Experts help analyze what the election means for agriculture, the economy and the environment

Halfway through his presidency, Donald Trump increased import tariffs on certain Chinese goods, resulting in changes within United States agriculture. His decisions involving climate change included withdrawing from the Paris Agreement and rolling back Environmental Protection Agency regulations. Researchers at Purdue’s College of Agriculture have closely studied the impact of trade, agricultural and environmental policies during the last four years on the Midwest and beyond. In the wake of the 2020 general election, these experts are available to consider what election results could mean at the state and national levels.

  • Larry DeBoer, professor of agricultural economics: DeBoer’s research focuses on public policy at the state and national level. DeBoer can address the broad impact of government policy on the economic outlook as well as on local issues such as Indiana school referendum votes.
  • Jeff Dukes, director of Purdue Climate Change Research Center, professor of forestry and natural resources and biological sciences: Dukes can discuss how government policies directly and indirectly will affect the environment over the coming months, years and decades.
  • Jayson Lusk, department head and distinguished professor of agricultural economics: Lusk studies what we eat and why we eat it. He can answer questions about regulatory policy and how proposed polices might affect consumers.
  • Maria Marshall, director of North Central Regional Center for Rural Development, the James and Lois Ackerman Professor of Agricultural Economics: Marshall researches rural economies in America, specifically small and family-owned farms and businesses. Marshall can discuss how policies might impact this population.
  • Jim Mintert, director of Center for Commercial Agriculture, professor of agricultural economics: An expert on U.S. livestock markets, Mintert also compiles the Ag Economy Barometer, a measure that indexes the overall health of the agricultural economy.

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