Members in the News: Glauber, Katchova, Newton, Masters, Schmidt, Lusk, and Malone

Joseph Glauber, IFPRI Keeping Trump's Trade Aid in Context By: Politico - November 25, 2019 The size of the program could create headaches for the U.S. if it’s challenged under global trade rules, which limit government support for agriculture, according to former USDA Chief Economist Joseph Glauber. (Continued...) Read more on: Politico Ani Katchova, Ohio State University John Newton, American Farm Bureau Federation U.S. Farm Bankruptcies Spike Amid Trade War, New Debt Cap By: Bloomberg Law - December 2, 2019 The “significant increase” in government payments, coupled with more crop insurance payments, have helped drive up farm income in 2019, Katchova said. The new law means that people who had not previously considered Chapter 12 “can now look at that as an option,” Farm Bureau chief economist John Newton said. (Continued...) Read more on: Bloomberg Law William Masters, Tufts University Climate Change Increases Food Prices for Billions in Sub-Saharan Africa By: InsideOver - December 11, 2019 “The cost of food preparation and non-food necessities ensure that an even larger number of people cannot afford that kind of healthy diet,” said senior author William Masters, an economist at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University. (Continued...) Read more on: InsideOver Claudia Schmidt, Pennsylvania State University Impact of animal infectious disease to be focus of conference at Penn State By: The Bradford Era - December 14, 2019 Sessions will be chaired by Penn State faculty including Terry Etherton, distinguished professor of animal nutrition and head of the Department of Animal Science; Vivek Kapur, professor of animal science and Huck Distinguished Chair in Global Health; Isabella Cattadori, associate professor of biology in the Eberly College of Science; Claudia Schmidt, assistant professor of agricultural economics; Andrew Read, director, Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Evan Pugh Professor of Biology and Entomology... (Continued...) Read more on: The Bradford Era Jayson Lusk, Purdue University Future Of Protein Will Need Both Meat, Plant-Based Options By: WFYI Indianapolis - December 1, 2019 “And maybe it’s because they’re starting up, they don’t have scale economies yet, maybe their targeting a certain clientele that’s higher income,” says Lusk. “But if we don’t wake up, five to 10 years from now and see these products substantially less expensive I think it does call into question some of the claims about the resource savings.” (Continued...) Read more on: WFYI Indianapolis Trey Malone, Michigan State University Trump supporters more likely to avoid gluten, study from OSU researcher says By: The Oklahoman - December 15, 2019 But the study Norwood conducted with Michigan State University assistant professor Trey Malone found self-described conservatives and liberals avoid gluten at roughly the same rates. (Continued...) Read more on: The Oklahoman 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 Scheetz at ascheetz@aaea.org.

Environmental Research PhD and Postdoc Opportunities

The Gund Institute at UVM

The Gund Institute for Environment at the University of Vermont (UVM) brings scholars and leaders together to accelerate research, uncover solutions, and tackle the world's most pressing environmental issues. The Gund focuses on environmental issues at the interface of four pressing research themes: climate solutions, health and well-being, sustainable agriculture, and resilient communities.

Gund Institute Funded PhD Opportunities: The Gund Institute for Environment seeks exceptional PhD applicants to start Fall 2020 and conduct interdisciplinary research on global environmental challenges. Applications are due January 15, 2020.

The Gund Institute is a newly expanded campus-wide research accelerator, where 180 faculty, global affiliates, postdocs, and graduate students collaborate widely to understand interactions among ecological, social, and economic systems. We explore environmental issues at the interface of four pressing research themes: climate solutions, health and well-being, sustainable agriculture, and resilient communities.

We are committed to ensuring an inclusive environment where diverse voices and perspectives are active and welcome. We encourage applicants who bring diverse perspectives to our community.

CURRENT OFFERS: Gund PhD Fellowships: We seek up to four PhD students to work on Gund research themes, especially the connections among them. Students will receive up to four years of support at $32,000 per year, plus tuition.

Gund Barrett PhD Fellowships: We seek up to two PhD students for a new opportunity provided by the Gund Institute and UVM’s College of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences (CEMS), supported by The Barrett Foundation. Students will receive up to four years of funding, including an annual stipend of $35,000, plus tuition.

All students are eligible for health insurance, and conference and research funds.

For more information and application instructions, visit uvm.edu/gund/gund-phd-fellowships .

Gund Institute Postdoc Positions: The Gund Institute for Environment seeks exceptional postdoctoral scholars to start Fall 2020 and conduct interdisciplinary research on major global environmental challenges. Applications are due February 15, 2020.

The Gund Institute is a newly expanded campus-wide research accelerator, where 180 faculty, global affiliates, postdocs, and graduate students collaborate widely to understand interactions among ecological, social, and economic systems. We explore environmental issues at the interface of four pressing research themes: climate solutions, health and well-being, sustainable agriculture, and resilient communities.

We are committed to ensuring an inclusive environment where diverse voices and perspectives are active and welcome. We encourage applicants who bring diverse perspectives to our community.

ABOUT THE POSITIONS: Gund Postdocs pursue rigorous, original research that spans traditional disciplines and advances Gund research themes. Postdocs are supervised by at least one Gund Faculty Fellow. Co-advisors from different departments are encouraged.

These two-year positions have an annual salary of $49,000, plus benefits, and a $5,000 per year discretionary fund for research costs and travel. Postdocs also benefit from professional development opportunities, including communications and policy training.

For more information and application instructions, visit: uvm.edu/gund/postdoctoral-fellowships

Members in the News: Gundersen, Boehm, Cash, Glauber, Zheng, Adjemaian, Johansson, Fan, Zhang, Dorfman, Rabinowitz, Schoengold, Griffin, McCracken, Schmidt, Headey, James, Belasco, Smith, Hewlett, Parsons, and Mintert

Craig Gundersen, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Trump’s new SNAP rules threaten a food stamps program that is an American success story By: NBC News' THINK - December 7, 2019 On Wednesday, the Trump administration instituted a policy that would lead to hundreds of thousands of people losing access to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. This represents a frustrating setback for a program which has, up until now, enjoyed bipartisan support. (Continued...) Read more on: NBC News' THINK Rebecca Boehm, Union Concerned Scientists Sean Cash, Tufts University What happens when the nation’s largest school system goes meatless one day a week? By: The Hill - November 22, 2019 “You can create a model diet, or a scenario diet, or an average diet, but there’s just so much variation — across people, across diets, across foods,” nothing is perfect, says Rebecca Boehm, an economist at the Union of Concerned Scientists. That’s especially important in schools, where menu planners balance nutritional standards, feasibility, affordability and taste, says Sean Cash, an economist at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University.  (Continued...) Read more on: The Hill Joseph Glauber, IFPRI Yuqing Zheng, University of Kentucky Michael Adjemian, University of Georgia Robert Johansson, USDA-OCE Trump's $28 Billion Trade War Bailout is Over Paying Farmers By: Bloomberg - December 4, 2019 President Donald Trump’s $28 billion farm bailout may be paying many growers more than the trade war with China has cost them. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s calculations overshot the impact of the trade conflict on American soybean prices, according to six academic studies, a conclusion that is likely to add to criticism that the bailout has generated distortions and inequalities in the farm economy. (Continued...) Read more on: Bloomberg Shenggen Fan, IFPRI Alternative meat can sustain food systems By: China Daily - November 22, 2019 Pork prices in China have increased significantly of late thanks to an African swine fever outbreak which killed or forced the authorities to cull millions of pigs. National Bureau of Statistics data show that prices of pork jumped 20.1 percent month-on-month in October. Rising for nearly a year, the price of pork peaked in late October at 53.79 yuan per kilogram, up 188 percent year-on-year. Since then prices have fallen sharply following reports of fresh disease outbreaks. (Continued...) Read more on: China Daily Wendong Zhang, Iowa State University Iowa Land Values Rise in 2019 Successful Farming - December 11, 2019 Despite downturn, Iowa's farmland values climb 2.3%, given low interest rates and limited supply Des Moines Register - December 11, 2019 3 reasons farmers back President Trump on China trade The Gazette - December 6, 2019 Iowa Farmland Value Grows 2.3% in 2019, But Barely Exceeds Inflation KIWAradio - December 11, 2019 ISU survey finds farmland value up slightly RadioIowa - December 12, 2019 Jeffery Dorfman, University of Georgia Adam Rabinowitz, University of Georgia Georgia Ag Forecast set for five locations in 2020 By: Tifton Gazette - December 12, 2019 “Right now, economic data is mixed with good and bad news for the future of Georgia’s economy. There is a lot of uncertainty surrounding regulations and how they will impact farmers, agribusinesses, rural communities and Georgia’s overall economy,” Dorfman said. “It’s important to cut through the noise and focus on the fundamentals.” “We are in a period of great uncertainty in agriculture, with lasting depressed commodity prices, ongoing trade disputes and a continued recovery from natural disasters,” Rabinowitz said. “As a result of these challenges, it is of great importance that agricultural producers and agribusinesses plan for the upcoming growing season.” (Continued...) Read more on: The Tifton Gazette Karina Schoengold, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Can water shares help to save California aquifers? By: Taipei Times - December 8, 2019 Previously, the state was one of the most unregulated in the parched US west on groundwater, University of Nebraska associate professor of agricultural economics Karina Schoengold said. While water markets are just one potential strategy for conversation, they are receiving major interest across the state — and that in turn is drawing attention nationally, she said. (Continued...) Read more on: Taipei Times

Joseph Glauber, IFPRI Trump injects new uncertainty over a prolonged China trade war AgriPulse - December 4, 2019 Adams on Agriculture Podcast featuring Joseph Glauber PodBean - November 26, 2019 Terry Griffin, Kansas State University Drive To The Data By: GrowPro - Fall 2019 “(What) I really enjoy asking, is why farmers do what (they) do,” said Griffin, a cropping systems economist at Kansas State University. Griffin is best known for his expertise in precision agriculture, technology adoption and farm management. While he spends most of his time on such topics, Griffin also seeks answers to more arcane questions. (Continued...) Read more on: GrowPro Vicki McCracken, Washington State University

New WSU Extension director: 'I intend to listen a lot' By: Capital Press - December 9, 2019 “I intend to listen a lot and help provide leadership and guidance that will help farmers of all scales,” McCracken told the Capital Press. “I want farmers to think extension links them to resources within the university, but is also a resource on its own.” (Continued...) Read more on: Capital Press Claudia Schmidt, Pennsylvania State University Penn State conference to focus on combating foreign animal diseases By: National Hog Farmer - December 11, 2019 Sessions will be chaired by Penn State faculty including Terry Etherton, distinguished professor of animal nutrition and head of the Department of Animal Science; Vivek Kapur, professor of animal science and Huck Distinguished Chair in Global Health; Isabella Cattadori, associate professor of biology in the Eberly College of Science; Claudia Schmidt, assistant professor of agricultural economics; Andrew Read, director, Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences... (Continued...) Read more on: National Hog Farmer Derek Headey, IFPRI The EAT-Lancet Diet is unaffordable, but who is to blame? By: Devex - December 2, 2019 Derek Headey, a co-author of the research and a senior research fellow in IFPRI's poverty, health, and nutrition division, said the number who would not be able to afford it was likely more, once you consider that they must also pay for other necessities, including rent and transportation, out of their income. (Continued...) Read more on: Devex Harvey S. James Jr., University of Missouri Professional appointed editor-in-chief of Agriculture and Human Values By: The Mercury - December 6, 2019 Sanderson is welcomed by the outgoing editor-in-chief of the journal, Harvey S. James Jr., professor of agricultural economics and associate director of the Division of Applied Social Sciences at the University of Missouri, Columbia: “Agriculture and Human Values will soon begin its 37th year. As editor-in-chief of the journal for 13 years, I have a vested interest in ensuring that the new editor appreciates the journal’s status in the academic community and has a vision for its continued growth and impact. (Continued...) Read more on: The Mercury Eric Belasco, Montana State University Volatility the name of the game with current cattle markets By: The Courier - December 6, 2019 “Some of the studies I have seen in the past haven’t shown that the packers are exerting any sort of undue pressure. They have shown that the packer’s margins are pretty small, but there are huge gains from scale. So, these larger processors can compete on volume, but not necessarily margins,” Belasco explained. (Continued...) Read more on: The Courier Eric Belasco, Montana State University Vincent H. Smith, Montana State University How the biggest farms are getting more per acre in trade-war subsidies By: MarketWatch - December 11, 2019 American farmers are benefiting from over $24 billion in new subsidies as compensation for lost sales caused by the on-going U.S.-China trade war. The American Enterprise Institute estimates those payments are three to four times bigger than actual losses. Ironically, most of the monies are going to the biggest and richest farms who already receive the lion’s share of federal crop insurance program subsidies and don’t need financial help. (Continued...) Read more on: MarketWatch John Hewlett, University of Wyoming Jay Parsons, University of Nebraska-Lincoln James Mintert, Purdue University Purdue Top Farmer Conference to Focus on Risk Management By: Hoosier Ag Today & Jackson Progress-Argus The pre-conference session, “Ag Survivor – Strategies for Managing Risks in Your Operation,” will provide an overview of potential risks farmers may face in 2020 and offer management strategies that will play a critical role in successful farm practices for the coming year. Experts John Hewlett, ranch/farm management specialist from the University of Wyoming, and Jay Parsons, associate professor of agricultural economics from the University of Nebraska, will lead workshop participants in developing strategies that will enable their farms to thrive in today’s challenging environment. “Farmers faced difficult decisions this year that had the potential to drastically impact their operations,” said James Mintert, Purdue agricultural economics professor and director of the Center for Commercial Agriculture. “The ag survivor workshop gives farmers an opportunity to analyze potential risks facing their farm and develop strategies to combat those risks in a hands-on learning environment. The pre-conference will equip participants with the tools and confidence they need for future success.” (Continued...) Read more on: Hoosier Ag Today & Jackson Progress-Argus John Hewlett, University of Wyoming Jay Parsons, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Purdue Top Farmer Conference Coming in January By: Herald Journal - December 11, 2019 Experts John Hewlett, ranch/farm management specialist from the University of Wyoming, and Jay Parsons, associate professor of agricultural economics from the University of Nebraska, will lead workshop participants in developing strategies that will enable their farms to thrive in today’s challenging environment. (Continued...) Read more on: Herald Journal

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 Scheetz at ascheetz@aaea.org.

Members in the News: Zheng, Wang, Glauber, Westhoff, Adjemian, Johansson, Griffen, Zhang, Irwin, DeLay, Thompson, Mintert, and Davis

Yuqing Zheng, University of Kentucky H. Holly Wang, Purdue University Joseph Glauber, IFPRI Pat Westhoff, University of Missouri Michael Adjemian, University of Georgia Robert Johansson, USDA-OCE Joseph Glauber Read more at: https://www.bloombergquint.com/politics/trump-s-28-billion-trade-war-bailout-is-overpaying-many-farmers Copyright © BloombergQuint Trump's $28 Billion Trade War Bailout is Overpaying Farmers By: Bloomberg - December 4, 2019 President Donald Trump’s $28 billion farm bailout may be paying many growers more than the trade war with China has cost them. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s calculations overshot the impact of the trade conflict on American soybean prices, according to six academic studies, a conclusion that is likely to add to criticism that the bailout has generated distortions and inequalities in the farm economy. “It’s clear that the payment rates overstated the damage suffered by soybean growers,” said Joseph Glauber, the USDA’s former chief economist who published a review of the research in late November. “Based on what the studies show, the damages were about half that.” Read more at: https://www.bloombergquint.com/politics/trump-s-28-billion-trade-war-bailout-is-overpaying-many-farmers Copyright © BloombergQuint (Continued...) Read more on: Bloomberg Terry Griffen, Kansas State University Finding the Value in Ag Tech By: Successful Farming - November 22, 2019 Automated technologies, those that make life better for farmers, have been more readily adopted than those that are more data-intense like yield monitors, grid soil sampling, and variable rate, says Terry Griffin, associate professor, Kansas State University. “The lack of third-party support for data-intense technologies may cause farmers to pause and consider if they have access to adequate hu- man capital to warrant investment in their own time and financial resources,” he says. (Continued...) Read more on: Successful Farming Wendong Zhang, Iowa State University Big changes ahead in land ownership and farm operators? AgriPulse - February 5, 2019 China fears trade conflicts, climate change could pose threat to food security South China Morning Post - November 30, 2019 Scott Irwin, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign 2019 Illinois Farm Economics Summit begins in December By: The Telegraph - November 30, 2019 “The stress of a prolonged period of low grain prices was amplified by low yield due to poor planting and summer growing season weather,” says U of I agricultural economist Scott Irwin. “Producers and landowners continue to face a series of difficult management challenges as they grapple with adjusting to this highly volatile economic environment.” (Continued...) Read more on: The Telegraph Nathan DeLay, Purdue University Nathan Thompson, Purdue University James Mintert, Purdue University Conference will focus on mitigating risk By: KPC News - November 29, 2019 Purdue professors Nathan DeLay, Nathan Thompson, and James Mintert will share survey data from crop farmers regarding their usage of digital ag technology on their farms. Purdue’s crop production specialists, Robert Nielsen and Shaun Casteel from Purdue agronomy and Bill Johnson from Purdue weed science, will discuss lessons from 2019 that can be applied to farmer’s 2020 production plans. The conference will conclude with a session featuring crop climatologist Eric Snodgrass, from Nutrien Ag Solutions and the University of Illinois, on weather and climate impacts on crop production and managing weather risk in production agriculture. (Continued...) Read more on: KPC News Alison Davis, University of Kentucky UK home to new national center studying economic impacts of rural health care By: The Lane Report - December 2, 2019 “CEDIK is a perfect fit for this new center, because we are an integrated research and outreach center designed to explore the relationship between health access and local economic development,” Davis said. “The purpose of CEARH is to increase public and stakeholder awareness of the economic impacts of rural health care sectors on rural, state and national economies, as well as the relationship between community economic development and the health outcomes of rural residents. The hope is we will have a system of quality care in our rural places. We will provide tools to help providers talk about the economic importance of the local hospital or other medical services to their local community.” (Continued...) Read more on: The Lane Report

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 Allison Scheetz at ascheetz@aaea.org What research and topics are you working on? Want to be an expert source for journalists working on a story? Contact Allison Scheetz at ascheetz@aaea.org.

Webinar: America's Diverse Family Farms, 2019 Edition

In this webinar, ERS Economist Christine Whitt presents findings from America's Diverse Family Farms, 2019 Edition, a brochure that describes in detail the different types of farms in the United States.

Date: Thursday, December 12, 2019 

Time: 4:00 PM EST 

Duration: 1 hour

Host(s): Christine Whitt, Economist, Economic Research Service, USDA