Focus Areas
Agricultural Economics
| Agriculture is big business in Texas with farm and ranch-gate revenues totaling close to $15 billion dollars. Agricultural producers face significant challenges and need the latest management information to be competitive. Policy makers also need information to develop efficient and effective programs. The Department's extension economics programs respond to these needs with training programs and information updates. Examples of these programs include FARM Assistance, strategic planning for individual producers, and the Tomorrow's Top Agricultural Producers program, which trains and mentors new producers. The Agricultural and Food Policy Center analyzes the impact of proposed agricultural policies on producers in Texas and across the United States. The Texas Agriculture Market Research Center focuses on the marketing assessments and alternatives for agricultural products. Because of the importance of trade to agricultural producers, the Center of North American Studies focuses on the trade relations among the United States, Mexico, and Canada. |
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Natural Resource and Environmental Economics
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Natural resources and environmental quality are critically important to the state, national, and global economy and to citizen well being. The Department's faculty in the areas of natural resource and environmental economics are recognized leaders for issues such as water management, climate change, fisheries economics, environmental policy, environmental risks, land use, and energy with strong research and outreach programs conducted in collaboration with policy and interest groups. An allied program addresses data and trends related to Community Economics across Texas. Natural resource and environmental economics forms part of the Department's undergraduate option in Policy and Economic Analysis, and land economics is emphasized in the new Agricultural Economics BS option in Finance and Real Estate. Natural Resource and Environmental Economics is one of three fields in the PhD program. Masters students regularly study resource economics problems. Several faculty are members of the University's interdisciplinary Water Faculty contributing to unique graduate degrees available at Texas A&M. |
Food Economics
| The food marketing chain is increasingly consumer-driven. Nutritional, health, and safety concerns are becoming more important at the same time that consumers are increasing the proportion of dollars spent for food consumed outside the home and pre-prepared foods. The Department has several faculty who focus on consumer demand issues. They are affiliated with the Institute of Food Science Engineering through the Center for Consumer and Food Marketing Issues. Students learn to analyze the complex operation of markets and the role of information through the PhD field in Marketing and Information Economics. The new Agricultural Economics BS degree program option in Food Marketing Systems and the Agribusiness BS program prepare students for a wide range of careers in dynamic food marketing, manufacturing, distribution, retail, and service industries. |
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Managerial Economics
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Managerial Economics relates to decision making at the firm level. The PhD field in Agribusiness and Managerial Economics focuses on the theoretical underpinnings of business decision making and quantitative analyses of alternative business strategies. The Department's Master of Agribusiness (MAB) program, which is offered jointly with the Mays Business School, prepares students for management careers in small businesses and diversified corporations involved in supplying farm inputs, food and fiber processing, distribution, and transportation. The MAB prepares business leaders to think and act strategically and to work effectively in teams to analyze decisions and communicate effectively. The Department's undergraduate Agribusiness degree program, also offered in cooperation with the Mays Business School, prepares students with the skills and knowledge to assume leadership roles in agribusiness, food, and fiber industries. The Agricultural Economics BS degree in Rural Entrepreneurship emphasizes the practical aspects of managing your own business. |