Abstract Fruit harvesting is labor intensive and relies heavily on a decreasing immigrant farm labor supply. This study develops a model to compare robotic and manual apple‐harvesting profits. Given the anticipated performance of robotic prototypes, we find that a grower could spend $248.42 per acre per year on a robotic harvester and obtain the same profit as manual harvest. Marginal improvements in the percent of fruit harvested, harvester speed, and robot‐induced damage would greatly enhance robot profitability…

ABSTRACT Row crops such as soybeans, corn, wheat, and cotton are the backbone of the U.S. farm sector, accounting for around $60 billion of exports in 2023. While U.S. row crop exports remain robust, growing concerns over the rising U.S. agricultural trade deficit underscore the need to appraise the ongoing market and policy dynamics affecting the viability of this key sector. To this end, we analyze recent trends and policy issues impacting U.S. row crops. In particular, we highlight how trade and domestic polici…

ABSTRACT In recent years, mergers and acquisitions (M&As) in the agricultural and food sector have increased market power, and the resulting higher prices have eroded the competitiveness of U.S. firms in the world market. This study examines how mergers and acquisitions in the agri‐food industry contributed to a reduction in exports, an increase in imports, and a worsening of the trade balance. Toward this goal, we develop a model based on New Trade and M&A theories and theoretically assess the effects of …

Abstract Though tariffs have declined in recent years, the number of applied non‐tariff measures (NTMs) in meat trade has expanded. We estimate the impacts of tariffs and NTMs (sanitary and phytosanitary [SPS] measures, technical barriers to trade [TBTs], quantitative restrictions, and special safeguard measures) on beef, pork and poultry trade using a structural gravity model. Our baseline regression results show tariffs hinder trade, but SPS measures and TBTs on average expand trade for these three meat products…

Abstract Cotton is a cornerstone of global fiber markets, and many importing and exporting countries play important roles in the global cotton market. The US cotton sector has long been one of the world's largest. However, Brazil's cotton production has rapidly grown, and the country has become one of the leading cotton producers, accounting for an ever‐increasing share of world cotton production and trade. This meteoric rise has put Brazil's cotton sector in frequent competition with the United States over export…