Date of Award
8-2025
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Agricultural and Applied Economics
Committee Chair/Advisor
Anastasia Thayer
Committee Member
Michael Vassalos
Committee Member
Felipe De Figueiredo Silva
Committee Member
Nathan B. Smith
Abstract
The beef cattle industry plays an important role in the agricultural economy, contributing to both domestic food supply and global trade. The United States is one of the world's largest producers of beef, with production systems varying widely across regions largely due to differences in available resources and market structures. Market conditions, technological advancements, and policy interventions shape the way producers operate, making research into these factors essential for both industry stakeholders and policymakers.
Producers are continuously adapting to changing economic conditions, environmental challenges, and evolving consumer preferences. By analyzing these factors, researchers can provide insights to support informed decision-making in the beef cattle sector as we attempt to increase profit. This research contributes to a broader discussion on how agricultural producers respond to risk, policy, and economic shifts, offering valuable implications for producers looking to enhance their management strategies and overall performance.
This thesis brings together the work of two separate research projects, each focused on the beef cattle sector. Chapter two seeks to understand how commodity diversification strategies, farm characteristics, producer perceptions of risk, information sources, climate adaptation, and producer characteristics are associated with technology adoption among beef cattle producers in the Southeast United States. Utilizing data from an online survey distributed by Qualtrics and an ordered probit model we find that producers who allocate their land to other commodities in addition to beef cattle, may show both increases and decreases in the probability of technology adoption depending on the combination of commodities produced.
Chapter three examines feeder steer and heifer basis from 2012-2023 in nine Western states to identify market trends and patterns. Friedman and post-hoc pairwise Nemenyi tests are used to guide more formal analysis. This research was conducted after experienced periods of contraction and expansion against the backdrop of severe drought, a global pandemic, and regional differences in cattle quality, combining to create diverse local market conditions. We find that some historic patterns persist, but also new patterns based on season, region, weight class, and gender, which could be used to improve ranch-level decision-making and marketing.
Recommended Citation
Berg, Nik, "Commodity Diversification, Technological Innovation, and Market Dynamics: Insights Into Beef Cattle Production and Feeder Cattle Basis in the United States" (2025). All Theses. 4561.
https://open.clemson.edu/all_theses/4561
Author ORCID Identifier
0009-0000-9331-7135