Monday, April 28, 2014

Live Webcast: Increasing U.S. Agriculture’s Competitive Edge: How Do Public Data and Big Data Fit?

Inaugural Jon Brandt Policy Forum 

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

When:  Tuesday, April 29, 2014 from 3:30 PM – 5:30 PM ET
Where:  Room 562 Dirksen Senate Office Building (SD-562)
Register here!

View live webcast here: http://connectlive.com/events/cfare/

American agriculture is facing an information crossroads. Agricultural markets, producer and industry decisions, and public policy that facilitates markets, rely heavily upon public sector data and information. However, the nation's statistical agencies currently face unprecedented pressure to reevaluate their data products. In some cases, agencies have suspended, aggregated, and even eliminated data and statistical series critical for understanding or alleviating market volatility and uncertainties. Simultaneously, technology has enabled growth in big data gathering capabilities. Modern farmers and service providers are harvesting big data and combining it with site specific, farm level information to provide data-driven, prescriptive farming solutions. This dynamic information environment, while exciting, raises a number of challenges. The inaugural forum aims to elucidate a comprehensive understanding of the roles and value of private and public sources of data in facilitating U.S. domestic and international production and markets.


Speakers and Event

JB Penn, Chief Economist at Deere & Company will provide the keynote address to set the stage, discussing the situation, policy environment, and road ahead. A panel of experts will be moderated by Sara Wyant, President of Agri-Pulse Communications, Inc. The panel will include:

  • Mary Bohman — Administrator, USDA Economic Research Service
  • Bob Young – Chief Economist & Deputy Executive Director, Public Policy, American Farm Bureau Federation
  • Hubert Hamer, Jr. - Chair, Agricultural Statistics Board, USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service
  • Ted Crosbie – Distinguished Science Fellow, Monsanto
  • Barry Goodwin – Distinguished Professor, North Carolina State University, Ag. and Resource Economics
Panelists will identify critical knowledge gaps that reflect the agricultural marketplace’s contemporary analytical and policy-making needs. These experts will then engage the audience on the value of public information and big data, while addressing public-private issues that will shape the future competitiveness of U.S. agriculture and related industries.
This inaugural forum will build upon the recent C-FARE report, “From Farm Income to Food Consumption: Valuing USDA Data Products”, developed with support from the USDA Office of the Chief Economist. The forum will also complement the related discourse in articles published in Choices magazine.

Hosted by the Council on Food, Agricultural and Resource Economics (C-FARE)
Cosponsored by:

Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Nominations for Industry Members of the Board of Directors for the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research (FFAR)

USDA Foundation board member nominations deadline is April 28, 2014 by 5 PM ET

https://federalregister.gov/a/2014-07574

The C-FARE Board is invited to submit names of agricultural and applied economists employed by industry, non-profit, and or academic institutions who are qualified to govern the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research according to the Board responsibilities and FFAR mission and goals outlined below. Please note, the nominees are not required to be in industry, but must be nominated by someone in industry. C-FARE will work with industry contacts to submit the nominations.
C-FARE Deadline: Wednesday, April 23 by 11:59 PM ET.
To submit nominations, please ask the nominee for the following:
I. If they are not a member of industry, please indicate who from industry is willing to nominate them in addition to the information below.
II. If they are a member of industry, they only need to provide the following:
· Contact information—Name, position, institution/company, email, phone number.
· Biographical sketch—Paragraph form, no longer than two pages. Please emphasize skills and experience related to tech transfer, work with industry, understanding of USDA REE (and NSF) programs, emerging needs for ag sector, mentorship (next gen. mentorship), and ability to manage innovative and visionary research programs.
· (Not required, but recommended) Foundation Board Experience—State any experience related to Foundation Board grant management (300 words).
· Statement of Qualifications—Please emphasize the ability to identify the emerging needs for the ag sector, student and professional development program involvement, and ability to manage organizations to implement visionary action.
Please send C-FARE (info@cfare.org) this information by Wednesday, April 23 at 11:59 PM ET. 
Of Notable Importance
USDA Summary of Industry Board Member Responsibilities: The Foundation's Board will be responsible for governing the organization and ensuring it succeeds in its mission. To that end the Board members will oversee the mission and operation of the Foundation, including: Approving programs and monitoring their effectiveness, coordinating Foundation activities with federal research programs, awarding grants, and ensuring financial solvency and raising resources.
FFAR Board Appointment Process: The initial Board is to be appointed by the ex-officio board members designated in the statute. The ex-officio members are: The Secretary of Agriculture, the Under Secretary of Agriculture for Research, Education, and Economics, the Administrator of the Agricultural Research Service, the Director of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, and the Director of the National Science Foundation. The nominees are not required to be in industry, but must be nominated by someone in industry.
USDA Deadline: April 28, 2014 by 5 PM ET.
Letters of Support: Congressional Affairs, Research, Education, and Economics, Room 214-W, Whitten Building, United States Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Ave. SW., Washington, DC 20250-0321, fax number 202-260-8786, email FFAR@usda.gov.
Background Information on FFAR:
Summary: In accordance with Sec. 7601 of Pub. L. 113-79, the United States Department of Agriculture announces solicitation for nominations to fill 15 vacancies on the Foundation for Food and Agricultural Research. Seven (7) representatives are to be selected from lists of candidates provided by industry.*
*Eight (8) representatives are to be selected from a list of candidates provided by the National Academy of Sciences in a separate process (C-FARE/AAEA Completed Nominations on April 8).
Section 7601 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (Pub. L. 113-79) created a new Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research:
(1) To advance the research mission of the Department by supporting agricultural research activities focused on addressing key problems of national and international significance including—
(A) plant health, production, and plant products;
(B) animal health, production, and products;
(C) food safety, nutrition, and health;
(D) renewable energy, natural resources, and the environment;
(E) agricultural and food security;
(F) agriculture systems and technology; and
(G) agriculture economics and rural communities; and
(2) to foster collaboration with agricultural researchers from the Federal Government, State (as defined in section 1404 of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3103)) governments, institutions of higher education (as defined in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C, 1001)), industry, and nonprofit organizations.
In general, the Foundation shall:
(A) Award grants to, or enter into contracts, memoranda of understanding, or cooperative agreements with, scientists and entities, which may include agricultural research agencies in the Department, university consortia, public-private partnerships, institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations, and industry, to efficiently and effectively advance the goals and priorities of the Foundation;
(B) in consultation with the Secretary—(i) identify existing and proposed Federal intramural and extramural research and development programs relating to the purposes of the Foundation described in subsection (c); and (ii) coordinate Foundation activities with those programs so as to minimize duplication of existing efforts and to avoid conflicts;
(C) identify unmet and emerging agricultural research needs after reviewing the roadmap for agricultural research, education, and extension authorized by section 7504 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 7614a);
(D) facilitate technology transfer and release of information and data gathered from the activities of the Foundation to the agricultural research community;
(E) promote and encourage the development of the next generation of agricultural research scientists; and
(F) carry out such other activities as the Board determines to be consistent with the purposes of the Foundation.

Monday, April 14, 2014

Member Profile: Willi Meyers

Willi Meyers
Howard Cowden Professor of Agricultural and Applied Economics
University of Missouri

AAEA Activities:
  • Chair-Elect, Chair, and Past Chair AAEA International Section, 2012-2015
  • AAEA Membership Committee, 2011-2014
  • Executive Committee of the AAEA International Section 2009
  • AAEA Distinguished Policy Contribution Award, 1991
  • AAEA Quality of Communication Award, 1991
  • Associate Editor, American Journal of Agricultural Economics, 1987-1990
  • AAEA Liaison to National Agriculture Forum, 1983-1984

Friday, April 11, 2014

143rd Joint EAAE/AAEA Seminar: Call for Papers

Consumer Behavior in a Changing World: Food, Culture and Society
March 25-27, 2015
Naples, Italy

Theme
The main goal of the seminar is to provide an integrated multidisciplinary approach to the analysis of food consumption and consumer behavior. It aims to encourage broad discussion among economists, sociologists, psychologists, anthropologists and marketing scholars on the role of food consumption in the late modern society and on the need to adopt innovative tools for the analysis of consumer's behavior and choices.
Participants who would like to present a paper are requested to submit an abstract in English (max 3500 keystrokes including spaces; Times New Roman font, size 12, double spacing) before October 31st, 2014 using the Conf Tool Platform available on the website of the seminar: http://www.143eaae-aaea-seminar.org/ .
The abstract should indicate: the question addressed, theoretical background, methods, results and potential for discussion. Notification of acceptance/rejection will be communicated by December 1, 2014. The deadline for submission of the full version of accepted papers is February 28, 2015. Download the flyer for the call for papers for more information.
Dissemination
A selection of the best seminar papers will be considered, after an external double blind review process, for publication in a special issue of the British Food Journal, the Journal of Economic Psychology; in a special section of the International Journal of Food and Agribusiness Marketing and Psicologia della Salute. A special issue or section is also scheduled in Appetite.

Tuesday, April 8, 2014

Recordings Posted for Farm Bill Webinar Series: Specialty Crop Programs, Food Safety & FSMA and Thoughts for the Future

Recordings Posted for:

2014 Farm Bill - Specialty Crop Programs, Food Safety & FSMA and Thoughts for Future
Presentations:

* Dr. Daniel Sumner, University of California- Davis - 2014 Farm Bill Specialty Crop Programs
* Dr. Elizabeth (Betsy) Bihn, Cornell University - Food Safety and the Food Safety Modernization Act

* Dr. Shannon Neibergs, Washington State University - 2014 Farm Bill Insights and Thoughts for the Future
 
Archives: Webinars will be recorded and presentation materials are archived at:


For More Information:
Point your browser to
http://AgInUncertainTimes.FarmManagement.org for additional details and to log in.

Webinar Sponsors:
 
Extension Risk Management Education Centers

SERA 39 Multistate Public Policy Issues Education Committee

Agricultural and Applied Economics Association-Extension Section

The Council on Food, Agriculture, & Resource Economics

Regional Extension Farm Management Committees and Ag in Uncertain Times

Tuesday, April 1, 2014

Deadline Extended for Mentor Applications

The AAEA Early Career Development Committee is pleased to announce that it is in the process of developing the 2014-2015 AAEA Mentoring Program. This is an excellent opportunity for members to enhance their careers through the development of a dynamic mentoring partnership. The Mentor Application deadline has been extended to April 8, 2014. We are no longer accepting applications for mentees.
As a volunteer mentor, you have the opportunity to share your knowledge, your experience, and your insights with the next generation of leaders working in applied economics and related fields. Mentors should have at least seven years of experience/tenure in their current profession and demonstrated excellence in their career.
The 12 month commitment begins with a comprehensive matching process.  Once partnerships are formed, a formal Dynamic Mentoring Connections training will take place at the Joint Annual Meeting in Minneapolis, MN on July 25-26, 2014 for all matched participants.  While the program encourages mentoring pairs to commit to a minimum of two meetings (email, phone, etc.) per month devoted to mentoring activities, mentor pairs will determine the length and frequency of the mentoring meetings. A mid-year energizer webinar and year-end celebration will also be provided as part of the program. Additionally, all program participants will be asked to complete program evaluations at mid, end, and 6 months after program completion. 

Submit your mentor application online at: http://www.aaea.org/membership/early-career-development/mentorship-workshop


USDA-ERS on C-SPAN Discussing Food Prices

On March 22, 2014 ERS Economist Richard (Ricky) Volpe was on C-SPAN's live Saturday morning show Washington Journal. Host John McArdle and Ricky discussed food prices, how they’re impacted by droughts, and what price forecasts look like so far this year. Watch the discussion here: http://www.c-span.org/video/?318343-5/washington-journal-factors-impact-us-food-prices

Recordings Posted for Farm Bill Webinar Series: Nutrition & Food Policy, Trade Implications and Research Title Highlights

2014 Farm Bill Webinar Series Continues:

Recordings for this webinar and past webinars are available here:

Presentations:

* Dr. Helen Chipman, NPL-Food and Nutrition Education NIFA, USDA - Nutrition and Food Policy:
Nutrition Education - EFNEP/SNAP-Ed
* Dr. John Vansickle, University of Florida - 2014 Farm Bill Implications to Trade Policy and Food Aid

* Dr. John King & Kelly Day-Rubenstein Agricultural Economists, USDA Economic Research Service - 2014 Farm Bill Research Title Highlights

Upcoming Webinar Presentations:
April 14 - Specialty Crop Programs, Food Safety & FSMA and Thoughts for the Future

Archives: Webinars will be recorded and presentation materials are archived at:


For More Information:
Point your browser to http://AgInUncertainTimes.FarmManagement.org for additional details and to log in.

Webinar Sponsors:
 
Extension Risk Management Education Centers

SERA 39 Multistate Public Policy Issues Education Committee

Agricultural and Applied Economics Association-Extension Section

The Council on Food, Agriculture, & Resource Economics

Regional Extension Farm Management Committees and Ag in Uncertain Times