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We suggest an approach for estimating restaurant willingness to pay (WTP) for local foods. Using a telephone survey of Tennessee restaurants and the contingent valuation method, we estimate restaurant WTP for Tennessee Certified Beef (TCB). Probit regressions were used to determine the factors associated with restaurant decisions to purchase TCB ground beef and sirloin steak. Beef price was negatively associated with restaurant adoption of TCB. Restaurants that were located in a city, located in the eastern region of Tennessee, offered local foods, and had a higher percentage of adults as clientele were more likely to purchase TCB ground beef. A restaurant's decision to offer TCB sirloin steak was positively associated with locations in Middle Tennessee, if the restaurant offered local foods, and if managers placed importance on sustainability. This study contributes to understanding local food supply chains and provides a framework for future studies of restaurant WTP for local foods. [EconLit citation: Q130].

Native warm-season grasses (NWSGs) have demonstrated potential to reduce summer forage variability, and furthermore, there has been growing interest in the use of NWSGs as lignocellulosic biomass crops. Th e objective of this research was to determine if there was a diff erence in net returns for full-season summer grazing beef steers (Bos taurus) on three NWSGs. Additionally, the expected price for biomass that a beef producer would need to break even between using the dual-purpose early-season grazing and biomass system and the full-season grazing system was calculated for these three NWSGs. Weaned beef steers grazed switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) (SG), a big bluestem (Andropogon gerardi Vitman) and indiangrass [Sorghastrum nutans (L.) Nash] mixture (BBIG), and eastern gamagrass [Tripsacum dactyloides (L.) L.] at Grand Junction (AP) and Highland Rim (HR), TN, from 2010 to 2012. Th e dual-purpose grazing occurred for 30 d beginning in early May, with subsequent growth harvested as biomass post-dormancy, and full-season grazing occurred for 90 d beginning in early May. Budgets were developed for each NWSG to calculate net returns, and mixed models were used to determine diff erences in beef yield and net returns across each NWSG and location. Expected yield and net returns to full-season grazing were not diff erent among NWSGs at AP. However, net returns to full-season grazing were higher for BBIG than SG at HR. A profi t-maximizing, risk-neutral individual would increase net returns by grazing any of the NWSGs over marketing calves at weaning. Th e breakeven biomass prices ranged between US$10 and US$98 Mg–1 depending on the NWSG and location.

Difficult to control winter annual grasses that have been used to produce forage, especially Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) and feral rye (Secale cereale L.), have invaded Oklahoma fields traditionally used to produce continuous winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). This study was conducted to determine whether a winter canola (Brassica napus L.)–winter wheat crop rotation could compete economically with continuous winter wheat. The effects of seven herbicide treatments for continuous wheat and 24 herbicide treatments for the canola–wheat rotations were analyzed during a rotation cycle at four Oklahoma locations. Enterprise budgets were prepared to enable economic comparisons across production systems and treatments. Wheat yields in the second year of the canola–wheat rotations were significantly (P < 0.05) greater than wheat yields in the second year of continuous wheat across all four locations (10, 11, 15, and 22%). Based on the historical relationship between wheat and canola prices, and a wheat price of US$0.21 kg⁻¹ and a canola price of US$0.40 kg⁻¹, for the three sites for which net returns could be pooled across herbicide treatments, net returns from the canola–wheat rotation (US$197, US$123, and US$24 ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹) were significantly (P < 0.05) greater than net returns from continuous wheat (–US$46, –US$118, and –US$48 ha⁻¹yr⁻¹). Based on historical price relationships and the yields produced in the trials, a winter canola–winter wheat crop rotation may improve net returns relative to continuous winter wheat for Oklahoma fields infested with Italian ryegrass and feral rye.

Before planting millions of hectares to switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) monocultures for producing biomass feedstock for biorefineries, it has been proposed that monocultures be tested against polycultures so, among other issues, the economics of both systems can be compared. This research was conducted to determine the lowest cost lignocellulosic biomass feedstock production system from among four monocultures and four polycultures. Randomized complete block designs with four replications were established at two Oklahoma locations. Plots were managed to represent anticipated production activities if perennial species were established in a low input system and harvested once a year to produce biorefinery feedstock. The four monocultures included switchgrass, sand bluestem (Andropogon hallii Hack.), Old World bluestem (OWB) (Bothriochloa ischaemum L. Keng), and big bluestem (A. gerardii Vitman). The four polycultures included mixtures of four grasses, four grasses and four forbs, eight grasses and eight forbs, and OWB with alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.). Plots were harvested once a year for 3 yr. For every treatment that included a mix of species, a dominant species emerged by the third harvest, suggesting that over time these treatments may not differ greatly from monocultures with minor representation of other species. The average yield was 4.6 Mg ha -1 yr -1 for treatments seeded as monocultures at one location compared with 4.0 Mg ha -1 yr -1 for the treatments seeded as polycultures. At the second location, monocultures averaged 7.9 Mg ha -1 yr -1 and polycultures 6.5 Mg ha -1 yr -1 . Economics favored monocultures for the location and environmental conditions that occurred during the time period studied.