Socio-Economic and Governance Conditions Corresponding to Change in Animal Agriculture: South Dakota Case Study

Jacqueline S. Welles, Noelle Cielito T. Soriano, Freda Elikem Dorbu, G. M. Pereira, Laura M. Rubeck, Erica L. Timmermans, Benjamin Ndayambaje, Alison V. Deviney, John J. Classen, Jacek A. Koziel and Erin L. Cortus
Additional contact information
Jacqueline S. Welles: Biological and Agricultural Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
Noelle Cielito T. Soriano: Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108, USA
Freda Elikem Dorbu: Computational Data Science and Engineering, North Carolina A&T State University, Greensboro, NC 27411, USA
G. M. Pereira: Animal Science, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108, USA
Laura M. Rubeck: School of Natural Resources, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68588, USA
Erica L. Timmermans: Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
Benjamin Ndayambaje: School of Natural Resources, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68588, USA
Alison V. Deviney: Biological and Agricultural Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
John J. Classen: Biological and Agricultural Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
Jacek A. Koziel: Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
Erin L. Cortus: Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108, USA

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 19, 1-19

Abstract: Understanding sustainable livestock production requires consideration of both qualitative and quantitative factors in a temporal and/or spatial frame. This study adapted Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) to relate conditions of social, economic, and governance factors to changes in livestock inventory across several counties and over time. This paper presents an approach that (1) identified factors with the potential to relate to a change in livestock inventory and (2) analyzed commonalities within these factors related to changes spatially and temporally. This paper illustrates the approach and results when applied to five counties in eastern South Dakota. The specific response variables were periods of increasing, no change, or decreasing beef cattle, dairy cattle, and swine inventories in the specific counties for five-year census periods between 1992 and 2017. In the spatial analysis of counties, stable beef inventories and decreasing dairy inventories related to counties with increasing gross domestic products. The presence of specific social communities related to increases in county swine inventories. In the temporal analysis of census periods, local governance and economic factors, particularly market price influences, were more prevalent. Swine inventory showed a stronger link to cash crop markets than to livestock markets, whereas cattle market price increases associated with stable inventories for all animal types. Local governance tools had mixed effects for the different animal types across space and time. The factors and analysis results are context-specific. However, the process considers the various socio-economic processes in livestock production and community development applicable to agricultural sustainability questions in the Midwest and beyond.

Keywords: Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA); livestock; South Dakota; Boolean logic; socio-economic; sustainable agriculture; decision-making; rural development (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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