Agricultural Economics

Five agriculture students named Academic All-Big Ten

Wednesday, January 6th, 2021

Five student-athletes from Purdue University’s College of Agriculture earned Academic All-Big Ten recognition during the fall 2020 sports season. They were among 96 Purdue student-athletes to earn the title across the university.

To qualify for Academic All-Big Ten honors, student-athletes must carry a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher while enrolled full-time. Though cross country, soccer and volleyball were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Big Ten chose to recognize eligible players.

Farmer sentiment rises as income prospects improve, though concerns about key policy issues remain

Tuesday, January 5th, 2021 • University News Story

There was a modest improvement in producer sentiment according to the December Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer. The barometer increased 7 points from November to a reading of 174. Both of the barometer’s sub-indices ¬— the Index of Cur…

Purdue Agriculture’s 20 most-read stories of 2020

Monday, January 4th, 2021

“2020 was a year unlike any other, with numerous challenges, opportunities and accomplishments across our college,” said Karen Plaut, the Glenn W. Sample Dean of the College of Agriculture. “Through it all we were proud to share Purdue Agriculture’s stories with the incredible community of faculty, staff, students, alumni, donors and so many other supporters.”

Talk is cheap: Why we make healthy claims but indulge in unhealthy behaviors

Thursday, December 17th, 2020 • University News Story

The time period between Thanksgiving and Christmas is characterized by overindulgence. While we tell others that we are eating and drinking in moderation, controlling our spending, and exercising more, in reality, we do the exact opposite. So where doe…

Purdue faculty provide insight on critical issues facing farmers in 2021

Wednesday, December 9th, 2020 • University News Story

This past year was filled with uncertainty in the agricultural markets. A lingering trade war, weather issues, and the COVID-19 pandemic impacted prices and brought change to all parts of the agricultural value chain. One of the biggest questions is wh…

Farmer sentiment pulls back post-election; regulation, trade, and taxes rated as top concerns

Tuesday, December 1st, 2020 • University News Story

The Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer dropped 16 points to a reading of 167 in November, down from its all-time high set just one month ago. The decrease in sentiment was led by farmers’ more pessimistic view toward the future of the agr…

Retiring professor reflects on decades of opportunities, changes and constants

Monday, November 30th, 2020

As retiring professor of agricultural economics Chris Hurt reflects on his 40-year career at Purdue, he talked about the people for whom he has worked through Extension and as a professor.

“Growing up on the farm, my neighbors and our community, they were wonderful people. I think of the people I have worked for in my job to be just like those neighbors—strong family people, hardworking and appreciative people. To think that I could bring the information to them to make better decisions, that’s been my contribution to society.”

The cost of Thanksgiving staples see price hike amid pandemic

Thursday, November 19th, 2020

Thanksgiving, like most of 2020, is going to be different for families this year. Food prices mirror the uncertainty and volatility that the global pandemic introduced to general life.

“While many of the food prices have come back down off the spikes in late spring and early summer, it remains the case that retail food prices are significantly higher now than at the same time last year. In October (the last data available), prices of food at grocery were 4 percent higher than the same time last year,” Jayson Lusk, agricultural economics department head and professor, said. “It’s been almost a decade, since 2011, that we observed this rate of annual food price inflation.”

The cost of Thanksgiving staples see price hike amid pandemic

Wednesday, November 18th, 2020 • University News Story

Thanksgiving, like most of 2020, is going to be different for families this year. Food prices mirror the uncertainty and volatility that the global pandemic introduced to general life.

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

Thursday, November 5th, 2020 • University News Story

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…

Ag Economy Barometer rises to record high on improving financial conditions

Tuesday, November 3rd, 2020 • University News Story

The Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer rose 27 points to a reading of 183 in October and set an all-time high for the index. Farmers were more optimistic about both the future and current financial situation on their farms as the Current …

Research hits home for professor caught in the digital divide

Monday, November 2nd, 2020

As a professor of agricultural economics at a major research institution, Nicole Olynk Widmar relies on Purdue’s high-speed internet. But once she leaves campus and arrives home about 15 minutes later, Widmar counts herself lucky to even connect to the internet. Zoom can, at times, be a pipe dream.

Water scarcity and reduction in crop yield due to climate change could drop GDP by 10% in Middle East

Friday, October 30th, 2020 • University News Story

The Middle East is one of the most water scarce regions in the world. Many countries in the region have exploited their available water resources and left watersheds below the sustainable level of water withdrawal. Water is extensively used in agricult…

Appreciation and examples of impact shared at virtual scholarship dinner

Wednesday, October 7th, 2020

“Receiving a scholarship has allowed me to invest my time on campus, serving Purdue students and getting involved with organizations,” said Molly Grotjan during the virtual College of Agriculture Scholarship Dinner. “I’m grateful to those that continue to invest in the students and our college to ensure we can contribute to something greater than ourselves. Because of them, we can continue to make an impact on campus, serve others and learn the heart of being a Boilermaker.”

Ag Barometer rises as crop prices rally and USDA announces CFAP 2

Tuesday, October 6th, 2020 • University News Story

Summary

Purdue Center for Commercial Ag to host free corn and soybean outlook webinar

Monday, October 5th, 2020 • University News Story

Purdue University’s Center for Commercial Agriculture will host a free Corn and Soybean Outlook webinar for the month of October. The webinar is set for 3:30 p.m. (EDT) Friday (Oct. 9).

Passion for small businesses drives agricultural economics’ newly appointed endowed chair

Monday, October 5th, 2020

Maria Marshall, professor of agricultural economics, has an updated take on that old Tolstoy adage: “Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.”

Unlike the Russian author, Marshall opts for brevity: “All families are somewhat dysfunctional.”

A century shared in the soybean field

Tuesday, September 29th, 2020

“Several years ago, I organized a soybean field day at the Agronomy Center for Research and Education (ACRE),” recalled Marshall Martin, professor of agricultural economics, the senior associate director of agricultural research and graduate education and assistant dean in the College of Agriculture.

“There were funny-looking plants growing in one of the soybean plots that I didn’t recognize. It looked like some kind of weed or vine on the ground— something that you’d plant as a ground cover around the front of your house. The plants had small pods with only one or two flat, black seeds each. They were soybeans.”

Big Data, Safe Food conference goes forward virtually

Wednesday, September 23rd, 2020 • University News Story

Purdue University will host the Big Data, Safe Food Conference online on Oc. 12-15. The conference will explore the intersection of big data and food safety through conversations with experts from industry, government and academia.

Ag econ professor explores economic impact of gendered labor roles in developing countries

Wednesday, September 23rd, 2020