Welcome!

I recently completed my PhD from the Department of Agricultural Economics at Kansas State University. I am interested in quantitative research, applied econometrics, and policy. My dissertation research examines the impact of weather on the geographic location of the U.S. cow-calf industry. I develop a spatial econometric model to evaluate the weather and localization economies impacts on firm location and production decisions. Another ongoing project examines how agricultural land diversification affect crop production.

Buddhika Patalee, Ph.D.

WITH THE FOCUS ON QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH

RESEARCH

My current research focuses on weather impacts on the U.S. cow-calf industry. This work has direct implications for U.S. cattle producers, and relevant for policymakers.

Working Papers

Impact of Weather on Geographic Location of the U.S. Cow-Calf Industry (Job Market Paper)

Significant seasonal weather changes can create uncertainty in cattle markets due to decreased cattle performance, increased animal morbidity and mortality rates, and increased production costs. This paper provides new empirical evidence of the effects of weather on location and production of the cow-calf industry in the United States. We construct multiple county-level measures for each season in 25 major cow-calf producing states between 2007 and 2012. The results show that extreme seasonal temperatures, growing-season temperatures, and total seasonal precipitation significantly impact county-level beef cow inventories and operational locations. Feedstuff input, land availability, and historical production also affect total inventories. We observe significant spatial patterns in relation to positive correlations of beef cow inventories across counties. Although our analysis indicates that weather changes impact beef cow inventories, results of an out-of-sample prediction assessment suggest that naïve predictions that do not incorporate weather information are superior.

E.coli Recalls and Meat Demand: An Updated Assessment (with Glynn Tonsor) *Accepted at Journal of Agribusiness

This study examines the impact of E-coli recalls on U.S. meat demand. Quarterly E-coli recalls from 1994-2016 are used to develop E-coli indices specific to beef, pork, and poultry collected by the United States Department of Agriculture- Food Safety Inspection Service. The findings of the absolute price version of the Rotterdam model with structural shifters suggest that recalls have no significant impact on meat demand. This implies consumers are less sensitive to E.coli recalls than previously found.

My current research focuses on risk management, policy analysis, climate economics, natural resources, and agriculture production. This work has direct implications for agricultural producers, and relevant for policymakers.

Recent Papers

Impact of Weather on Cow-Calf Industry Locations in the United States (Job Market Paper)

Significant seasonal weather changes can create uncertainty in cattle markets due to resulting decreased cattle performance, increased animal morbidity and mortality rates, and elevated production costs. However, the impact of weather on cow-calf production in the United States has received minimal research attention. This paper provides new empirical evidence of weather effects on location and production of the cow-calf industry, including multiple county-level measures for each season in 25 major cow-calf producing states between 1992 and 2017. The results show that seasonal temperatures and total seasonal precipitation significantly impact county-level beef cow inventories and operational locations, and feed costs and population density affect total inventories. The results also reveal significant spatial patterns relative to positive correlations of beef cow inventories across counties.

E.coli Recalls and Meat Demand: An Updated Assessment (with Glynn Tonsor) .2019. Journal of Agribusiness. Link

Long Term Effects of Weather On Cow-Calf Production. Link

Extreme weather events can significantly affect beef cow production. Unfavorable weather conditions deteriorate pasture conditions and reduce pasture growth forcing livestock producers to use high-cost alternative feed-stuffs, which increases production costs. Extreme weather may also reduce overall animal performance, including a reduction in feed gain efficiency, breeding performance, and resistance to diseases. By exploiting seasonal weather changes and using 67 years of state-level beef cow inventories as a proxy for cow-calf production, we estimate the impact of seasonal weather on U.S. cow-calf production across 25 major cow-calf producing states. Results suggest that the U.S. cow-calf industry is indeed sensitive to weather and especially temperature. Results of an out-of-sample prediction assessment suggest that adding seasonal weather information improves the prediction ability of state-level beef cow inventories. This study also provides future beef cow inventory forecasts utilizing future weather forecasts. These findings provide insight into cow-calf producers on how to adjust for weather variations and future production planning.

Published Work

PUBLISHED WORK

Jones Ritten, Chian, Dannele Peck, Mariah Ehmke, and Buddhika Patalee (2018). “Firm Efficiency and Returns-to-scale in the Honey Bee Pollination Services Industry.” Journal of Economic Entomology, 111(3), pp. 1014-1022 Link

Mariah Ehmke, Chian Jones Ritten, Buddhika Patalee, Anton Bekkerman, Curtis, K., and Ehmke, C. (2017). “How sweet are beekeeper returns from almond pollination and honey production?.” 21st International Farm Management Congress, 1, pp.1-13 Link

CV

TEACHING

Instructor, Kansas State University

Department of Agricultural Economics

Decision Tools for Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness AGEC 115 (Fall 2018)

Teaching Assistant, Kansas State University