., Tronstad, R. E., & Aradhyula, S. V. (2019). Beef Production Alliance Preferences for Vertical Integration: A Bivariate Nested Panel Probit Approach. Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, 44(1), 165-179.
• Masoud, S., Son, Y., Kubota, C., & Tronstad, R. E. (2018). Evaluation of simulation based optimization in grafting labor allocation. Applied Engineering in Agriculture, 34(3), 479-489.
• Kubota, C., Meng, C., Son, Y., Lewis, M., Spalholz, H., & Tronstad, R. E. (2017). Horticultural, systems-engineering and economic evaluations of short-term plant storage techniques as a labor management tool for vegetable grafting nurseries. PLOS ONE, 12(2). doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0170614
• Teegerstrom, T., Teegerstrom, T., & Tronstad, R. E. (2017). Arizona Ranching Budgets 2016. UA Coop Extension.
• Kubota, C. -., Lewis, M., Tronstad, R. E., & Son, Y. -. (2014). Scenario-based cost analysis for vegetable grafting nurseries of different technology and size. HortScience, 49, 917-930.
• Meng, C., Xi, D., Son, Y. -., Kubota, C. -., Lewis, M., & Tronstad, R. E. (2014). An Integrated Simulation and AHP Approach to Vegetable Grafting Operation Design. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, 102, 73-84.
• Tronstad, R. (2011). Unpleasant lessons from the settlement of theWest: Implications for the WAEA and other professional associations. Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, 36(3), 433-447.
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  Abstract: Parallels are drawn between shortcomings and events that occurred in our western heritage with current issues facing agricultural economists. Challenges are made in relation to conflict of interest policies, external funding, cultivating connections with experts outside our discipline and relevance of research priorities. Survey data on research priorities of upper administrators and faculty within colleges of agriculture are compared to those of Western Agricultural Economics Association members. Upper administrators from land grant colleges rank research focused in the area of competitiveness and profitability less than areas of water usage, food safety, renewable energy, global climate change, or sustainability.
• Richards, T. J., Ellsworth, P., Tronstad, R., & Naranjo, S. (2010). Market-based instruments for the optimal control of invasive insect species: B. Tabaci in Arizona. Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, 35(3), 349-367.
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  Abstract: Invasive insect species represent perhaps one of the most significant potential sources of economic risk to U.S. agricultural production. Private control of invasive insect species is likely to be insufficient due to negative externality and weaker-link public good problems. In this study, we compare a system of Pigouvian taxes with tradable permits for invasive species control. While the emissions control literature shows that taxes are preferred to permits under cost uncertainty, invasive-species control involves correlated cost and benefit uncertainty. Hence, we expect a quantity-based system to be preferred. Monte Carlo simulations of optimal steady-state outcomes confirm our expectations. Copyright 2010 Western Agricultural Economics Association.
• Richards, T., Ellsworth, P., Tronstad, R., & Naranjo, S. (2010). Market-Based Instruments for the Optimal Control of Invasive Insect Species: B. Tabaci in Arizona. Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, 35(3), 349-367.
• Tronstad, R., Thompson, G. D., Frisvold, G. B., & Aradhyula, S. V. (2010). Does Paying Referees Expedite Reviews?: Results of a Natural Experiment. Southern Economic Journal, 76(3), 678-692. doi:10.4284/sej.2010.76.3.678
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  A natural experiment in an economics field journal afforded time-series observations on payments to referees for on-time reviews. The natural experiment yielded 15 months’ worth of data with no payments and about two subsequent years of data with payments. Using refereeand manuscript-specific measures as covariates, hazard models were used to gauge the effects of payments on individual referee’s review times. All models indicate statistically significant reductions in review times owing to referee payments. Reductions in review times translate into significant reductions in first-response time (FRT). Median FRT was reduced from 90 to 70 days, a 22% reduction in the presence of payments. With payments, only 1% of the FRTs exceeded six months; without payments, 16% of the FRTs exceeded six months.
• Frisvold, G. B., Reeves, J. M., & Tronstad, R. (2006). Bt cotton adoption in the United States and China: International trade and welfare effects. AgBioForum, 9(2), 69-78.
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  Abstract: Many studies report that Bt cotton has led to significant yield gains, reduced insecticide use, or both in different countries. With rare exception, these studies examine adoption in one region in isolation from adoption in others. This article summarizes the global impacts of Bt cotton adoption in the United States and China based on results from a three-region model of the world cotton market. In 2001, adoption of Bt cotton in China and the United States increased world cotton production by 0.7% and reduced the world cotton price by 1.4 cents per pound. Global economic benefits were $836 million. Consumer surplus increased $63 million. Chinese producers gained by $428 million and US producers by $179 million. The fall in world price reduced rest-of-world (ROW) producer surplus by $349 million. Net rest-of-world benefits were $69 million, however, because purchaser gains outweighed producer losses. ©2006 AgBioForum.
• Frisvold, G. B., Tronstad, R., & Reeves, J. M. (2006). International impacts of bt cotton adoption. International Trade and Policies for Genetically Modified Products, 191-199.
• Tronstad, R., & Unterschultz, J. (2005). Looking beyond value-based pricing of beef in North America. Supply Chain Management, 10(3), 214-222.
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  Abstract: Purpose - Quality traits desired by consumers may not be adequately captured by beef industry standards associated with grid or value-based pricing alone. Aims to demonstrate this shortcoming by examining strategies of selected companies in North America at the four supply chain levels of cow-calf genetics, feedlot feeding, processing, and retailing that have been proactive in producing desirable beef attributes efficiently to better meet consumer beef demand. Design/methodology/approach - The vertical alliance between Ralphs retailing, Sunland Beef processing, and a handful of feedlots using narrowly defined beef genetics are examined to illustrate how consumer market research and coordination throughout the supply chain may address many shortcomings associated with current value-based pricing of beef criteria. Findings - Better information sharing and coordination between seedstock and retail industries could help assure that consumer preferences of beef palatability and consistency are met while meeting high production efficiency standards. Practical implications - Cow-calf, feedlot, and packing industries need to better track and manage information flows of genetic-management paths from consumer to seedstock producer in order for the beef industry to be more competitive. Originality/value - Experiences of our case companies suggest that the beef industry will need to look beyond the North American grid or value-based pricing of beef in order to maintain or improve market share with competing pork and poultry sectors. © Emerald Group Publishing Limited.
• Tronstad, R., Teegerstrom, T., & Osgood, D. E. (2004). The Role of Electronic Technologies for Reaching Underserved Audiences. American Journal of Agricultural Economics, 86(3), 767-771. doi:10.1111/j/0002-9092.2004.00622.x
• Aradhyula, S., & Tronstad, R. (2003). Does tourism promote cross-border trade?. American Journal of Agricultural Economics, 85(3), 569-579.
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  Abstract: We estimate a simultaneous bivariate qualitative choice model of Arizona agribusiness firms' propensity to trade and visit as a tourist the cross-border state of Sonora, Mexico. Venture business visits, quantified through the tourism equation, were found to have the largest impact on a firm's propensity to trade. Tourist visits have a greater impact on trade when combined with other firm attributes such as age, perceived need for geographic diversity, foreign language fluency, and firm size, than if considered alone. Our results suggest that there is a role for government agencies to play in overcoming imperfect information related to trade opportunities through facilitating exploratory business venture and tourist visits.
• Tronstad, R., & Teegerstrom, T. (2003). Economics of sale weight, herd size, supplementation, and seasonal factors.. Journal of Range Management, 56(5), 425-431. doi:10.2307/4003832
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  A growth function for range calves is estimated using a polynomial function of calf age that accounts for weather variation, sex, prior calf weights relative to a norm, and a compensatory gain factor. Data on rainfall plus calf weights at birth and when calves were roughly 3, 8, 12, and 20 months of age are used to estimate the growth function. This function is then used to determine the economic trade-off between herd size and calf sale weights, for both spring and fall sale dates. In addition, the profitability of feeding supplement is evaluated by increasing the rate of gain beyond that projected by the the polynomial age growth function for southeast and central Arizona grazing environments when forage and nutrients are limited. Using prices from 1980 to 1998, results indicate that the most profitable herd mix, sale date, and feeding protocol for the southeast Arizona region is 204 kg calves with no supplemental feeding and sales occurring in May. Supplemental feeding and sales occurring at 250 kg head-1 in May is the most profitable herd mix for the central Arizona region. More favorable average daily gain rates for May sales from the central versus southeast is why supplemental feeding is marginally better for the central region than feeding no supplement. DOI:10.2458/azu_jrm_v56i5_tronstad
• Tronstad, R., Silvertooth, J. C., & Husman, S. (2003). Irrigation Termination of Cotton: An Economic Analysis of Yield, Quality, and Market Factors. Journal of cotton science, 7(3), 86-94.
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  The decision to terminate the irrigation of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) is complicated by interactions and uncertainties related to lint yield and quality, water costs, and market factors. High, medium, and low values for the cost of water, lint price, and quality discount/premium schedule for High Volume Instrument (HVI) quality factors were applied to lint yield and quality differentials realized from irrigation termination experiments conducted in central Arizona for the crop years of 1991 and 1992, 1994 through 1997, and 2000. Deviations in lint yield and quality for the first irrigation termination treatment versus the subsequent second and third irrigation termination treatments are the agronomic basis of this study. Irrigation termination dates were defined by heat units after planting (31/12.8o C or 86/55o F) to place the crop progression of different experimental sites and years on a more equal basis than using calendar dates. Classification and regression tree analysis was used to quantify the data. The relative ranking of results from this procedure in which the most important variable is normalized on 100 were as follows: cultivar (100), additional heat units after the first irrigation termination treatment (94), yield of first irrigation termination treatment trial (93), year of the field experiment or crop year (83), micronaire associated with the first irrigation termination treatment (68), heat units after planting for the first irrigation termination treatment (67), lint price (5), water cost (2), and the quality discount/premium year (0.09). In general, the season needs to be extended at least 330 to 360 heat units Centigrade (600 to 650 heat units Fahrenheit) to yield a profitable return for cultivars with potential to produce a top-crop. Also, a crop that has a yield less than 1533 kg ha -1 (1368 lb ac -1 ) at the first irrigation termination treatment is more likely to have the potential for producing a profitable top-crop than a crop that has already set a fruit boll load greater than this level.
• Tronstad, R., Thompson, G. D., Frisvold, G. B., & Aradhyula, S. V. (2002). JARE Editor's Report October 2002. Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, 27(2).
• Aradhyula, S. V., Tronstad, R., & Tronstad, R. E. (2001). FACTORS INFLUENCING THE PROPENSITY FOR CROSS-BORDER TRADE. AJAE.
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  We estimate a simultaneous bivariate qualitative choice model of Arizona agribusiness firms propensity to trade and visit as a tourist with the cross-border state of Sonora, Mexico. The trade equation is estimated as an ordered probit model with responses of: 1) a firm has not ever traded or investigated doing any trading activities with Sonora, 2) the firm has not done any trade with Sonora but they have investigated doing business in this cross-border state, and 3) the firm has traded with Sonora, either directly or through a second handler like a broker. A proprietors propensity to visit Sonora as a tourist is modeled from the binary response of whether the individual has ever visited Sonora as a tourist or not. Simultaneity arises since both trade and tourist visits are hypothesized to influence one another. Results indicate that tourist visits have a greater influence on whether firms trade than traditional variables considered like firm age and size. Venture business visits, quantified through the tourism equation, were also found to have a greater impact on an agribusiness firm's propensity to trade than traditional variables. Our results suggest that communities seeking to develop and expand cross-border trading activities should target entrepreneurs with an exploratory and venture spirit first. Then, target firms that are fairly established (over 15 years in age) and desire to diversity their production risk through multiple geographic production regions. Firm size and foreign language fluency of the agribusiness owner were found to be less significant than tourist visits, venture business visits, and firm age.
• Tronstad, R., Silvertooth, J. C., Husman, S., Husman, S. H., & Tronstad, R. E. (2001). Optimal Production Inputs with Varying Quality and Yield Components: Irrigation Termination of Upland. 2001 Annual Meeting, July 8-11, 2001, Logan, Utah. doi:10.22004/ag.econ.36088
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  We utilize Classification and Regression Tree analysis to categorize the return of extending the season for upland. High, medium, and low values for cost of water, lint prices, and quality discount/premiums were applied to the lint yield and quality differentials realized from 198 irrigation termination experiments conducted in central Arizona for the crop years of 1991, 1992, 1994, 1996, 1996, 1997, and 2000. The progression of each crop was analyzed using heat units (86/55 F). The relative ranking results of CART, where the most important variable is normalized on 100, were: variety (100), additional heat units after IT-1 (94), yield of IT-1 (93), crop year (83), micronaire associated with IT-1 (68), HUAP for IT-1 (67), lint price (5), water cost (2), and the quality discount/premium year (.09). Significant yield variation from extending the season was found. In addition, agronomic signals for predicting micronaire changes were very important for determining profitability since quality is impacted for both base and any additional yields attained. These are the primary reasons why agronomic factors were found to be more influential than the economic factors considered for explaining the profitability of extending the season for upland.
• Frisvold, G. B., Tronstad, R., & Mortensen, J. (2000). Adoption of Bt cotton: Regional differences in producer costs and returns. 2000 Proceedings Beltwide Cotton Conferences, 337-340.
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  Abstract: This study uses a quadratic programming model to estimate the impacts of Bt cotton adoption on consumer benefits, cotton program outlays, and producer returns, by state and adoption status. Three scenarios were considered simulating low, moderate, and high impacts of Bt cotton adoption. For the moderate scenario, U.S. benefits from Bt adoption grew from $44 million in 1996 to $66 million in 1998. Annual benefits to U.S. cotton purchasers ranged between $46-$55 million. Benefits to Bt adopters grew from $57 million in 1996 to $97 million in 1998. Losses to non-adopters fell from -$59 million in 1996 to -$8 million in 1998 as rising commodity program payments mitigated the impact of lower prices.
• Wong-gonzalez, P., & Tronstad, R. (1999). Cross-Border Trade and Perceptions: Friend or Foe?. Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy, 21(1), 68-85. doi:10.2307/1349972
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  is a potential or expanding market available. Little support was found for the opinion that each other's state serves as a business competitor. Integration, complementarity, and regional specialization have allowed cross-border agribusiness firms to become more competitive. Opportunities for risk reduction are felt to exist through cross-border expansion. The highest ranked items for increasing the economic vitality of agribusiness in the region are streamlining border crossing formalities for products, unifying grades and standards, improving Sonora's transportation and communication infrastructure, developing better financing strategies/ legal agreements, and forming a bilingual regional agricultural agency to disseminate information regarding current regulations specific to agriculture. This agency may also help facilitate capital and trade flows by providing a voluntary certified trading license. Implementation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) on 1 January 1994 signaled the beginning of a new era in trade between the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Unilateral trade liberalization policies in Mexico and the implementation of NAFTA have allowed for increased specialization through trade and efficiency gains in agriculture. Utilizing aggregate agricultural trade data, De Janvry, Sadoulet, and Davis found that NAFTA has helped increase Mexico's imports from the United States when Mexican incomes were increasing and also helped prevent a further fall in trade when incomes were declining. Trade in the agribusiness sector is expected to grow remarkably over the next decade, both within North America and throughout the rest of the world. The USDA (September 1996) estimates that by the year 2005, intra-NAFTA trade in agricultural products
• Tronstad, R., & Gum, R. L. (1994). Cow Culling Decisions Adapted for Management with CART. American Journal of Agricultural Economics, 76(2), 237-249. doi:10.2307/1243625
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  A stochastic dynamic programming (DP) model of range cow culling decisions incorporating market price uncertainties and dynamics of biological productivity was solved for biannual and annual calving systems. Decision trees were generated from the DP solutions using the Classification and Regression Trees (CART) methodology. The decision trees captured over 99% of the optimal DP returns from both biannual and spring-only calving. CART culling criteria in conjunction with dual-season calving increased wealth by 7% compared to optimal DP culling decisions with spring-only calving, and by 10% compared to a more traditional strategy of culling all open cows.
• Tronstad, R., & Taylor, C. R. (1991). Dynamically Optimal After-Tax Grain Storage, Cash Grain Sale, and Hedging Strategies. American Journal of Agricultural Economics, 73(1), 75-88. doi:10.2307/1242885
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  This article utilizes a stochastic dynamic programming (SDP) model that considers the state variables of (a) before-tax income, (b) grain storage, (c) quantity of futures position, (d) value of futures position, (e) wheat price, and (f) basis level. Decision variables are monthly cash grain sales and futures market transactions. In comparing the post-sample performance of SDP to other marketing strategies over a four-year period, SDP resulted in $5,961 to $25,021 more wealth than the other strategies considered. Also, these other strategies yielded a standard deviation of after-tax income that was 30% to 621% greater than that from the SDP framework.
• Tronstad, R., & McNeill, T. (1989). Asymmetric price risk: An econometric analysis of aggregate sow farrowings, 1973-86. American Journal of Agricultural Economics, 71(3). doi:10.2307/1242018
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  Aggregate sow farrowing response to price risk is estimated where price risk is defined as the difference between expected price at decision time and realized price at acquisition or selling time. Asymmetric (unfavorable deviations) and symmetric (favorable and unfavorable deviations) forms of price risk are estimated utilizing cash and futures prices. Statistical results suggest that an asymmetric form of risk analysis is preferred to a symmetric form, for bofcth cash and futures markets. © 1989 American Agricultural Economics Association.
• Tronstad, R., & Taylor, C. R. (1989). Effects of the 1986 Tax Reform Act on Grain Marketing Decisions: A Case Study of Winter Wheat Producers. Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy, 11(2), 309-320. doi:10.1093/aepp/11.2.309
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  Dynamic programming is utilized to derive an optimal monthly marketing-storage decision rule for winter wheat. Tax years before (1986) and after (1987 and 1988) the 1986 Tax Reform Act are analyzed in conjunction with the state variables of grain price, storage and before-tax income. In general, results indicate that it is better for producers to store less winter wheat now than before passage of the 1986 Tax Reform Act. This is especially true for winter wheat prices between $2.75 and $3.75 per bushel.

Proceedings Publications

• Chowdhury, B. B., Islam, T., Son, Y., & Tronstad, R. E. (2021). Optimal Deployment of Indoor Sensors for a Real-Time Location Tracking System. In Institute of Industrial Systems Engineers.
• Chowdhury, B., Masoud, S., Son, Y., Kubota, C., & Tronstad, R. E. (2020, 9). A dynamic data driven indoor localisation framework based on ultra high frequency passive RFID system. In International Journal of Sensor Networks, 34, 172-187.
• Emerick, M. R., Sall, I., Tronstad, R. E., & Emerick, M. R. (2014). U.S. Cotton Acreage Response to Subsidized Crop Insurance, 1995 to 2011. In AAEA.
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  Using simultaneous insurance participation and acreage response equations, this study models the acreage response of U.S. cotton at the county level to subsidized crop insurance. Results of panel data analyses suggest that counties with relatively low yields are more likely to respond positively to insurance participation with a greater percentage of cotton acreage in their county than high-yielding counties. Empirical evidence indicates that crop insurance policies are shifting cotton production from counties with lower production risks, higher yields and highly desired cotton to counties with higher production risks, lower yields and poorer quality cotton.
• Nakamoto, S., Teegerstrom, T., Teegerstrom, T., & Tronstad, R. E. (2013). Producer Business Checkup. In UH Cooperative Extension.
• Teegerstrom, T., Teegerstrom, T., Nakamoto, S., & Tronstad, R. E. (2013). An Overview of Risk Management Agency Insurance Products and Farm Service Agency Programs Available for Arizona Agricultural Producers as of December 2012. In UH Coop Extension.
• Nolte, K., Norton, E., Norton, R., Taylor, E., & Tronstad, R. E. (2007). Review of the 2006 Arizona Cotton Season. In ICM.
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  Arizona Agricultural Statistics Service (USDA/NASS) reports that Arizona planted 190,000 acres of Upland (Gossypium hirsutum L.) cotton in 2006, down 17% from the 230,000 acres planted in 2005 and the lowest acreage since 1946 when 144,000 acres were planted. Plantings of American Pima (G. barbadense L.) cotton totaled 7,000 acres for 2006, up 2,900 acres from 2005. Upland yields averaged 1420 lbs. per acre for 2006, up 10.2% from last year but lower than the 1458 lb. record yield in 2004. Pima yields increased 12.1% to 919 lbs. per acre.
• Clay, P., Norton, E., & Tronstad, R. E. (2006). Review of the 2005 Arizona Cotton Season. In ICM.
• Silvertooth, J. C., Galadima, A., Tronstad, R., & Tronstad, R. E. (2006). Irrigation Termination Effects on Cotton Yield and Fiber Quality. In WAEA.
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  Field experiments were conducted in 2004 and 2005 at the University of Arizona Maricopa Agricultural Center (1,175ft. elevation) to evaluate the effects of five irrigation termination (IT1, IT2, IT3, IT4, and IT5) dates on yield and fiber micronaire of eleven Upland cotton varieties and one Pima variety. In addition, the economic relationships of IT treatments were also evaluated. The experimental design was a split plot in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The main treatments included the five IT dates and the subunits consisted of 11 Upland varieties and a Pima variety. The first two IT treatments (IT1 and IT2) were imposed with the intention of terminating irrigations very early and pre-maturely at peak bloom. Based upon current UA recommendations for IT to complete a single cycle fruit set, the more optimal date of IT would have included one or two additional irrigations (beyond IT1 and IT2). In this experiment, IT2 was structured to provide an additional (one) irrigation just past peak bloom. For the IT3 plots, the intention was to attempt to time termination in advance of cutout. The 2004 and 2005 IT4 and IT5 were imposed to attempt to complete the primary fruiting cycle development and produce a second cycle fruit set that require irrigations until late August and late September, respectively. In general, lint yield and micronaire results revealed significant differences among the IT treatments and varieties. In a similar fashion to a previous set of IT experiments (2000-2002), lint yield and micronaire values consistently increased with later IT dates. The best combined lint yield and micronaire results were achieved with IT4 date, which received 12 and 18 in. less irrigation water than IT5 in 2004 and 2005, respectively. In 2004 and 2005, the 12 and 18 in. water saved equate to approximately 20% and 30% less water used under the conventional practice, respectively. The average marginal value of water for all eleven Upland varieties in going from IT1 to IT2, IT2 to IT3, IT3 to IT4, and IT4 to IT5 for November 2004 prices and low carrying costs is calculated at $320.07, $150.15, $100.54, and -$28.16 per acre-foot of water. If steeper mike discounts (November 1999), a lower base lint price (45¢/lb.), and higher costs (i.e., more costly insecticide and chemical costs) are imputed to extend the crop, the marginal value of an acre-foot of water for all Upland varieties and replications in going from IT1 to IT2, IT2 to IT3, IT3 to IT4, and IT4 to IT5 is estimated at $164.04, $48.15, $12.97, and -$94.79. Profitability and the value of water for extending the season varies quite markedly between different varieties and termination dates.
• Husman, S., Husman, S. H., Norton, R., Norton, E., Clay, P., Zerkoune, M., & Tronstad, R. E. (2005). Review of the 2004 Arizona Cotton Season. In ICM.
• Silvertooth, J. C., Galadima, A., Tronstad, R., & Tronstad, R. E. (2005). Evaluation of Irrigation Termination Effects on Yield and Fiber Quality of Upland Cotton, 2004. In ICM.
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  A field experiment was conducted in 2004 at the University of Arizona Maricopa Agricultural Center (1,175ft. elevation) to evaluate the effects of five irrigation termination (IT1, IT2, IT3, IT4, and IT5) dates on yield and fiber micronaire of several Upland cotton varieties. In addition, the economic relationships of IT treatments were also evaluated. The first IT treatment (IT1) was made with the intention of terminating irrigations somewhat pre-maturely. Based upon current UA recommendations for IT to complete a single cycle fruit set, the more optimal date of IT would have included one or two additional irrigations (beyond IT1). In this experiment, IT2 was structured to provide an additional (one) irrigation before the more optimal date. For the IT3 plots, the intention was to attempt to time termination to match the conventional growers optimal date. The IT4 and IT5 were imposed to attempt to produce a second cycle fruit set and irrigations continued until 27 August and 21 September respectively. In general, lint yield and micronaire results revealed significant differences among the IT treatments. In a similar fashion to 2000-2002 IT experiments, micronaire and lint yield values consistently increased with later IT dates. The best micronaire and lint yield results were achieved with IT4 date, which received 12 in. less irrigation water than IT5. The 12 in. water saved equates to approximately 20% of the total water used under the conventional practice. The average marginal value of water for all Upland varieties in going from IT1 to IT2, IT2 to IT3, IT3 to IT4, and IT4 to IT5 using November 2004 prices and low carrying costs is calculated at $320.07, $150.15, $100.54, and -$28.16 per acre-foot of water. If steeper mike discounts (November 1999), a lower base lint price (45¢/lb.), and higher costs (i.e., more costly insecticide and chemical costs) are imputed to extend the crop, the marginal value of an acre-foot of water for all Upland varieties and replications in going from IT1 to IT2, IT2 to IT3, IT3 to IT4, and IT4 to IT5 is estimated at $164.04, $48.15, $12.97, and -$94.79. Profitability and marginal value of water sometimes vary quite markedly between different varieties and termination dates as well.
• Thompson, G. D., Aradhyula, S. V., Tronstad, R., & Tronstad, R. E. (2005). Modeling Florida Fresh Tomato Supply Response: Composite Switching Regressions with Variable Weather-Determined Lags. In AAEA.
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  A supply-response model for Florida fresh tomatoes is specified to analyze the impacts of the U.S. Department of Commerce's suspension agreement which governs imports of fresh tomatoes from Mexico. The particular focus is on the impact of the "reference" price which causes Mexican imports in a given week to cease if import prices in the prior week fall to the reference price. Using weekly weather data, a growing degree day (GDD) variable is constructed which predicts week of first harvest and duration of harvest. The GDD variable is used to construct the appropriate, variable lag length for weekly acres planted in four Florida production regions. A composite switching-regime model is estimated in which the regime prior to the suspension agreement occurs at a known time. The other two regimes occur when Nogales f.o.b. price are "near" or not near the reference price. Preliminary results suggest weekly Florida shipments of fresh tomatoes are more own-price elastic when Nogales f.o.b. prices near the reference price.
• Husman, S., Husman, S. H., Norton, R., Norton, E., Clay, P., Zerkoune, M., & Tronstad, R. E. (2004). Review of the 2003 Arizona Cotton Season. In ICM.
• Thompson, G. D., Aradhyula, S. V., Frisvold, G. B., Frisvold, G. B., Tronstad, R., & Tronstad, R. E. (2004). Does Paying Referees Expedite Reviews. In AAEA.
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  Time series evidence from the Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics suggests payments for on-time manuscript reviews can reduce review times. Some evidence suggests the effects of payments may attenuate over time.
• Osgood, D. E., Young, R. E., & Tronstad, R. E. (2002). TRANSITION OF AGRICULTURAL LAND OWNERSHIP AND USE. In WAEA Annual Conference.
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  A natural propensity was found which indicates that most agricultural producers believe their land will be operated by one or more of their children when they retire. But results also indicate that producers will be responsive to selling their land for development if urban housing offers a higher return.
• Silvertooth, J. C., Galadima, A., Tronstad, R., & Tronstad, R. E. (2002). Evaluation of Crop Management Effects on Fiber Micronaire, 2000-2001. In ICM.
• Silvertooth, J. C., Galadima, A., Norton, E. R., & Tronstad, R. E. (2001). Evaluation of Crop Management Effects on Fiber Micronaire, 2000. In ICM.
• Teegerstrom, T., Teegerstrom, T., & Tronstad, R. E. (2001). MANAGING HERD COMPOSITION OF RANGE CATTLE: SALE WEIGHT AND SEASONAL FACTORS. In WAEA.
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  We estimate the weight gain for range calves as a polynomial function of calf age accounting for weather, sex, lagged calf weights relative to the growth function, and compensatory gains. Birth weights plus single day weighings that occurred around 3, 8, 12, and 20 months of age are the data used to estimate our growth function. This function is then used to determine the economic trade-off between herd size and calf sale weights, for both spring and fall sale dates. In addition, we evaluate the profitability of feeding supplement by increasing the rate of gain associated with our growth function when forage and nutrients are limiting for the two grazing environments of Southeast and Central Arizona. Using prices from 1980 to 1998, results indicate that the most profitable herd mix, sale date, and feeding protocol is 450 lb. calf sales with no supplemental feeding and sales occurring in May for both regions. Although, feeding supplement was not associated with the most profitable outcome, supplement increased the average return by $45 to $70 per AUY for sale weights of 550, 650, and 750 lbs.
• Frizvold, G., Mortensen, J., & Tronstad, R. E. (2000). Economic Impacts of Bt Cotton Adoption: A National and Regional Assessment. In CALS.
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  This study uses a quadratic programming model to estimate impacts of Bt cotton adoption on consumer benefits, cotton program outlays, and producer returns, by state and by grower adoption status. Three scenarios were considered simulating low, moderate, and high impacts of Bt cotton adoption. For the moderate impact scenario, U.S. benefits from Bt cotton adoption grew from $44 million in 1996 to $66 million in 1998. Annual U.S. consumer benefits ranged from $46– $55 million. Benefits to Bt adopters grew from $57 million in 1996 to $97 million in 1998. Losses to non-adopters fell from -$59 million in 1996 to -$8 million in 1998 as rising commodity program payments countered the impact of lower prices. In 1998, gains to Arizona Bt cotton adopters (net of adoption costs) were about $9 million, averaging over $15,000 per adopting farm.
• Martin, E. C., Dittmar, S. H., Ellsworth, P. C., Ellsworth, P. C., Silvertooth, J. C., Mccloskey, W. B., Mccloskey, W. B., Olsen, M. W., Roth, R. L., Tronstad, R., Martin, E. C., & Tronstad, R. E. (2000). 1999 Integrated Cotton Management Demonstration. In ICM.
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  An Integrated Cotton Management (ICM) Demonstration project was conducted on the Demonstration Farm at the Maricopa Agricultural Center in 1999 for the second year. In this project, all current guidelines and recommendations disseminated by the University of Arizona were integrated in a systems approach for cotton production. The Extension Specialists in agronomy, entomology, irrigation management, weed sciences, and plant pathology following the University recommendations made the management decisions. On a 52.7 acre field, 78% Bt and 22% non-Bt cotton was planted into moisture on April 9, 1999. Because of problems with cool temperatures and deep seeding, a stand of only 25,000 plants/acre was established. Weed control was achieved with one preplant application and two cultivations. The field was sprayed three times for lygus and two times for whitefly control. Approximately 38.6 acre-inches of irrigation water was applied. An average of 3005 lb/acre of seed cotton were harvested. After harvesting, a field budget was established. The variable costs per acre were $594.96 and the total cost was $957.96/acre. Average micronaire was 4.45, strength was 28.41 gm/Tex, length was 1.10 (1/100 in.) and grade color was 21. The price received for the cotton was 74.82¢/lb, including LPD and hail damage payments, just over 3¢/lb below the break-even price. An additional $139/acre in PFC payments was received but not calculated into the budget. This project demonstrates the utility and compatibility of current recommendations and the potential for integration of all disciplinary guidelines in one system.
• Dittmar, S. H., Ellsworth, P. C., Ellsworth, P. C., Hartman, P. M., Martin, E. C., Mccloskey, W. B., Mccloskey, W. B., Olsen, M. W., Roth, R. L., Silvertooth, J. C., Tronstad, R., Martin, E. C., Tronstad, R. E., & Hartman, P. M. (1999). 1998 Demonstration Project of Arizona Irrigated Cotton Production. In ICM.
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  The Demonstration project was conducted on the Demonstration Farm at the Maricopa Agricultural Center. In this project all current guidelines and recommendations disseminated by the University of Arizona were integrated in a systems approach. The management decisions were made by the Extension Specialists in agronomy, entomology, irrigation management, weed sciences, and plant pathology following the University recommendations. On a 50.5 acre field 80% Bt and 20% non-Bt cotton was planted dry and watered up. Due to the cold spring and sand-blasting, only a stand of 30,900 plants/A could be established with 84% terminal damage. 72 acreinches of water were used with 41.3 acre-inches in postplant irrigations. Weed control could be achieved with one preplant application and three cultivations. Three sprays against Lygus and one spray against whiteflies were necessary after the thresholds were exceeded. A total of 4120 lb seedcotton per acre were harvested, with 32.7% lint turnout (2.81 bales/A) and 45.9% seed turnout (1891 lb/A). After harvesting a field budget was established. The variable costs per acre were $915, the total cost $1266/acre. In spite of the lack of replications this project validates the usefulness and compatibility of University recommendations and the potential for integration of all disciplinary guidelines in one system.
• Tronstad, R. E. (1985). An analysis of monthly wheat, flour, and bread prices in a structural and time series framework. In MS Thesis.

Presentations

• Tronstad, R. E., & Sall, I. (2023, July). Alfalfa Hay and Indirect Water Exports. Joint Western Agricultural Economics Association and Canadian Agricultural Economics Society annual meetings. Whistler, British Columbia: Western Agricultural Economics Association.
• Tronstad, R. E., & Chin, E. (2019, July). Feasibility of a Local Food Center: A Discrete Choice Analysis. 2019 Western Agricultural Economics Association Annual Meeting. Coeur d'Alene, ID.
• Tronstad, R. E., Thillmany, D., Nakamoto, S., & Teegerstrom, T. (2011, January). On-Line Direct Marketing Module for TAA producers. On-line Direct Marketing Module for the Trade Adjustment and Assistance programTrade Adjustment and Assistance program.
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  Internet/intranet

Poster Presentations

• Tronstad, R. E. (2015, December). Value of Grafted Watermelon Transplants in Relation to Land Scarcity. National Vegetable Grafting Symposium. Grand Rapids, Michigan.
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  Value of Grafted Watermelon Transplants in Relation to Land Scarcity: Crop mix is optimized subject to rotation, land, water, and capital constraints using the linear programming solver function in Excel. Crop rotation constraints are such that an acre of barley precedes each acre of non-grafted watermelons in the rotation and each acre of cantaloupe or grafted watermelon is preceded by an acre of durum or barley. Cotton, durum, or barley is rotated between non-grafted watermelons. If adequate rotation acreage is not available for planting non-grafted watermelons, the imputed value for a grafted watermelon transplant is $1.40 or about 10% above their imputed cost, suggesting grafting will play a more prominent role in the U.S., like in European and Asian countries, if land becomes more scarce.
• Tronstad, R. E., Teegerstrom, T., & Schuch, U. K. (2015, Sept). Growing the Management Skills of Native American and Limited-Resource Beginning Farmers in the Southwest. 2015 Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program and Federally Recognized Tribal Extension Program. Reno, NV: USDA NIFA.
• Lewis, M., Kubota, C., & Tronstad, R. (2012, October). Scenario-Based Economic Analyses of Different Grafting Operation Sizes. 2012 Annual International Research Conference on Methyl Bromide Alternatives and Emissions Reductions.

Others

• Tronstad, R. E. (2022, April). Livestock Monitor Newsletter – Beef Imports and Cattle Feeding Returns. Arizona Cattlelog.
• Tronstad, R. E. (2022, August). Livestock Monitor Newsletter – July Cattle Report. Arizona Cattlelog.
• Tronstad, R. E. (2022, December). Livestock Monitor Newsletter -- Feeder Cattle Prices. Arizona Cattlelog.
• Tronstad, R. E. (2022, February). Livestock Monitor Newsletter – Beef Cow Inventories,” Arizona Cattlelog. Arizona Cattlelog.
• Tronstad, R. E. (2022, January). Livestock Monitor Newsletter – Hay Production, Stocks, & Prices. Arizona Cattlelog.
• Tronstad, R. E. (2022, Julyl). Livestock Monitor Newsletter – Beef Exports and Avian Influenza. Arizona Cattlelog.
• Tronstad, R. E. (2022, May). Livestock Monitor Newsletter – Record Pork and Poultry Prices. Arizona Cattlelog.
• Tronstad, R. E. (2022, November). Livestock Monitor Newsletter – Cattle on Feed and Female Beef Slaughter Numbers. Arizona Cattlelog.
• Tronstad, R. E. (2022, September). Livestock Monitor Newsletter – Heifer Slaughter and Drought. Arizona Cattlelog.
• Montes, S., Luo, J., & Tronstad, R. E. (2021, November). San Xavier Cooperative Farm Meat Processing Facility: Feasibility Study. confidential report.
• Mpanga, I., Tronstad, R., Schalau, J., Schuch, U., Wilson, H., Stuth, C., & Braun, H. (2021, 12). COVID 19 Effects on Farming Activities in Arizona and How Farmers and Ranchers Responded. Cooperative Extension Publication. https://extension.arizona.edu/sites/extension.arizona.edu/files/pubs/az1867-2021.pdf
• Scheitrum, D., Chin, E., Duval, D., Tronstad, R. E., Thompson, G., & Aradhyula, S. (2020, 10). Electronic Storymap and report on Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Fresh Tomato Shipments and Prices. Fresh Produce Association of the Americas.
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  Electronic storymap and report
• Tronstad, R. E. (2021, December). Livestock Monitor Newsletter. Arizona Cattlelog. https://www.azcattlegrowers.org/cattlelog
• Tronstad, R. E. (2021, June). Business Plan Analysis for Elevation Beef Co., LLC. confidential report.
• Tronstad, R. E. (2021, June). Feasibility Analysis of Adding Wagyu Jerky, Snack Sticks, and Sausage over Selling only Wagyu Steaks and Hamburger for Elevation Beef Co., LLC. confidential report.
• Tronstad, R. E., & Quiroz, Y. (2021, July). SWOT Business Plan Analysis for Gila River Indian Community Farms. confidential report.
• Tronstad, R. E., Cannon, K. G., Wright, A. D., & Cannon, K. O. (2018, September). Economics of Culling or Feeding Cows During Drought. Arizona Cattlelog.
• Teegerstrom, T., & Tronstad, R. E. (2017, March 24, 2017). Arizona Ranching Budgets: 2016. UA Cooperative Extension Publication #az1734.
• Tronstad, R. E. (2017, November). Pasture Rangeland Forage -- Rainfall Index. Arizona Range and Livestock Newsletter. http://uacals.org/3xp
• Tronstad, R. E., Kerna, A., Frisvold, G. B., & Teegerstrom, T. (2014, May). The Contribution of the Beef Industry to the Arizona Economy. http://ag.arizona.edu/arec/pubs/beefindustryeconcontrib.html
• Teegerstrom, T. -., Nakamoto, S., & Tronstad, R. E. (2013, June). Producer Business Checkup. Univeristy of Hawaii Cooperative Extension Bulletin.
• Teegerstrom, T., Tronstad, R., & Nakamoto, S. (2013, January). An Overview of Risk Management Agency Insurance Products and Farm Service Agency Programs Available for Arizona Producers as of December 2012 Arizona Cooperative Extension Bulletin. Arizona Coop. Extension Publication, AZ1587, January 2013.