Date of Award:
5-2021
Document Type:
Thesis
Degree Name:
Master of Science (MS)
Department:
Applied Economics
Committee Chair(s)
Ryan Bosworth
Committee
Ryan Bosworth
Committee
Man-Keun Kim
Committee
Ryan Larsen
Committee
Tanner McCarty
Abstract
This paper examines the effect of high elevation weather stations on the rainfall index used by the Pasture, Rangeland, and Forage insurance program. Weather station data for the state of Utah is used to identify high elevation weather stations and their location. Utilizing the corresponding rainfall index data, the effect of the high elevation weather stations is determined. This paper finds when high elevation weather stations begin reporting there is a jump up of 19.01–27.88 percentage points on average in the rainfall index for the corresponding grid locations. This indicates the rainfall index may not accurately represent actual precipitation amounts in areas with large elevation changes. If the measurements recorded by the rainfall index for PRF do not match actual amounts of precipitation, then the rainfall index is potentially introducing more risk and undermines the ability of PRF to effectively mitigate risk for producers.
Checksum
b551d6c9060ee6767e273d0a06b3e699
Recommended Citation
Feuz, Wyatt Matthew, "The Effect of High Elevation Weather Stations on the USDA's Pasture, Rangeland, and Forage Insurance Program" (2021). All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023. 8027.
https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/etd/8027
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