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The Council on

Food, Agricultural and Resource Economics

2002 Annual Report

The Council on Food, Agricultural, and Resource Economics (C-FARE) is a non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing the application of economics to food, agricultural and resource issues at the national level. Formed in 1987, C-FARE's governing board includes prominent applied economists representing a wide range of public and private sector interests. The four primary goals C-FARE outlined to complement the agricultural, natural resource and applied economics profession include:

1. To identify key economic issues, establish priorities, and seek support for applied economics research, extension, and academic instruction;

2. To help applied economists contribute more effectively to public and private sector decisions;

3. To work with other professional organizations to foster support for food, agricultural, and resource research;

4. To publicize applied economics contributions to solving important societal issues.

The 2002 annual report will summarize the activities of the past year, and how we worked to accomplish these goals through events, associations, and actions.

I. Identifying Key Economic Issues

A. Symposiums

In November 2002 C-FARE hosted its annual symposium in Washington, DC entitled, “Public Information and the Agricultural and Food System.” C-FARE’s 2002 symposium stimulated debate on emerging data problems relating to agriculture, including significant gaps and other problems that have emerged in economic data series. The three presentations that served as the catalyst for debate included: Richard Just (UMD) provided an “Overview of Public Information and the Agriculture and Food System,” Bruce Babcock (ISU) discussed “How Can Breakthroughs in Information Systems Impact Local Decisions about Agriculture and the Environment,” and Ted Schroeder (KSU) addressed “Data, Structural Change, and Public Policy: The Case of Mandatory Livestock Pricing.”

Symposium participants included USDA employees and members of agricultural interest groups. Following the symposium, the speakers and C-FARE board members held an overview for Congressional Staff. C-FARE will distribute a summary report on the symposium and post the document on our web site at www.cfare.org under the section for “Publications.” As a result of the event, C-FARE has had several calls requesting further information on data needs of the social science profession.

B. Priorities

In 2002, C-FARE worked diligently to update the Priorities document first published in 1997, outlining the priorities for the profession. Several members of the profession, headed by Gene Nelson, worked together to organize thoughts and ideas to update the publication. These five priority areas include; (1) Assessing the Impacts of New Technologies, (2) Improving the Global Competitiveness and Profitability of U.S. Agriculture, (3) Enhancing Economic Opportunities in Rural Communities, (4) Resolving Natural Resource and Environmental Issues, and (5) Responding to Consumer Concerns about Food, Health and Safety. C-FARE would like to extend a special thank you to the AAEA Foundation for their grant to print and distribute the document upon completion.

II. Contributing to Public and Private Sector Decisions:

A. Legislative Input

1. Letters sent to Congress Concerning FY 2003 Appropriations Levels for Research

During 2002, C-FARE continued to work for greater support of research, extension and education through various measures. At the beginning of the Congressional Appropriations season, C-FARE encouraged economists to participate in a letter writing campaign to inform Members of Congress of the need for increased agriculture research funds. C-FARE distributed the letters three ways: (1) From C-FARE to the Members of the Appropriations Subcommittees on Agriculture addressing needed funding for the USDA Agencies that provide data to support economists, (2) In collaboration with the Coalition on Funding Agricultural Research Missions (CoFARM), and the Consortium of Social Science Associations (COSSA) highlighting the successes of past federally funded grants, and (3) By encouraging members of our profession to send letters highlighting research successes to their Members of Congress. Letters from individuals remains the most important way we can communicate the need for research funds. Such correspondence allows the individual to maintain involvement with staff and Congress likes encouraging words from their constituency in order to justify funding of programs.

2. Meetings with Capitol Hill Staff

In recent years, C-FARE Board Members began meeting with Congressional staff to explain the need to increase agriculture research money, highlighting the need for continuation and expansion of USDA’s complementary portfolio including competitive and formula funding, as well as all Department research programs. The visits have received positive feedback from many offices. Those offices that received Appropriations request letters mentioned above from constituents appeared to have a greater understanding and stronger agreement with the need for increased funds. Offices visited in 2002 included: Congressman Nick Smith (MI), Congressman David Price (NC), and Congressman Hal Rogers (KY).

3. Meeting with Congressional Research Service

C-FARE held discussions with the Congressional Research Service (CRS) exploring the possibilities for joint briefings and workshops for new congressional staff at the beginning of each new Congress.

4. Congressional Briefing on Rural Impacts of the Welfare Reform Bill

On April 15, 2002 C-FARE sponsored a Congressional briefing addressing “Rural Impacts of Welfare Reform.” Representative Dave Camp (MI), who serves on the Ways and Means Committee, hosted the briefing. The opportunity to expand our involvement with Committees outside of the traditional focus is promising. Several Congressional Staffers attended the briefing. Speakers included: Dr. Leslie Whitener (ERS), Dr. Bruce Weber (Oregon State), and Dr. Mark Henry (Clemson University).

5. Meetings with Capitol Hill Staff to Discuss ARMS

In the spring, C-FARE invited economists to meet with Appropriations Staff to discuss the needs and benefits of ARMS funding. Russell Lamb (North Carolina State) and Barry Goodwin (The Ohio State University) have both utilized the ARMS survey to conduct research. They met with staff to highlight their research and point to the need for similar opportunities for other economists. Offices visited include: Congressman David Hobson (OH), Congressman David Price (NC), and Senator Mike DeWine (OH).

B. Agency Input

C-FARE Chair, Gene Nelson and Executive Director, Tamara Wagester visited government agencies to highlight the needs of applied economists in the field and also to ensure that C-FARE continues to meet the professional needs of the agency’s economists. Agencies visited included; USDA’s ERS, CSREES, GIPSA, and NRCS.

III. Communicating Within Our Profession

A. Newsletters

The Council Caller, a monthly electronic newsletter, continues to reach a wide audience with information for agricultural and applied economists. The distribution list for The Council Caller expands each year, and C-FARE has received extremely positive feedback. Recently a university government relations representative told C-FARE that they receive our newsletter from their scientists. The newsletter can be accessed through our web site at www.cfare.org under the “Publications” link. C-FARE also continues to contribute input and updates to the profession through the AAEA newsletter, The Exchange.

B. Grant Writing Pre-Conference and Brochure

C-FARE and the NAAEA hosted a grant writing pre-conference at the 2002 AAEA Annual Meeting held in Long Beach, California. The pre-conference highlighted federal grants and opportunities available through joint-agency grants. To view the agenda, please visit C-FARE’s web site at: http://www.cfare.org/updates/update/072802grantwritingworkshop.shtml.

The conference was offered in hopes to encourage more economists to apply for grants, which in turn may lead to a greater percentage of grants available for the social sciences. A brochure with tips on successful grant preparation, and a one-page summary of various RFPs has been produced from the event. Access to the brochure can be gained through our web site under the “Funding Opportunities” at http://www.cfare.org/funding.shtml. C-FARE and the NAAEA will host another grant preconference at the 2003 AAEA Meetings.

IV. Working With Other Professional Organizations

A. CoFARM

C-FARE remains active in the Coalition on Funding Agricultural Research Missions (CoFARM). CoFARM continues to work across disciplines and with other Science and Technology groups. The annual Congressional Visits Day (CVD) provides an example of the impact achieved through multi-disciplinary collaboration. C-FARE’s Executive Director, Tamara Wagester spearheaded the agricultural disciplines involvement with CVD. The CVD activities included: workshops for participants, meeting with Congressional Staff to convey the need for an increased and balanced federal investment in research and development, and an agro-security briefing for the House and Senate Agriculture Committees. Dr. John Lee (Mississippi State University) and Dr. David Schweikhardt (Michigan State University) attended CVD on behalf of C-FARE. Congressional offices visited included: Senator Thad Cochran (R-MS), Senator Tim Hutchinson (R-AR), Senator Richard Shelby (R-AL), Congressman Joseph Knollenberg (R-MI), Congressman Chip Pickering (R-MS), Congressman Nick Smith (R-MI), and Congressman Roger Wicker (R-MS).

CoFARM has a high level of commitment to seeing a substantial increase in agricultural research funds in the near future. During 2002, C-FARE participated in several activities through CoFARM to increase funding for agriculture research. In March and November, CoFARM met with appropriations staffers. In April, several members of CoFARM met with Noah Engelberg of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). In May, CoFARM members met with CSREES, and in October CoFARM met with the White House. Each of the above meetings communicated the importance of agriculture.

B. N-CFAR

C-FARE’s Executive Director is a member of The National Coalition for Agricultural Research (N-CFAR). N-CFAR highlights the importance of stakeholder involvement with research issues and over the last two years has worked to impact stakeholders and members of Congress.

C-FARE will continue to remain active in N-CFAR.

C-FARE 2002 – New Accomplishments

Activity	Target Group		Timing & Significance
AAEA Meeting (Pre-conference)	Early and Mid-Career level economists		Universities currently face cuts in state budgets therefore researchers face an increased need for federal research dollars. With the grant conference held during the AAEA meetings it helped draw in interested parties who may not be able to travel to Washington, DC.
Congressional Intern Briefings		Students from Ag Econ Departments interning in DC.	The benefits of such briefings include: a) Inviting the speakers to participate reminds them regularly of C-FARE and the variety of activities we do. b) The interns could be Congressional staff in the near future. Such briefings provide them with important background information.
Congressional Visits to discuss ARMS		Congressional staff	The timing for this activity was very good. It allowed us to showcase the accomplishments of the profession as well as thank Congress for their past assistance. Currently USDA operates on a Continuing Resolution. The House and Senate did approve the proposed ARMS initiative, but there has not been a conference report at this time.
CVD		Key Members of the Profession and Key Congressional Staff	Timing allowed C-FARE to provide input on the Appropriations process and to provide input on the Farm Bill. Such activities are of vital significance to the continuation of funding for our profession.
Participation in Bio-Security Activities		Key Congressmen and their staff	Already provided input to various sources, including Key Conference Staff and also to Various Advisory Board Members. Timing was on target and significance was highly relevant.