Abstract: The agriculture and agri-food industries rely on useful case studies and teaching materials to assist in knowledge communication and transfer of matters relating to technology change and adoption of new innovations, a supportive regulatory environment, equitable access to information, and corporate responsibility, among other issues. Valuable case studies and lesson materials may be underappreciated where it is not accompanied by rigorous data analysis and hypothesis testing. This introductory note summarizes the importance of eight contributions to the teaching literature and argues that these contributions can play substantial a role in helping with teaching fundamental concepts in agricultural economics and agribusiness."

Abstract: A publicly available dashboard is developed and discussed as an alternative, time-efficient approach to extension education, reflecting an intersection of survey design methods, statistical analysis, and web application development. The dashboard targets consumer behavior in the U.S. meat sector and serves as a dynamic and easily accessible source of market information for users with unique data needs and limited time. An overview of the dashboard and examples of its value to industry professionals are provided."

Abstract: Numerous universities have expanded their outreach efforts to include executive education. Offerings include a range of programs that vary in length, certification, topics, and price. Even though there are many offerings, there is a specific gap in the market for risk management executive education for the food and agriculture industry. There is also, to our knowledge, no existing research into preferences and willingness to pay for risk management executive education offerings. Understanding executives’ preferences for risk management executive education programs would be helpful to academic units who wish to enter the space. We conducted an online survey of professionals in the food and agriculture industry, followed by phone or video conference interviews with professionals whose responsibilities included sending employees to executive education programming. Results indicate professionals in the food and agriculture industry highly value the content of a program and the ability to apply it to their business. They seek opportunities with highly regarded speakers with relevant real-life experience. Networking to build lasting relationships in their fields is also an important component. The price a participant is willing to pay for a two- to three-day executive education experience lands somewhere between $1,500 and $2,000."

Abstract: Experiential teaching of postgraduate agribusiness requires both engagement with course material in the classroom and practical experiences from leading agribusiness companies. Many courses rely on case studies to generate such examples. However, we argue that a wider range of industry experiences may better enable students to learn how agribusinesses innovate, overcome industry/policy challenges, and capitalize on opportunities. We illustrate two examples of wider industry experiences from the Master of Global Food and Agricultural Business at the University of Adelaide, including (i) study tours to local agribusiness companies and (ii) agribusiness internship opportunities. The study tours allow senior company managers to present their business strategy, challenges, and opportunities to students before interactive discussions, while access to competitive industry internships with 52 partner companies (between 2014 and 2022) allows direct interaction on multiple levels and research of a relevant industry topic. We assess how expanded examples of experiential learning beyond case studies adds value to agribusiness teaching with insights for other teachers and program managers."

Abstract: Over the last three decades corporate social responsibility (CSR) has become an increasingly significant activity for most firms. Consequently, it is important for students to understand the economics of CSR and the possible trade-offs involved. However, teaching the economics of CSR is challenging for several reasons. The paper presents a mixed motive bargaining game that is designed to overcome some of these challenges and teach the economics of CSR in a novel and engaging way. The game is designed to be played during class and can be played in either small or large classes. The underlying theory and logic of the game is explained followed by an example from the game being played in a class of 70 students. All documents needed for running the game are provided in an online appendix along with an Excel workbook that contains the underlying program for the game."

Abstract: The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) was a source of relief to agricultural producers during COVID-19, but it did not reach all farmers equally. Areas with a higher population of female and African American producers had lower PPP approval rates due to lack of knowledge about eligibility and the application process. Through in-person interviews with Extension specialists and farmers, we identified the communication strategy used to inform minority farmers about the PPP. Lending institutions, associations, and government agents were part of disseminating information on the PPP. Information was shared via word of mouth, emails, phone calls, social media, and online meetings. We find that these communication methods were not as effective as they could have been in reaching minority farmers. We provide recommendations to increase the efficiency of the communication methods used in reaching minority farmers: (1) building a connection with farmers prior to using online resources; (2) using personalized communications; and (3) seeking partnerships to leverage their social capital."

Abstract: The National Food Freedom Initiative, led by the Institute for Justice, has been promoting “food freedom” since 2013, advocating for people’s rights to buy or sell foods of their choice and for reduced government regulation. Similar progress by California Assembly members and non-profit organizations, coupled with increased home kitchen operations driven by consumer demand, led to the passage of Assembly Bill No. 626 (AB 626) in 2018, which legalized residential preparation and sale of foods containing perishables (i.e., meat and seafood). California’s AB 626 laid out a legislative foundation for other states, such as Utah and Iowa, expanding the Home Cooking Movement (HCM). However, while the HCM is an emerging tool to extend the food freedom initiative, little is known about the economic viability and resilience of the HCM food system and the growth potential of home kitchen operations and businesses. To fill the gap, this case study examines the evolving legislative landscape of the HCM, accesses the economic systems underpinning HCM across three core structures—motivation, decision-making, and information structures, and uses the framework of Diffusion of Innovation Theory to analyze the challenges facing the HCM. By creating an enhanced economic understanding of an innovative food system, this case study offers valuable insights to beneficiaries such as policymakers, consumers, industry advocates, and opponents, as well as students majoring in agribusinesses and food economics."

Abstract: The impacts of exogenous market and policy developments reverberate up and down the farm to the retail marketing chain, affecting consumer prices, farm input prices, and the economic well-being of many people. Applied economists have developed analytical tools that trace how developments at one point in the supply chain may affect prices and quantities at other points. The particular analytical tools proposed here aim to provide students with hands-on experience in using market models and real data to simulate relevant policy and market scenarios. We start with a simple model representing only the supply and demand for corn and end with a vertically integrated model that links corn, hog, and pork markets. Each phase of model development gives a chance to build and test economic intuition about how price effects come about and their impacts on various market participants: who benefits and who pays—the winners and losers."

Abstract: The reintroduction of hemp as a legal enterprise in the United States has been one of the largest-scale exercises in applied agricultural economics in recent history. Hemp has a long and storied past in the United States. The economic forces behind the ups and downs of hemp production, coupled with varying legal status throughout time, make hemp an exciting case study to understand how policy influences the forces of economics. The evolution of this reintroduction provides a real-world opportunity to understand and apply core microeconomic and marketing concepts amid uncertainty and government interventions. This hemp case study explores economic concepts including supply and demand, elasticity, price discovery, government intervention and policy, and agricultural marketing and production contracts on the backdrop of hemp production."