Purdue Agricultural Economics Podcasts

Purdue Agricultural Economics Professor, Dr. Joe Balagtas shares his experience serving on the Council of Economic Advisors and discusses recent food price inflation.

In this episode of the Purdue Agricultural Economics Podcast, Halee and Ken introduce next year's student co-hosts, Abby Meier and Courtney Rodkey. The group then turns the table, asking Halee about her future plans and advice for students looking to get involved both on and off campus.

The war in Ukraine has sent shock waves through global energy and agricultural markets. Dr. Maksym Chepeliev, a Ukrainian Research Economist with Purdue Center for Global Trade Analysis, recently presented his paper on the economic impacts of an EU moratorium on energy imports from Russia to the EU Parliament. Ken and Halee talk with Maksym about his research and the role of the Purdue Community in supporting Ukrainians.

Natasha Cox is a 2022 Purdue Distinguished Agriculture Alumna and current regional vice president for ag lending at Farm Credit Mid-America. In this episode, Ken and Halee talk with Natasha about her Purdue experience, advice she has for students, and insights into the US farm economy.

Halee and Ken talk to Dr. Rhonda Phillips, Honors College Dean and AgEcon Professor, about her work in the Honors College, community development research, and her new book, "The Happiness Policy Handbook: How to Make Happiness and Well-Being the Purpose of Your Government."

Dr. Bhagyashree Katare discusses her research in health equity and government assistance programs. Dr. Katare is an associate professor of agricultural economics at Purdue University.

Halee and Ken talk with Purdue Ag Econ Distinguished Professor and Department Head, Jayson Lusk, about the cost of a Thanksgiving meal in 2021 and the growing prices of food and other goods.

Dr. Ken Foster & Co-host Halee Fisher talk with three agricultural economics undergraduate students (Ashley Porter, Austin Berenda, and Grace Hasler) about their summer internship experiences. The trio provide insight and advice to students looking to make the most from these types of opportunities.

Ken and Halee talk to Dr. Todd Kuethe, Associate Professor and Schrader Endowed Chair of Farmland Economics at Purdue University, about the field of farmland economics and his recent report on the Purdue Farmland Values and Cash Rents Survey.  Topics discussed include insights on what factors are increasing current farmland prices, the future forecast on farmland value, and the effects of COVID-19 in this market. 

In this episode, we welcome Halee Fisher as the new co-host of the Purdue Ag Econ Podcast. Ken and Halee chat with past co-host, Dane Erickson, about highlights from his Boilermaker experience, the benefits he received from working as an undergraduate researcher with Dr. Carson Reeling, the challenges/opportunities he faced applying to grad school during COVID, and his future plans as a master’s student.

Ken and Dane talk with Dr. Carson Reeling about the field of Environmental Economics. Topics discussed include the economics behind bear and deer hunting permits, using economics as a tool for conservation, finding the value of things which exist outside traditional markets, and the “Purdue energy.” 

Ken and Dane talk with Dr. Nicole Widmar about the role self-reported data plays in our increasingly data-driven world, from eating habits to COVID-19. Dr. Widmar shares insights on Social Desirability Bias, or the ways we unconsciously influence self-reported data to portray ourselves in a better light than reality.    

Dr. Ken Foster and Dane Erickson start the Spring 2021 semester by speaking with Purdue Ag Econ Department Head and Distinguished Professor, Jayson Lusk. Lusk is a food and agricultural economist who studies "what we eat and why we eat it." He has been listed as one of the most prolific and cited food and agricultural economists of the past two decades. The trio discuss changes in the Ag Econ Department, food insecurity in the time of COVID, and the increasingly "virtual" job market.  

Ken and Dane talk with Dr. Kajal Gulati, Purdue Ag Econ’s newest professor and expert in Development Economics. Dr. Gulati shares with insights into problems and opportunities in rural development around the world in the wake of the Coronavirus Pandemic.

Ken and Dane speak with Purdue alum Ernie Humphrey (CEO of Treasury Webinars) about preparing for virtual interviews, building your professional brand, and staying connected to Purdue as an alum.

In the 50th Agricultural Economics Podcast, Ken and Dane visit with Drs. Maria Marshall and Michael Wilcox about Rural Development and the relocation of the North Central Regional Center for Rural Development (NCRCRD) to Purdue. What NCRCRD is and what it means for Purdue.

Part 2 of 2: Last summer was socially challenging and not only because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The violent death of George Floyd and others of color at the hands of police and the subsequent protests around the country remind us that we have not yet fully implemented the ideals of our country’s founding documents.  Ken and Dane chat with Professor Pamala Morris, Assistant Dean and Director of Multicultural Programs in Purdue’s College of Agriculture, about systemic racism, what it’s like to be black in America today, and what we can all do to improve our world.

The summer of 2020 was socially challenging and not only because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The violent death of George Floyd and others of color at the hands of police and the subsequent protests around the country remind us that we have not yet fully implemented the ideals of our country’s founding documents. Ken and Dane chat with Professor Pamela Morris, Assistant Dean and Director of Multicultural Programs in Purdue’s College of Agriculture, about some of the actions Purdue and the College of Agriculture are taking to address these challenges.

Dr. Ken Foster and Dane Erickson talk with Purdue Provost Jay Akridge about the challenges and plans for residential learning at Purdue this fall. 

Dr. Ken Foster and co-host Dane Erickson discuss the experience of virtual classes in Purdue Ag Econ with students Mason Gordon, Kayla Fogg, and Nick Bowser. Topics discussed include establishing a routine, keeping involved with clubs and organizations, and advice for other students studying virtually.

Dr. Ken Foster and co-host Dane Erickson talk with Purdue Ag Econ Senior Mason Gordon about the George Mitchell International Scholar Award he received and his passion for Rural Development. Mason also talks about his Undergraduate Honor Research Project investigating the Stellar Communities program.

Dr. Ken Foster and Dane Erickson (AgEcon Junior and 2020 Mortar Board Fellow) talk with Dr. Larry DeBoer about the public policy and economic impact of the Coronavirus pandemic. Plus Dane gives us a glimpse into what it’s like to be a Purdue student in the virtual learning environment.

Dr. Ken Foster sits down with Professor Scott Downey and LeeAnn Williams to discuss current happenings in the Purdue AgEcon undergraduate program.

Ken Foster finds a familiar face in Colombia, his former co-host, Jessica Eise. Jessica is a Ph.D. student at Purdue University's Brian Lamb School of Communication. She's in Colombia as a part of an international collaborative project with researchers from the area and conducting in-depth interviews with coffee farmers on the subject of climate change and climate fluctuations.

For this episode, Purdue University Professor of Agricultural Economics, Jess Lowenberg-DeBoer talks with host Ken Foster about his current project in Bogotá, Colombia. The Bogotá area is facing large population displacement due to a civil war. To alleviate issues surrounding displacement, Bogotá leaders reached out to Purdue University researchers requesting assistance to help increase the capacity of their local agricultural development. Lowenberg-DeBoer’s research aims to harness the agricultural potential of the area by working with locals to teach and incorporate innovative tools so that they can make smarter agricultural decisions.

Listen in as our host Ken Foster sits down with AgEcon's new Department Head, Dr. Jayson Lusk! In this podcast, they discuss the direction of the department, Dr. Lusk's research about why consumers eat the way they do, and big data's impact on both consumers and producers.

Agricultural Economics students Dane Chapman and Erica Timmons, accompanied by competition coordinator Dr. Will Secor, recently met with Jessica to discuss their victory in the Land O' Lakes Living Case Competition. The Department of Agricultural Economics and the Krannert School of Management collaborated to create this unique competition. In this podcast, Dane and Erica discuss the process they went through while building their case study and the lessons they learned that will be applicable to their future careers.

On Distinguished Agricultural Alumni Day, Scot Ortman, CEO of Kokomo Grain, visited Jessica and Ken to discuss how his Purdue experience impacted his career and family's business over the years. Listen to his story for a great example of how career paths can change and how the grain elevator industry has evolved over time with innovation and technology. 

The day after recording this podcast with Dr. Russ Hillberry, who predicted imminent ratification of the World Trade Organization's (WTO) Trade Facilitation Agreement, on February 22, the agreement was in fact ratified. This marks the first major multilateral trade agreement reached since the WTO was created more than 20 years ago, aiming to streamline cross-border trade to the benefit of the developing world in particular. Listen as Ken and Jessica discuss the details of this now-ratified agreement and what it means with this Purdue agricultural economist. 

Join us as Dr. Tom Hertel, professor of agricultural economics at Purdue University and executive director of the Center for Global Trade Analysis, talks with Ken and Jessica about the latest release of the Journal of Global Economic Analysis. Tune in to discover how this open-source journal connects the community and encourages broader participation in communicating and publishing information about science to the public.

Want to know what’s in store for agriculture in 2017? Join Ken and Jessica as they talk with Dr. Chris Hurt, a professor of Agricultural Economics at Purdue University and editor of the Purdue Agricultural Economics Report, to discuss the Agricultural Outlook for 2017. Get an inside look as Dr. Hurt explains the predicted economic growth, financial impact and net worth of the agricultural sector this coming year.

Tune in to hear Dr. Maria Marshall, a professor of Agricultural Economics at Purdue University and the director of the Purdue Initiative for Family Firms (PIFF), discuss how PIFF can help family businesses develop skills in financial, business, leadership planning and the maintenance of family bonds. As she talks with Ken and Jessica, Dr. Marshall describes the interactive tools available through PIFF and how these tools can help family businesses achieve success.

Join us for our special post-election discussion with Purdue agricultural economist Dr. Otto Doering as we review the recent election and its effect on agricultural policy. In this episode, Dr. Doering explores possible outcomes for foreign trade, immigration and the Farm Bill in the wake of the 2016 presidential election.  

How can we keep up-to-date on business research and strategy insights relating to food and agriculture? Listen here as Dr. Scott Downey, associate director of the Center for Food and Agricultural Business and associate professor in the Agricultural Economics Department, explains exactly how with the Quarterly Review. In addition, learn how to access this great new resource, or even help out!

Join us this week as we discuss the Ag Economy Barometer with David Widmar, a senior research associate for the Center for Commercial Agriculture in the Department of Agricultural Economics at Purdue University. Get an inside look at what brings the barometer to life and how he and a team of researchers gather data to measure the outlook of agricultural markets.

Is there a scarcity of communication in agriculture? And is this breakdown endangering the future of food and agriculture? Join Ken Foster as he explores these questions with authors Jessica Eise and Whitney Hodde as they discuss their book, The Communication Scarcity in Agriculture. Changing demographics, cultural shifts, technological advances and agriculture’s silence, argue Eise and Hodde, all combined to create the perfect storm – a great chasm between those who know, and those who don’t know, agriculture. Listen now to get the whole story!

Dr. Robert Thompson joins Ken and Jessica to discuss the topic of his Snyder* Lecture -- the Changing Geopolitics of Agriculture. Tune in as discusses feeding the world and the future of agriculture worldwide. *The James C. Snyder Memorial Lecture is the Department of Agricultural Economics’ signature event at Purdue University. The lectures were established at Purdue in February 1975 as a memorial to a distinguished member of the faculty. 

Tune in as Dr. Rhonda Phillips, Dean of Purdue University's Honors College, shares how we can become involved with local food within our community. As she chats with Ken and Jessica, they discuss her recent book, Growing Livelihoods: Local Food Systems and Community Development, as well as the urban food movement and connection between food and community.

The tables are turned in this podcast as co-host Ken Foster becomes one of the interviewees! He and Colleen Kelly, International Academic Programs Development Specialist at Purdue University, discuss a study abroad program they are developing in Belize. Join them as they talk about this Central American country, its history and potential for study abroad.

Human talent is one of the most important investments food and agribusiness firms make. Dr. Michael Gunderson joins Ken and Jessica to discuss a recent performance management in agribusiness survey and the interesting findings; performance management does matter.

When Ken posed the question, 'what challenges face agriculture?' He got the same response from both Dr. Tahirou Abdoulaye and Tom McKinney: communicating the importance of biotechnology in agriculture. Tahirou and Tom were honored this year with Purdue Ag's Distinguished Alumni Award, and both hail from the Agricultural Economics Department. Despite unique positions and locations, they both agreed that this issue is important to the future of agriculture.

Why should we teach our kids economics? As it turns out, there are more reasons than we may think! Listen as Ken and Jessica chat with Jeff Sanson, Executive Director of the Indiana Council for Economic Education, about how and why we can give students a solid grounding in practical, economic basics. If you are interested in learning more, visit: http://www.econed-in.org/.

This podcast is dedicated to honoring our Department's own Professor Freddie Barnard. Dr. Barnard just won the Hovde Award for outstanding service in rural Indiana.  Ken & Jessica chat with this outstanding professor about how he has gone above and beyond in his field to show that he lives his life for the betterment of others. Don't miss this outstanding Purdue Agricultural Economics Professor chatting about the Hovde Award.

Wondering how to best utilize crop insurance after Indiana's unusually wet summer? Dr. Michael Langameier breaks down the insurance options farmers might be utilizing this year. Because there are precious few industries as dependent on the weather as farming, this witty podcast explains a heavy topic in a light and understandable way. Don't miss it!

Doug Eckrote is a senior VP at CDW, a leading provider of technology solutions. So what does he, a tech executive, have in common with Ken and Jessica? Turns out his undergraduate degree was in Ag Econ at Purdue, with a specialty in sales and marketing. It was that degree, he claims, that launched him down this great path. Learn more about how to capitalize in your education and keep your options open in our latest podcast!  

Meet Andrew Johnson, Elizabeth Blinn and Jason Xiao - three undergraduate ag econ trivia masters who defended their title as National Champions for the second year running this past summer at the AAEA 2015 Quiz Bowl Competition in San Francisco. These three students all had different reasons for joining and different strategies for success, but together, they made a great team. This entertaining episode gives an in-depth look at their team's dynamics and how they applied their Purdue education for success.

In this episode, Ken and Jessica talk with Yangxuan Liu, a PhD candidate, on her experience as a panelist at the 2015 World Food Prize Borlaug Dialogue. Under her advisor Dr. Michael Langemeier in Purdue’s Department of Agricultural Economics, Yangxuan is researching how precision agriculture and big data can help increase global food security. When she graduates, Yangxuan hopes to use her knowledge and research to help women and children in developing countries have access to better nutrition.

Purdue Agricultural Economics alumnus Jim Hicks joins Ken and Jessica to discuss the importance of investing in students' futures. Jim Hicks, who graduated from the undergraduate program in 1961, has donated generously to student scholarships over the years and made a huge impact on many lives. Learn more about Jim and the importance of scholarships in this podcast!

Luis Peña Levano & Molly Van Dop are two graduate students in the Department of Agricultural Economics. These two hard-working and bright students put in a lot of time creating a presentation at the AAEA (Agricultural & Applied Economics Association) Conference this summer and went on to earn the AAEA Graduate Student Extension Award. Luis won first place and Molly won second place. These two discuss their educational journeys and their current research interests. Listen to this exciting special honoring some of our top students!

As the new school year is about to kick-off, Ken & Jessica take a moment to chat with one of our department's best undergraduate instructors. In fact, Dr. Larry DeBoer won an award for excellence in undergraduate teaching just last year. These three delve into the importance of good instruction and the critical role of professors in impacting students' experiences.

They say every farmer has a land story that he could tell, and Ken and Jessica are doing just that in this episode. Join them as they talk with the expert on land values and cash rent, Dr. Criag Dobbins. Professor Dobbins talks about the results of this year's survey as well as the outlook for the upcoming years. You do not want to miss out on this important message!