A decade of development and contribution of AAEA China Section

To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the China Section last year, an article was published in China Agricultural Economics Review to report the section’s history, growth, contribution and outlook (Wang, 2021).  We would like to share its main points with AAEA members here.

China Section was founded in 2009 as the first AAEA section focusing on issues related to a particular country. There were 86 founding members, mostly from US universities and USDA. China’s amazing economic development the 1990s and early 2000s caught scholars’ attention worldwide then on its agricultural development, its food and fiber markets, and its trade policy. These issues were especially important to the US, and a cohort of AAEA scholars had been mobilized to study for years, whom formed the core of this section then.

The section is intended to facilitate collaboration, mentor junior AAEA members, and bridge between AAEA and other professional organizations worldwide on agricultural and economics issues related to China. Over the first ten years, its paid membership increased to 134. The growth was mainly driven by new members from outside the U.S., especially China where the membership quintupled.  A separately maintained Chinese social media group has over 700 subscribers, many are past section members.  Graduate student membership also grew from about 15% to almost 50%, showing the attractiveness to junior professionals.  China section’s AAEA organized paper session quota grew from two to three based on its membership. Still, over 150 submitted abstracts competed for the limited slots in recent years.

Scholars from the China Section have actively engaged in research on important and timely issues with impactful outcomes. Recent years have observed trade conflicts between U.S. and China, especially in the agricultural sector. In response, section members published multiple themed symposia in Choices, provided expert testimonies to the U.S. Congress, and organized a well-attended post-conference at 2019 AAEA Annual Meetings.  Chinese agricultural economic development also provides experience to the world, such as its advanced grocery online market and restaurant delivery system. Two journal special issues focusing on China topics were organized by recent section leaders, Agribusiness (2020) and China Agricultural Economics Review (2021). The Section has made continuous contribution to the AAEA, the profession, and the public.

China section has diverse members in gender, race, country of origin, seniority, and sub-discipline in applied economics. It has experienced a steady growth since its inception owning to the support from AAEA presidents, executives board, sister sections, senior mentors, and peer members as well as our external sponsors and supporters. The current leaders and members are inspired to continue the legacy and bring the Section to the next level.

Reference

Wang, H. H. 2021 Editorial: China Section in Agricultural and Applied Economic Association: History, Growth, Contribution and Outlook. 13 (2), 249-259. DOI:10.1108/CAER-05-2021-263

Members in the News: Gomez, Zhang, Gallardo, McCluskey, Schweizer, Ellison, Curtis, Tonsor, Schroeder, Lusk, Kalambokidis, Van Deynze, Swinton, et al.

Miguel Gomez, Cornell University Farmers getting a smaller slice of the grocery pie, but Australia's far gate value soars to record highs By: ABC News - June 23, 2021 Cornell University's Dr Miguel Gomez said in that time food prices had risen and more businesses were taking a cut than before. "If you look at this 50 years ago, (the farmer's share of consumer spending) was about 40 to 50 per cent in most countries and today it's just 16 per cent. Prices of food have increased with inflation," he said. (Continued...) Read more on: ABC News Wendong Zhang, Iowa State University Tourists willing to drive farther and spend more for cleaner lakes By: The Gazette - June 21, 2021 The newest version of the Iowa lakes survey, done in 2019 and 2020, hasn’t been released yet by the state DNR, but Wendong Zhang, an assistant professor in economics from ISU, shared highlights Wednesday in a virtual presentation. (Continued...) Read more on: The Gazette Karina Gallardo, Washington State University Jill McCluskey, Washington State University People will pay more for 'clean label' ready-to-eat meals with fewer ingredients, study finds By: National Post - June 18, 2021 “Clean label definitely gives this idea that yes, this product is as natural as it can possibly be,” says Karina Gallardo, a Washington State University (WSU) professor of economics and author of a new study examining consumer preferences in the journal Agribusiness. In the study, Gallardo, fellow WSU economist Jill McCluskey and Kara Grant, an economist at Missouri Western University, found that people will pay more for ready-to-eat meals containing few ingredients. What’s more, many are inclined to buy clean label foods made with new technologies that help limit the use of artificial or chemical components. (Continued...) Read more on: National Post Heidi Schweizer, North Carolina State University Replacing just-in-time with just-in-case By: The Western Producer - June 10, 2021 “Firms are holding more inventory, so instead of holding one week’s worth of inventory, they might hold one month’s,” said Heidi Schweizer, an economist at North Carolina State University. (Continued...) Read more on: The Western Producer Brenna Ellison, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Smaller plates help reduce food waste in campus dining halls By: Environmental News Bits - June 21, 2021 Shifting from round to oval plates with a smaller surface area can significantly reduce food waste in dining halls, says Brenna Ellison, associate professor in the Department of Agricultural and Consumer Economics (ACE) and co-author on the study. (Continued...) Read more on: Environmental News Bits Kynda Curtis, Utah State University Severe drought increases tribal water woes By: Native America Calling - June 22, 2021 Scientists have deemed the current drought in the western states a “megadrought.” That’s because the extreme dry conditions have already lasted two decades and there’s no end in sight. The U.S. Drought Monitor calls it the worst on record. The resulting constrictions on surface and ground water is creating hardships for Native farmers and ranchers. It’s also further endangering salmon and other wildlife important to tribes. (Continued...) Read more on: Native America Calling Glynn Tonsor, Kansas State University Checkoff-Funded Meat Demand Research at Kansas State University Reveals Consumer Protein Preferences and Purchase Patterns By: Perishable News - June 21, 2021 For Dr. Tonsor, curiosity about consumer meat and food demand just comes naturally. While growing up on a hog farm in Missouri, Dr. Tonsor quickly developed an interest in agricultural markets and pursued that interest. Today, Dr. Tonsor is a professor in the Agricultural Economics department at Kansas State University where he also executes and authors the MDM project. (Continued...) Read more on: Perishable News Glynn Tonsor, Kansas State University Ted Schroeder, Kansas State University Jayson Lusk, Purdue University Beef's Market-Share Muscle By: Progressive Farmer - June 21, 2021 The study was authored by KSU agricultural economists Glynn Tonsor and Ted Schroeder, and Jayson Lusk, distinguished professor of agricultural economics at Purdue University. It included a nationwide survey of more than 3,000 consumers, with nearly 70% identifying as regular meat consumers and the remainder identifying as alternative dieters, such as vegan, vegetarian, flexitarian, etc. (Continued...) Read more on: Progressive Farmer Laura Kalambokidis, University of Minnesota Latest tax collection report reveals the state of Minnesota is pretty much rolling in cash By: MinnPost - June 11, 2021 The Legislature can’t spend that money in the budget currently under discussion — State Economist Laura Kalambokidis calls it “revenues in excess of forecast,” not a surplus — but it suggests that there will be another large revenue surplus when the state balances the books for the 2020-2021 fiscal year. It also is likely that a large projected surplus will appear when the next official spending and revenue forecast is produced, in November. (Continued...) Read more on: MinnPost Braeden Van Deynze, University of Washington Scott Swinton, Michigan State University David Hennessy, Michigan State University American Journal of Agricultural Economics Herbicide-resistant weeds threaten conservation ag By: Morning Ag Clips - June 18, 2021 In a new study published in the American Journal of Agricultural Economics, Braeden Van Deynze (now a postdoctoral research associate at the University of Washington), Scott Swinton (MSU), and David Hennessy (MSU), examined the herbicide and tillage records of thousands of soybean farmers across the United States. The researchers found that where herbicide-resistant weeds are more common, farmers are less likely to utilize conservation tillage practices. (Continued...) Read more on: Morning Ag Clips Trey Malone, Michigan State University Fast-food restaurants can reopen their Michigan dining rooms - here's why many haven't By: MLive - June 22, 2021 People are excited to eat out again after 15 months of takeout and drive-thru, Malone said. But early reopeners have stumbled on a new problem: Customers don’t know which fast-food restaurants are open inside. (Continued...) Read more on: MLive Courtney Bir, Oklahoma State University Bees are in tune to Oklahoma weather By: 2 News Oklahoma - June 25, 2021 Have you heard the buzz? Oklahoma welcomes backyard beekeepers By: The Oklahoman - June 19, 2021

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 Ware at aware@aaea.org. *Disclaimer - This email is to acknowledge citations of current AAEA members and/or their research in any public media channel. AAEA does not agree nor disagree with the views or attitudes of cited outside publications.

Members in the News: Lusk, Upendram, Goodwin, Zhang, Mintert, Thompson, Reeling, Deller, Tonsor, Outlaw, Sumner, Zilberman, AJAE, & AEPP

American Journal of Agricultural Economics Cheap for You. Costly for the Environment. By: The New York Times - June 15, 2021 According to a study published in the American Journal of Agricultural Economics, the average U.S. household wastes 31.9 percent of the food they purchase annually.  (Continued...) Read more on: The New York Times Jayson Lusk, Purdue University Bacon keeps getting more expensive — it now costs 13% more than last year, government data shows By: Insider - June 11, 2021 Quotes from World Pork Expo By: Pork - June 11, 2021 Purdue agricultural economics advisors receive national awards By: WBIW - June 9, 2021 Sreedhar Upendram, University of Tennessee UTIA professor receives community development early career achievement award By: Bioengineer - June 10, 2021 Sreedhar Upendram, assistant professor in the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics at the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture, has received the 2021 Bonnie Teater Community Development Early Career Achievement Award from the Southern Rural Development Center. (Continued...) Read more on: Bioengineer Barry Goodwin, University of Tennessee Prop 12 offers no benefit to consumers, animal welfare By: Farm Progress - June 9, 2021 In a letter to Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, NPPC President Jen Sorenson shared a new analysis from Barry Goodwin, an economist from North Carolina State University, which found if Prop 12 is implemented, the costs to producers will be catastrophic. (Continued...) Read more on: Farm Progress Wendong Zhang, Iowa State University ISU survey shows biggest land rent boost since 2013 By: Radio Iowa, WNAX, & KIWA Radio - June 10, 2021 Many Iowa farmers are seeing a significant increase in what they’re paying for land rents this year. That’s according to a survey done by Iowa State University Extension. ISU AG Economist Wendong Zhang says this is the first large increase in land rental rates since eight years ago. (Continued...) Read more on: Radio Iowa, WNAX, & KIWA Radio James Mintert, Purdue University Nathanael Thompson, Purdue University Carson Reeling, Purdue University Purdue Commercial Ag Center Hosts Carbon Sequestration Webinar By: Iowa Ag Connection - June 11, 2021 "Many agricultural producers are questioning the industry's potential role in carbon sequestration right now," said James Mintert, professor and director of the Center for Commercial Agriculture. "During this webinar, Nathanael Thompson, Carson Reeling and I will answer some of the questions on producers' minds and take a look at some of the opportunities for row crop producers interested in carbon sequestration on their farmland. Carbon markets are evolving rapidly, and we'll also discuss how things might change over the next several years." (Continued...) Read more on: Iowa Ag Connection Steven Deller, University of Wisconsin Wisconsin County Agent Association award recipients named By: Wisconsin State Farmer - May 2021 Two Extension specialists received the Second Mile Award for their outstanding support of Wisconsin County Agricultural Agents: Steven Deller, Professor, UW-Madison Applied and Agricultural Economics and Extension Specialist; and Francisco Arriaga, Associate Professor, UW-Madison Extension Soil Scientist. (Continued...) Read more on: Wisconsin State Farmer Glynn Tonsor, Kansas State University Glynn Tonsor’s May Meat Demand Monitor Shows Increases in Meat Demand By: Oklahoma Farm Report - June 16, 2021 On today’s Beef Buzz, Kansas State University agricultural economics professor and lead author on the Meat Demand Monitor survey, Glynn Tonsor, comments more on the data and what to expect looking to the future. (Continued...) Read more on: Oklahoma Farm Report Joe Outlaw, Texas A&M University Small farms to face higher taxes without carveout, GOP lawmakers warn By: KITV - June 15, 2021 “If there is a death, associated with all the rest of the personal problems they would have, they would have to face a tax burden of $726,000,” explained Joe Outlaw, Professor and Extension Economist in the Department of Agricultural Economics at Texas A&M University and one of the report’s authors. (Continued...) Read more on: KITV Daniel Sumner, University of California, Davis What is causing meat prices to rise? By: KRON 4 - June 16, 2021 Professor of Agricultural Economics at UC Davis Daniel Sumner says the seasonal increases will always come and go, but this year most of the increase you’re paying for has to do with the cost and demand for corn and soybeans. (Continued...) Read more on: KRON 4 David Zilberman, University of California, Berkeley Applied Economics Perspectives & Policy How has the COVID-19 Pandemic Changed the Political Economy? By: WFMZ, Le Lezard, The Telegraph, Times Union, Chron, AZ Central, Wapak Daily News, Poteau Daily News, The Evening Leader, Daily Times Leader, Sweet Water Reporter, The Buffalo News, Mammoth Times, The Punxsutawney Spirit, The Observer News Online, The Antlers American, The Inyo Register, The Community Post, Decatur Daily Democrat, The Valley City Times Record, My Mother Lode, The Kane Republican, The Post & Mail, The Saline Courier, Starkville Daily News, The Pilot News, NewsOK, AM News, The Ridgway Record, Latin Trade, Physician Family Media, Fore Front Media News, News Blaze, Gateway News Source, & Sangri Times - June 11, 2021 In the new article "The Political Economy of COVID-19" released in the Applied Economic Perspectives & Policy, David Zilberman, Scott Kaplan and Jacob Lefler from the University of California, Berkeley use a political economic lens to analyze the joint economic and mortality impacts of social distancing and other public health policies.  (Continued...) Read more on: WFMZ, LeLezard, The Telegraph, Times Union, Chron, AZ Central, Wapak Daily News, Poteau Daily News, The Evening Leader, Daily Times Leader, Sweet Water Reporter, The Buffalo News, Mammoth Times, The Punxsutawney Spirit, The Observer News Online, The Antlers American, The Inyo Register, The Community Post, Decatur Daily Democrat, The Valley City Times Record, My Mother Lode, The Kane Republican, The Post & Mail, The Saline Courier, Starkville Daily News, The Pilot News, NewsOK, AM News, The Ridgway Record, Latin Trade, Physician Family Media, Fore Front Media News, News Blaze, Gateway News Source, & Sangri Times

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 Ware at aware@aaea.org. *Disclaimer - This email is to acknowledge citations of current AAEA members and/or their research in any public media channel. AAEA does not agree nor disagree with the views or attitudes of cited outside publications.

USDA Webinar: "Honey Bees on the Move: From Pollination to Honey Production and Back"

In this webinar, ERS Economist Jennifer Bond presents findings from the Honey Bees on the Move: From Pollination to Honey Production and Back report. As U.S. growers expand their cultivation of pollinator-dependent crops, including fruits and nuts, an increasing number of honey bee hives are transported around the country to provide pollination services. This report quantifies the seasonal flow of hives around the country and provides evidence of varying levels of intensity of reliance on pollination services by crop and by region.

Date: Thursday, June 24, 2021
Time: 1:00 PM ET
Duration: 1 hour
Host: Jennifer Bond, Economic Research Service, USDA

Register here: https://www.ers.usda.gov/conferences/webinar-honey-bees-on-the-move-from-pollination-to-honey-production-and-back/

Call for Papers: Special Issue on ‘Private and Public Strategies for Success in Modern Agri Food Markets in Latin America’

Call for papers for: Journal of Agribusiness in Developing and Emerging Economies

Guest Editors

    Alexis Villacis, Arizona State University
    Ernesto Stein, Inter-American Development Bank
    Romina Ordoñez, Inter-American Development Bank
    Piero Ghezzi, Inter-American Development Bank
    Jeffrey Alwang, Virginia Tech

As people become wealthier and switch away from staple grains and starches towards more diversified diets, products such as fruits and vegetables, meats, nutraceuticals and feed grains are facing dynamic demands. Increasingly sophisticated buyers are imposing strict standards and demanding higher-quality products, requiring new capabilities at the firm and the public sector level. Specializing in such products, particularly when countries have comparative advantages in them, has become increasingly attractive. At the same time, pressing environmental concerns over the agricultural sector's carbon footprint have created challenges as well as opportunities for Agribusiness Companies, Agtech Start-ups and governments. Advanced genetics, precision agriculture, big data, and the use of sensors and the internet of things suggests that industrial farming has become a technology-intensive industry. Yet successful integration in modern agriculture and in global value chains is far from automatic.

    What explains successful integration of firms into modern agri-food world markets? What type of strategies are required on the part of participating firms? How can governments support private firms in their quest to succeed? The debate on these issues will benefit from the study of cases from the Latin American and Caribbean region.

    This special issue calls for contributions expanding our understanding of successful cases of modern agri-food exports originated from Latin American and Caribbean firms. We invite submissions looking at private and public strategies behind successful cases of modern agri-food exports, highlighting that modern agriculture does not end within the farm; it requires a complex network of backward, forward and lateral linkages, with specialized economic agents and institutions that enable producers to compete in international markets and respond to changing demands.

    We encourage country studies that describe private and public sector strategies used to reach food export markets, such as the customization of products to the specific requirements of the target markets. Studies can focus on, but are not limited to, large vertically integrated firms, anchor-firms that work with small producers and connect them to international markets, and cooperatives or associations of small producers. We encourage studies to analyze the full value chain involved in the successful cases. The case studies should also highlight the role of the provision of key public goods for having access to foreign markets, including: (i) infrastructure (rural roads, ports, energy, irrigation systems, etc.), (ii) certification, sanitary, and phytosanitary services, (iii) research and extension services, and (iv) trade negotiations. 

Special Issue Timeline 

Authors interested in engaging in a developmental conversation with the guest editors are welcome to contact Alexis Villacis by e-mail. A tentative timeline is reported below: 

Full paper submission deadline: November 30, 2021 

Publication of the Special issue: 2022 

All full papers must be processed through ScholarOne Manuscripts, the dedicated peer review system used by the Journal of Agribusiness in Developing and Emerging Economies (JADEE). When submitting your manuscript, please go to https://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/jadee and ensure you select the correct issue, ‘Private and Public Strategies for Success in Modern Agri-Food Markets in Latin America’ from the dropdown menu. 

To view the author guidelines for the JADEE, please click here. 

Papers that are evaluated to be promising but not ready in time for the publication of the special issue will be arranged to be published in the regular issues of the JADEE.

Contact the Guest Editors 

Alexis H. Villacis, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Morrison School of Agribusiness, W. P. Carey School of Business, Arizona State University
E-mail: alexis.villacis@asu.edu 

Ernesto Stein, Ph.D.
Principal Economist
Inter-American Development Bank
E-mail: ernestos@iadb.org

Romina Ordoñez, Ph.D.
Economist
Inter-American Development Bank
E-mail: rominao@iadb.org

Piero Ghezzi, Ph.D.
Consultant, Inter-American Development Bank
E-mail: pieroeghezzi@gmail.com

Jeffrey Alwang, Ph.D.
Professor
Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics, Virginia Tech
E-mail: alwangj@vt.ed

Listening to the Diverse Voices of AAEA: Part 3 Webinar

The AAEA Mentoring Committee will be hosting a third session of Listening to the Diverse Voices of AAEA webinar. Join us while our selected panelists tell us their stories highlighting significant moments throughout their education and professional journey. We welcome individuals who are interested in being mentored to join us for a chance to connect with potential mentors and understand the importance of being prepared for opportunities and seizing opportunities to learn.

When: Tuesday, July 13, 11:00 am - 1:00 pm (Central Time)
Format: Zoom
Agenda: Each panelist will be given approximately 8 minutes to share their story with additional time for Q&A
Facilitator: Kathleen Liang, North Carolina A&T State University
Panelists:
Siny Joseph, Kansas State University
Cesar Escalante, University of Georgia - Athens
Kelly Maguire, USDA-Economic Research Service
Yusuke Kuwayama, Resources for the Future

Registration: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJYldu-trTorHdzTfWr2Qu-0P6TpMz1uYWMb

Note that space is limited. If at anytime you find out that you can longer attend the webinar, please email us at info@aaea.org to cancel so we may better accommodate to those who’s registration is pending. Any pending registrants will be reviewed during the time of the webinar in the event there is room.

Members in the News: Bigelow, Thilmany, Wang, Featherstone, Balasubramanya, Hayes, Lusk, Mooney, Davis, Batabyal, Kennedy, Salassi, Bir, and Anderson

Daniel Bigelow, Montana State University McDonald's french fries, carrots, onions: all of the foods that come from Bill Gates farmland By: NBC News - June 8, 2021 “The attraction that people have to investing in farmland is that it tends to be countercyclical to the stock market. It’s a hedging strategy,” said Daniel Bigelow, a professor of agricultural economics at Montana State University, who previously served as a USDA research economist. (Continued...) Read more on: NBC News Dawn Thilmany, Colorado State University 'Put A Pillow Over Your Head Or Do Something': The Story Behind Colorado's Pandemic Entrepreneurs By: Farm Progress - June 4, 2021 Sheer necessity played a role, too. Dawn Thilmany is an agricultural economics professor at Colorado State University. She describes entrepreneurship as a push-pull dynamic. “The push part is that people lost their jobs, were furloughed or whatever, they were pushed into entrepreneurship because they didn't have any other opportunities,” she said. (Continued...) Read more on: Farm Progress Holly Wang, Purdue University China's Quiet Ecommerce Giant Thrives on Fresh Produce By: Wired - June 7, 2021 Also unlike the US, China does not have a well-developed supply chain of processors, wholesalers, and retailers to bring produce to market, says Holly Wang, a professor of agricultural economics at Purdue University. (Continued...) Read more on: Wired Allen Featherstone, Kansas State University Higher commodity prices may figure into farmland leases By: Kansas Farmer - June 10, 2021 Featherstone says we’re seeing a paradigm shift in commodity prices, with wheat, corn, sorghum and soybean prices all nearly doubled from their 2020 lows. The market is expecting to ease back a little bit over the next four years, he adds. (Continued...) Read more on: Kansas Farmer Soumya Balasubramanya, International Water Management Institute E14S8: A Career in Applied Research with Economist Dr. Soumya Balasubramanya By: PCDN - April 12, 2021 In Episode 14 of Season 8, learn about Soumya’s middle class Indian upbringing and how she couldn’t become a volcano expert so she became an economist instead. Soumya reflects on her amazing research career after her PhD from Duke University; how she uses research to inform policy, works with diverse stakeholders including governments and civil society, and to course-correct ongoing investments and programs. (Continued...) Read more on: PCDN Dermot Hayes, Iowa State University Jayson Lusk, Purdue University USDA rejects request for faster pork slaughterhouse speeds By: Farm Forum - June 6, 2021 The group earlier said the judge’s ruling will cut U.S. pork packing plant capacity by 2.5% and result in more than $80 million in reduced income for small hog farmers, according to an analysis conducted for the group by Iowa State University agricultural economist Dermot Hayes. The impact on consumer prices for ham, pork chops and bacon isn't immediately clear and will depend on how the industry responds. If the slower speeds cause processors to supply less pork to the market, “grocers and restaurants are left competing against each other for a small amount of pork, which would drive up wholesale and retail pork prices,” said Jayson Lusk, head of the department of agricultural economics at Purdue University. (Continued...) Read more on: Farm Forum Daniel Mooney, Colorado State University High Demand for Certified Cattle By: Progressive Farmer - June 2, 2021 "Estimating the Effect of Beef Quality Assurance on Video Cattle Prices in the U.S. West," a CSU paper, was led jointly by the departments of animal sciences and agricultural and resource economics. Authors were Daniel Mooney, Miles Rollison and Jason Ahola. (Continued...) Read more on: Progressive Farmer Alison Davis, University of Kentucky New Study to Examine Water Infrastructure Quality's Relation to Economic Growth By: Treatment Plant Operator Magazine & WTVQ - June 9, 2021 “This project is designed to better understand the repercussions of poorly managed or under-resourced water quality and wastewater. We’ll look at how it affects economic development and population trends,” said Davis, a faculty member in the UK College of Agriculture, Food and Environment. (Continued...) Read more on: Treatment Plant Operator Magazine & WTVQ Jayson Lusk, Purdue University Purdue agricultural economics advisors receive national awards By: Acrofan - June 10, 2021 That milk? Those lemons and tomatoes? Essential works got them to us. Don't forget them. By: Twin Cities Pioneer Press - June 5, 2021 Amit Batabyal, Rochester Institute of Technology A little less democracy might be a good thing By: Rochester Business Journal - June 8, 2021 Given the rise of Donald J. Trump to the U.S. presidency in 2016, the decision by the U.K. to leave the European Union in 2016, and the rise of illiberal regimes in Hungary and Poland, many have begun to worry about the future of democracy not only in North America and Europe but also in the rest of the world (Continued...) Read more on: Rochester Business Journal P. Lynn Kennedy, Louisiana State University Michael Salassi, Louisiana State University Lynn Kennedy named ag economics, agribusiness department head By: Bossier Press-Tribune - June 4, 2021 The LSU AgCenter and LSU College of Agriculture have named P. Lynn Kennedy head of the Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness. He replaces Michael Salassi, who is now the AgCenter associate vice president and program leader of animal and plant sciences. (Continued...) Read more on: Bossier Press-Tribune Courtney Bir, Oklahoma State University Oklahoma Welcomes Backyard Bee Keeping Trend By: Oklahoma Farm Report - June 7, 2021 Courtney Bir, Oklahoma State University Extension farm management specialist, has studied how small-scale agricultural projects appeal to residents with extra space and time on their hands. (Continued...) Read more on: Oklahoma Farm Report John Anderson, University of Arkansas University of Arkansas, UA-Cossatot create transfer degree programs By: AXIOS - June 7, 2021 "We are here to serve the entire state. The more we can do to make our programs available to a diverse set of students from every region of the state, the better it is for all of us" says John Anderson. (Continued...) Read more on: AXIOS

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 Ware at aware@aaea.org. *Disclaimer - This email is to acknowledge citations of current AAEA members and/or their research in any public media channel. AAEA does not agree nor disagree with the views or attitudes of cited outside publications.

 

Members in the News: Lusk, Mintert, McKenzie, Smith, AJAE, Frisvold, Belasco, Whitacre, Tonsor, Hayes, Rihn & Stevens

Jayson Lusk, Purdue University The price of meat this Memorial Day may force you to buy veggie burgers By: Market Watch - May 28, 2021 Nashville music industry says city could do more for reopening By: Fact Patrol - May 31, 2021  James Mintert, Purdue University AgriTalk - June 1, 2021PM By: AgriTalk - June 1, 2021 Slight adjustments to corn, soy numbers in latest WASDE By: High Plains Journal - May 28, 2021 Andrew McKenzie, University of Arkansas Aaron Smith, University of Tennessee Supply chain stretched as I-40 bridge remains closed By: Farm Progress - June 1, 2021 “Bottom line, the Mississippi River is hugely important to U.S. commodity supply chains related to exports,” McKenzie said. “When barge freight rates increase due to various demand and supply issues these higher costs are absorbed into price bids to farmers.”  “Whether we’re talking about chemicals or fuel or fertilizer, once you get to the point of ‘I need it right now,’ there’s not a ton of options. You’re going subject to what’s available, and you’re probably going to be looking at higher prices,” said Aaron Smith, associate professor of agricultural economics with the University of Tennessee.   (Continued...) Read more on: Farm Progress American Journal of Agricultural Economics Disruptions and possible futures for agriculture and food By: Portal do Agronegocia - June 2, 2021 Scientists project important changes in consumption patterns and diets over the next few decades, with a reduction in the demand for starchy or energy foods, and a greater demand for noble proteins, vegetables and fruits (see American Journal of Agricultural Economics, Vol. 101:383, 2019). (Continued...) Read more on: Portal do Agronegocia George Frisvold, University of Arizona Foreign Firms Sucking "Virtual" Water From American's Parched Southwest By: Mother Jones - June 2, 2021 Buying farmland directly also allows these companies to guarantee long-term access to the crops—and water—they desire, said George Frisvold, a professor of agricultural and resource economics at the University of Arizona. (Continued...) Read more on: Mother Jones Eric Belasco, Montana State University Big Beef Could Leave Food Supply Chain Vulnerable To Hackers By: Boise State Public Radio - June 2, 2021 “I think there’s a concern in the cattle industry of putting all your eggs in just too few baskets,” said Eric Belasco, an agricultural economics professor at Montana State University. (Continued...) Read more on: Boise State Public Radio Brian Whitacre, Oklahoma State University Millions In Tax Incentives Earmarked For Rural Broadband Expansion In Oklahoma By: KOSU - May 27, 2021 “The bill itself is pretty clear that companies can only get reimbursed for equipment, if they go into areas that are right now unserved or underserved, meaning they don't have the official definition of broadband,” Whitacre said. “So I do think this will have a meaningful impact on getting broadband infrastructure out into rural Oklahoma.” (Continued...) Read more on: KOSU Glynn Tonsor, Kansas State University Meatless Monday comes for Memorial Day By: The Spokes-Man Review - May 28, 2021 Still, just because consumers say they’re eating less meat doesn’t mean they necessarily are. “For several years in the U.S., there’s been surveys where you ask somebody, ‘are you going to reduce your meat consumption,’ and a lot of people will say yes,” said Glynn Tonsor, professor of agricultural economics at Kansas State University. “They think that’s the right answer, so they say ‘yes, I’m going to cut back.’ Often we do not see that matched with actual consumption data.” (Continued...) Read more on: The Spokes-Man Review Dermot Hayes, Iowa State University Jayson Lusk, Purdue University USDA rejects request for faster pork slaughterhouse speeds By: KCCI, 12 News Now, CBS Minnesota, Our Quad Cities, Star Tribune, The Gazzette, & Messenger-Inquirer - May 22, 2021 The group earlier said the judge’s ruling will cut U.S. pork packing plant capacity by 2.5% and result in more than $80 million in reduced income for small hog farmers, according to an analysis conducted for the group by Iowa State University agricultural economist Dermot Hayes. The impact on consumer prices for ham, pork chops and bacon isn’t immediately clear and will depend on how the industry responds. If the slower speeds cause processors to supply less pork to the market, “grocers and restaurants are left competing against each other for a small amount of pork, which would drive up wholesale and retail pork prices,” said Jayson Lusk, head of the department of agricultural economics at Purdue University. (Continued...) Read more on: KCCI, 12 News Now, CBS Minnesota, Our Quad Cities, Star Tribune, The Gazzette, & Messenger-Inquirer Alicia Rihn, University of Tennessee Virtual Green Industry Day set for June 29 By: Knoxville Daily Sun - June 1, 2021 Four online sessions will be offered for industry professionals ranging from landscape contractors, arborists, garden center operators and nursery producers. Frank Hale, a professor in the Department of Entomology, and Bill Klingeman, a professor in the Department of Plant Sciences, will update attendees on how to combat flatheaded borers and other major insect pests. Alicia Rihn, assistant professor in the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, will speak on pollinator friendly plants. (Continued...) Read more on: Knoxville Daily Sun Andrew Stevens, University of Wisconsin Beef, pork production disrupted worldwide as largest producer recovers from cyberattack By: Fox 5 New York - June 2, 2021 "We know that farmers produce animals, sold through a small number of processing facilities. This increases the amount of risk for disruptions," said Andrew Stevens, Assistant Professor of Agricultural and Applied Economics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.  (Continued...) Read more on: Fox 5 New York

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 Ware at aware@aaea.org. *Disclaimer - This email is to acknowledge citations of current AAEA members and/or their research in any public media channel. AAEA does not agree nor disagree with the views or attitudes of cited outside publications.

Call for Participation 2021 AEM-GSS Virtual Case Study Competition

The Agribusiness Economics and Management (AEM)-Graduate Student Section (GSS) Case Study Competition allows graduate students to test their communication skills and their ability to apply their knowledge of agricultural economics and agribusiness subjects to practical situations.

Competition Rules and Timeline: Each team must complete the 2021 AEM-GSS Case Study Registration Form by July 9, 2021. Teams can be comprised of up to three graduate students. Students may either compete as a team from the same university or partner with students from other universities. If there is only one student from a university that wants to participate, the student can compete on their own; or they can be matched with other students. In the case of teams that are matched with individuals from different universities, competitors will be notified of their teammates as soon as possible, and no later than the same day the case is announced.

The case will be sent to teams in late-July, and teams will be given approximately two weeks to prepare an oral summary of their solution to the case that will last no more than 15 minutes. The presentation should be recorded and submitted in advance for evaluation. Presentations lasting over 15 minutes will be penalized. The following week, teams will then (virtually) meet with judges for a live Q&A session. The live Q&A session will take place on Friday, August 20, 2021. There will be two rounds to the live section of the competition. In the first round, teams will answer questions from a panel of judges. The judges will then select the top three teams as finalists. The finalists will present their case live to a new panel of judges.

A summary of the competition timeline is presented below. Registration form due:	Friday, July 9 by 5:00 pm EST
Case sent to team:	Friday, July 30 by 5:00 pm EST
Recorded presentation due:	Friday, August 13 by 5:00 pm EST
First round of competition:	Friday, August 20, 9:00 am – 1:00 pm EST
Final round (if necessary):	Friday, August 20, 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm EST

 Competition Prizes: The top three teams will receive plaques, cash prizes, and will be recognized on the AAEA website. The cash prizes are as follows:

• First Place: $300

• Second Place: $200

• Third Place: $100

This is an AEM and GSS co-sponsored competition. As early career professionals, students are highly encouraged to be AAEA members as well as GSS and/or the AEM members. Eligible teams must meet the following criteria:

1. At least one team member should have an active AAEA membership for 2021 and be a member of AEM or GSS.

2. Each team must complete the Case Study Registration Form identifying their teammates and the universities they represent. The completed registration form must be emailed to Samantha Bilgrien (sbilgrien@aaea.org) no later than July 9, 2021.

Please direct any questions regarding the 2021 AEM-GSS Virtual Case Study Competition to Dr. Aleksan Shanoyan (shanoyan@ksu.edu) or Aaron Staples (staple71@msu.edu).