A Return of the Threshing Ring? A Case Study of Machinery and Labor-Sharing in Midwestern Farms

Georgeanne Artz, Gregory Colson and Roger G. Ginder

Journal of Agricultural and Applied Economics, 2010, vol. 42, issue 4, 15

Abstract: Machinery-sharing provides an alternative for smaller producers to obtain the efficiencies of large farming operations and remain competitive in an increasingly concentrated agricultural industry. This research uses a multiple case study design to examine the motivations for sharing equipment and labor among farms and to better understand how group members handle the transaction costs of sharing. Our case evidence finds that in addition to cost savings, access to reliable labor is an important motivation for participating in a sharing arrangement. Trust and frequent communication among group members helps to minimize the transaction costs incurred from sharing.

Keywords: Agribusiness; Agricultural Finance; Community/Rural/Urban Development; Crop Production/Industries; Farm Management; Financial Economics; Labor and Human Capital; Land Economics/Use; Production Economics; Productivity Analysis; Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2010
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (7)

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Related works:
Journal Article: A Return of the Threshing Ring? A Case Study of Machinery and Labor-Sharing in Midwestern Farms (2010)
Working Paper: A Return of the Threshing Ring? A Case Study of Machinery and Labor-Sharing in Midwestern Farms (2010)
Working Paper: A Return of the Threshing Ring? Motivations, Benefits and Challenges of Machinery and Labor Sharing Arrangements (2009)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ags:joaaec:100515

DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.100515

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