Ag Econ-O-Gram

March 18, 2005

FACULTY MEETING
Please mark your calendars for upcoming faculty meetings.  Unless otherwise noted, all meetings will be held at 1:30 pm, Room 75 Agriculture Hall.

March 18 - Official Faculty Meeting.  One of the agenda items will be a vote to approve the proposed changes to the Graduate Handbook.  Information on those proposed changes will be sent by a separate e-mail.

April 1 and 15
May 6 and 20

The week of June 5-9 is the CSREES External Review.

UPCOMING  SEMINARS
March 23 - The Dept. of Food Science and Human Nutrition Spring Seminar Series presents Dr. H. Christopher Peterson, Director and Professor, Nowlin Chair of Consumer Responsive Agriculture, in the Dept. of Agricultural Economics.  Dr. Peterson will present a seminar entitled "MSU Product Center Bridging the Gap Between Researchers and Entrepreneurs" on Wednesday, March 23rd at 4 pm in Rroom 101 Biochemistry, MSU.

FORUM
Forum and Discussion for MSU Faculty and Staff:  8:58 am to 3 pm, with buffet lunch; Kellogg Conference Center, MSU Campus; By Invitation Only (space is limited). Registration forms are in your mailbox.  Please RSVP by April 5, 2005.

Apr 22 -  Recent and Future Environmental Regulations Affecting Michigans Animal Agriculture, sponsored by CANR Endowments.  8:30 am Mixer - coffee, milk, tea, bagels
 
Sponsored by:  Clinton E. Meadows, Dairy & Environmental Management -Dr. David K. Beede;
Homer Nowlin, Water in Ag. & Natural Resource Systems, Dr. Joan B. Rose; and Elton R. Smith, Food & Agricultural Policy, Dr. Sandra S. Batie.

NEW ACTING ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR
MAES Associate Director Gary Lemme will be leaving MSU in April to become Dean of the College of
Ag. and Biological Sciences at South Dakota State University. We are pleased to announce that, effective March 15, Doug Buhler, Chairperson of the Dept. of Crop and Soil Sciences, will join the MAES as Acting Associate Director, a position he will hold through December 2005.  Dr. Buhler will also serve as Acting Associate Dean for research for the College of Ag. and Natural Resources.
Please join us in welcoming Dr. Buhler to the MAES.
---John Baker, Acting Director, Mich. Ag. Experiment Station,  Jeff Armstrong, Dean, College of Ag. and Natural Resources

NEW FACULTY PUBLICATIONS
Barrett, C.B., M. Bezuneh, D.C. Clay, and T. Reardon. 2005. "Heterogeneous Constraints, Incentives, and Income Diversification Strategies in Rural Africa," Quarterly Journal of International Agriculture, 44 (1)37-60.

Oehmke, James F., Christopher A. Wolf, and Kellie Curry Raper.  2005. "On Cyclical Industry Evolution in Agricultural Biotechnology R&D," Journal of Agricultural & Food Industrial Organization, Vol. 3, No. 2, Article 1. http//www.bepress.com/jafio/vol3/iss2/art1

Oehmke, James F.  2005.  Commerce and Freedom of Inquiry.  EMBO Reports (European Molecular Biology Organization), Vol. 6, No. 1, 3-7.

Oehmke, James F. and Christopher A. Wolf.  2004.  Why is Monsanto leaving money on the table?  Monopoly pricing and technology valuation distributions with heterogeneous adopters.  Journal of Agricultural and Applied Economics, 36, 3 (December 2004)705-718.

Qingbin Wang and Wei Zhang. 2004. "China's Potato Industry and Potential Impacts on the Global Market," American Journal of Potato Research, 81:101-109.

MSU PRODUCT CENTER WORKSHOPS
The MSU Product Center is sponsoring six workshops around the state in March entitled:  Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Agriculture, Good & Natural Resources: Creating an Idea You can Profit From."  These workshops are primarily for producers and producer groups who want to develop new value-added products or businesses in agriculture, food, & natural resources , though the content of this program applies to others as well  in related business areas.
March
22      Holiday Inn , Big Rapids, MI, reserve by Mar16
24      University Center, Gaylord, MI, reserve by Mar 18
30      Bay College, Escanaba, MI, reserve by Mar 24

The brochure can be found at: http://www.aec.msu.edu/product/news.htm

CALL FOR PAPERS
5 International PENSA Conference on Agri-food Chains / Networks Economics and Management, July 2729, 2005 - Ribeiro Preto, Brazil.  School of Business and Economics of Ribeiro Preto - University of So Paulo.  Deadline for Submission: March 31, 2005.  For more information, go to: www.sober-ipc.com.br

BRESLIN CENTER
For information, go to: http://www.breslincenter.com

PAVILION EVENTS
MARCH
18 to 20 - 9th Annual Lansing Home & Garden Show.
See the latest designs and ideas for your home and garden
18^th 12 to 9:30 pm
19^th  10 am to 9 pm
20^th - 10 am to 6 pm
Admission: Adult $6; Ages 614 $3; Ages 5 & under Free
in the Arena, Exhibit Area, Auditorium.  For more info,  contact Carolyn Alt  616/447.2860
APRIL
23 - Small Animals Day.  Tour the University farms, learn about food production and agriculture.  9 am to 1 pm.  Location: Exhibit Area.  For more info, contact Erin Parker 517/355.0234.
For information, go to: http://www.msu.edu/~pavilion/

WHARTON CENTER
For info, go to https://www.whartoncenter.com

JOB OPPORTUNITIES
CENTER FOR THE STUDY OF RURAL AMERICA has two paid internship opportunities in the Summer of 2005 for currently enrolled students.  The Center is a new initiative of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City. The interns will work on a variety of research projects, which may include statistical analyses, database management, literature reviews, and other analytical work. Also a possibilities for incorporating a student's own research interests into the internship.  Candidates must be currently enrolled in a master's or doctoral degree in economics, ag. economics, or a related field.  Candidates will have an exceptional academic record, solid personal computer and Microsoft Office skills, excellent written communication skills, and the ability to both multi-task as well as focus on particular research projects.  Interests and background in regional economic development are highly desirable. Interested candidates should send a cover letter and resume to:  Sarah Low, Center for the Study of Rural America,
Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, 925 Grand Boulevard, Kansas City, MO  64198; Tel:  816/881-6758;
Fax:  816/881-2199; or e-mail:  sarah.low@kc.frb.org

UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT seeks a Director of its Sea Grant College Program, headquartered at the UC Avery Point Campus in Groton, CT.  The program is part of NOAAs National Sea Grant College Program, a network of university-based programs in coastal and Great Lakes states.  The Director leads and oversees The Connecticut Sea Grant College Programs efforts to develop fundamental knowledge, technology, trained personnel, and public awareness that will advance the sustainable use of coastal and marine resources and environments.  Required: a  Ph.D. in a natural or social science or engineering; a funded research program closely related to the Sea Grant mission;  a record of excellence in research and scholarship; success in managing grant awards that relate to the Sea Grant mission; written and oral skills;  knowledge of federal and state public programs. The Director holds an 11-month admin. appointment.  Deadline:  Review will begin April 15 and continue until a suitable candidate is selected. Applicants should send an application letter, curriculum vita, and a statement of vision for a Sea Grant College Program and 3 to 5 references to Dorothy Williams, Executive Assistant, The University of Connecticut, Research and Graduate Education, 438 Whitney Road Ext., Unit 1006, Storrs, CT 06269-1006.  Ph. (860) 486-3621, Dorothy.Williams@uconn.edu.

MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY , Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station, seeks for a Director Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station and Assistant Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies; responsible for all research programs supported by the MAES; reports to the Dean of the College of Ag. & Natural Resources; is a member of the Office of the Vice President for Research & Graduate Studies, and works collaboratively with the Colleges of Natural Science, Veterinary Medicine and Social Science; works closely with the Director of MSU Extension and the Dean of Agriculture and Natural Resources to provide leadership in community, agriculture and natural resource programs at MSU. Specifically, the Director/ Assistant Vice President provides administrative leadership and vision.  Required:  an earned Doctorate in a field related to the broad spectrum of research programs in MAES, be a recognized scholar with demonstrated excellence in research, and qualify for a tenured faculty position at MSU at the Professor level; have a vision and plan for implementing their vision for the future of the MAES, provide an environment conducive to the procurement of external funding, and be able to communicate effectively with faculty, staff, students, professional groups, university administration, stakeholders and government officials; have proven leadership, management, administrative skills, and experience including the ability to work effectively with people, make decisions, and manage fiscal and personnel matters. The candidate must also be appreciative of and adaptive to the rapid advancing frontiers of agriculture, natural resources, rural and urban communities, and related areas. A commitment to diversity and affirmative action is also required.  Deadline:  Review will begin May 2, 2005 and continue until a suitable applicant is found. Send applications electronically to Professor Steven D. Hanson, Search Committee Chair, (e-mail aec@msu.edu ); Tel:  517.355.4567. The executive search consultant is Margot Lansing of Sage Lansing; Tel:  781-237-1754. Additional information about MAES and the Director position can be found at http://www.maes.msu.edu/dirsearch/.

MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY - Extension seeks:    

        POS ID #1442 - Associate Program Leader  Botany; located in Stevens T. Mason Building, Lansing MI and travel within state, with emphasis on southern Lower Michigan and Newaygo County.  DURATION:   April, 2005  December 31, 2005, contingent upon funding, with potential extension subject to funding availability.