Western Economics Forum (WEF)

Call for Papers and Case Studies for Fall 2020

Topical Focus of Special WEF Issue:
Adding Economic Value – Increasing Farm and Community Prosperity in the Western U.S.

The Western Economics Forum (WEF) focuses on interdisciplinary issues relevant to the Western United States. Western state economies continue to be impacted by highly variable returns to key commodities; policies that influence the availability of labor, water and other critical inputs; as well as weather patterns that affect the quantity and quality of agricultural production. In response, agricultural producers, researchers, community organizations and educators are seeking strategies to smooth variability in rural incomes, create new sources of employment, reduce use of increasingly scarce inputs to production, and develop markets for new services and products.

The Western Economics Forum organizes peer-reviewed economic research and cutting-edge thinking and ideas about contemporary issues affecting the Western United States. The papers and case studies in this special issue for fall 2020 are meant to inform community practitioners, technical assistance providers and policy makers as well as academics and agency personnel working and involved in increasing farm and community prosperity.

For its Fall 2020 issue, the Western Economics Forum welcomes authors to submit papers or articles for peer review addressing both validated and emerging tools and strategies that contribute economic benefit to Western agricultural value chains. We seek papers exploring how innovations in production, processing, marketing and policy are creating new opportunities for agricultural producers to improve their financial wellbeing and create positive spillover effects in their communities. Papers might analyze the value created by the introduction of new specialty crop and livestock products, new production methods such as indoor and agrivoltaic systems, new processes for creating or distributing agricultural and food products, and new markets for products or services such as agritourism or farm to school programs. These papers are intended in general to be 10-12 pages or 2,500 words in final form, with up to 15-20 pages and 3,500 words maximum.

This issue also includes a case study section. We encourage community organizations, entrepreneurs and collaborative ventures to submit case studies or briefs (final form) about innovative projects addressing issues related to food production, processing, marketing and/or distribution issues with economic implications. These case studies can be preliminary reports and may include less quantitative analysis than what is in a conventional research paper. The article should include the project objectives, steps taken, quantitative and/or qualitative evaluation methodologies and project outcomes. It can include online links to supplementary content. These case studies are intended to be 3-5 pages in final form (i.e., 1,000-1,250 words).

All submissions, including both submitted papers and case studies, will be peer reviewed.

Submission Guidelines:
Authors are required to provide WEF editors with suggestions for at least 2-3 reviewers for each article submitted. See complete submission guidelines for Fall 2020 WEF issue on the Western Economics Forum website, part of the Western Agricultural Economics Association, i.e., WAEA, http://www.waeaonline.org/

Submission Timeline:
Deadline for Submission: April 1, 2020

The Western Economics Forum is sponsored by the Western Agricultural Economics Association. For past issues of the Western Economics Forum, visit the following web address: http://www.waeaonline.org/publications/western-economics-forum