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Thinning Markets in U.S. Agriculture

Author

Listed:
  • Adjemian, Michael
  • Brorsen, B. Wade
  • Hahn, William
  • Saitone, Tina L.
  • Sexton, Richard J.
Abstract
Concentration levels in U.S. agriculture are high and rising. As downstream competition declines, marketing opportunities for producers are constrained to—in some cases—a single buyer. Processors in thin markets (those with few purchasers, low trading volume, and low liquidity) could use informational advantages to depress farm-level prices for commodities (compared to a competitive market). Moreover, the low volume of trading in thin markets makes it difficult for participants and observers to gather market information and assess market performance. At the same time, many markets are moving away from traditional cash markets to bilateral contracts and vertical integration, which offer more opportunities for coordination and may foster efficiency gains that ultimately benefit producers. Both methods resolve information problems not addressed by the cash market, and forward-looking processors in many thin markets pay producers high enough prices to ensure a stable input supply. Thin market producers who can successfully enter and maintain contracts with these processors can achieve returns that meet or exceed their longrun costs. Attempting to impose greater competition on naturally thin markets can have adverse consequences for producers, processors, and consumers. However, small producers face new challenges in a thin market environment.

Suggested Citation

  • Adjemian, Michael & Brorsen, B. Wade & Hahn, William & Saitone, Tina L. & Sexton, Richard J., 2016. "Thinning Markets in U.S. Agriculture," Economic Information Bulletin 232928, United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service.
  • Handle: RePEc:ags:uersib:232928
    DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.232928
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    3. Tian Xia & John M. Crespi & Kevin C. Dhuyvetter, 2019. "Could packers manipulate spot markets by tying contracts to futures prices? And do they?," Canadian Journal of Agricultural Economics/Revue canadienne d'agroeconomie, Canadian Agricultural Economics Society/Societe canadienne d'agroeconomie, vol. 67(1), pages 85-102, March.
    4. Grashuis, Jasper & Dary, Stanley Kojo, 2017. "An empirical investigation of patent and trademark ownership propensity and intensity in the U.S. food and drink industry," International Food and Agribusiness Management Review, International Food and Agribusiness Management Association, vol. 20(5).
    5. Bolotova, Yuliya V., 2024. "Market Power in the U.S. Peanut Industry," Applied Economics Teaching Resources (AETR), Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, vol. 5(4), January.
    6. Fousekis, Panos & Tzaferi, Dimitra, 2022. "Tail price risk spillovers along the US beef and pork supply chains," Australian Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Australian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society, vol. 66(02), January.
    7. Hendrickson, Mary K. & Howard, Philip H. & Constance, Douglas H., 2017. "Power, Food and Agriculture: Implications for Farmers, Consumers and Communities," EconStor Preprints 171171, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics.
    8. Nathanael M. Thompson & Courtney Bir & Nicole J. Olynk Widmar, 2019. "Farmer perceptions of risk in 2017," Agribusiness, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 35(2), pages 182-199, April.
    9. Hildebrand, Kayla & Chung, Chinjin, 2023. "Selectivity Bias and Cattle Price in the Cattle Procurement Market," Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Western Agricultural Economics Association, vol. 48(3), September.
    10. Hadachek, Jeffrey & Saitone, Tina L. & Sexton, Richard J. & Raszap Skorbiansky, Sharon & Thornsbury, Suzanne & Effland, Anne, 2022. "Organic Feed Grains and Livestock: Factors That Influence Outcomes in Thinly Traded Markets," USDA Miscellaneous 319355, United States Department of Agriculture.

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    Keywords

    Agribusiness; Crop Production/Industries; Industrial Organization; Livestock Production/Industries; Marketing;
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