We analyze 2017–2021 data to examine whether weekly options offer unique insights compared to regular options on grain futures. These weeklies, increasingly popular for short-term use around major United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) reports, are found to be more effective in predicting near-term volatility, challenging the conventional view of longer-dated options’ superiority. However, they overprice realized volatility by 420 basis points (bps) for corn and 280 bps for soybeans. Major USDA reports add a premium of 650 bps for corn and 240 bps for soybeans, highlighting a trend toward more time-sensitive trading strategies, though the long-term impact on market efficiency of weeklies remains subdued.

This study evaluated the implementation of reproductive technologies and their effects on pregnancy rates (PRs) and calving distribution. Producers (n = 11) were enrolled in Level 1 or 2 and subsequently transitioned to Level 2 or 3. Level 1: females were exposed to natural service (NS) only versus estrous synchronization (7d-CIDR) before NS (SynNS). Level 2: SynNS versus fixed-time artificial insemination (SynAI; 7d-CO-Synch + CIDR) with conventional semen. Level 3: conventional versus sex-skewed semen (FTAI-con and FTAI-sexed, respectively). Artificial insemination occurred 60–66 h post CIDR removal (SynAI; FTAI-con; FTAI-sexed) and bulls were introduced on d 0 (NS and SynNS) or 10–14 d post artificial insemination (SynAI; FTAI-con; FTAI-sexed). Breeding season PRs did not differ between treatments (p > 0.50). In Level 2, SynNS had greater 21 d PRs compared to SynAI (p < 0.01). For Level 3, FTAI-con had greater 21 d PRs compared to FTAI-sexed (p < 0.01). In Level 1, the proportion of cows that calved by day 14 was greater for SynNS compared to NS (p < 0.01). In Level 2, SynAI had a greater proportion calved by day 7 (p = 0.01); however, SynNS had a greater proportion calved by day 21 and 42 (p < 0.01). In Level 3, FTAI-con had a greater proportion calved by day 14 and 21 (p < 0.01) compared to FTAI-sexed. In conclusion, reproductive technologies altered the calving distribution with more calves born earlier.

This study examines interval selection in the Pasture, Rangeland, and Forage Rainfall Index (PRF‐RI) program and evaluates how uniform premium subsidy rates affect optimal interval selections. Using South Dakota as a case study, we show a trend of increasing selection of nonproduction intervals from 2013 to 2024, raising concerns about program effectiveness. A mean–variance portfolio framework is used to identify optimal selection under profit‐maximizing and risk‐averse preferences, with and without subsidies. The results suggest that uniform premium subsidy rates can distort incentives and push producers toward selecting nonproduction periods, as taking more subsidies leads to higher expected net payouts.