Webinar: The Impact of Applied Research in Agriculture and Applied Economics on The U.S. Economy

Today's farmers produce 262 percent more food with two percent fewer inputs as compared to 1950. A significant component of this increase in agricultural productivity is due to large investments in public agricultural research. The importance of research in agricultural and applied economics has only heightened as the population increases.

In our ongoing effort to support the continuing efforts to highlight the importance of the applied research and economics, the Council on Food, Agricultural, and Resource Economics (C-FARE) will host a panel of scholars presenting on the topic of The Impact of Applied Research in Agriculture and Applied Economics on The U.S. Economy from 12 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. EDT January 22.

Our panel of speakers consists of four leaders in Agricultural and Resource Economics and will be moderated by Gal Hochman, C-FARE's Board Chair, and Professor at Rutgers University.

• Keith Coble is a Giles Distinguished Professor, the Head of the Agricultural Economics Department, and Special Assistant to the Vice President of Agriculture, Forestry, and Veterinary Medicine at Mississippi State University.
• Madhu Khanna is the Director of Graduate Admissions and Recruiting at the Department of Agricultural and Consumer Economics at the University of Illinois.
• Robbin Shoemaker is the National Program Leader for Economics in the Institute of Food Production and Sustainability at the National Institute of Food and Agriculture.
• David Zilberman is a Professor, Extension specialist, and holder of the Robinson Chair in the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, University of California at Berkeley. 

The panel will be followed by a Q&A session.

As always, the council welcomes input on this or any programming, information@cfare.org. All C-FARE programming is free and accessible to all. If you cannot attend our live event, please check back here after the event has occurred for a recording and summary of the event.

This program is supported in part by the Agricultural and Applied Economics Association and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service and National Agricultural Statistics Service.

Register now: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/7825164193692913420

The program will run for about 50 minutes. Attendees will be invited to put questions to the panel. Inquiries can be made to Maxwell Reitkopf, Communications Strategist (information@cfare.org). The event will be held at 12 p.m. EDT Friday, January, 22nd.

Listening to the Diverse Voices of AAEA

 Written by Kathleen Liang, Chair of the AAEA Mentoring Committee and Facilitator of the event ‘Listening to Diverse Voices of AAEA’, North Carolina A&T State University

The recording of this event is also available to view online, here.

The year 2020 has imposed unprecedented challenges on everyone. Our daily routine has been forever changed, and we are still learning to live a productive life in the ‘new normal.’ The Mentorship Committee of AAEA brainstormed innovative programs in supporting colleagues and students to find creative opportunities in career/personal development and work/life balance. One novel idea is to offer compassion through personal stories directly. Remembering how we interact with each other at AAEA conferences or workshops through person-to-person conversations, the Mentorship Committee created the event ‘Listening to the Diverse Voices of AAEA’ to bring the personal conversations to individual’s workspace without the boundaries and limitations of time, location, and travel conditions.

Five AAEA members took the stage on December 11, 2020, as we launched the inaugural event:

        Madhu Khanna, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
        Titus Awokuse, Michigan State University
        Jeffrey O’Hara, USDA—Agricultural Marketing Service
        Yoko Kusunose, University of Kentucky
        David Zilberman, University of California, Berkeley

We often ‘identify’ AAEA members through publications, news releases, reports, or services. It is rare to hear their stories about how they become involved in Agricultural and Applied Economics, their experiences in the school years, and other important events that have shaped their character and spirits. These presenters represent a broad range of scholarship in AAEA, from the President-elect to non-academic leader. The event turned out to be an enchanted afternoon where participants and presenters interacted vividly. Here is a summary of the stories, and you can access the recording for details:

•  Several storytellers mentioned the challenges and barriers of transitioning between cultures, course works, and technology when they started as international students.
• Balancing personal goals, career objectives, and family life seemed to be a common struggle.
• Joining AAEA meetings to present papers seemed to be rewarding in meeting other peers and senior researchers.
• Getting publications out of the door and being accepted took time as a junior scholar. Once you taste the success, your confidence will significantly improve over time. You will also learn from submitting to different journals about using creative strategies to write better articles or even grant applications.
• Taking care of yourself is the most important thing. No matter how busy you are, you must set aside time to enjoy personal and family life with your loved ones. Finding time to generate or maintain the health of your body and mindset, it will pay off in the long run.
• No matter what you decide to do, do it well and be the first person to take a risk to do something new. That is how you will establish your reputation and recognition in the field.
• Showing appreciation for supports and advice comes from family, peers, mentors, students, and other people to prepare for a journey.
• Where you started in life should not define where you will end up. The way we deal with obstacles often shape who we become and who we are through challenges. The key is to overcome the barriers and learn from the experiences.
• Let life and opportunities take you to an adventure in your education, career, and listen to your inner voices about taking risks to try new things.  
• Acquiring sufficient and advanced technical skills are necessary to succeed. Also, it would be critical to nurture and grow soft skills while working with others. Other essential skills for success include good writing and communication, appreciation of diversity, strong work ethic, and listening to broad stakeholders.
• Failure is not the end of the road. We all fail many times, and the key is to try again and learn to fail better.
• Do what you are interested in. Do not worry about the outcomes. Focus on what makes you happy and satisfied in both personal and professional environments. Explore and learn from different jobs.
• Being able to add values to works or jobs seemed to be more rewarding. Each person needs to be true to our purposes and reasons while seeking research, teaching, or outreach programs.
• Taking a chance to reach out to scholars in other institutions might generate positive interactions in developing collaborations. You can identify field leaders through publications and grant reports and contact these scholars for advice. Inviting top researchers to provide seminars seemed to work well and offer an opportunity to know these people better.  
• It is ok to say ‘yes’ to participate in interdisciplinary teams even if you are not familiar with the topic, as long as you can contribute to the overall goals.
• Be friendly to everyone and introduce yourself to everyone you meet at different events. Colleagues are generally nice and would provide support and guidance to support junior members.
• Hard work pays off, and there is no other way to succeed. It is imperative to make your work count.
• Do your best to support students and other colleagues. Offer credits to others, and maintain positive relationships with others.
• Once you identify something you want to do, focus on the work and do not waste time.
• All together, everyone has challenges and issues to concur. Do not be afraid of failure. Keep up with social networks and relationships. Socialize is essential, but not wasting time, and optimize the opportunity wherever it might lead you.

Members in the News: Jekanowski, Parks, Kafle, Bir, Moffette, Alix-Garcia, Charlton, Lusk, DeBoer, Schnitkey, et al.

 Mark Jekanowski, USDA - Office of the Chief Economist

Highest Corn and Soybean Prices Since Commodity Boom, Says USDA

By: Successful Farming - January 13, 2021

“They gave us a pretty large reduction in corn production that really tightened up our supply,” said Mark Jekanowski, chairman of the USDA panel that forecasts U.S. commodity consumption, prices, and reserves. The USDA estimate of the corn crop was 325 million bushels smaller than a month ago. Jekanowski spoke to USDA’s radio news service.

(Continued...)
Read more on: Successful Farming

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Alfred Parks, Prairie View A&M University

Parks Named Agricultural and Applied Economics Association 2021 Fellow

By: News Break - January 11, 2021

College of Agriculture and Human Sciences Interim Executive Associate Director of Research and Interim Farm Director Alfred L. Parks, Ph.D., has been named a 2021 Fellow by the Agricultural & Applied Economics Association — the organization’s most prestigious honor.

(Continued...)
Read more on: News Break

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Kashi Kafle, International Water Management Institute

‘In South Asia, marginal farmers are disproportionately affected by climate change’

By: South Asia Time - December 16, 2020

Dr. Kashi Kafle is an economist at the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) – a CGIAR research consortium based in Colombo, Sri Lanka. His research investigates the linkage between small-scale agriculture, irrigation, climate change, and poverty in South Asia, Middle East, and sub-Saharan Africa. Kashi holds a PhD in Agricultural Economics from the University of Illinois, USA, and previously worked with the World Bank and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).

(Continued...)
Read more on: South Asia Time

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Courtney Bir, Oklahoma State University

Dairy product purchasing differs in households with and without children

By: Dairy Industries - January 12, 2021

“Future studies can build on this work by evaluating whether there is a spillover effect from purchasing specifically for children and the general dairy and protein product purchasing habits of those households,” said Dr Courtney Bir, PhD, coauthor of the study and assistant professor, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, USA.

(Continued...)
Read more on: Dairy Industries

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Fanny Moffette, University of Wisconsin
Jennifer Alix-Garcia, Oregon State University

• Satellite alters seen helping fight deforestation in Africa
  By: Thomson Reuters Foundation & British Herald - January 4, 2021
• In Africa, satellites are watching, deforestation is slowing
  By: Le Parisien - January 8, 2021
• Alert System Shows Potential For Reducing Deforestation, Mitigating Climate Change
  By: Science Blog & Science Daily - January 4, 2021
• Research Shows That GLAD Subscription Is Leading to Decreased Deforestation 
  By: Space in Africa - January 5, 2021
• Subscription to satellite alerts linked to decreased deforestation in Africa
  By: Phys.org - January 4, 2021

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Diane Charlton, Montana State University
Jayson Lusk, Purdue University

COVID-19 Risk & Unemployment Rates Lower Number Of Migrant Workers

By: Tri States Public Radio - January 13, 2021

High unemployment rates decrease the demand for H-2A workers. Diane Charlton, a professor of agricultural economics at Montana State University, says a 1% increase in a state’s unemployment rate is associated with a 5% decrease in demand for H-2A workers.

Jayson Lusk, a professor of agricultural economics at Purdue University, says areas with farmworkers were hit harder by the coronavirus. He says COVID-19 could continue to affect migrant farmworkers this year. 

(Continued...)
Read more on: Tri States Public Radio

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Larry DeBoer, Purdue University

Governor’s budget proposal increases spending on schools and broadband, but critics want more for teachers

By: The Statehouse File - January 13, 2021

“The increases that we saw actually were not bad at all considering the recession that we were coming out of,” DeBoer said. “Most forecasters, including the economic forecast that was the basis of our revenue forecast, are looking pretty optimistic starting in the second half of 2021.”

(Continued...)
Read more on: The Statehouse File

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Gary Schnitkey, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Carl Zulauf, The Ohio State University

Cost Management: Interest Rates & Refinancing

By: Farms.com - January 13, 2021

An increase in cash prices for corn and soybeans brightens the outlook for Illinois farm income in 2021, but continued uncertainty in the economy and market factors means careful farm budgeting is still important. As always, cost management is key on farms.

(Continued...)
Read more on: Farms.com

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Gary Schnitkey, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign 
Nick Paulson, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Carl Zulauf, The Ohio State University

Report: Corn Belt produces highest yields for corn and soybeans

By: Wisconsin State Farmer - January 8, 2021

Corn and soybean yields spread across a five year window from 2015 to 2019 gathered from Crop Reporting Districts (CRDs) in the Midwest varied from state to state. The report also looked at corn-to-soybean yield ratios.

(Continued...)
Read more on: Wisconsin State Farmer

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Ian Sheldon, The Ohio State University

Where are we going with U.S. and global trade?

By: Ohio's Country Journal - January 12, 2021

Agricultural trade was the topic of the first in a series of winter outlook meetings hosted by the Department of Agricultural, Environmental and Developmental Economics (AEDE) at The Ohio State University’s College of Food Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (FAES). Dr. Ian Sheldon, Ohio State’s Andersons Chair of Agricultural Marketing, Trade and Policy, led the discussion examining the effects of the pandemic on global trade and U.S. agricultural trade, including an evaluation of the Phase 1 Trade Agreement with China.

(Continued...)
Read more on: Ohio's Country Journal

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Stephen Devadoss, Texas Tech University
William Ridley, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Texas Tech Researcher Examines COVID-19 Impact on Fruit and Vegetable Production

By: The Katy News - January 13, 2021

In a new report from the Agricultural & Applied Economics Association titled “The Effects of COVID-19 on Fruit and Vegetable Production,” Stephen Devadoss, the Emabeth Thompson Endowed Professor in the College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources at Texas Tech, and William Ridley from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, explored COVID-19’s effects on fruit and vegetable production in light of the ongoing and widespread proliferation of the pandemic in the farm labor force.

(Continued...)
Read more on: The Katy News

See other Member in the News items Know another AAEA Member who has made statewide, national, or international news? Send a link of the article to Jessica Weister at jweister@aaea.org. What research and topics are you working on? Want to be an expert source for journalists working on a story? Contact Allison Ware at aware@aaea.org. *Disclaimer - This email is to acknowledge citations of current AAEA members and/or their research in any public media channel. AAEA does not agree nor disagree with the views or attitudes of cited outside publications.

Call for Research Proposals for the Structural Transformation of African Agriculture and Rural Spaces (STAARS) project

Application deadline: January 31, 2021

The STAARS Fellowship application process is managed by Cornell University, in collaboration with PIM. Applicants must prepare a maximum 2500-word research proposal, which motivates the selected research issues and objectives, outlines data sources and proposed methodology, and contains a convincing plan for completing the project by December 15, 2021. Projects that propose to use data that are not publicly available must provide documentation that they have access to those data. All proposals shall be prepared in English. All proposals will be peer-reviewed by experts from Cornell University and/or PIM.

The deadline to submit a research proposal is January 31, 2021. Applicants should submit their completed proposals via email to staars@cornell.edu. Accepted applicants will be notified by early March 2021 and are expected to begin remote collaboration with their mentor immediately upon acceptance.

Research Proposal Template

• Completed 2021 STAARS Fellowship Applicant Information Form.
• Research Proposal (2500 words max.):
• Title of the proposed research
• Targeted country(-ies)
• Introduction and motivation that includes clear statement of research objectives and hypotheses.
• Description of data source(s) and any prior experience working with the proposed data.
• Proposed Methodology
• If applicable, summary of any preliminary results.
• Proposed timeline for the research

In addition to the Research Proposal (not included in the 2500 words):

• Bibliographic references
• CV of the applicant
• If proposing to use data that are not publicly available, a letter or other documentation from the data steward(s) indicating that the applicant will have access to the data to use in the proposed project
• Photocopy of the passport biodata page and, if applicable, any current US visa

Shortlisted applicants will be asked to provide the following:

• Letter of support from applicant’s supervisor, clearly indicating that the applicant will be granted time to work on this project, if selected
• Stata/R assessment

Download the Application Packet here: http://barrett.dyson.cornell.edu/files/Staars_Application.zip
Learn more here: http://barrett.dyson.cornell.edu/staars/staars-fellowships.html

AAEA Goverment Releations & Washington Update: January 2021

I am excited to start working on behalf of AAEA and its members to promote the interests of agricultural and applied economics in Washington, DC.  For my first column, I’d like to introduce myself and provide some perspective on the outlook for 2021. 

I have over 25 years of experience working on agricultural policy in a variety of capacities ranging from the private sector to government service.  For the last 12 years, I have been President of The Randel Group, LLC, a government relations firm that I founded.  My focus at The Randel Group has been to serve clients in food and agriculture, including work to increase federal support for agricultural research, extension and education. 

Prior to founding The Randel Group, I served as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Congressional Relations at the United States Department of Agriculture, where I was responsible for coordinating the Department’s engagement with Congress during the 2008 Farm Bill.  I also was part of a three-person team selected to lead the Department’s implementation of the Farm Bill, working across all USDA agencies.  Prior to my role in Congressional Relations, I worked in the Research, Education and Economics Mission Area, which has responsibility for the Economic Research Service, National Agricultural Statistics Service, National Institute of Food and Agriculture and the Agricultural Research Service.   

In addition to The Randel Group and USDA, I have worked for other government relations firms representing agriculture and university clients.  I hold a Bachelor’s Degree in Agricultural Economics from Texas A&M University, so have a strong appreciation for the work of AAEA and economists.  I also have a Master’s Degree in Agricultural Development from Texas A&M and a law degree from George Mason University.

Now, with my introduction out of the way, let’s get to work!  I believe that this is an important time for AAEA to increase its efforts in Washington.  2021 brings with it a new Administration, new Congress, and new leaders to key agencies such as ERS, NIFA and the USDA Office of the Chief Economist.  This time of transition marks a great opportunity for AAEA to establish itself as a premier resource at the intersection of policy and economics in a wide range of issue areas that span the diversity of AAEA expertise.  As policy makers tackle issues such as the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, and preparing for the 2022 Farm Bill, we should strive to ensure that AAEA and its members are well positioned to be valuable resources to inform and influence the debate.    I look forward to working with AAEA to advance the priorities of agricultural and applied economics with Congress, relevant agencies, and stakeholders. 

Lowell Randel

AAEA’s DC Representative

Handbook of Agricultural Economics, Vol. 6

What Matters in Agricultural Economics?
Setting the Agenda for the Handbook of Agricultural Economics, Vol. 6
Agricultural and Applied Economics Association Preconference

Tuesday, March 2, 2021 at 9:45am - 3:00pm Eastern Time
 Thursday, March 4, 2021 at 9:45am - 2:00pm Eastern Time

Elsevier Handbook of Agricultural Economics

Presentations to be 25 minutes each, with 10 minutes for a discussant and 20 minutes of questions from the audience. Please note that space is limited and attendance is on a first-come, first-served basis.

Tuesday, March 2, 2021

9:45 - 10:00am
Introduction to Handbook of Agricultural Economics, Volume 6      
    Christopher B. Barrett, Cornell University & David R. Just, Cornell University
10:00 - 11:00am 
Concentration in Food and Agricultural Markets
    John Crespi, Iowa State University & James MacDonald, USDA-ERS
    Discussant: Alan Love, Washington State University
11:00am - 12:00 pm
Trade in Agricultural and Food Products
    Christophe Gouel, INRAE & Carl Gaigne, INRAE
    Discussant: Ian Sheldon, Ohio State University
12:00 - 1:00 pm
The Economics of Food Loss and Waste
    Tim Richards, Arizona State University; Steve Hamilton, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo; and Brian Roe,      Ohio State University
    Discussant: Harry DeGorter, Cornell University
1:00 - 2:00 pm 
Producers, Consumers, and Value Chains in Developing Countries 
    Marc Bellemare, University of Minnesota, Jeffrey Bloem, USDA-ERS, & Sunghun Lim, Texas Tech        University
    Discussant: Hope Michelson, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
2:00 - 3:00 pm
Risk Management in Agricultural Production
    Jesse Tack, Kansas State University & Jisang Yu, Kansas State University

Register for this session here: 
https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJYlcOivrTgtG93gq_s6PR3eCcOhuXWqRL8q 

Members in the News: Batabyal, Hagerman, Balasubramanya, Charlton, Lusk, Mintert, Ridley, Devadoss, Paulson, Schnitkye, Sumner, Coble, Ward, et al.

Amitrajeet A. Batabyal, Rochester Institute of Technology

Can a future ban on gas-powered cars work? An economist explains

By: The Conversation - January 5, 2021

The U.S. transportation sector is one of the largest contributors of carbon dioxide, the potent driver of climate change.

Transportation accounts for about 28% of total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions and, since 1990, emissions in this sector have increased more than in any other area.

(Continued...)
Read more on: The Conversation

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Amy Hagerman, Oklahoma State University

Safety net programs: Survey markets before making selection

By: Southwest Farm Press - December 29, 2020

“The current re-election and enrollment period goes until March 15, 2021, so there is plenty of time to survey the markets and think about whether a farm needs price protection or revenue protection,” said Amy Hagerman, OSU Department of Agricultural Economics. “This may prove particularly beneficial for Oklahoma producers who have wheat base acres enrolled in the safety net programs.”

(Continued...)
Read more on: Southwest Farm Press

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Soumya Balasubramanya, International Water Management Institute

Sink or swim? An historic year of floods in Asia

By: Devex - December 10, 2020

“When people migrate in Asia, they're more likely to end up staying in parts of the city that are not planned, areas that also tend to get flooded,” said Soumya Balasubramanya, research group leader for economics at IWMI. “More people moving to the cities essentially means more people who are vulnerable to these sorts of disasters.”

(Continued...)
Read more on: Devex

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Diane Charlton, Montana State University
Jayson Lusk, Purdue University

COVID-19 Risk, Unemployment Rates Lowers Number Of Migrant Workers

By: NPR - January 7, 2021

High unemployment rates decrease the demand for H-2A workers. Diane Charlton, a professor of agricultural economics at Montana State University, says a 1% increase in a state’s unemployment rate is associated with a 5% decrease in demand for H-2A workers.

Jayson Lusk, a professor of agricultural economics at Purdue University, says areas with farmworkers were hit harder by the coronavirus. He says COVID-19 could continue to affect migrant farmworkers this year. 

(Continued...)
Read more on: NPR

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James Mintert, Purdue University

• AgriTalk - January 6, 2021
  By: AgriTalk - January 6, 2021
• Farmer Sentiment Rises as Income Prospects Improve
  By: WBIW - January 6, 2021

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William Ridley, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Stephen Devadoss, Texas Tech University

How Produce Farmers are Feeling the Effects of the Pandemic

By: Perishable News & The Buffalo News - December 18, 2020

In the new article "The Effects of COVID-19 on Fruit and Vegetable Production" William Ridley from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Stephen Devadoss from Texas Tech University explore COVID-19's effects on fruit and vegetable production in light of the ongoing and widespread proliferation of the pandemic in the farm labor force.

(Continued...)
Read more on: Perishable News & The Buffalo News

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Nick Paulson, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Gary Schnitkye, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

IFES 2020: Farm Program and Crop Insurance Decisions for 2021

By: Farms.com - January 7, 2021

For the 2021 crop year, producers will once again be making an enrollment decision between the Agricultural Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs as part of the 2018 Farm Bill.  In 2019, producers made enrollment decisions which covered the 2019 and 2020 crop years.  The 2021 decision will be for the 2021 crop year only, with a deadline of March 15th 2021.

(Continued...)
Read more on: Farms.com

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Daniel Sumner, University of California, Davis

How to View Lower Almond Prices

By: California Ag Today - January 6, 2021

Lower prices should help move them quickly around the world, said Dan Sumner a Distinguished Professor in the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, and the director of the UC Agricultural Issues Center at UC Davis. He thinks that lower price of almonds will not last long, but in the meantime, it'll help move the crop around the world---a hungry world for almonds!

(Continued...)
Read more on: California Ag Today

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Keith Coble, Mississippi State University

Despite challenges, ag industry surpasses 2019 with $7.35 billion value

By: News Mississippi - December 28, 2020

“We did some midyear analysis on June 1, and the economic picture for farm products looked pretty bleak,” Keith Coble, head of the Mississippi State University Department of Agricultural Economics, said. “We went through unprecedented losses early to midyear, but markets have generally improved in the latter portion of the year.”

(Continued...)
Read more on: News Mississippi

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Barry Ward, The Ohio State University

Farm Office Live winter edition!

By: Ohio's Country Journal - December 29, 2020

“Farm Office Live” returns virtually this winter as an opportunity for you to get the latest outlook and updates on ag law, farm management, ag economics, farm business analysis and other related issues from faculty and educators with the College of Food, Agriculture and Environmental Sciences at The Ohio State University.

(Continued...)
Read more on: Ohio's Country Journal

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Vincent Smith, Montana State University

New Farm Subsidies Helpful, But Not Perfect, Montana Farm Bureau Says

By: Montana Public Radio - January 6, 2021

According to Jim Mintert, director of the Center for Commercial Agriculture at Purdue University and a professor and extension economist in its Department of Agricultural Economics, total corn exports were up 61% this year over last year, with China accounting for 85% of that increase.

(Continued...)
Read more on: Montana Public Radio

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Wendong Zhang, Iowa State University

Statewide rise in Iowa farmland values reflected locally

By: Telegraph Herald - December 26, 2020

The report by Wendong Zhang, an assistant professor in economics and extension economist at Iowa State, showed the statewide average value per acre rising from $7,432 in 2019 to $7,559 in 2020.

(Continued...)
Read more on: Telegraph Herald

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Evert Van der Sluis, South Dakota State University

S.D. farmers could see high income levels, thanks to COVID-19 subsidies

By: Aberdeen News - January 4, 2021

While direct farm payments were common from the late 1990s until about 2009, federal institutions have largely switched to crop insurance programs to support farmers in a more sustainable fashion, Evert Van der Sluis, a professor of agricultural economics at South Dakota State University, said.

(Continued...)
Read more on: Aberdeen News

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Keith Coble, Mississippi State University
Josh Maples, Mississippi State University

Despite challenges, 2020 ag increased in value in state

By: The Lee County Courier & The Neshoba Democrat - December 19, 2020

“We did some midyear analysis on June 1, and the economic picture for farm products looked pretty bleak,” Coble said. “We went through unprecedented losses early to midyear, but markets have generally improved in the latter portion of the year.”

Josh Maples, an agricultural economist with the MSU Extension Service, said poultry took a hit from COVID-19-related issues and dropped 16% in value. But row crops were strong, posting a combined $2.6 billion estimated value.

(Continued...)
Read more on: The Lee County Courier & The Neshoba Democrat

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James Mintert, Purdue University
Nathanael Thompson, Purdue University

Purdue Center for Commercial Ag to Host Free Outlook Webinar

By: WBIW - January 4, 2021

“To kick off 2021, our first webinar of the year will review information released in the January USDA reports and take a look at what the year ahead may have in store,” said James Mintert, professor and director of the Center for Commercial Agriculture. “Carryover crop supplies have tightened considerably, and concerns exist regarding South America’s harvest. Michael Langemeier, Nathanael Thompson, and I will review updated information from USDA and other sources and discuss strategies to consider for 2021.”

(Continued...)

Read more on: WBIW

See other Member in the News items Know another AAEA Member who has made statewide, national, or international news? Send a link of the article to Jessica Weister at jweister@aaea.org. What research and topics are you working on? Want to be an expert source for journalists working on a story? Contact Allison Ware at aware@aaea.org. *Disclaimer - This email is to acknowledge citations of current AAEA members and/or their research in any public media channel. AAEA does not agree nor disagree with the views or attitudes of cited outside publications.