The Department's five new faculty members - Cesar Escalante, Greg Fonsah, Jeff Mullen, Nathan Smith and Kent Wolfe - have made some significant changes in our research, instruction and extension programs. Nathan Smith, a new assistant professor in field crop economics, has taken over programming for peanuts from Don Shurley. Dr. Smith has expertise in crop insurance, in addition to marketing and production economics. By focusing solely on cotton, Don Shurley has been able to expand the Department's cotton program. Jeff Mullen, a new assistant professor, has taught courses in production economics and environmental economics. His area of responsibility is the interface between agricultural production and the environment. Cesar Escalante is a new assistant professor in farm finance and production economics. Greg Fonsah, a new assistant professor, has started work on a feasibility study for marketing of vegetables. He will be responsible for fruit and vegetable economics.

Center for Agribusiness and Economic Development:  John McKissick has assumed the duties of Coordinator, Center for Agribusiness and Economic Development (CAED). He has done an outstanding job of bringing new vitality and direction to the Center. Kent Wolfe, the fifth new faculty member and public service assistant, began work with the Center for Agribusiness and Economic Development in April 2001. He has expertise in market analysis and feasibility studies. The Center has increased its focus on feasibility studies and is presently working on several feasibility studies for FOODPAC and is expected to conduct several other feasibility studies in the future. George Shumaker and John McKissick gave leadership to the feasibility study for value added on oilseeds. This project successfully brought together several faculty from throughout the College to address production, processing and refining of oilseeds.

New Faculty Hires: Two other faculty members will be joining the Department this summer. Barry Barnett has been hired as an associate professor in agricultural policy. R. Curt Lacy has accepted the farm management position in Tifton.

Approval of AAEC 2580 in Core:  The Department's introductory course Applied Microeconomic Principles (AAEC 2580) received approval by the Board of Regents for inclusion in the social science core curriculum. This is the only CAES course that can be counted in the core courses.

Environmental Sciences Degree: The University Council approved the CAES proposal to change the degree objective of the Environmental Economics and Management major and the Environmental Soil Science major from Bachelors of Science in Agriculture (BSA) to Bachelors of Science in Environmental Science (BSES). This change enhances the Department's Environmental Economics and Management major.

Renovation of Classrooms:  The classrooms in Conner Hall have been renovated. Conner 210 is now a lecture hall with tiered fixed seating. Conner 212 was renovated for case studies and discussions with loose searing. The renovations were completed in time for Fall Semester 2000. The classrooms are equipped with the latest technology in computers, projectors, control panels, Internet connections, etc. The graduate student computer laboratory, copy room and seminar room were also renovated. Accessibility, functionality and security of the computer lab has been enhanced.

AGHON Initiates: Four students in the Agricultural and Applied Economics Department were initiated into AGHON during 2000-2001. Two agricultural economics majors were among the six students initiated into AGHON for Fall semester 2000.  The agricultural economics majors inducted into the honorary society are Matt Rushton and Justin Woodall. Carol Spruill, agricultural economics; and Chris Groskreutz, agribusiness were included among the four Spring 2001 initiates. The purpose of AGHON is to promote leadership and spirit in South Campus students. Congratulations to these new members of AGHON.

Who's Who in American Universities and Colleges: Timothy Degnen from the Agricultural and Applied Economics Department was one of only three CAES undergraduate students honored in the 2000-2001 Who's Who publication.  Congratulations to Mr. Degnen, who was also recognized at the South Campus Spring Banquet.

Leadership UGA:  Mary Ann Davis, a junior majoring in agribusiness and agricultural communications, was one of only two CAES students selected for the 2000 Class of Leadership UGA. There were nearly 300 students nominated from across the campus with only 40 students selected. This is an important and prestigious program at the University of Georgia.

Southern Agricultural Economics Association (SAEA):  Faculty and students from the Agricultural and Applied Economics Department were actively involved in the program of the 2001 SAEA annual meeting from January 28 - 31, 2001 in Fort Worth, Texas. Steve Turner was elected President of the Southern Agricultural Economics Association and appointed as a representative to the national Committee on Food, Agriculture, and Resource Economics (C-FARE). Ecio Costa won the SAEA graduate student paper competition. This is the third year in a row that a graduate student in the Agricultural and Applied Economics Department won the award.

Student Exchange:  For the last four years, Kagoshima University, Japan, and The University of Georgia have conducted their student exchange agreement with the benefit of a Monbusho scholarship to cover all expenses, including airfare, for the UGA student in Japan.  Currently, Bastiaan Schimmel (Agricultural and Applied Economics) is studying in Japan, and Hirohiko Shimizu, his Japanese counterpart, is taking courses in the Warnell School of Forest Resources.

At the masters degree level, the Department offers three degree options: Master of Science in Agricultural Economics, Master of Science in Environmental Economics, and Master of Agricultural Economics (professional, non-thesis option). The department also offers a Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics. At the Ph.D. and Masters levels, students can concentrate their studies in a broad range of specialties including marketing, production, consumer demand, international trade, natural resource management, environmental policy, and rural development.

For qualified students, the department offers financial assistance through graduate research assistantships. These assistantships provide opportunities for students to gain valuable research and work experience by working with faculty supervisors and mentors on research projects 14 hours per week. In return, students receive a tuition waiver and are paid a stipend of $11,688 per year for M.S. students and $12,456 for Ph.D. students.

For more information on our graduate program, see the departmental web page at www.agecon.uga.edu or contact our Graduate Coordinator, Dr. Jim Epperson at 706-542-0766 or jepperson@agecon.uga.edu.

As an agricultural economics alumni, you should be a member of the Agricultural Economics Association of Georgia. The Association was established in 1976 for three purposes: (1) to provide opportunities for the professional improvement of agricultural economists; (2) to provide a forum for the discussion of agricultural economic problems and issues; and (3) to recommend solutions to agricultural economic problems. Activities of the Association include the following.
 J.W. Fanning Lecture
 Journal of Agribusiness
 Agricultural Economics News
 Professional Meetings
 Scholarship Programs
 Agricultural Economics Internships
 Employment Opportunities
 Visiting Lecturers
These activities are described in detail on the Internet: http://www.agecon.uga.edu/~aeag/index.html

Membership in the Association is open to people sharing a common interest in agricultural economics, agribusiness, and related fields. Individual membership in the Agricultural Economic s Association of Georgia is $25 per year and includes a subscription to the Journal of Agribusiness and the AEAG Newsletter. To join send your dues and address to the Agricultural Economics Association of Georgia, 301 Conner Hall, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602-7509.

New web pages are being developed for alumni of the Agricultural and Applied Economics Department. The first new web page is for the Agricultural Economics Association of Georgia. This page describes the Association and its many activities, including J.W. Fanning Lecture series, Journal of Agribusiness, scholarship program, internships, lecturers, etc. The Internet address for the Association's web page is: http://www.agecon.uga.edu/~aeag/index.html. More "bells and whistles" will be added to the site later, but it is operational at this time. The next web page will be for alumni of the Agricultural and Applied Economics Department. Alumni will be notified when that page is operational. A web page is being developed so alumni can enter their name, address and position. This database will help recruit new students and help alumni, as well.

Yanping Chen - Computer Services Specialist IV from Computer Services Specialist III
Stephanie Crowe - Accountant I
Brigid Doherty - Agricultural Research Statistician from Research Coordinator I
Tony Garcia - Computer Services Specialist III
Chris Peters - Information Analyst I from Computer Services Specialist IV
Donna Ross - Senior Secretary
Arla Williams - Senior Secretary

The Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics is interested in hearing from our alumni. Please inform us of your current job position or other significant accomplishments. This information can be sent by e-mail to the following address: AAECON@AGECON.UGA.EDU or mailed to the Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics, Rm. 301 Conner Hall, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602-7509.