By using quarterly observations for the years from 1970 through

1978 an econometric model was estimated. On average it was found that

Florida cow prices were 3.06 percent less than the national prices used

in the model, yet on a quarterly basis the national price was able to

explain abcut 90 percent of the variation in Florida cow prices. It was

determined that beef imports had a slightly stronger impact on Florida

prices versus national beef cow prices. In particular a one-quarter

increase of 100 million pounds of beef imports was estimated to reduce

Florida cow prices by $0.65 per hundredweight. A sustained increase of

imports by the same amount for a year was estimated to reduced Florida

cow prices by $1.23 per hundredweight. These point to somewhat larger

effects than reported by Freebairn and Rausser whose results suggested

that 100 million pound increase in beef imports over an entire year

would reduce national cow prices by only $0.47 per hundredweight.

 Export Markets


 Agricultural exports from Florida have grown substantially in the

 past 10 years. For example, total value of Florida agricultural products

 exported grew from $101 million in 1968 to $390 million by 1977 (Table

 4). Exports were only 8 percent of total cash receipts from farm marketing

 in 1968, but were over 15 percent of farm sales by 1977.

 Citrus and citrus products, representing virtually all of the

 "fruits and preparations" class shown below, accounted for the largest

 share of Florida agricultural trade in recent years. Other products,

 particularly vegetables, have grown in relative importance, however

 (Table 5).