Reviews economic models, especially treatment of competition, marketing practices, and international trade effects on U.S. cattle prices and producers' incomes. The report addresses 3 questions: To what extent do these models incorporate structural changes -- specifically, market concentration in the meatpacking sector and the use of marketing agreements, forward contracts, and imports?; What are the most important factors that affect cattle prices and producers' incomes?; and What are the most significant data and modeling issues to be considered in developing a more comprehensive model, or logical framework, to explain cattle prices and producers' income? Makes recommendations about how to resolve issues and problems regarding cattle price modeling.

Extract: The number of beef cows in each of the four major U.S. cow-calf production regions declined by about one-fifth between 1975 and 1980 in response to sharp reductions in feeder cattle prices and increases in production costs during the midseventies. Several physical measures of performance indicate that most resources were used more efficiently in beef cow-calf production in 1980 than in 1975. This report identifies the structural characteristics and operating practices for beef cow-calf production operations in the United States.

Types of economic deforestation models. Household and firm-level models. Regional-level models. National and macro-level models. Priority areas for future research.