What is the value of a local home high school football game? How about the value of a community service organization? When I began my teaching career in undergraduate economics, I also moved back to my ancestorial home, Greenville, Illinois, … Continue reading →
Agricultural byproducts are not produced on demand. The quantity of byproduct production is based on the demand for the higher valued commodity or product. This is not news. But it seems forgotten in the passionate discussions of waste cooking oils … Continue reading →
Is emerging cellular agriculture an extension of farming? Or is it a replacement for farming? An extension of farming – grain to beer – is an economic complement. A farm replacement – meat and dairy protein from tanks – is … Continue reading →
Raised by depression-era parents, I have lived through the 1980s farm crisis, and spent 2 years as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Nepal using my first degree (BS agronomy) to help Nepali farmers grow more food. In the 80s and … Continue reading →
Over the last few decades, financing the family farm has shifted. Farm policies and farm management begin with the idea of a farm as the central business unit of a farm household. This is an excellent place to begin. But … Continue reading →
The local high school Christmas Concert was this week. It was packed. Hours of practice by the students, hours of extracurricular energy from teachers and staff, mountains of volunteer hours from students and parents, and 90 minutes direct joy from … Continue reading →
I have benefitted from a rich tradition of military service. In 1979, I was part of an exchange work-study program on a potato and hog farm in southern Germany. Working outside of my home environment in the Midwest United States … Continue reading →
My dad, Speed Jenner, was born in 1923, 101 years ago. It is election day, and Dad spent many years as an election judge in our tiny community in Southern Illinois. He was a great American. He set the ‘bar’ … Continue reading →
The Wall Street Journal reported this week that used cars are losing value faster than they have been. The term negative equity was discussed. In the article, car owners were required to settle their loan prior to the full term, … Continue reading →
Last week, USDA, Economic Research Service (ERS) posted this chart on used oil as feedstocks in biodiesel production. This USDA chart indicated that we are pulling undervalued fats, oils, and greases into higher valued uses as transportation fuel. This promotes … Continue reading →
