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Measuring the Potential Contribution of Plant Breeding to Crop Yields: Flue-Cured Tobacco, 1954–87

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  • Bruce A. Babcock
  • William E. Foster

Abstract

Measurements are made of plant breeders' success in increasing potential flue-cured tobacco yields from 1954 to 1987 in North Carolina. Nongenetic sources of yield increases are measured by the yield levels of a standard variety. New genetic material accounted for between 20% and 35% of yield increases on research station plots in the three tobacco-growing regions. Recent genetic contributions have been small. The slowdown is not attributable to a federal tobacco policy shift in 1965 that slowed the growth in grower yields. There is also no evidence that tobacco breeders increased their output in response to the Plant Variety Protection Act of 1970.

Suggested Citation

  • Bruce A. Babcock & William E. Foster, 1991. "Measuring the Potential Contribution of Plant Breeding to Crop Yields: Flue-Cured Tobacco, 1954–87," American Journal of Agricultural Economics, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, vol. 73(3), pages 850-859.
  • Handle: RePEc:oup:ajagec:v:73:y:1991:i:3:p:850-859.
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.2307/1242837
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    Cited by:

    1. Spielman, David J. & Ma, Xingliang, 2014. "Intellectual property rights, technology diffusion, and agricultural development: Cross-country evidence:," IFPRI discussion papers 1345, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    2. Deepthi Elizabeth Kolady & William Lesser, 2009. "But are they Meritorious? Genetic Productivity Gains under Plant Intellectual Property Rights," Journal of Agricultural Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 60(1), pages 62-79, February.
    3. Hutchins, Jared P. & Gong, Yating & Du, Xiaodong, 2021. "The Role of Animal Breeding in Productivity Growth: Evidence from Wisconsin Dairy Farms," 2021 Annual Meeting, August 1-3, Austin, Texas 313882, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    4. Ali, Beshir M. & de Mey, Yann & Oude Lansink, Alfons G.J.M., 2021. "The effect of farm genetics expenses on dynamic productivity growth," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 290(2), pages 701-717.
    5. Alston, Julian M. & Venner, Raymond J., 2002. "The effects of the US Plant Variety Protection Act on wheat genetic improvement," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 31(4), pages 527-542, May.
    6. Nolan, Elizabeth & Santos, Paulo, 2012. "Insurance premiums and GM traits," 2012 Conference, August 18-24, 2012, Foz do Iguacu, Brazil 125942, International Association of Agricultural Economists.
    7. Spielman, David J. & Smale, Melinda, 2017. "Policy options to accelerate variety change among smallholder farmers in South Asia and Africa South of the Sahara," IFPRI discussion papers 1666, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    8. Christine E Whitt & Loren W Tauer & Heather Huson, 2019. "Bull efficiency using dairy genetic traits," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 14(11), pages 1-14, November.
    9. Kolady, Deepthi & Spielman, David J. & Cavalieri, Anthony J., 2010. "Intellectual property rights, private investment in research, and productivity growth in Indian agriculture: A review of evidence and options," IFPRI discussion papers 1031, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    10. Nolan, Elizabeth & Santos, Paulo & Shi, Guanming, 2012. "Market concentration and productivity in the United States corn sector: 2002-2009," 2012 Annual Meeting, August 12-14, 2012, Seattle, Washington 125941, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.

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