The Council on Food, Agricultural and Resource Economics (C-FARE)

If you are interested in providing a tax-deductible contribution to C-FARE please view our donation form.

For information regarding this website, please email Tamara Wagester at C-FARE.

1995 C-FARE Annual Report

C-FARE's Year in Review

Economic analysis plays a critical role in solving real world problems related to the economic viability of the farm sector, agribusiness management, rural development, natural resource management, and technology adoption, among other areas. Until C-FARE was formed in 1993, the agricultural economics profession was not organized to effectively communicate its accomplishments to funding institutions, priority-setting organizations, and/or national leaders who control funding for research, extension, and academic instruction. The implications of rigorous economic analysis for agricultural producers, agribusiness firms and policy makers were often overlooked in decision making.

C-FARE was created as an outreach arm of the agricultural economics profession. Our mission is to strengthen the national presence of the agricultural economics profession by identifying key economic issues, establishing priorities, and seeking support for research, extension , and academic instruction; by working with other professions and organizations; and by communicating agricultural economics contributions to solving important societal issues.

C-FARE works for the benefit of the entire agricultural economics profession. Our activities encompass the broad interests of the profession such as the economics of food production, distribution, and consumption; international trade and development; natural and human resources; environmental quality; rural communities and economic development; rural financial markets; agribusiness management; legal-economic issues; and public policy. Some of C-FARE's 1995 accomplishments are detailed in this report.

We welcome your suggestions and offers to assist. Working together we can strengthen our presence, opportunities, and contributions.

— Walter J. Armbruster, Chair

Accomplishments and Activities

Over the past year, C-FARE representatives have been busy keeping up with activities on Capitol Hill, working with other professional organizations for the benefit of the agricultural community, interacting with newly appointed Clinton Administration representatives, and planning several major events. Select accomplishments and activities are described below.

On Capitol Hill...

In January, C-FARE alerted agricultural economics department heads and others to Senator Lugar's list of policy questions entitled "Draft Questions for the Comprehensive Senate Agriculture Committee Hearings on the 1995 Farm Bill." This nine-page list of questions was used as the basis for the initial Farm Bill Hearings held by the Senate in March, and set the stage for the Farm Bill discussion in both the House and Senate. According to Lugar's staff, many agricultural economists responded to the Senator's request.
C-FARE submitted oral and written testimony to two Congressional Subcommittees which oversee agricultural research. The testimony described four important ways that economics and social science research enhance the value of publicly-funded agricultural research. Testimony before Congress is an absolutely critical vehicle for providing input to policy decisions.
C-FARE carefully monitored actions taken by the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture. By doing so, several crucial opportunities for input by agricultural economists were identified. For example, C-FARE determined that potentially severe cuts in USDA's budget were threatening critical economics agencies. C-FARE alerted agricultural economics department heads and others in key states to the threat of these cuts and provided information on how to provide input most effectively. As a result of this effort, numerous contacts were made by university representatives with members of the appropriate subcommittee. The budgets of several agencies were preserved with only minor cuts. C-FARE also mobilized support for data-gathering activities conducted by USDA which are essential to sound economic analysis.
In July, C-FARE received a request from Representative Pat Roberts, Chair of the House Agriculture Committee, to respond to an extensive list of questions related to agricultural research, education and extension. C-FARE, with input from the agricultural economics department heads, provided a clearly written, concise response that focused on those questions particularly relevant to the social sciences. Every effort was made to avoid value judgments while highlighting the contributions of and needs for agricultural and resource economics research and education. C-FARE was one of only 30 organizations that submitted a response to Chairman Roberts' request. Copies of C-FARE's response are available upon request.
C-FARE worked with the Clinton Administration to increase the support for social science research in the National Research Initiative Competitive Grants Program (NRI). The 1996 appropriation for the NRI included a three hundred thousand dollar increase in funding for the Markets, Trade and Rural Development division of the NRI.

Worked with Other Professional Organizations...

For the first time, agricultural economics is a full partner with the biological professional societies organized under The Coalition on Funding Agricultural Research Missions (CoFARM). CoFARM is a broadly-based coalition united by a commitment to advance and sustain investment in our nation's fundamental and applied agricultural research. By working with CoFARM, C-FARE has had increased opportunities to educate scientists, high-level USDA officials, congressional staffs, and others about the valuable contributions agricultural economists make to the overall agricultural research portfolio.

Interacted With High-level Clinton Administration Officials...

C-FARE representatives provided input to Dr. Karl Stauber, the new Under Secretary for Research, Education, and Economics, USDA. C-FARE encouraged him to fill the ERS Administrator position as quickly as possible, and also urged hi m to fill the vacant social science positions in the new CSREES agency. Both administrator positions, in ERS and CSREES, have since been filled with prominent agricultural economists. C-FARE regularly corresponds and interacts with Dr. Stauber to identify opportunities for agricultural economists to provide input.
C-FARE met with other high-level USDA officials, including the Acting Administrator of CSREES and the Chief Scientist of the NRI, to communicate the contributions of and encourage support for social science research throughout USDA.
C-FARE joined with ESCOP to provide input to NRI staff on the contributions of social scientists to agricultural research. As a result of this dialogue, the language for the NRI program areas has been broadened to provide more opportunities for social science participation. C-FARE also provided new NRI staff an extensive list of potential agricultural economics reviewers in all NRI program areas.

Cosponsored a National Symposium ...

C-FARE cosponsored the Symposium on Agricultural Research Assessment held August 29, 1995. Funding for the symposium was received from the Office of the Under Secretary for Research, Education, and Economics, USDA. The focus of the symposium was on understanding the key issues in conducting and using research assessments to enhance the overall contributions of the agricultural research system. Speakers included researchers, high-level policy makers, and industry representatives. A document summarizing the main points made by each speaker and in the discussion sessions is available from C-FARE's Washington, DC office and has been distributed to all agricultural economics department heads.

Other Activities...

C-FARE, AAEA, N-AAEA, and the Farm Foundation were awarded a grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation for an Agricultural Economics Leadership Initiative. The purpose of this grant is to conduct a visioning process to explore what kinds of organizational leadership are needed to carry the agricultural economics profession into the 21st century. As part of this process, there were two sessions at the AAEA meetings on the future of the AAEA. Interactive sessions at the regional association meetings, and in other locations, have provided additional opportunities for individuals to feed ideas into the visioning process.
C-FARE organized two additional events at the AAEA meetings: a session on the role of C-FARE in the agricultural economics profession and an organized symposium on "Post Contract with America Agricultural Policy."
C-FARE continues to develop a database of policy experts in agricultural economics by subject area, and a database of awards and fellowships that agricultural economists may be eligible to receive. The awards and fellowships are published in C-FARE's regular column in the AAEA newsletter.

Plans for 1996

In 1996, C-FARE will continue monitoring activities on Capitol Hill, working with other professional organizations for the benefit of the agricultural community, and interacting with important administration representatives. As always, our goal will be to work for the betterment of the entire agricultural economics profession. Several major activities planned for 1996 are described below.
With AAEA, NAAEA, and the Farm Foundation, C-FARE will cosponsor several events related to the project entitled, "Food, Agricultural, and Resource Economics for the 21st Century." This project, partially funded by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, seeks to build leadership capacity and expertise within the agricultural economics profession, and reach out to agricultural economists not currently well-served by existing professional organizations. Several listening sessions and visioning exercises will precede a major conference planned for the AAEA meetings in San Antonio, Texas.
C-FARE will take the lead on a new project tentatively called "Establishing Priorities for Agricultural Economics: An Iterative and Systematic Process Between Users and Scientists." This project will build upon work completed in 1993 that focused on research priorities for agricultural economics, as identified by user groups. The current project will complete the priority-setting process and will lead to (a) the initial identification of priorities by users and agricultural economists, (b) a clear articulation of these priorities within a coherent framework, (c) consensus building to generate support for these priorities, and (d) a long-run strategy for periodic review, assessment, and updating of priorities.

Current Issues
Dec 2009-Jan 2010


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If you are interested in providing a tax-deductible contribution to C-FARE please view our donation form. For information regarding this website, please email Tamara Wagester at C-FARE.	1995 C-FARE Annual Report C-FARE's Year in Review Economic analysis plays a critical role in solving real world problems related to the economic viability of the farm sector, agribusiness management, rural development, natural resource management, and technology adoption, among other areas. Until C-FARE was formed in 1993, the agricultural economics profession was not organized to effectively communicate its accomplishments to funding institutions, priority-setting organizations, and/or national leaders who control funding for research, extension, and academic instruction. The implications of rigorous economic analysis for agricultural producers, agribusiness firms and policy makers were often overlooked in decision making. C-FARE was created as an outreach arm of the agricultural economics profession. Our mission is to strengthen the national presence of the agricultural economics profession by identifying key economic issues, establishing priorities, and seeking support for research, extension , and academic instruction; by working with other professions and organizations; and by communicating agricultural economics contributions to solving important societal issues. C-FARE works for the benefit of the entire agricultural economics profession. Our activities encompass the broad interests of the profession such as the economics of food production, distribution, and consumption; international trade and development; natural and human resources; environmental quality; rural communities and economic development; rural financial markets; agribusiness management; legal-economic issues; and public policy. Some of C-FARE's 1995 accomplishments are detailed in this report. We welcome your suggestions and offers to assist. Working together we can strengthen our presence, opportunities, and contributions. — Walter J. Armbruster, Chair Accomplishments and Activities Over the past year, C-FARE representatives have been busy keeping up with activities on Capitol Hill, working with other professional organizations for the benefit of the agricultural community, interacting with newly appointed Clinton Administration representatives, and planning several major events. Select accomplishments and activities are described below. On Capitol Hill... In January, C-FARE alerted agricultural economics department heads and others to Senator Lugar's list of policy questions entitled "Draft Questions for the Comprehensive Senate Agriculture Committee Hearings on the 1995 Farm Bill." This nine-page list of questions was used as the basis for the initial Farm Bill Hearings held by the Senate in March, and set the stage for the Farm Bill discussion in both the House and Senate. According to Lugar's staff, many agricultural economists responded to the Senator's request. C-FARE submitted oral and written testimony to two Congressional Subcommittees which oversee agricultural research. The testimony described four important ways that economics and social science research enhance the value of publicly-funded agricultural research. Testimony before Congress is an absolutely critical vehicle for providing input to policy decisions. C-FARE carefully monitored actions taken by the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture. By doing so, several crucial opportunities for input by agricultural economists were identified. For example, C-FARE determined that potentially severe cuts in USDA's budget were threatening critical economics agencies. C-FARE alerted agricultural economics department heads and others in key states to the threat of these cuts and provided information on how to provide input most effectively. As a result of this effort, numerous contacts were made by university representatives with members of the appropriate subcommittee. The budgets of several agencies were preserved with only minor cuts. C-FARE also mobilized support for data-gathering activities conducted by USDA which are essential to sound economic analysis. In July, C-FARE received a request from Representative Pat Roberts, Chair of the House Agriculture Committee, to respond to an extensive list of questions related to agricultural research, education and extension. C-FARE, with input from the agricultural economics department heads, provided a clearly written, concise response that focused on those questions particularly relevant to the social sciences. Every effort was made to avoid value judgments while highlighting the contributions of and needs for agricultural and resource economics research and education. C-FARE was one of only 30 organizations that submitted a response to Chairman Roberts' request. Copies of C-FARE's response are available upon request. C-FARE worked with the Clinton Administration to increase the support for social science research in the National Research Initiative Competitive Grants Program (NRI). The 1996 appropriation for the NRI included a three hundred thousand dollar increase in funding for the Markets, Trade and Rural Development division of the NRI. Worked with Other Professional Organizations... For the first time, agricultural economics is a full partner with the biological professional societies organized under The Coalition on Funding Agricultural Research Missions (CoFARM). CoFARM is a broadly-based coalition united by a commitment to advance and sustain investment in our nation's fundamental and applied agricultural research. By working with CoFARM, C-FARE has had increased opportunities to educate scientists, high-level USDA officials, congressional staffs, and others about the valuable contributions agricultural economists make to the overall agricultural research portfolio. Interacted With High-level Clinton Administration Officials... C-FARE representatives provided input to Dr. Karl Stauber, the new Under Secretary for Research, Education, and Economics, USDA. C-FARE encouraged him to fill the ERS Administrator position as quickly as possible, and also urged hi m to fill the vacant social science positions in the new CSREES agency. Both administrator positions, in ERS and CSREES, have since been filled with prominent agricultural economists. C-FARE regularly corresponds and interacts with Dr. Stauber to identify opportunities for agricultural economists to provide input. C-FARE met with other high-level USDA officials, including the Acting Administrator of CSREES and the Chief Scientist of the NRI, to communicate the contributions of and encourage support for social science research throughout USDA. C-FARE joined with ESCOP to provide input to NRI staff on the contributions of social scientists to agricultural research. As a result of this dialogue, the language for the NRI program areas has been broadened to provide more opportunities for social science participation. C-FARE also provided new NRI staff an extensive list of potential agricultural economics reviewers in all NRI program areas. Cosponsored a National Symposium ... C-FARE cosponsored the Symposium on Agricultural Research Assessment held August 29, 1995. Funding for the symposium was received from the Office of the Under Secretary for Research, Education, and Economics, USDA. The focus of the symposium was on understanding the key issues in conducting and using research assessments to enhance the overall contributions of the agricultural research system. Speakers included researchers, high-level policy makers, and industry representatives. A document summarizing the main points made by each speaker and in the discussion sessions is available from C-FARE's Washington, DC office and has been distributed to all agricultural economics department heads. Other Activities... C-FARE, AAEA, N-AAEA, and the Farm Foundation were awarded a grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation for an Agricultural Economics Leadership Initiative. The purpose of this grant is to conduct a visioning process to explore what kinds of organizational leadership are needed to carry the agricultural economics profession into the 21st century. As part of this process, there were two sessions at the AAEA meetings on the future of the AAEA. Interactive sessions at the regional association meetings, and in other locations, have provided additional opportunities for individuals to feed ideas into the visioning process. C-FARE organized two additional events at the AAEA meetings: a session on the role of C-FARE in the agricultural economics profession and an organized symposium on "Post Contract with America Agricultural Policy." C-FARE continues to develop a database of policy experts in agricultural economics by subject area, and a database of awards and fellowships that agricultural economists may be eligible to receive. The awards and fellowships are published in C-FARE's regular column in the AAEA newsletter. Plans for 1996 In 1996, C-FARE will continue monitoring activities on Capitol Hill, working with other professional organizations for the benefit of the agricultural community, and interacting with important administration representatives. As always, our goal will be to work for the betterment of the entire agricultural economics profession. Several major activities planned for 1996 are described below. With AAEA, NAAEA, and the Farm Foundation, C-FARE will cosponsor several events related to the project entitled, "Food, Agricultural, and Resource Economics for the 21st Century." This project, partially funded by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, seeks to build leadership capacity and expertise within the agricultural economics profession, and reach out to agricultural economists not currently well-served by existing professional organizations. Several listening sessions and visioning exercises will precede a major conference planned for the AAEA meetings in San Antonio, Texas. C-FARE will take the lead on a new project tentatively called "Establishing Priorities for Agricultural Economics: An Iterative and Systematic Process Between Users and Scientists." This project will build upon work completed in 1993 that focused on research priorities for agricultural economics, as identified by user groups. The current project will complete the priority-setting process and will lead to (a) the initial identification of priorities by users and agricultural economists, (b) a clear articulation of these priorities within a coherent framework, (c) consensus building to generate support for these priorities, and (d) a long-run strategy for periodic review, assessment, and updating of priorities.	Current Issues Dec 2009-Jan 2010
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