Observing agricultural economics: What now and why?

Journal of Agricultural and Applied Economics, Aug 2003 by Guedry, Leo J

I want to express my appreciation to the Association for this recognition. To those involved in nominating me, my heartfelt gratitude for their efforts and support. I am truly honored and humbled by my selection. I thank each who played a role in the process.

As I thought about this presentation, I reflected on the changes that have occurred in the profession during my career, reviewed some of the SAEA and AAEA presidential1 and invited addresses, as well as the published remarks of previous recipients. In each presentation I noticed a commonality. Each provided observations suggesting implications for the future of the profession. Picking up on this approach, I will highlight some fundamental characteristics of agricultural and applied economics that I expect will serve us well in the future. In addition, I will point to a couple of areas that I feel need attention in the future to maintain our professional uniqueness. My observations, of course, are biased by my administrative experiences, which have included interactions with user groups, state and federal legislators, and public and private agencies and staffs.

Roots

In 1980, a former department head at LSU, Fred H. Wiegmann, in a white paper entitled "Roots" reminded us of the importance of the agricultural sector to our profession. Underlying his observations was the reality that as a profession, problem solving is at our core. To put it another way, the profession has been relevant because there has been a focus on finding solutions to problems of importance to users, either individually or collectively. Disciplinary contributions by the profession to applied economics and methodology have occurred because there was a need to fill a void relative to solving a particular problem. Based on my administrative experience, I can't overstate the importance this "solution-focused problem solving"2 orientation has to our collective professional viability, particularly when justifying continued or new funding.

A couple of the characteristics associated with solution-focused problem solving within the profession are 1) effective problem identification, and 2) a conceptual framework that incorporates direct and indirect linkages between and within social, economic, physical, and biological systems.

Problem identification. The leaders in research, extension, and teaching, regardless of discipline, share a common characteristic-that of an "effective observer." In our profession, what you find is that the individual is or was an active participant with the user group environment, as a producer (farmer), trader, consultant, etc. The ability to see needs and issues requiring clarification or solution is what has led to the conceptual developments that have characterized the profession over time, contributing significantly to the general success the profession has enjoyed.

Linkages-Social, economic, physical, and biological systems. The historical origins of agricultural economics in the agricultural industry created a heritage deeply embedded in the profession. This heritage of addressing problems through the use of systematic analyses involving an understanding of physical, biological, economic, and social relationships has served the profession well. It also has been the basis for the profession's evolution into natural resource and environmental issues, rural and community development, policy, and many other areas that are addressed by the profession today. The breadth this orientation gives the profession makes agricultural economics unique within land grant universities, and state and federal agencies. As we look to the role and viability of the profession in the future, these two generalized characteristics will play a critical role.

Recipe for the Future

These characteristics and what is known about current and future societal demands provide guideposts for the profession. What is known about expectations of users? In general, users are not as concerned about academic or disciplinary polish as they are about quality of results. Are insights being provided to meaningful problems that make their world better? Are results available in a timely manner? Let's explore these within the context of what they suggest relative to future directions of the profession.

Solution focused. Solution-focused problem solving will remain a crucial element of teaching, research, and extension programs. Critical thinking and analytical reasoning within the context of a sound conceptual framework will continue to be important. Application of this framework to meaningful problems using appropriate methodologies will continue to be the characteristic that will ensure that the profession maintains its viability and uniqueness. To be successful will require that the importance of effective problem identification continues to be an integral part of undergraduate and graduate education.

"Examples" have been one of the mainstays used to relate theory and application. But are examples enough to build the ability to recognize the linkages between social, economic, physical, and biological environments? Are we still using approaches that were developed when production agriculture and farm-gate marketing were the major focuses of the profession? During that time, most of the students and, ultimately, practicing members of the profession were reared on farms, accounting for the success of this approach. Now we use case studies in our expanded efforts in agribusiness. In addition, the bulk of the coursework taken in production agricultural subject matter areas such as animal and plant sciences was very applied in nature. Does that exist today? My observation is that the support courses are more technical in nature, and students are being required to take fewer of them. In addition, the scope of problem areas being addressed has expanded greatly and use of additional course work is not realistic. It is, therefore, even more important that ways are found to develop and enhance the understanding of how environments affect a particular issue or problem. Examples, case studies, internships, senior theses all provide opportunities here, but are there others?