The study of performance persistency and experience effects on hybrid and variety adoption rates in Illinois

This study investigates farm-level economics and adoption rates of corn hybrids and soybean varieties on a subset of Illinois farms, with emphasis on biotech cultivars. Two formerly separate concepts, the effects of own-experiences on adoption levels and the persistency of those experiences, are linked. The overall objective of this study is to advance the economic analysis of farmer adoption of new cultivars and seed technologies.; Use levels of new cultivars and seed technologies depend upon the profitability of the innovation. This study provides economic information on the relative productivity and profitability of biotech corn and soybeans on a subset of Illinois farmland.; Profitability of new cultivars is unknown at the time of seed purchase. One way to learn about profitability is through observation and experience. The effects of learning-from-own-experience on new cultivar and biotech seed adoption rates on individual farms are empirically estimated. Learning-from-own-experience is only useful if that experience persists over time. That is, if the performance of a seed type on a farm is not related to future performance of that seed type on that farm, then experience is not useful from an economic perspective. This study empirically measures the performance persistency of biotech seed and seed cultivars, in general, on a subset of Illinois farms.