Additional Application from 1992 to 2003 the Number of Milk Producers in Producers

question 43

Multiple Choice

Additional Application
From 1992 to 2003 the number of milk producers in Florida has fallen from 300 to 190.In those same 10 years the number of dairy farms nationwide has decreased by more than 44,000.Why? The market price in a perfectly competitive industry is not determined by the individual sellers,but rather the market supply and demand.While the Florida dairy industry might not be "perfectly" competitive due to the certain USDA policies,its behavior does approximate one.If prices are not high enough to maintain some level of normal profit,firms will leave the industry.And this is what has been happening in the dairy industry.In the months after September 11,2001 the demand for milk fell,causing the price of 100 pounds of milk to decrease from about $19 to about $14,a 25-year low.In addition to falling prices,the costs of operating dairy farms have risen.Increased property taxes and environmental compliance permits have made dairy farming less viable.The average dairy farm in Florida is small with only about 700 cows.This further prevents a single supplier from being able to influence the market price.Many farmers view this business as a family operation and one they would like to pass on to their children.But continued low milk prices and profits make the likelihood of such an inheritance unlikely.
Greg C.Bruno."Milk Industry Turns Sour," The Gainesville Sun,January 22,2004,pp.1,4.
-In the long run,what will occur in a perfectly competitive industry that is incurring losses?

• A)The government will subsidize the industry so that this never occurs.
• B)Some firms will leave the industry,supply will decrease,and losses will disappear.
• C)Some buyers will leave the market,demand will decrease,and price will rise.
• D)Some firms will enter the industry,supply will increase,and losses will disappear.

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Definitions:

Negotiated Price Approach

A pricing strategy where the final sell price of a product or service is determined through negotiation between the buyer and the seller.

Minimum Acceptable Return

The lowest return on investment that a person or entity is willing to accept, often used in capital budgeting and investment planning.

Invested Assets

Assets that are allocated into various investment vehicles such as stocks, bonds, real estate, or other securities with the expectation of earning a return.

Operating Income

The profit realized from a business's operations, after deducting operating expenses like wages and cost of goods sold from gross profit.