CAES Call for Nominations: Publication of Enduring Quality Award

The Canadian Agricultural Economics Society (CAES) is accepting nominations for their Publication of Enduring Quality Award. Nominations are due by March 15. All publications that are at least 10 years old qualify, including books, articles within books, and journal articles. You do not need to be a CAES member in order to submit a nomination, but at least one author on the nominated piece must be a CAES member. More information about the submission process can be found on the Call for Nominations page of the CAES website.

Connect with AAEA Through Social Media

There are now more ways to connect with AAEA! In addition to the AAEA Blog and AAEA Facebook page, you can now follow us on Twitter, add our Google+ page to your Circles, and join our LinkedIn group.

Here’s how to connect with AAEA
Facebook: Like us at www.facebook.com/aaeaonfb
Twitter: Follow @aaea_economics
Google+: Add AAEA Economics to your Google+ circles
LinkedIn: Join the Agricultural& Applied Economics Association group
Blog: Subscribe to http://blog.aaea.org

We also have a Twitter account for Choices: @choices_aaea

USDA-ERS Launches Amber Waves Magazine App

The USDA-ERS announced yesterday a new mobile application to bring its widely-read Amber Waves magazine to readers via their digital devices. Launched at USDA’s 89th annual Agricultural Outlook Forum, the Amber Waves app ensures that the magazine’s data-rich content will be accessible anytime and anywhere to those handling tablets and, eventually, other digital devices.

The Amber Waves app is downloadable free to the bookshelves of iPads through iTunes and Android tablets through Google Play. The magazine will arrive on bookshelves quarterly.

Produced by ERS and geared to general-interest readers, Amber Waves covers the full range of the agency’s research and analysis on the food sector, agriculture, rural America, and the environment. Since its launch in 2003, the magazine has evolved with the addition of podcasts, RSS feeds, and social media content. Find the app along with the latest issue of Amber Waves at the mobile-friendly site, www.ers.usda.gov/amber-waves. As the agency’s flagship publication, Amber Waves contains articles by ERS researchers and their collaborators.

New Annual Meeting Newsletter Posted

Get all the latest news and updates about the 2013 Joint Annual Meeting by checking out the recent issue of DC on Demand!

In this issue, we roll out the changes that have been made to the program this year and introduce the many Pre- and Post-conference Workshops being offered in DC.

AAEA Trust Announces Matching Program

The AAEA Trust is pleased to announce a new matching program beginning! The AAEA has set aside $200,000 to be used over the next 5 years to provide up to four $50,000 matches to donations of $100,000 or more by a single donor. Matches are subject to Board approval, with preference given to unrestricted donations.

The newly established matching program provides an opportunity for donors to leverage their donation for the greatest impact. Additionally, the AAEA Trust is a 501(c)3 charitable organization, so depending on your individual situation donations may be tax deductible. For more information about the matching program or to discuss making an eligible donation to the AAEA Trust, please contact Kristin Ouweneel at kouweneel@aaea.org.

The Board has already approved matching funds under this program for a donation to the AAEA Trust. Uma Lele has made a very generous donation to the AAEA Trust to support a mentorship program for early career economists from developing countries. For more information, visit the Uma Lele Special Purpose Fund website. Members can provide further support to the mentorship program by donating to the Uma Lele Special Purpose Fund.

Recipients of Luther G. Tweeten Scholarship

Congratulations Comlanvi Sitou Akibode, Teevrat Garg, Michael Mulford, and Asare Twum-Barima! These four outstanding individuals received $2,000 scholarships from the Luther G. Tweeten Special Purpose Fund of the AAEA Trust.

Comlanvi is from Michigan State University and plans to use the scholarship to support his research investigating the impacts of international land transactions on governments, communities, and international investors in Ghana.

Teevrat is from Cornell University and will use the funds to support his research on the determinants and consequences of migratory pastoralism in Ethiopia and Kenya.

Michael is from Cornell University as well and will use the funds to support his research which includes identifying poverty traps and their structural causes in Central and Western Kenya.

Asare is from the University of California at Davis and will use the scholarship to fund research exploring cholera epidemics and interactions among households in Africa.

This scholarship program is supported by the Luther G. Tweeten Special Purpose Fund of the AAEA Trust. Scholarships are given to outstanding graduate students who research socioeconomic problems of Africa. We thank the AAEA members who have donated to this fund. Visit our website for more information about the Luther G. Tweeten Special Purpose Fund!

Call for Papers: IFAMR Special Issue

The AEM Section has partnered with the International Food and Agribusiness Management Review (IFAMR) to offer a special opportunity to AEM researchers presenting at the 2013 AAEA & CAES Joint Annual Meeting in Washington, DC. They are preparing a special issue of IFAMR to highlight the research that will be presented at the meetings.

This will not be your typical proceedings. All papers will go undergo review consistent with IFAMR’s guidelines. However, they are offering an expedited process that is designed to improve the quality of presentations at the AAEA meetings as well as to reach publication by the end of 2013.

Whether your paper or presentation is part of an AEM Track Session or whether it is selected for presentation as a paper or a poster, you are invited to submit a completed paper based on your research. Papers must follow IFAMR’s contributor guidelines.

Letters of Intent are due by March 8. For more information and submission instructions, please see the Call for Papers.

Member Profile: Marc Nerlove

Marc Nerlove
Distinguished University Professor
University of Maryland

AAEA Activities:

• AAEA Fellow, 1993
• AAEA Centennial Address, 2010
• Outstanding AJAE Article, 1957, 1962
• Outstanding Doctoral Dissertation, 1957

Free webinar: Cleaning Up the Slime: Science and Substantiation

Date: February 15, 2013

Time: 2:00 ET/1:00 CT/12:00 MT/11:00 PT

Misinformation in the public domain can have considerable negative effects on the US economy. Consequences are more calamitous in the current landscape of high unemployment rates and increases in the number of individuals at the poverty level. As a result of the misinformation regarding lean finely textured beef (LFTB), there was a loss of approximately 600 jobs, and adverse effects on the overall beef industry. Current estimates are that the story on “pink slime” potentially cost the US $400 million.

Lean finely textured beef, which is also referred to as “pink slime” has been included in ground beef used by grocery stores, restaurants, and USDA’s school lunch program for over a decade. This webinar will explore the rigorous scientific testing, food processing, and economics of LFTB.

Speakers

J. Ross Pruitt, Assistant Professor, Extension Livestock Economics, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center

Dr. Pruitt will address the LFTB’s impact in the beef and cattle markets, including discussion on reaction to stories on LFTB by the beef industry and USDA.

Chad Carr, Assistant Professor, Extension Meat Specialist, The University of Florida's Food Safety and Quality Program

 Dr. Carr will address frequently asked questions about the food safety and quality of lean, finely-textured beef.

Please RSVP by February 14 here.

For further information we encourage you to visit:

Facts and Frequently Asked Questions About Lean, Finely-Textured Beef

Cleaning Up the Slime: Marketing, Uncertainty, and Risk in the 24 Hour

News Cycle 

Webinar Jointly sponsored by:

The Council on Food, Agricultural and Resource Economics (C-FARE)

The Federation of Animal Science Societies (FASS)

 

AAEA 2013 Mentorship Workshop

The AAEA Early Career Development Committee is pleased to announce that it is in the process of developing the 2013-2014 AAEA Mentoring Program. This is an excellent opportunity for members to enhance their careers through the development of a dynamic mentoring partnership. We are accepting applications to participate in the mentorship program until March 1, so please visit the AAEA website for more information and to register to be a mentor or a mentee.