News

Pudenz, Smith win CARD Award for Best Ph.D. Dissertation in Agricultural, Environmental, and Energy Economics and Policy

CARD Director John Crespi announced Drs. Christopher Pudenz and Timothy (Jake) Smith as recipients of the CARD Award for Best PhD Dissertation in Agricultural, Environmental, and Energy Economics Policy for 2024. Pudenz and Smith will both receive a $500 prize, and will have their names added to the Dissertation Award winners plaque in the CARD suite in Heady Hall.

Survey: Iowans Prefer Electric Suppliers Invest in Solar over Wind, Nuclear, Fossil Fuels

Ames, IA – In 2022, wind power accounted for 62% of Iowa’s electricity net generation, according to the US Energy Information Administration. In fact, Iowa’s wind power industry has grown so much that only one state—Texas—produces more of its own electricity from wind.

Harris-Lagoudakis article accepted at Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy

Dr. Katie Harris-Lagoudakis's article "The New Normal: Grocery Shopping Behavior Changes Before and After the COVID-19 Vaccine" has been accepted at Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy.

Kalna-Dubinyuk to present at ISCORE

Post-doctoral Research Associate Tetyana Kalna-Dubinyuk will present at the Iowa State Conference on Race and Ethnicity (ISCORE) on Thursday, February 29, 2024, from 3:10 pm-4 pm at the Memorial Union on the Iowa State campus. Kalna-Dubinyuk will present "The Power of Having a Sense of Belonging" with Fally Masambuksa-Kanchewa, Assistant Professor of Agricultural Communication.

Assistant Professor Guilherme DePaula published an invited article in VoxDev. DePaula authored "Bundled contracts and technological diffusion caused the Brazilian soybean boom." DePaula's article examines the introduction of a private, bundled contract that addresses the multiple barriers to technological diffusion in the Brazilian Savanna and demonstrates that a contractual innovation was at the heart of the transformation of the Brazilian Savanna into a major global source of soybeans.

Plastina publishes in Carbon Balance and Management

Associate Professor Alejandro Plastina published an article in the most recent issue of Carbon Balance and Management. Plastina, with Haeun Jo of Iowa State University and Oranuch Wongpiyabovorn of South Dakota State University, authored the article "The business case for carbon farming in the USA." The article examines the potential effects of alternative private payment regimes, prices paid to farmers relative to out-of-pocket costs, and the availability of information on CO2 sequestration, on the adoption of cover crops and no-till in the United States, the resulting CO2 sequestration, and changes in farmers’ net returns. Results indicate that agricultural carbon markets can be profitable for U.S. farmers, although with substantial geographic variability, and that annual carbon sequestration could range between 17 and 75 million mtCO2e.

Associate Professor Lee Schulz spoke with Swineweb for the article "Challenges Persist for Hog Industry in 2024 Despite Potential Improvements." The article examines what the coming year may bring for US hog producers, after 2023 proved a challenging year. Schulz told Swineweb that he was leaning toward contraction in the national hog herd for 2024. He noted that the ongoing trend of breeding herd contraction may offer some market support.

Professor Chad Hart was interviewed by Southern Farm Network for the article "Grower Level Concerns and Stories for 2024." The story examines the factors that may impact farmers' bottom lines in 2024. Hart said that the income effect will have an impact on international markets. "Because especially on the meat side, what we do often see is that as income growth occurs in countries, there’s a definite shift in the proteins that they’re demanding in the way that they absorb those at the same time, too. We’re trying to figure out how to deal with the different cultural practices that they have. It’s all in managing and working with that consumer."

'Farmers' Share Perspectives on Climate Change, Land Rents and Conservation in Latest Iowa Farm Poll (news release)

Cedar Rapids Food and Bioprocessors Manufacturing Report

Oranuch Wongpiyabovorn, Chad E. Hart

Hennessy publishes in Agronomy Journal and Science of the Total Environment (news brief)

Arbuckle, Plastina join Journal of Water and Soil Conservation editorial board (news brief)

Chandio featured in Chicago Fed Insights (news brief)

New and updated farmer decision tools available (news brief)

Associate Professor Lee Schulz spoke with Iowa Farmer Today for the story "Livestock Outlook: Livestock markets face mixed demand," which examines the multitude of factors that will affect livestock markets in 2024. Speaking about cattle markets, Schulz said "Cow-calf producers made some good money in 2023 so they may be looking to expand. The Western U.S. has seen better conditions, and it’s still very dry in much of the Midwest. That will likely temper expansion plans for many."

Associate Professor Lee Schulz was interviewed by Farm Journal for the story "USDA Hogs and Pigs Report: Is This a Defining Moment for the Pork Industry?" The article examines the implications of the December USDA Hogs and Pigs report. Schulz said that "Defining moments are often thought of as moments of truth, but in the throes of it, they’re usually a moment of uncertainty, not clarity. But, maybe now we’re starting to see some things come into focus in marketplace as we begin to see larger supply adjustments."

Professor Chad Hart was spoke with Brownfield Ag News for the story "Soybeans with momentum going into 2024," which focuses on farmers shifting crop acreage from corn to soybeans. Hart indicated that the future's market is preparing for farmers to plant more soybeans, as is USDA in their crop projections, and that Iowa farmers he has spoken to have expressed their intent to grow more soybeans in 2024.
Also appears in: https://siouxcountyradio.com/brownfield-ag/soybeans-with-momentum-going-into-2024/

Professor Chad Hart was interviewed by Western Iowa Today for the story "Iowa State Economist Sees Land Values Pulling Back in 2024," which focuses on the slow down in land value growth shown in the 2023 Iowa Land Value Survey. Hart told Western Iowa Today that "[Land value is] still growing, but it's slowing down dramatically," and that he expects land values to pull back in 2024.

Professor Chad Hart was interviewed by Missouri Farmer Today for the article "Crop Outlook: Exports key over the next 18 months." The story examines what crop margins may look like for farmers in 2024. Hart said "It’s an interesting time, as we’re looking out there I call it an adjustment sort of back to where profit margins usually are when we’re looking at agriculture."

Brighenti, Gassman publish in Journal of the ASABE (news brief)