AAEA Blog

Members in the News: July 27, 2026

2026-07-27T08:26:41.388-05:00

Amitrajeet Batabyal, Rochester Institute of Technology

“Climate Policy Needs Carbon Pricing, Not Just Green Subsidies”

By: Basis Point Insight - July 20, 2026

“Fighting climate change is difficult because it is a global problem that requires coordinated action across countries, industries, and individuals with differing interests and priorities. The benefits of reducing greenhouse gas emissions are often long-term and widely shared, while the costs of mitigation are immediate and concentrated on specific sectors and communities.”

(Continued...)
Read more on: Basis Point Insight

Ariel Ortiz-Bobea, Cornell University

“Heat Stress Hits Dairy Quality as Well as Quantity, Study Finds”

By: Sentient Media – July 20, 2026

“This matters to the dairy industry because farmers get paid not by the overall weight or volume, but are instead priced using a formula that takes those nutritional components into account. As climate change increases the intensity and duration of heat events, industrial dairies with more capital tend to be better equipped to handle the added strain on their margins.”

(Continued...)
Read more on: Sentient Media

Simon Somogyi, Texas A&M University
Yong Liu, Texas A&M University
Weifang Liang, Texas A&M University

“Expect Stable Meat Prices This Summer”

By: National Hog Farmer – July 21, 2026

“Now with New World screwworm, that’s going to cause issues that we haven’t seen yet. We could see higher prices without those historically steady imports from Mexico.”

(Continued...)
Read more on: National Hog Farmer

Brian Roe, The Ohio State University

“Weight Loss Drugs Are Leading to Less Spending at Ohio Restaurants, OSU Study Finds”

By: WOSU – July 23, 2026

“We found that consumers, once they started the medication, were cutting back in terms of their dine-out experience. We found, for example, about $37 less spending per week on dining out among current users of the drugs than those who were former users of the drug. And most of them said that their spending went down by more than 10% after they started their medication.”

(Continued...)
Read more on: WOSU

Taejun Mo, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign

“Self-Driving Trucks Could Upend America’s Freight Economy”

By: Earth.com – July 23, 2026

“Self-driving technology has great potential to rewrite the economic geography of the U.S., which in and of itself will create new winners and losers… If a certain geographic area were a major transportation hub in the days before autonomous trucking, it’s possible that it would not be a major hub in the future.”

(Continued...)
Read more on: Earth.com

Becca Weir, Pennsylvania State University
Barry Ward, The Ohio State University

“Financial Health of American Farms Strained' By Many Factors”

By: Allied News – June 23, 2026

"It's challenging to make high-level generalizations about the farm economy because each region and agricultural sector faces different challenges. Our current market conditions could change quickly with adverse weather during the remaining crop production season or an intensified livestock disease outbreak. At the moment, the overall financial health of American farms is strained."

“The biggest risks often come from weather or climate patterns. We look at the last 100 years; margin and profitability have always been central in farmers' minds, and part of that has to do with weather, especially in crop production and indirectly, livestock production.”

(Continued...)
Read more on: Allied News

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Members in the News: July 20, 2026

2026-07-20T14:24:51.039-05:00

Amitrajeet Batabyal, Rochester Institute of Technology

“The Hidden Cost: Why Carbon Taxes Are Unpopular”

By: Basis Point Insight – July 14, 2026

“Economists generally favour carbon taxes because they are a relatively efficient way to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. By putting a price on carbon, a carbon tax forces firms and consumers to account for the environmental damages associated with fossil fuel use. In theory, this leads to lower emissions at the lowest overall cost to society.”

(Continued...)
Read more on: Basis Point Insight

Richard Volpe, California Polytechnic State University

“Traditional Supermarkets Are Struggling. Kroger Hopes its Giant Eagle Merger Will Help”

By: Marketplace – July 16, 2026

”That's a format that has been losing ground for quite some time in the food retail landscape in the U.S., and at a pretty dramatic rate.”

(Continued...)
Read more on: Marketplace

Carl Zulauf, The Ohio State University
Henrique Monaco, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
Gary Schnitkey, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign

“Minding Ag's Business Blog”

By: Progressive Farmer DNT – July 14, 2026

“Market losses are more common than market profits in the U.S. field-crop sector… In stretches when farmers were profitable, the safety net increased cumulative returns by 70% in the period from 2007-2013 and 41% in 2021 and 2022. The authors argue this represents a fundamental shift in the role of the safety net, which they describe as "supercharging profits" rather than simply protecting against losses.”

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Read more on: Progressive Farmer DNT

Elizabeth Canales Medina, Mississippi State University

“A Perfect Storm of Factors is Driving Up US Produce Prices, But Shoppers Can Still Save”

By: The Conversation – July 16, 2026

“From tomatoes and berries to lettuce and peppers, shoppers are feeling sticker shock in the produce aisle. Recent headlines have focused in particular on soaring tomato prices. They spiked by roughly one-fifth from June 2025 to June 2026, according to consumer price data published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.”

(Continued...)
Read more on: The Conversation

David Ortega, Michigan State University

“Could the Cyclospora Outbreak Affect Grocery Prices?”

By: News Nation – July 17, 2026

“A drop in demand for fresh produce, for example, could lead to localized price declines or discounts for specific products. Because these goods are highly perishable, even modest demand shifts can move prices quickly.”

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Read more on: News Nation

Jaime Luke, Michigan State University

“A Labor Lockout in Rural Colorado Has a Town Asking: How Do We Survive?”

By: The Denver Post – July 19, 2026

“Things like this can cause regional issues, such as producers seeing increased costs and headaches, but for the industry as a whole, it’s not an end-of-the-world scenario,”

(Continued...)
Read more on: The Denver Post

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Members in the News: July 13, 2026

2026-07-13T13:32:39.827-05:00

Zachariah Rutledge, Michigan State University

“Economists on the Labor Trends That Will Define the Future of U.S. Fresh Produce”

By: The Packer – July 6, 2026

“Based on USDA data, the average operating cost for labor is about 38% for fruit and 29% for vegetables.”

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Read more on: The Packer

Alejandro Gutierrez-Li, North Carolina State University

“TPS Decision Could Reshape Ag Labor Market”

By: Politico – June 29, 2026

“The Supreme Court ruling is likely to further stress the labor supply at meatpacking plants across the country. Meatpackers can’t easily access the H-2A visa program for year-round work like meatpacking. “Research has shown that, even in periods of high unemployment, Americans prefer to pass on physically demanding jobs at meatpacking plants.”

(Continued...)
Read more on: Politico

David Ortega, Michigan State University

“Did Walmart Roll Back Prices Because of Trump? They Won’t Say”

By: USA Today – July 8, 2026

“The Walmart price reductions looks less like a turning point on food inflation and more like an aggressive summer promotion. Big retailers spotlight 'backyard barbecue' staples like meat, corn, soda, chips because they're highly visible and shape how shoppers feel about prices in general."

(Continued...)
Read more on: USA Today

Shawn Arita, North Dakota State University
Sandro Steinbach, North Dakota State University

“Kansas Farmers Suffer From Tariffs and Closing of Strait of Hormuz, Ag Experts Say”
By: Yahoo! Finance – July 7, 2026
“The Meat Industry’s Tireless Effort to Keep Live Pigs in Coffins”
By: The American Prospect – July 7, 2026

Natalie Loduca, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
Scott Swinton, Michigan State University

“How Farmers Respond to Climate-Related Risk”

Bu: Agrinews – July 5, 2026

“Crop yields depend not only on weather conditions, but also on the producer’s management decisions. We wanted to better understand how farmers perceive uncertainty under changing climate conditions.”

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Read more on: Agrinews

Christopher Barrett, Cornell University

“Fertilizer Shortage Raises Concerns Across Global Agriculture”

By: Farms.com – July 6, 2026

“Despite these challenges, experts believe consumers are unlikely to experience major increases in food prices. Consumers are going to see higher food prices come September to January, once harvests start coming in, and the few months thereafter. Very little of that is going to be directly attributable to fertilizer."

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Read more on: Farms.com

Bradley Rickard, Cornell University

“A California Farmer Is Giving Away Tons of Nectarines That He's Not Allowed to Sell”

By: Food Manufacturing – July 7, 2026

“Fruit patents are becoming increasingly common. A patent allows a breeder to collect a royalty from the fruit trees it sells, the fruit that the trees produce, or both.”

(Continued...)
Read more on: Food Manufacturing

Amelia Finaret, Allegheny College

“5 Grocery Items That Will Cost More This Summer”

By: AARP – July 7, 2026

“Whole wheat bread prices are up 8 percent over last year. Drought conditions in wheat-growing regions of the U.S. have strained supply to the point where America’s wheat production is at its lowest since 1970.”

(Continued...)
Read more on: AARP

Jeffrey Dorfman, North Carolina State University
Ricky Volpe, California Polytechnic State University

“U.S.-Iran Conflict Puts Food Prices at Growing Risk”

By: Kansas City Star – July 10, 2026

Fossil fuels used in farming and distribution account for between 15% and 30% of the cost of produce at the retail level.”

“An FMI-The Food Industry Association briefing that even an immediate resolution to the conflict would not prevent grocery inflation from climbing well above the historical average for the remainder of 2026.”

(Continued...)
Read more on: Kansas City Star

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Members in the News: July 6, 2026

2026-07-06T11:20:00.000-05:00

Zachariah Rutledge, Michigan State University
David Ortega, Michigan State University

“Dairy Farm Labor Shortages, Adaptation Strategies and Preferences for Workforce Policy Options”

By: Farms.com – June 30, 2026

“Labor shortages are increasingly prevalent in the agricultural sector. Dairy farms face a unique challenge because production requires a year-round workforce, yet most current American visa programs are primarily designed for producers with seasonal employment needs.”

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Read more on: Farms.com

Shawn Arita, North Dakota State University
Ming Wang, North Dakota State University
Joseph Glauber, International Food Policy Research Institute

“How Fertilizer Policies Could Exacerbate Hormuz Price Shocks”

By: Global Agriculture – May 26, 2026

“The closure of the Strait of Hormuz amid the outbreak of the Iran war on February 28, 2026, put roughly one-third of global seaborne fertilizer trade at risk. Suddenly, production across the broader Persian Gulf region had no clear ocean exit.”

(Continued...)
Read more on: Global Agriculture

Shawn Arita, North Dakota State University
Nick Paulson, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

“Land Line: Riverview, Lobe Rangers, Fertilizer & War, Climate’s Double Indemnity, Colin Cureton’s Ag Legacy, Grazing & Birds, Roundup’s SCOTUS Support, Farm Bill”

By: Land Stewardship Project – June 26, 2026

“A full reopening of the Strait of Hormuz will eventually cause fertilizer prices to fall, but they will remain above their prewar levels for years to come”

“Actions the Trump administration is considering, such as not renewing a trade deal with Canada, would drastically reduce the supply of some fertilizers.”

(Continued...)
Read more on: Land Stewardship Project

Joana Colussi, Purdue University

“‘A Real Farm Crisis’: Illinois Farm Bankruptcies Rise For 3rd Straight Year”

By: WJBC – June 29, 2026

“Overhead costs represent the largest cost component on the U.S. farm, accounting for nearly one-half of total costs during the 2020-24 period. Eighty percent of the farmers in the Midwest, they rent the land.”

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Read more on: WJBC

Tim Delbridge, Oregon State University

“OSU Ag Economist: Early Season Cherry Prices Concerning”

By: Capital Press – June 29, 2026

“The pricing picture for sweet cherries is concerning at this point in the season. We may see prices come back up at the end of the season.”

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Read more on: Capital Press

Bradley Lubben, University of Nebraska - Lincoln

“USDA Forecast Shows Rising Costs For Corn, Soybeans, Sorghum and Wheat”

By: Brownfield Ag News – June 29, 2026

“Inflation has been the biggest factor since the COVID-19 pandemic. We have continued to be at the higher levels along with trade and global security shocks that have amped up certain markets. Right now, we’re just dealing with higher production costs.”

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Read more on: Brownfield Ag News

Hunter Biram, University of Arkansas

“U.S. Rice Acreage Falls to Lowest Since the 1970s As Cotton Acres Increase”

By: Brownfield Ag News – June 30, 2026

“I’ve had people ask me questions about the sustainability in the long term viability of the rice industry… The ripple effects of the rice production declines are being felt in Arkansas, the largest rice producing state in the country.”

(Continued...)
Read more on: Brownfield Ag News

Andrew Muhammad, University of Tennessee

“China Resumes US Soybean Purchases Under Trade Deal With Trump, But Future For Farmers Remains ‘Daunting’”

By: Europe Says – July 3, 2026

“Exports to China from January through March were up 57% compared to last year, USDA data shows. That’s explained by an increase in sales to China during the off-season in response to the trade agreement… But if we look at the accumulated total for the actual marketing year, going back to September, exports to China are still lagging what we did in years past.”

(Continued...)
Read more on: Europe Says

Christopher Barrett, Cornell University

“How a Fertilizer Shortage Caused by the Iran War Could Affect U.S. Food Prices”

By: NPR – July 3, 2026

"Consumers are going to see higher food prices come September to January, once harvests start coming in, and the few months thereafter. Very little of that is going to be directly attributable to fertilizer."

(Continued...)
Read more on: NPR

Jaime Luke, Michigan State University

“Why Beef Prices Keep Climbing”

By: Marketplace – June 22, 2026

“The USDA predicts beef prices will go up another 10% in 2026 — much faster than the rate of inflation. High demand and low supply makes for a perfect storm. Right now we have a historically low number of beef cows in the country.”

(Continued...)
Read more on: Marketplace

Bingyan Dai, Cornell University

“East Coast Broccoli Lowers Costs and Risks From California Drought”

By: Morning Ag Clips – July 1, 2026

“We do think our model can be generalized to other crops, which face similar issues and increasing challenges from drought and water scarcity when production is concentrated in one state… Demand for fresh fruits and vegetables, and especially broccoli, most of which is grown in California, has been growing nationally while water scarcity in the West has also increased.”

(Continued...)
Read more on: Morning Ag Clips

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Members in the News: June 29, 2026

2026-06-29T09:37:00.000-05:00

Brian Roe, The Ohio State University

“How to Arrange the Refrigerator to Avoid Food Waste”

By: Laodong – June 20, 2026

“That the ability to see food plays an important role in reducing waste. When food is placed in transparent boxes and scientifically arranged, users tend to use them before they expire.”

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Read more on: Laodong

Glynn Tonsor, Kansas State University

“Beef Is Becoming a Luxury as Prices Stay at Record Highs. They Likely Won’t Come Down Until 2028, Says Farm Bureau”

By: DNYUZ – June 20, 2026

“But the largest contributor to high prices is ever-increasing demand from American consumers. Meat is having a moment… Growing beef demand is part of a larger protein-frenzy in the U.S. in recent years as Americans turn to high-protein foods in an attempt to improve their health. New federal dietary guidelines recommend “prioritizing protein” and include it in every meal.

(Continued...)
Read more on: DNYUZ

Marshall Martin, Purdue University

“Koesters’ Impact Felt Beyond the Farm”

By: Farmprogress – June 24, 2026

“Dale and Lisa Koester are progressive farmers; key leaders locally, statewide, and nationally; and devoted Boilermakers through their numerous contributions to and recognition by the Purdue University College of Agriculture,” added Marshall Martin, professor emeritus of agricultural economics.

(Continued...)
Read more on: Farmprogress

Zach Rutledge, Michigan State University
Junjian Zhu, Michigan State University

“Michigan State Extension: AEWR Flexibility Saved Growers $33 Million”

By: Fruit Grower News – June 23, 2026

“Michigan agriculture is entering a transition period following the Department of Labor’s (DOL) October 2025 Interim Final Rule revising the methodology for calculating H-2A Adverse Effect Wage Rates (AEWRs), writes Zachariah Rutledge and Junjian Zhu with MSU Extension.”

(Continued...)
Read more on: Fruit Grower News

David Ortega, Michigan State University

“Cottage Cheese is In, Chips Are Out — And Ozempic is Just One Reason”

By: The Washington Post – June 22, 2026

“It’s really a reconfiguration of consumption… I think the cleanest generational [comparisons] are the postwar convenience-food boom and the low-fat era of the ’80s-’90s. Both restructured [consumer packaged goods] for a decade-plus.”

(Continued...)
Read more on: The Washington Post

Amitrajeet Batabyal, Rochester Institute of Technology

“Did British Rule Leave Indian Women Better Off in the Long Run?”

By: Basis Point Insight – June 25, 2026

“The question posed in the title of this essay has generated substantial academic research and public debate. Into this discussion comes a thought-provoking new paper by Bharti Nandwani and Punarjit Roychowdhury, which investigates the long-term relationship between British colonial rule and women’s empowerment in India.”

(Continued...)
Read more on: Basis Point Insight

Richard Volpe, California Polytechnic State University

“Farm Bureau: July Fourth Cookouts Are Cheapest in 10 Years After Inflation”

By: Washington Times – June 26, 2026

“If we were to deflate by wages, we would see that the cost of the cookout has increased somewhat, almost certainly driven by the recent strong inflation we have seen for meats and vegetables.”

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Read more on: Washington Times

Maria Kalaitzandonakes, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign

“Americans Demand Clear Ultra-Processed Food Definitions”

By: National Hog Farmer – June 24, 2026

“Ultimately, policy movement depends on public buy-in. We wanted to understand what policies the public might support and why,”

(Continued...)
Read more on: National Hog Farmer

Scott Irwin, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

“Bioeconomy Bill Seen As Opportunity to Expand Ag Demand”

By: Browfield Ag News – June 25, 2026

“The legislation could help boost demand for commodities… We’re in the midst of a downturn on the crop sector that has definitely squeezed margins and incomes,” Irwin said. “It’s required the federal government to step in to prevent really widespread financial problems.”

(Continued...)
Read more on: Browfield Ag News

Jennifer Ifft, Kansas State University
Delide Joseph, Kansas State University

“Soil Health Practices May Go Hand-in-Hand With Farm Profitability”

By: Farms.com – June 25, 2026

"We found that farms with higher soil health scores tended to be more profitable. The key takeaway is that practices need to make sense for your area and your operation."

(Continued...)
Read more on: Farms.com

Joana Colussi, Purdue University

“Uncertainty Around Brazil’s Production Forecast For 2027”

By: KMA Land – June 26, 2026

“Brazil’s corn and soybean crops could have a major impact on global grain markets. Joanna Colussi, a research assistant professor of agricultural economics at Purdue University, identified fertilizer as the root of the problem.”

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Read more on: KMA Land

Brenna Ellison, Purdue University

“The Hidden Costs of Data Centers: New Study Reveals Why Rural America Is Pushing Back”

By: Hoosier Ag Today – June 27, 2026

“Artificial Intelligence has the potential to reshape our economy and workforce,” the authors note in the study. “Data centers serve as the physical infrastructure for AI, but they come with notable costs and unknowns.”

(Continued...)
Read more on: Hoosier Ag Today

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Members in the News: June 22, 2026

2026-06-22T15:39:48.014-05:00

Amitrajeet Batabyal, Rochester Institute of Technology

“What Did The Green Revolution in India Do To Farm Size-Productivity Relationship?”

By: Basis Point Insight – June 17, 2026

“A dominant finding in development economics has been the inverse farm size-productivity relationship. Observed across multiple continents, this pattern shows that smaller farms tend to produce more output per hectare than larger farms. This counterintuitive finding (since larger farms should benefit from economies of scale) has been a central puzzle in agricultural development.”

(Continued...)
Read more on: Basis Point Insight

Zachariah Rutledge, Michigan State University
Junjian Zhu, Michigan State University

“Michigan’s H-2A Wage Offers in First Half of Fiscal Year 2026”

By: Morning Ag Clips – June 17, 2026

“The DOL’s new H-2A wage methodology was developed in response to the discontinuation of the USDA Farm Labor Survey (FLS), which had long served as the primary source for determining AEWRs. The revised approach aims to establish more consistent, occupation- and skill-specific wage rates across states by relying on an alternative federal wage data source. By aligning wages with the skills and occupations required in agricultural production, the rule is designed to help employers maintain access to a stable workforce and help American consumers maintain access to an affordable food source.”

(Continued...)
Read more on: Morning Ag Clips

David Ortega, Michigan State University

“'Buckle Up': Inflation Pain Could Linger Even After the Iran War Ends, Economists Say”
By: ABC News – June 18, 2026
“Higher Prices For Gas, Groceries and Flights Will Likely Outlast the Iran War”
By: The Associated Press - June 16, 2026
“No Fat to Trim: Texas Beef Industry Profits Eaten Away By New Threat — The Screwworm”
By: The Texas Tribune - June 16, 2026
“As Hormuz Crisis Eases, Gas Prices May Drop; Other Costs Like Groceries and Home Goods Could Stay High For a While”
By: CNBC – June 6, 2026
“The Infuriating Rise of the $8 Ice Cream Cone”
By: Bloomberg – June 15, 2026

Shawn Arita, North Dakota State University

“War Hangs Over US Farmers as Fertilizer Prices Rise”
By: GV Wire – June 16, 2026
“Mosaic Loses $258 Million on Sulfur Shortage From Iran War”
By: Briefs Media – June 16, 2026
“The ‘Beans, Beef and Boeing’ Show Sputters Back to Reality”
By: AGRINews – June 19, 2026

Francis Tsiboe, North Dakota State University

“Prevented Planting Rule Narrows Farm Risk Management Options”
By: RFD TV – June 15, 2026
“The Expanding Access to Risk Protection (EARP) Rule Reduces Farmer Flexibility in Production Risk Management by Eliminating Prevented Planting Buy-up Coverage”
By: Southern AG Today – June 11, 2026

Carlos Zurita, North Dakota State University

“NDSU Highlights Trade Opportunities for North Dakota”

By: North Dakota State Ag Connection – June 17, 2026

“Trade agreements today are no longer just about tariffs. They increasingly shape how businesses navigate standards, investment decisions, supply chains, and long-term market access.”

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Read more on: North Dakota State Ag Connection

Bernhard Dalheimer, Purdue University

“Ag Economist Predicts Effect of Iran War in the Grocery Store”

By: Lancaster Farming – June 15, 2026

“Right now, the pain is mostly at the producer side and not so much at the consumer side. The U.S. and Iran reached a tentative deal Monday to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, pending a signing ceremony in Switzerland on Friday, but it’s uncertain whether the agreement will hold after several starts and stops during the course of the war. If the strait were to reopen quickly, American consumers likely wouldn’t see much downstream effect on their grocery bills.”

(Continued...)
Read more on: Lancaster Farming

Andrew Muhammad, University of Tennessee
Charles Martinez, University of Tennessee

“Soaring US Beef Prices Likely To Rise Further Thanks To Trade Tensions And Disease Outbreaks”

By: The Conversation – June 17, 2026

“It’s summer grilling season, but for many Americans, surging prices mean beef is no longer what’s for dinner. The cost of beef, having spiked since early 2025, is coming under even more pressure. The most recent is the screwworm outbreak that hit cattle in Mexico and has now spread to the United States, where the cattle herd has already fallen to levels not seen since the 1950s, due in part to drought.”

(Continued...)
Read more on: The Conversation

Andrew Muhammad, University of Tennessee

“Tennessee Soybean Farmers Get Morale Boost From Better Prices, But Future Remains ‘Daunting’”

By: Times Free Press – June 17, 2026

“Export sales to China from January through March are up 49% compared to last year. That's explained by an increase in sales to China during the off-season in response to the trade agreement.”

(Continued...)
Read more on: Times Free Press

Craig Carpenter, Michigan State University

“A Trump Administration Policy Could force thousands of retailers to stop Accepting SNAP Benefits”

By: WPR – June 5, 2026

“The new rule is meant to ensure SNAP shoppers have access to healthy foods at their preferred store. But in reality, many small retailers, like convenience stores and dollar stores, will struggle to meet the new standards and maintain their ability to accept SNAP dollars.”

(Continued...)
Read more on: WPR

Andrew Stevens, University of Wisconsin-Madison

“New USDA Rule Could Impact How Grocers Accept SNAP Benefits”

By: WKOW – June 10, 2026

“The long-term impact of the rule remains uncertain. The big open question is how challenging will it be for these retailers to satisfy the requirements of the new regulation, and is that cost going to be significant.”

(Continued...)
Read more on: WKOW

Kashi Kafle, Texas A&M University

“Commercialisation Alone Will Not Transform Agriculture: The Participation of Smallholder Families is Important”

By: The Himalayan – June 9, 2026

“The future of Nepal's agriculture does not lie in choosing between subsistence farming and large agribusiness. It lies in helping millions of smallholders become productive market participants while maintaining resilience, food security, and rural livelihoods. Commercialisation should be a tool for empowering smallholders, not a pathway for replacing them.”

(Continued...)
Read more on: The Himalayan

Ariel Ortiz-Bobea, Cornell University

“Got Milk? Climate Change May Be Hurting Both the Quality and Quantity of America’s Supply”

By: Europe Says – June 18, 2026

“The heat-induced dilution of these valuable milk components is happening a bit under the radar. When you account for the deterioration in milk composition, the economic loss ends up being of the same order of magnitude as the yield effect, so it just basically doubles the damage.”

(Continued...)
Read more on: Europe Says

Aaron Smith, University of California, Berkeley

“Disbelief as California Drivers Can’t Buy Cheaper Gas Blend That State Legalized Last Year”

By: New York Times - June 19, 2026

“Expected savings may be overstated. In an analysis for the Energy Institute at Haas, Smith said that E15 has sold for about 25 cents less per gallon than standard gas in other states but argued the discount may partly reflect weaker consumer demand rather than lower production costs.

(Continued...)
Read more on: New York Time

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Members in the News: June 15, 2026

2026-06-15T14:12:18.043-05:00

Richard Volpe, California Polytechnic State University

“Yahoo Finance Live: Daily Market Coverage”

By: Yahoo! Finance – June 9, 2026

“Speaks at 1:30:00”

(Continued...)
Read more on: Yahoo! Finance

Glynn Tonsor, Kansas State University

“Deadly Screwworm Pest Spreads in US With Three New Cases”

By: The Straits Times – June 9, 2026

“The detection of screwworm is probably going to further delay any efforts to expand the US herd. Tonsor said he was “pretty vocal” late in 2025 that more ranchers would start the process of expansion this summer, but increased dryness and now screwworm are creating more uncertainty.”

(Continued...)
Read more on: The Straits Times

Dustin Pendell, Kansas State University
William Secor, University of Georgia

“Beef Consumers Don’t Need to Worry About the Screwworm Infections in Cattle, Experts Say”

By: WEIS Radio – June 11, 2026

“Americans can continue to feel confident about consuming beef safely. The current drought conditions in the U.S. is making it difficult to expand herds because there isn’t enough grass available to feed on, hay and other supplemental feeds increase costs even more…. Cattle prices are going to continue to be high for quite a while because of these issues.”

“In addition, geopolitical issues, such as the war in Iran, are causing fertilizer and fuel costs to increase.”

(Continued...)
Read more on: WEIS Radio

Chen-Ti Chen, The Ohio State University

“Birds of a Feather: The Economic Value of Birds in Agriculture is Coming Back into Focus”

By: Fresh Plaza – Jun 11, 2026

“Bird‑watching has never been a bigger pastime, with millions of Americans traveling, dining and staying in local lodging to see migrating and nesting birds. Nearly 100 million Americans went birding in 2022, spending about $108 billion on trips and equipment according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. That’s about six times more than the total revenue generated by the NFL in the same year.”

(Continued...)
Read more on: Fresh Plaza

Kenneth Foster, Purdue University
Ricky Volpe, California Polytechnic State University

“Farmers Were Already Hurting. The Iran War Made It Worse”

By: Notus – June 11, 2026

“Many of the food price increases consumers are experiencing right now have primary explanations that predate the conflict entirely.”

“Higher energy costs and higher fertilizer prices have already impacted the planting and the early stage of the growing process for all these commodities.”

(Continued...)
Read more on: Notus

Brenna Ellison, Purdue University

“New Study Reveals Which Ultra-Processed Food Regulations Americans Actually Support”

By: PSY Post – June 11, 2026

“There is a lot of attention on ultra-processed foods (UPFs), particularly with the momentum of the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) initiative. Given this, we thought it was important to understand the public’s perspective on different ways that UPFs could be regulated.”

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Trey Malone, Purdue University

“From Data to Decisions: AI’s Growing Role in Agriculture”

By: Hoosier Ag Today – June 12, 2026

“So, you have a really good undergraduate intern in your pocket now, and you never trust the final product of the undergraduate intern. What you do trust is the beginning stages of the project to the undergraduate intern, and then you polish it from there. And so, I think that’s for anybody in ag and food right now, it’s thinking about what I would have hired an intern to do before and how can I use this to make this a larger task?”

(Continued...)
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Members in the News: June 8, 2026

2026-06-08T14:16:35.791-05:00

Zachariah Rutledge, Michigan State University

“H-2A Rule Change Puts Spotlight on Work Visa Program”

By: Ag Alert – June 3, 2026

“Farmers in California could save up to $100 million this year if every employer were to reduce pay for guestworkers to the state minimum wage. Overall farm labor costs in California are about $18 billion a year, including $655 million in wages paid to H-2A workers, according to federal data.”

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David Ortega, Michigan State University

“The Hidden Forces Making Beef Prices Skyrocket”

By: Business Insider - May 29, 2026

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Amitrajeet Batabyal, Rochester Institute of Technology

“The Fascinating Connections Between Cigarette Addiction and Educational Attainment”

By: Rochester Business Journal – June 5, 2026

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Joana Colussi, Purdue University
Farzad Taheripour, Purdue University

By: Misryoum – June 1, 2026

“Farmers have been through similar shocks before. In 2022, pressures rose after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine disrupted energy and fertilizer prices as well. But at the time, crop prices such as corn were at “record” highs, helping farmers offset higher production costs.”

“One option is expanding fertilizer production capacity in the U.S. The country has no shortage of natural gas, but it could use more industrial capacity to convert natural gas into nitrogen fertilizer. Within the U.S. to help the agriculture sector and to hedge against changes in the energy market outside the U.S. we need to expand our capacity to produce more fertilizer from domestic sources—natural gas. Doing so may be “an attractive investment” for the U.S. to consider.”

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Luyi Han, Pennsylvania State University

“Tourism Can Boost Local Economies - But at What Cost?”

By: Earth.com – June 1, 2026

“Sustainability shouldn’t be treated as a branding exercise alone: investments in housing, public safety, environmental protection and community well-being may also strengthen a destination’s long-term economic resilience. More broadly, the findings show that there is no one-size-fits-all model of sustainable tourism. Local conditions matter, and effective strategies need to be tailored to the specific strengths and vulnerabilities of each community.”

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Michael Langemeier, Purdue University

“Purdue Survey Reveals Record Cost Concerns Among Farmers—And the Outlook Is Getting Worse”

By: Hoiser Ag Today – June 2, 2026

“The cost pressures are being felt across several categories, particularly in crop production. One of them is diesel prices. Obviously, since the conflict in Iran started, diesel prices have—you know, skyrocketed. They’re much higher than they were prior to the conflict. The other one that gets a lot of press is nitrogen. So both of those prices are substantially higher than what they what they were last April.”

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Brian Whitacre, Oklahoma State University

“Growers Say Oklahoma’s Cannabis Bonanza is Going to Pot”

By: Oklahoma Watch – June 2, 2026

“We really just let anybody who wanted to open one up,” he said, describing the state’s early approach as very hands-off, with low barriers to entry and few limits on production. Growers purchased equipment, paid utilities and hired workers, who in turn spent money locally in what economists describe as a multiplier effect. There’s a lot of other industries that are potentially impacted.”

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Read more on: Oklahoma Watch

Bradley Lubben, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

“Farm Income in Nebraska Projected For Record High”

By: Ag Update – June 4, 2026

“The crops sector has taken a beating the past few years. However, the livestock sector in Nebraska, particularly beef, has been booming. Combined with increased USDA payments, it amounts to an average farm income on the rise within the state.”

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Gregory Ibendahl, Kansas State University

“Impact of Iran War Pressing Input Costs”

By: High Plains Journal – June 5, 2026

“High volatility is nothing new in the ag sector. Four years ago, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine sent oil prices to $130 per barrel, although they came down relatively soon. If the per-barrel price reached that range, it would add another $47,000 to the cost of production for a typical grain farm in Kansas. About half of it comes from higher fertilizer costs, and the other half comes from higher fuel costs.”

(Continued...)
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Members in the News: June 1, 2026

2026-06-01T13:46:40.477-05:00

Amitrajeet Batabyal, Rochester Institute of Technology

“How the Holdup Problem Matters in the Indian Solar Power Market”

By: Basis Point Insight – May 22, 2026

“The so-called “holdup” problem is a well-known phenomenon in the subfield of economics, known as Contract Theory. This problem arises when two parties hesitate to cooperate efficiently because they fear the other will exploit their initial investment. In other words, this problem occurs when one party makes a non-refundable, relationship-specific investment, which then gives the other party extra bargaining power to demand better terms at a subsequent point in time.”

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Ricky Volpe, California Polytechnic State University

“Americans Are About to Pay Even More at the Grocery Store”
By: Yahoo! Finance – May 27, 2026
“Americans Are About to Pay Even More at the Grocery Store”
By: Bloomberg – May 27, 2026

Zachariah Rutledge, Michigan State University

“Migrant Farm Work Booms in Michigan Despite Feds Pay Cut”

By: Glen Arbor Sun – May 25, 2026

“The H-2A wage, officially referred to as the “adverse effect wage rate” or AEWR, was initially designed to protect domestic American workers. What the wage rate is supposed to do is create a wage for H-2A workers that’s high enough that it doesn’t depress the wages of domestic workers or incentivize farmers to bring in workers from abroad. But most farmers say that the cost of subsidizing housing and transportation for foreign workers accomplishes that already.”

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David Ortega, Michigan State University

“Grocery Prices Are Rising Again in 2026. It’s Just the Start”
By: Newsweek - May 29, 2026
“Viral Walmart Receipt Shows What Groceries Cost 20 Years Ago”
By: USA Today – May 26, 2026

Shawn Arita, North Dakota State University

“China's Tariff's Cost U.S. Ag Exporters $15B”
By: The Farmers Exchange – May 29, 2026
“Iran War Fertilizer Squeeze Could Spell Trouble For Harvests”
By: AGBI – April 27, 2026
“NDSU Researcher Explains $15 Billion U.S. Ag Export Losses Tied to Tariffs”
By: RFD-TV - May 28, 2026
“Economist Warns Sugar Producers Face Billion-dollar Losses, Congress Calls For Trade Investigation”
By: Korn Radio – May 22, 2026
“House Ag Committee Member Says Need For Substantial Emergency Farmer Aid Rising”
By: Brownfield – May 22, 2026

Shawn Arita, North Dakota State University
Sandro Steinbach, North Dakota State University

“China's Tariff's Cost U.S. Ag Exporters $15B”

By: The Farmers Exchange – May 29, 2026

"Soybeans account for approximately $6.8 billion, or roughly half of the total,' the study found, while 'beef and cotton each contribute about $1.3 billion, tree nuts about $964 million, and corn another $333 million.”

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Sandro Steinbach, North Dakota State University

“ARPC Expands Support for Rural Businesses”
By: North Dakota Ag Connection – May 29, 2026
“Resilience, Not Crisis, in the U.S. Agricultural Economy”
By: Swineweb – May 25, 2026

Joana Colussi, Purdue University

“Brazil’s Second-Crop Corn System Continues Challenging U.S. Export Competitiveness”
By: RFD-TV – May 20, 2026
“Wisconsin Farmers Brace For Fertilizer and Fuel Shocks From Iran War”
By: Herald Times Reporter – May 21, 2026
“Missouri Farmers Facing higher fuel, fertilizer costs from Iran war”
By: KFVS12 – May 28, 2026

Sylvanus Kwaku Afesorgbor, University of Guelph

“Rising Geopolitical Tensions Show Why Canada’s Agri‑Food Trade Strategy Needs to Change”

By: The Conversation – May 26, 2026

“Canada is one of the world’s leading producers and exporters of agri-food products, and the sector contributed $149.2 billion of the country’s GDP in 2024. Since Canadian agricultural producers and food processors rely extensively on exports, the growth and sustainability of the sector depends heavily on international market access.”

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Ian Sheldon, The Ohio State University

“Ag Economist: USMCA Review Could Shape North American Farm Trade”

By: WJAG – May 26, 2026

“Mexico’s our number one agricultural export market and Canada’s number two… It’s a little bit puzzling why the United States has reimposed anti-dumping duties against the import of tomatoes from Mexico and the U.S. currently has an anti-dumping investigation into mushroom imports from Canada and winter strawberries from Mexico.”

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Carl Zulauf, The Ohio State University

“With Higher Prices, Ag Economists' Revise Their 2026 Crop Budgets Up”

By: Agri Marketing – May26, 2026

“Revisions to 2026 Illinois crop budgets are provided along with updates to return estimates for the 2025 crop year. Return projections for 2026 are higher because of increases in expected prices for corn, soybeans, and wheat compared with the last crop budget release in January despite higher cost projections. Projected net returns to a typical corn-soybean rotation remain low relative to longer-run historical averages. Updates to estimates for the 2025 crop year result in slightly lower farmer returns compared with the January release.”

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Natalie Loduca, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Scott Swinton, Michigan State University

“How Farmers Respond to Climate-Related Risk”

By: Entrepreneur Newsroom – May 30, 2026

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Kenneth Foster, Purdue University

“U.S. Grocery Prices Rose in April, But Gas Spikes Weren’t the Only Reason”

By: Agri news – May 30, 2026

The full impact of rising energy costs on food likely has not hit retail grocery prices yet in the United States. Higher costs to produce, process, store and transport food can take three to six months to show up on supermarket shelves, where prices typically fall slowly once increased.”

(Continued...)
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Members in the News: May 26, 2026

2026-05-26T09:45:00.000-05:00

Rabail Chandio, Iowa State University

“Iowa Farmland Auctions Bring Over $78 Million in March”

By: Successful Farming - April 14, 2026

“March and recent sales were generally reflective of current market trends, not an exception… Several economic forces are shaping farmland values and auction activity across the state”

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Amitrajeet Batabyal, Rochester Institute of Technology

“Is India’s Teacher Knowledge Gap Quietly Undermining Learning?”

By: Basis Point Insight – May 19, 2026

”Variation in teacher content knowledge may help explain why remedial and differentiated learning programs succeed in some contexts but fail in others. Improving the effectiveness of these interventions will likely require investment not only in pedagogical training but also in strengthening teachers’ command over the subjects they teach.”

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Rabail Chandio, Iowa State University

“Farmland Values Relatively Stable Amid Volatile World Markets”

By: Illinois Farmer Today – April 18, 2026

“While the actual dollar figure increased, if adjusted for inflation, farmland values decline 1.8% in 2025. There were also regional variations. This growth was reported by six of the nine crop reporting districts in Iowa, concentrated at the eastern and western parts of the state.”

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Dale Manning, University of Tennessee

“How much is a bat worth? Protecting these tiny insect‑eaters isn’t just good for farms – their deaths cost taxpayers and the wider economy”

By: The Conversation – May 14, 2026

“Most Americans tend to think about bats only around Halloween, but the U.S. economy benefits from these furry flying mammals every day.”

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Philip Pardey, University of Minnesota

“The Hidden Cost Of Dwindling Agricultural Research”

By: Straight Arrow News – May 13, 2026

“In the meantime, the rest of the world has been growing at a much faster pace than us. Brazil, India and China collectively moved past the U.S. back in 2008. That makes United States agriculture less competitive in the long run, putting American farmers who rely on international markets at a disadvantage.”

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Kenneth Foster, Purdue University
Bernhard Dalheimer, Purdue University

“US Grocery Prices Soared in April — But Gas Spikes Weren’t The Only Reason Why”

By: New York Post – May 13, 2026

“The full impact of rising energy costs on food likely has not hit retail grocery prices yet in the US. Most of what we’re seeing now in the food price chain probably predates the conflict. We’re cautiously waiting to see what the June numbers and the May numbers might show as they come out in terms of … the extent to which energy shocks in the Strait of Hormuz and shipping blockades and so forth are going to impact food prices.”

“Today’s CPI showed that food prices have been rising 3.2 percent in the past year, but the story behind that number is more complicated than just an energy shock. Prices for some foods remained more or less flat or declined over 12 months. Milk and chicken dipped slightly. Butter cost 5.8% less in April than it did a year earlier.”

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Eric Belasco, Montana State University

“The Unexpected Force Keeping Beef Prices High And Why the Pressure Could Last For Years”

By: FOX News – May 11, 2026

"The biggest thing has been drought… Years of dry weather have wiped out grasslands across the West and Plains, leaving ranchers without enough feed or water to sustain their herds. Many have been forced to sell cattle early, including breeding cows needed to produce the next generation of calves, making it harder to rebuild.”

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Kelvin Mulungu, International Maize & Wheat Improvement Center

“Preserving Pollinators is Good For Health — And Income”

By: NPR – May 6, 2026

"Biodiversity isn't just about saving bees or wild animals. It's for the benefit of humans and sometimes the most vulnerable populations. It promotes income, it promotes nutrition, it promotes health."

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Read more on: NPR

Andrew Muhammad, University of Tennessee

“Canada is Kicking its US Booze Habit As trade Tensions Persist”
By: The Conversation – May 7, 2026
“A 40-Year-Old Iran Tariff Quietly Built America’s Pistachio Empire”
By: Salon – May 6, 2026

Craig Carpenter, Michigan State University

“What The USDA-Announced Changes To SNAP-Authorized Retailers Could Mean For Lower-Income Areas”
By: WZZM13 – May 7, 2026
“Local News Outlets Show Communities Struggling With Food Insecurity Amid Massive SNAP Cuts”
By: Media Matters – May 13, 2026

Ian Sheldon, The Ohio State University

“Economist Cautions China Purchase Agreement Could Fall Short Despite Strong Purchase Targets”

By: Brownfield – May 19, 2026

“If China follows through with the purchase commitments… It looks like for this year it would lead to U.S. imports increasing to $28 to $30 billion. That’s still $8 billion below the peak of our exports to China, $38 billion in 2022.”

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Read more on: Brownfield

David Ortega, Michigan State University

"Trump to Ease Restrictions on Climate ‘Super Pollutants’"
By: New York Times - May 21, 2026
"Trump Eases Curbs on Planet-Warming Gases Used in Refrigerants"
By: Agence France-Press - May 21, 2026
"Food Prices Are Spiking. What’s Changing the Most?"
By: PBS News - May 20, 2026

Richard Volpe, California Polytechnic University

"How Southern California Restaurants and Farmers Are Coping With Rising Produce Costs"
By: CBS LA - May 21, 2026
"Food Price Inflation Likely to Linger"
By: Food Navigator - May 18, 2026
"Food Prices Soar in The Central Valley"
By: Valley Voice - May 21, 2026

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