Using mixed logit in land use models: Can expectation-maximization (EM) algorithms facilitate estimation?

The loss of native grassland habitat in the Northern Plains of the United States is prompting concern about the effect of farm programs on rangeland-to-cropland conversion. Native grassland, that is, rangeland that has never been tilled, is breeding habitat for many species of migratory birds and further loss could reduce bird populations and related benefits. In theory, a mixed logit model can capture any pattern of response to economic or policy change. In reality, mixed logit likelihood functions can be time-consuming and difficult to maximize using conventional methods, even when only a small number of parameters are random. Expected crop revenue includes market revenue, marketing loan gains, crop insurance, and disaster assistance for corn, soybeans, and wheat. Expected crop prices are averages for a post-harvest futures contract for a single month just prior to planting, less the expected basis.