Ag Econ-O-Gram

Vol. 10, No. 4
February 22, 2008

AFRE FACULTY MEETINGS
The regular faculty meetings will be held in Room 75 Agriculture Hall, 1:30 pm as follows:  February 29; March 21; April 18.

Annual faculty meeting, May 14, Kellogg Center, Red Cedar Room.  The meeting begins with a light lunch at 12:00 noon. 

GSO BROWN BAG SERIES
26 Feb – – “Consumer Risk Perceptions and Attitudes: Impacts on Beef Consumption and Food Safety Preference Distributions” – Dr. Glynn Tonsor
29 Feb - "A Flexible, Research-based Approach to PhD Training: Wageningen University" – Dr. Zhengfei Guan
11 Mar–  Prof. Sandra Batie
18 Mar – Dr. Songqing Jin
25 Mar – "Writing about Applied Economics for Professional Audiences" – Prof. Scott Swinton
11 Apr  - “Experimental Methods in the Context of Agriculture Economics”-  Prof. Rob Shupp
Brown bag seminars are in 75 Ag. Hall,12-1:00 p.m.

UPCOMING SEMINARS
Feb. 28 - Applied Microeconomics Seminar with Gary Solon will present his paper “Trends in Men’s Earnings Volatility:  What does the Panel Study of Income Dynamics Show us?”  Time: 3:30 in the Koo Room.

March 18 – “Moctezuma Meets Gaia:  Challenges to Latin American Animal Agriculture,” by Robert Blake, Ph.D., Cornell University; 10:30 am in 1310 Anthony Hall.  For more info go to the Dept. of Animal Science:   http://www.ans.msu.edu/news/seminars.html

UPCOMING EVENTS
Balancing Animal Agriculture and Communities, February 29, 2008, Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center. Visit www.animalagteam.msu.edu for more information.

Regional Redevelopment Summit, Friday, March 7, 2008 at MGM Grand Detroit, Detroit, Michigan

Renewable Energy Conference, Saturday, March 15, 2008.  Pierce Cedar Creek Institute, Hastings, Michigan

Colloquium on the Changing Professoriate March 19, 2008. www.educ.msu.edu/ericksonchair  to register online.

Sustainable Ag Conference. Kansas City, MO, March 25-27.  Travel by MSU van on Monday, March 24. Return Saturday, March 29.  Learn how SARE grant funding can help with on-farm and community initiatives.  Conference schedule: http://www.sare.org/2008Conference/index.htm
Cost for the trip is covered by SARE. Contact Tom Rorabaugh, (231) 592-0792, rorabau1@msu.edu.

Agriculture and Natural Resource Conservation and Management, April 17–19, 2008, at Delaware State University, Dover, DE : has extended the ABSTRACT DUE DATE to March 15, 2008  www.jemrest.org  or http://cars.desu.edu/symposium

PUBLICATION
Weatherspoon, D. D. and A. Ross.  2008.  “Designing the Last Mile of the Supply Chain in Africa:  Firm Expansion and Managerial Inferences from a Grocer Model of Location Decisions,” International Food and Agribusiness Management Review, Volume 11, Issue 1.

READING LIST
According to Google Scholar, the following article is getting some attention in the literature:  Reardon, T., Barrett, C., Kelly, V., Savadogo, K. (1999) Policy Reforms and Sustainable Agricultural Intensification in Africa Development Policy Review 17 (4) , 375–395.

AAEA GRAD STUDENT TRAVEL GRANTS
The deadline is April 25th.   http://www.aaea.org/2008Travel_Grants.pdf

USDA/ERS  has a PhD Scholarship Opportunity available for students pursuing a PhD degree in Economics or Agricultural Economics. Contact:  Sandra A. Peñaherrera, HSI National Student Program Manager
Office:  210-921-5130 or cell at 210-381-0624.
sandra.penaherrera@ars.usda.gov,  www.hsi.usda.gov

GRANT OPPORTUNITIES
2008-2009 Michigan Coastal Management Program, sponsored by Michigan Department of Environmental Quality.  Deadline: May 1, 2008.  Go to: 
www.michigan.gov/documents/deq/deq-ess-clm-08-09CZMGrantRFPandAPPLICATION_223919_7.pdf

Michigan’s Brownfield Grant and Loan Program:  Clean Michigan Initiative Waterfront Redevelopment Grants.  Sponsored by Michigan Dept. of Environmental Quality.
Deadline: March 26, 2008.  Go to:  www.michigan.gov/documents/deq/deq-ess-bgl-WRG-RFP_222958_7.pdf
Ecological Economics Research Grant sponsored by Walker Foundation.  Deadline: April 1, 2008.  Go to:
http://walker-foundation.org/net/content/page.aspx?itemid=5534&siteid=5316&wrapid=69
See other posted grant opportunities at Land Policy Institute’s website:   2007 Grants.
JOB OPPORTUNITIES (Details available from Pat Neumann for 30 days)
THE GREAT LAKES RENEWABLE ENERGY ASSOCIATION is seeking a Program Coordinator. Apply to Jennifer Alvarado, Executive Director by 5:00 pm, Friday, February 28th 2008. Applications should include a current resume and a letter of interest.  You may apply by email: jennifer.alvarado@glrea.org or mail:  GLREA, Attention: Jennifer Alvarado, PO Box 346, 257 S. Bridge St., Dimondale MI 48821. 
The Land Information Access Association seeks an experienced Program Director with strong leadership and strategic thinking skills.  Submit a cover letter, full resume and three references to:  Search Committee, LIAA, 324 Munson Ave., Traverse City, MI 49686.  The application materials may also be sent by e-mail as Adobe Acrobat .pdf documents to:  search_committee@liaa.org.
To learn more about LIAA, visit www.liaa.org.
UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA- Extension  is seeking for a Community Economics Educator, full-time.  Deadline:  March 14, 2008, position open until filled. For more info, go to:  http://www.extension.umn.edu/units/director/hr/positions.html.
OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY, Dept of Agricultural and Resource Economics seeks (#0002155) two Extension Community Economists. One of the two positions will start in April 2008 and the other position will start in September 2008. The "full consideration" application date is March 7. For more info, Call Prof. Bruce Weber, Professor of Agricultural and Resource Economics Director, Rural Studies Program Oregon State University Ballard Hall 213 Corvallis OR 97331-3601 Phone 541-737-1432;  FAX:    541-737-2563;  bruce.weber@oregonstate.edu
ABSOLUTE RETURN FOR KIDS seeks
1. Director ARK Education India (REF INEDDR1)
2. Project Leader, Economic Development, Subsaharn Africa (REF SAEDPL1)
3. Country Director, Mozambique

Requests for more information should go to sue.jenkins@arkonline.org.  Positions close March 7.

DANIDA seeks
1. Senior Advisor in Mali
2. Senior Microfinance Advisor in Mali
3. Senior Advisor in Vietnam
Details at www.danidajob.dk

UNDP seeks
Regional Technical Advisor for Natural Resources and Ecosystems (based in Dakar, Senegal).  Closing date is March 7.  www.undp.org/jobs