Members in the News: Ani Katchova and Norbert Wilson

Ani Katchova, The Ohio State University Farm Bankruptcy Rates Are Sure to Rise, Says Analyst By: Successful Farming - March 23, 2017 The sharp decline in farm income and erosion in farmland values since commodity prices collapsed in 2013 are early signs that the farm bankruptcy rate, now a low 2 per 10,000 farms, is on the rise, says economist Ani Katchova of Ohio State University. “Bankruptcy rates will probably continue to go up in 2017 and beyond if current conditions continue,” the associate professor said at USDA’s Outlook Forum. The rise will be constrained by the strong equity position of many farmers and the fact that many operators have off-farm income, said Katchova. At present, indicators of financial stress, such as the debt-to-asset ratio, are at benign levels, although inching upward. The bankruptcy rate is a lagging indicator, registering movement after debt ratios increase and loan delinquencies accumulate. (Continued...) Read the entire article on Successful Farming Norbert Wilson, Tufts University Norbert Wilson Calls for the Creation of “Shared Values” Across the Food System By: Food Tank - March 2017 Norbert Wilson, PhD, is speaking at the inaugural Boston Food Tank Summit, “Investing in Discovery,” which will be held in collaboration with Tufts University and Oxfam America on April 1, 2017. In January, Norbert joined the Friedman School at Tufts University as tenure-track Professor. He is a published researcher who centers his work on food waste and food choice, especially for individuals living with low incomes. Norbert uses “nudges,” based on behavioral economics, to encourage the selection of healthier products at food pantries. Concerning food waste, Norbert uses experimental economics to explore how date labels influence future food waste. Additionally, he has worked on food safety and quality issues in international trade and domestic food systems. He also loves good coffee and has published an analysis of coffee quality and prices. Food Tank had the opportunity to ask Norbert a few questions about what inspired his research and passion for understanding the way people make their daily food choices. (Continued...) Read the entire article on Food Tank

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