Economics 135

Agricultural Firms, Markets, and Prices

Fall 2002

Class Day and Time:  M,W   2:10-3:25 p.m.

Room:  2050 Agronomy

Instructor: Professor Helen Jensen, 578 Heady Hall (294-6253); Email: hhjensen@iastate.edu

    Office Hours: Prof. Jensen -- M 11-12, Tu 10-11 or by appointment

 Teaching Assistant: Subbu Kumarappan, B11 Curtiss (294-5694); Email: kmsubbu@iastate.edu;

    Office Hours: M & W  11-1, or by appointment




Homework Assignments

Assignments: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8


Additional Course Readings

The Evolving Food and Agriculture System USDA, 2001

Market Structure: Packer Concentration and Captive SuppliesStructural Changes in Cattle Feeding and Meat Packing,

    Cargill's Acquisition of Continental Grain's Grain Merchandising

Livestock Pricing Issues Okalahoma State University

Fed Cattle Price Discovery Issues and Projections

nhttp://agweb.okstate.edu/pearl/agecon/marketing/wf-550.pdf

Meat Price Spreads

Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT).  See Tutorial and CBOT-Publications-Agricultural Understanding Basis

Chicago Mercentile Exchange (CME).  See Instant Lessons

Basic Livestock Futures

Futures and Options Terminology

An Introductory Guide to Options on Futures

 



Related Links

Web Resources

Fundamental Analysis. Prof. Robert Wisner, ISU

Production and Marketing Characteristics, Staff Report No. 343, August 2001 (pdf file); J.D. Lawrence and G. Grimes

nElectronic Marketing in Oklahoma: Experiences and Opportunities
nhttp://agweb.okstate.edu/pearl/agecon/marketing/f-475.pdf
nhttp://agweb.okstate.edu/pearl/agecon/marketing/wf-566.pdf

Mandatory Price Reporting for Livestock Industry, Ag Outlook, Sept. 2001 

Pork Production to Reach Record Levels in 2002 & 2003, Ag Outlook, Sept. 2002

GMO Labeling: Grains in the Value Chain. Prof. Roger Ginder, ISU (also see Iowa Grain Quality Initiative Report)

Other Class Materials 
Balance Sheets 

Government Programs and Risks in Agriculture, Dr. Chad Hart, ISU