Ag Econ-O-Gram

Vol. 9, No. 16
September 28, 2007

AAEA MEETING DEADLINES
December 3:  1) Principal paper sessions.  2) Issue/Interest track sessions.  Pre/Post Conference Workshops. January 15:  1) Selected presentations.  2) Organized Symposia.

SEMINARS
Oct. 4 -. "The Impact of NAMA on EU Demand for Imported Fish: Implications for Lake Victoria". Dr. Andrew Muhammad 3:30 p.m. Rm. 75 Ag. Hall. 

Oct. 18 - “Climate Change at the Court.” Lisa Heinzerling, Professor of Law, Georgetown University;  3 p.m., MSU College of Law, Moot Court Room. 
Oct. 25- Meredith Fowlie, University of Michigan.  3:30 p.m., Rm. 75 Ag. Hall. 
Oct. 25 -“From Waste to Resource:  Enhancing the Sustainability of Packaging.” Mr. Scott Vitters, Coca Cola Global Sustainable Packaging Platform.  3 p.m., MSU College of Law, Moot Court Room.  

DISSERTATION ORAL DEFENSE
Mary Mathenge’s dissertation oral defense is Thursday, Oct. 4th at 9:00 am in Room 75 Agriculture Hall. The title is:  "Essays in Off-farm Labor Market Participation, Farm Production Decisions and Household Economic Well-being: Empirical Evidence from Rural Kenya." 
The first 30 minutes will be open to the public.

GRANT AWARDED
Dave Weatherspoon has been awarded a grant for "NAFTA, the Environment, and State Competitiveness in Vegetable Production and Exports," a subcontract with South Carolina State University for work funded by USDA.

REARDON REPRESENTS MSU AT FRESH SUMMIT
Oct. 12-15 – The Produce Marketing Association (www.pma.com) 2007 Fresh Summit International Convention & Expo in Houston, Texas is the largest worldwide, not-for-profit trade association representing companies that market fresh fruits, vegetables, and floral products, attracting 17,000 participants.  Tom Reardon will be the speaker in two sessions, one on the growth of supermarkets, and the other on opportunities in India.  

READING LIST
According to Google Scholar, the following article is getting some attention in the literature: Swinnen, J.F.M, and Gow. H.R, “Agricultural credit problems and policies during the transition to a market economy in Central and Eastern Europe.”  Food Policy 24(1):21-47, 1999. 

LOCAL CONFERENCES
Fall Extension Conference is Oct. 9, 10 & 11 at MSU Kellogg Center:  www.msue.msu.edu/go/go.cfm?0001.

The MSU Product Center hosts "Growing Your Business" Nov. 2 at the Kellogg Center.  Details at:  http://www.productcenter.msu.edu/conference.htm

GRADUATE FELLOWSHIPS IN REGIONAL SCIENCE
The Fellowship are for PhD students, and are in the amount of $27,000 (U.S.), paid over a twelve-month period.  Applications for the 2008-2009 Fellowship are due by February 15, 2008. For details:  http://www.regionalscience.org/CompNAwards/lateststevenscall.htm

2007 RITA S. GALLIN AWARD
The Rita S. Gallin Award for the Best Graduate Student Paper in Women and International Development. $200 prize and publication in their working paper series.  Deadline:  Friday, December 14, 2007. For more information on how to submit, e-mail wid@msu.edu

EPA FELLOWSHIP FOR GRADUATE STUDY
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as part of its Science to Achieve Results (STAR) program, is offering Graduate Fellowships for masters and doctoral lstudents in environmental fields.  The fellowship program provides up to $37,000 per year of support per fellowship. The deadline for pre-applications is October 23, 2007. For details, visit:  http://es.epa.gov/ncer/rfa/2008/2008_star_fellow.html.

LEADERSHIP IN AFRICAN HIGHER ED
The Association of African Universities is awarding grants for research on leadership and management in Africa higher education during 2007/2008.  For grant information and application details visit: http://www.aau.org/announce/detail.htm?ai=89.  The application deadline is October 15, 2007.

FULBRIGHT-HAYS FACULTY RESEARCH ABROAD FELLOWSHIP
Fulbright-Hays Faculty Research Abroad Fellowship Program offers opportunities to faculties of Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs) to engage in research abroad in modern foreign languages and area studies.

The application deadline is October 30, 2007. The estimated range of fellowship awards is $20,000-$100,000; the estimated average size is $60,000; the estimated number is 25. For details, visit:  http://www.ed.gov/legislation/FedRegister/announcements/2007-3/083107b.html.

FORD FOUNDATION DIVERSITY FELLOWSHIPS
The National Academies announce predoctoral, dissertation, and postdoctoral fellowships to increase the diversity of the nation's college and university faculty.  Must be US citizen or national.  Applications due in November.  Info at: http://www7.nationalacademies.org/fordfellowships/

GRADUATE OR POST-DOC FELLOWSHIPS
National Academy Graduate or Post-doc Fellowship in Science and Technology Policy.  Deadline:  Nov. 1.  Details at <http://national-academies.org/policyfellows>.

MCCORKLE SCHOLARSHIP
$2K award available to students studying economics of agriculture.  Apply to AAEA office by October 5, 2007.  Details available in the Sept./October issue of The Exchange.

2008 UN NATIONAL RECRUITMENT EXAMINATION
For U.S. citizens seeking junior professional posts.
EXAMINATION CRITERIA (all must be met)
Be no more than 32 years old as of December 31, 2008 (UN requirement).   Be fluent in English and/or French, the two working languages of the Secretariat.  Knowledge of additional official languages of the UN (Arabic, Chinese, Russian, Spanish) is a definite advantage.  APPLICATION DEADLINE:  October 31, 2007  Detailed information at:  http://www.un.org/Depts/OHRM/examin/exam.htm

JOB OPPORTUNITIES (Details available from Pat Neumann for 30 days)

CIFOR (Center for International Forestry Research) in Bogor, Indonesia is seeking candidates for the Director of the Forests and Governance Program.  This is an opportunity to lead the program into the future, by developing new areas of focus such as climate change.  Additionally, CIFOR is looking for creative and visionary candidates for Senior Scientists to work on climate change.  Descriptions of the Senior Scientist positions, as well as the Director position, can be found at http://www.globalrecruitment.net.  To apply, email cover letter (specifying the position in subject) and CV to:
Helena Brykarz, Contract Recruiter, Global Recruitment Specialists, PO Box 7382, Berkeley, CA.  Tel / Fax:  510-527-3316;   E-mail:  hbrykarz@globalrecruitment.net

IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY – seeks for Extension Program Specialist III, The position supports the applied research and outreach activities of the Regional Capacity Analysis Program (ReCAP) as well efforts of Extension, the Experiment Station, the Department of Economics, and affiliated groups on campus.  Required:  Masters degree in community and regional planning, business administration, public administration, economics, sociology, or related field.  For more info, go to:  https://www.iastatejobs.com/applicants/jsp/shared/frameset/Frameset.jsp?time=1190735699514

MICHIGAN FARM BUREAU is searching for a Land Stewardship Specialist within their Agricultural Ecology Department.  The online posting is:  http://www.farmbureauinsurance-mi.com/pages/career/career.htm.  We are seeking to fill the position ASAP with applications being accepted through October 19, 2007.

MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY-Extension seeks:
POS ID #1564 - Extension Community and Economic Development Educator, Ogemaw County MSU Extension; located in West Branch, MI.  Deadline:  Oct. 5, 2007.  Available:  Nov. 1, 2007. 

POS ID #1579 - Regional Director, Southwest Region; located at Kellogg Biological Station, Hickory Corners, MI.  Available:  June 1, 2008.  Deadline:  October 12, 2007 or until suitable candidate is found

POS ID #1582 - Extension Agriculture and Natural Resources Educator, Dairy AoE; located in St. Johns, MI.  Available:  Dec. 1, 2007.  Deadline:  Oct. 31, 2007.

MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION – seeks for a Agricultural Agent, Bioeconomy Innovation Counselor.  Office Location:  Flexible for statewide responsibilities.  This is a new position (0.50 FTE).  Available:  Nov. 15, 2007.  Deadline:  Oct. 11, 2007.   Additional information for the new position, contact:  Stephen Lovejoy, Associate Director, MSUE,  (517) 355-2308 or Lovejoy@anr.msu.edu

Apply by using the Web Employment Application process at:  http://www.msue.msu.edu/jobs

MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY – OUTREACH - Michigan Youth Farmstand Project seeks a project coordinator for the Michigan Youth Farm Stand Project; will be liaison between campus team members and local project sites. For complete position details, see  www.hr.msu.edu/HRsite/HiringPostings/Faculty/Postings/JobPostings/FTAcaStaffPosting.htm.  Deadline:  Oct. 18, 2007. Direct questions to Ms. Anne Scott, 517-353-0751 or scottann@msu.edu

MICHIGAN TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY  are seeking a Sustainability faculty hiring initiative that will add ten tenure-track positions, open in rank, during the next year.  These include three endowed chairs:  the Robbins Chair in Sustainable Management of the Environment; the Robbins Chair in Sustainable Manufacturing and Design; and the Robbins Chair in Sustainable Use of Materials.  Applications received by December 15, 2007 will receive first consideration, but applications will be considered until all positions are filled.  Further details about the Michigan Technological University Sustainability faculty hiring initiative are available at www.mtu.edu/sfhi.  More information on Michigan Technological University is available at www.mtu.edu. 

USA GOVERNMENT
Looking for a job with the U.S. Government?  USA jobs is the official web site:  http://www.usajobs.opm.gov/

USDA - CAREER AND INTERNSHIP
Positions are announced on USAjobs at http://jobsearch.usajobs.opm.gov/a9agfas.asp
For more information on all FAS intern program, go to http://www.fas.usda.gov/admin/newjobs/fasjobs.asp
For additional information, contact Nikia Sizer, 202/401-0176 or Nikia.Sizer@wdc.usda.gov.

USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) Career Intern Program (CIP) Interns will participate in a two-year program that is designed to fine-tune their skills and abilities.  FAS hire full-time employees for international trade specialists and agricultural economist positions through the CIP (two-year internship).  Upon completion, interns are offered permanent career positions. Next deadline at http://www.fas.usda.gov/admin/newjobs/careerintern1.html

International Agricultural Internship Program (IAIP)
Seeking outstanding senior and graduate level college and university students to work in r OVERSEAS offices to promote U.S. agricultural interests through the International Agricultural Internship Program (IAIP) for SUMMER 2008.  A 10-16 week PAID INTERNSHIP.  U.S. citizen students who are majoring in a business or science related agricultural field, i.e. Ag Econ, Econ, Finance, Business or Marketing, International Studies or Relations, Law or in a Biotechnology Program are eligible.  Online registration for the summer 2008 semester closes on Nov. 15, 2007 and the fall 2008 application deadline is April 3, 2008. 

Check the website two months before the deadline for deadline changes.  For information, email: internships@fas.usda.gov.  For more information on all FAS intern programs, go to http://www.fas.usda.gov/admin/newjobs/fasjobs.asp