Auburn University researchers and Alabama Extension specialists are...
Agricultural Economics & Rural Sociology Articles
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Auburn research looks to boost average peanut yields
U.S. peanut producers have seen peaks and valleys in their yields over the years, prompting researchers at Auburn University to analyze these inconsistencies and search for ways to boost and maintain profitable crops. An analysis of yields since 1970 made by a College...
$750K grant allows faculty to help rural Alabamians
Farmers often lament the land lost to suburban sprawl, but across the South, a land mass roughly the size of New Jersey is stuck in a legal limbo known as heirs’ property. In Alabama, about 200,000 acres of agricultural and forest land is in heirs’ property. Until the...
Agriculture faculty, students receive recent awards
Several faculty and students in the College of Agriculture at Auburn University recently received national awards and recognitions. Read some highlights below. Beckmann...
Johnston, Touchette receive summer 2024 graduation honors
Two soon-to-be alumni of the Auburn University College of Agriculture’s Department of Agricultural Economics & Rural Sociology received the highest honors the...
Agricultural economists’ simulator to weigh in on U.S. Conservation Reserve Program
Researchers at Auburn University aim to reduce U.S. greenhouse gas emissions due to agriculture by modifying one of the world’s largest voluntary conservation programs: the USDA’s 25-million-acre Conservation Reserve Program (CRP).
Patterson honored with SAEA Lifetime Achievement Award
Paul Patterson received the Southern Agricultural Economics Association Lifetime Achievement Award at its annual meeting in early February. Patterson is dean of the Auburn University College of Agriculture and director of the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station....
Handbook Edited by Auburn Faculty Shows Why Microfinance Matters
"The Handbook of Microfinance, Financial Inclusion and Development," edited by Valentina M. Hartarska, Alumni Professor in the Department of Agricultural Economics & Rural Sociology, details the conceptual frameworks for financial inclusion, the importance of how...
Auburn researchers to share in $22 million USDA-NIFA investment
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) has announced an investment of nearly $22 million in agricultural economics research that includes agricultural markets, international trade, farm labor, consumer behavior and...
Grad student to represent Auburn at Women in Agribusiness Summit
With an impressive resume in agricultural business and economics, Omolola Bankole, graduate student in the Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology Department, was chosen to attend the 12th annual Women in Agribusiness Summit as a student scholar sponsored by John...
Auburn professors, farmers shaping the future of farming in Alabama
How challenging is it to farm sustainably? The answer is complex. While technological and scientific advancements have improved the resiliency of modern farms, there are challenges that today’s farmers face in adopting conservation practices. Enter the Alabama...
Two Auburn agricultural economists recognized for published works
Two faculty members from the College of Agriculture’s Department of Agricultural Economics & Rural Sociology are being honored nationally for their published works. Assistant Professor Wenying Li has received the 2022 Best Economics Paper in Food Safety and...
Agriculture degrees set graduates apart from the pack
By Mike Jernigan Why major in agriculture today? There are many reasons, and some of them have a certain degree of urgency. Food insecurity is one of the greatest problems facing our planet. Solving the problems of producing more food in an increasingly hungry world...
Research examines effects of food proximity on waste
There’s lot of waste in this land of plenty, with an estimated 30% of the edible food produced annually in the U.S. being wasted. This amounts to more than 133 billion pounds and $160 billion worth of food, with a significant portion wasted at the consumer level. This...
Researcher seeks to understand how cover cropping prevents weather-related planting loss
The agriculture industry in the United States is one of the most vulnerable to climate change because of its reliance on favorable weather. Because of this, an Auburn University researcher is seeking to fill a need for rigorous, quantitative evidence of how cover...
Native Habitat cofounder visiting April 13
The College of Agriculture will host well-known forester Kyle Lybarger at the invitation of Assistant Professor Ryan Thomson. Lybarger is scheduled to speak April 13 at 11 a.m. in Comer Hall room 207. With 410.7k followers on TikTok and 198k followers on Instagram,...
Research shows effects of stricter work requirements for SNAP
As Congress begins debating a new Farm Bill — including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) — an Auburn University research project reveals one of the effects of stricter work requirements for participating in SNAP. SNAP provides nutrition benefits to...
Auburn shares $28 million grant to meet rural challenges
Auburn University is one of three universities sharing a $28 million grant award from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), to establish an Institute for Rural Partnership to research the causes and conditions of...
Faculty team places first in USDA challenge
A team of Auburn University faculty members from the colleges of Agriculture, Engineering, and Sciences and Mathematics placed first in the national Coleridge Initiative Food for Thought Data Challenge, in association with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The team...
Study explores plant-based meat alternatives buying habits
A recent study led by Auburn University agricultural economists suggests that plant-based meat alternatives (PBMA) might be seen by consumers as a niche product rather than as an actual substitute for meat. “We realized there is very little information about how...
College of Agriculture students, faculty earn prestigious awards
Students and faculty in the College of Agriculture at Auburn University were recently recognized for their hard work and achievements through a number of regional and national awards. In the Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology, Assistant Professor...
Parasite examined for its link to poor diet, obesity
With the obesity rate sitting at 36 percent and climbing, researchers are investigating factors contributing to the notoriously poor diet quality in the United States. One possibility might be a common parasite that causes impulsive decisions and changes risk...
Research examines results of competing policies on healthy food choices
An Auburn University research project attempts to determine which approach best improves access to healthy food choices for food assistance recipients in the United States — more government benefits or more grocery stores. The study — authored by Joel Cuffey,...
“Agrivoltaic” research combines solar energy, food production
Auburn University researchers in the College of Agriculture’s Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology Department are participating in a new USDA project to optimize design for “agrivoltaic” systems — fields with both crops and solar panels — that will maintain crop...
Survey examines preferences for COVID-19 testing
College of Agriculture Assistant Professor Joel Cuffey is the co-author of a paper recently published by the American Journal of Health Promotion that looks at preferences toward different methods of COVID-19 testing. The project came at a time when U.S. COVID-19...
Agriculture faculty, students earn spring awards
Students and faculty in the College of Agriculture at Auburn University raked in several awards for their hard work and studies this spring. Amit Morey earns Spirit of Sustainability Award Assistant Professor Amit Morey received the Spirit of Sustainability...
Study looking at feasibility of more beef processing plants in Alabama
One of the many consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic has been limited supplies and higher prices of U.S. beef products. It’s an outcome that could have been predicted, especially considering supply-chain issues impacting the beef industry. Beef production in the U.S....
Patterson honored with SAEA Lifetime Achievement Award
Paul Patterson received the Southern Agricultural Economics Association Lifetime Achievement Award at its annual meeting in early February. Patterson is dean of the Auburn University College of Agriculture and director of the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station....
Handbook Edited by Auburn Faculty Shows Why Microfinance Matters
"The Handbook of Microfinance, Financial Inclusion and Development," edited by Valentina M. Hartarska, Alumni Professor in the Department of Agricultural Economics & Rural Sociology, details the conceptual frameworks for financial inclusion, the importance of how...
Auburn researchers to share in $22 million USDA-NIFA investment
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) has announced an investment of nearly $22 million in agricultural economics research that includes agricultural markets, international trade, farm labor, consumer behavior and...
Grad student to represent Auburn at Women in Agribusiness Summit
With an impressive resume in agricultural business and economics, Omolola Bankole, graduate student in the Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology Department, was chosen to attend the 12th annual Women in Agribusiness Summit as a student scholar sponsored by John...
Auburn professors, farmers shaping the future of farming in Alabama
How challenging is it to farm sustainably? The answer is complex. While technological and scientific advancements have improved the resiliency of modern farms, there are challenges that today’s farmers face in adopting conservation practices. Enter the Alabama...
Two Auburn agricultural economists recognized for published works
Two faculty members from the College of Agriculture’s Department of Agricultural Economics & Rural Sociology are being honored nationally for their published works. Assistant Professor Wenying Li has received the 2022 Best Economics Paper in Food Safety and...
Agriculture degrees set graduates apart from the pack
By Mike Jernigan Why major in agriculture today? There are many reasons, and some of them have a certain degree of urgency. Food insecurity is one of the greatest problems facing our planet. Solving the problems of producing more food in an increasingly hungry world...
Research examines effects of food proximity on waste
There’s lot of waste in this land of plenty, with an estimated 30% of the edible food produced annually in the U.S. being wasted. This amounts to more than 133 billion pounds and $160 billion worth of food, with a significant portion wasted at the consumer level. This...
Researcher seeks to understand how cover cropping prevents weather-related planting loss
The agriculture industry in the United States is one of the most vulnerable to climate change because of its reliance on favorable weather. Because of this, an Auburn University researcher is seeking to fill a need for rigorous, quantitative evidence of how cover...
Native Habitat cofounder visiting April 13
The College of Agriculture will host well-known forester Kyle Lybarger at the invitation of Assistant Professor Ryan Thomson. Lybarger is scheduled to speak April 13 at 11 a.m. in Comer Hall room 207. With 410.7k followers on TikTok and 198k followers on Instagram,...
Research shows effects of stricter work requirements for SNAP
As Congress begins debating a new Farm Bill — including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) — an Auburn University research project reveals one of the effects of stricter work requirements for participating in SNAP. SNAP provides nutrition benefits to...
Auburn shares $28 million grant to meet rural challenges
Auburn University is one of three universities sharing a $28 million grant award from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), to establish an Institute for Rural Partnership to research the causes and conditions of...
Faculty team places first in USDA challenge
A team of Auburn University faculty members from the colleges of Agriculture, Engineering, and Sciences and Mathematics placed first in the national Coleridge Initiative Food for Thought Data Challenge, in association with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The team...
Study explores plant-based meat alternatives buying habits
A recent study led by Auburn University agricultural economists suggests that plant-based meat alternatives (PBMA) might be seen by consumers as a niche product rather than as an actual substitute for meat. “We realized there is very little information about how...
College of Agriculture students, faculty earn prestigious awards
Students and faculty in the College of Agriculture at Auburn University were recently recognized for their hard work and achievements through a number of regional and national awards. In the Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology, Assistant Professor...
Parasite examined for its link to poor diet, obesity
With the obesity rate sitting at 36 percent and climbing, researchers are investigating factors contributing to the notoriously poor diet quality in the United States. One possibility might be a common parasite that causes impulsive decisions and changes risk...
Research examines results of competing policies on healthy food choices
An Auburn University research project attempts to determine which approach best improves access to healthy food choices for food assistance recipients in the United States — more government benefits or more grocery stores. The study — authored by Joel Cuffey,...
“Agrivoltaic” research combines solar energy, food production
Auburn University researchers in the College of Agriculture’s Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology Department are participating in a new USDA project to optimize design for “agrivoltaic” systems — fields with both crops and solar panels — that will maintain crop...
Survey examines preferences for COVID-19 testing
College of Agriculture Assistant Professor Joel Cuffey is the co-author of a paper recently published by the American Journal of Health Promotion that looks at preferences toward different methods of COVID-19 testing. The project came at a time when U.S. COVID-19...
Agriculture faculty, students earn spring awards
Students and faculty in the College of Agriculture at Auburn University raked in several awards for their hard work and studies this spring. Amit Morey earns Spirit of Sustainability Award Assistant Professor Amit Morey received the Spirit of Sustainability...
Study looking at feasibility of more beef processing plants in Alabama
One of the many consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic has been limited supplies and higher prices of U.S. beef products. It’s an outcome that could have been predicted, especially considering supply-chain issues impacting the beef industry. Beef production in the U.S....