Department History

The Texas A&M University Department of Agricultural Economics was officially formed in 1922. However our department’s history is nuanced and complex. The department was not cut out of whole cloth at once, nor was it woven following a single pattern. It grew, instead, as did the discipline itself, like a patchwork quilt with pieces developed by unique individuals from several disciplines.

Founders of the Morrill Act of 1862, which created the Land Grant College System, were concerned with increasing food and fiber production and individual development to ensure food security and meet the needs of the growing human population. The Texas Agricultural and Mechanical College, the land grant school for Texas, was formed in 1876. Little movement relating to agricultural research happened, however, until after the penning of the Hatch Act in 1887. This act created federal funds for agricultural research at each of the land grant schools.

Shaping Texas agriculture for over a century

Early research efforts of the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station (TAES) were largely production oriented. This emphasis on product-increasing technology was further augmented by efforts to extend information to farmers, an effort that was finally culminated with the formation of the Texas Agricultural Extension Services (TAEX) in 1914. Agricultural production vastly increased in the United States due to expanded acreage from western expansion, mechanization and the completion of the transcontinental railroad. However, with this, came market flooding and serious economic problems.

Higher farm prices during most of the 1910-1919 decade, growing out of World War I added further emphasis on increased production. Farm prices collapsed soon after the close of the war, declining 40% from mid 1919 to the close of 1920. As these depressed farm prices continued into and through the ’20s, it was apparent that the time for addressing economic issues of agriculture and for improving economic literacy of both graduates from the agricultural college and farmers and ranchers had arrived.

In 1922, out of discussions and immense need across the state, the Department of Agricultural Economics at Texas A&M University was born with its inaugural degree program in agricultural administration. Over the next 100 years, the department would become a leading source of information for Texas farmers, ranchers and policy makers and would train the next generation of informed, skilled graduates.

History excerpt taken from Agricultural Economics: Its History and Development at Texas A&M University Through 1983 by John A. Hopkins and Katherine Sue Durden (1985).

The future of our department

Since our department was first established, we have continued to grow, innovate and excel in agricultural economics. We strive to be a leading source of education, research and leadership development in agricultural and applied economics. To learn about our department’s mission and vision, visit our about page.