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Purdue Ag Econ News
January 2026
| .jpg) | In Print: ‘Consumer Lessons From a Pandemic’
| What did we learn about consumer behavior when the world was turned upside down due to COVID-19? “Consumer Lessons From a Pandemic” examines how a global crisis exposed and reshaped the values, priorities and decision-making patterns of everyday people. From disrupted routines to supply-chain shocks, this volume explores consumer behaviors that emerged in response to extreme uncertainty and how those behaviors continue to evolve. Topics include pandemic-induced grocery spending shifts, the importance of consumer trust, lessons from the infant-formula shortage, and the rise of remote work both as a preference and a negotiation point.
By pairing real-world behavior with research and reflection, this book highlights how crisis decision-making reveals deeper truths about consumer needs — and the fragility and resilience of the systems built to meet them. For those working in agriculture, food, retail and policy, “Consumer Lessons From a Pandemic” is both a postcrisis case study and a lasting reminder that understanding the consumer means meeting them where they are, even in the most uncertain times.
Authored by Nicole Olynk Widmar, Michael Smith and Erin Robinson
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|  | In Print: ‘Indiana at a Glance’
| “Indiana at a Glance: County Trends, 2025 Edition” provides an overview of macro socioeconomic and demographic trends based on county-level data in 10-year periods in Indiana, the upper Midwest region and the nation. Analyzing data primarily from 2013-23, this book presents information that contextualizes the design and implementation of specific policies enacted by elected officials and community leaders and reveals the impact these initiatives have on the public.
Inspired in part by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural America at a Glance reports, as well as the author’s more than 20 years of work in the field, this study makes use of gap analysis to glean valuable insights into how specific socioeconomic patterns relate to larger regional or national trends. It also offers a fuller picture of community economic development planning, allowing community stakeholders to better discern unique opportunities and challenges from macro socioeconomic and demographic noise.
Accessible to scholars and nonacademics alike, “Indiana at a Glance” is meant to assist community leaders and residents who wish to have a firmer grasp of the socioeconomic and demographic landscape of their communities as they attempt to plan, design, implement and evaluate their policies and initiatives or simply better understand their communities. The content and analysis supplied in this book will be updated every five years to ensure the most current data is available in order to align with the temporal “horizon” under which community economic development practitioners and policymakers frequently operate.
Authored by Roberto Gallardo
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|  | Recap of the 2026 Purdue Top Farmer Conference
| | | The Purdue Center for Commercial Agriculture welcomed over 200 farmers and agribusiness professionals to the 2026 Purdue Top Farmer Conference on Friday, January 9th. The annual farm management conference provided a great networking opportunity for top producers and industry professionals. The 2026 conference was offered in a hybrid format, with approximately half of the participants attending in person at Purdue’s Beck Agricultural Center and the remaining attendees from 26 different states/provinces joining remotely via Zoom. This year’s agenda featured sessions focused on global competitiveness, tariffs, and long-run market outlooks.
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|  | This semester, I’m on sabbatical, teaching on Semester at Sea. Since 1963, Semester at Sea has offered college courses aboard a cruise ship full of undergraduate and gap-year students, as well as Lifelong Learners. I’m teaching three courses: 100-level Economics of Social Issues, 200-level Microeconomics, and 400-level Development Economics. My wife and two children (ages 11 & 13) are also joining me. Our voyage started on January 2 in Bangkok, Thailand. Prior to getting on the ship, we spent a few days exploring Thailand. Our highlight was touring a traditional rice farm, where we harvested, husked and cooked the rice into a variety of dishes. We are about to leave our second port, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Our family highlight for Vietnam was a day at an amusement park, which included a futuristic orchard with precision irrigation. We’ve also enjoyed visiting lots of markets and trying lots of new foods in both Thailand and Vietnam. As I write, the students are working their way back on board, as we prepare to set sail for Penang, Malaysia. |
| Todd KuetheProfessor, Schrader Endowed Chair in Farmland Economics
Todd is currently on sabbatical, teaching Semester at Sea. This monthly series is written by Todd as he and his family explore the world of agriculture. |  | |
| |  | Where Are They Now? Catching Up with Past Ag Econ Podcast Co-Hosts Abby Meier and Colby Smock (PAEP 120)
In this episode of the Purdue Agricultural Economics Podcast, student hosts Reagan Koester and Brady Wiley welcome back former co-hosts and Purdue Ag Econ alumni Abby Meier (Agribusiness and Agri-Marketing, ‘24) and Colby Smock (Agribusiness, ‘23). The conversation reflects on life after Purdue, highlighting diverse career paths in agricultural policy, international education and family agribusiness. Abby and Colby share how classroom experiences, study abroad, internships and involvement with the podcast shaped their professional growth and perspectives.
A reflective and inspiring episode, this conversation is especially valuable for students exploring career possibilities, internships and the many ways an agricultural economics degree can open doors both at home and around the world.
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AWARDS AND APPOINTMENTS
|  | Funding Awarded
Congratulations to Purdue Institute for a Sustainable Future affiliates Dan Quinn, Chad Fiechter and Darcy Telenko on receiving funding from the Indiana Corn Marketing Council! | |
|  | Funding Awarded
Congratulations to Ariana Torres on being awarded an AgSEED grant titled High Tunnel Investment Economics for Beginning Indiana Specialty Crop Producers: A Climate Adaptive Decision Support Tool. Agricultural Science and Extension for Economic Development (AgSEED) was established through Crossroads funding from the Indiana Legislature to foster the state’s leadership in plant and animal agriculture and rural growth. | |
|  | Hovde Award Presentation
Congratulations to Maria Marshall on being awarded the 2025 Frederick L. Hovde Award of Excellence in Educational Service to Rural People of Indiana. Bernie Engel, the Glenn W. Sample Dean of Agriculture, presented Maria with her plaque at the Agricultural Economics Department's monthly faculty and staff meeting. | |
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|  | Teaching Award of Merit
Malissa Allen was awarded with the North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture and Purdue's Department of Ag Econ’s Teaching Award of Merit. | |
|  | Teaching Award of Merit
Roman Keeney was awarded with the North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture and Purdue's Department of Ag Econ’s Teaching Award of Merit. | |
|  | Teaching Award of Merit
Valerie Kilders was awarded with the North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture and Purdue's Department of Ag Econ’s Teaching Award of Merit. | |
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AG ECON IN THE NEWS
| Here is a sampling of recent news reports about Purdue Ag Econ from the college and media across the nation.
Indiana Public Media
Purdue University, Rosen Center for Advanced Computing
Indiana Prairie Farmer
Hoosier Ag Today
KPC News
The Farmer’s Exchange
Prairie Farmer
Farm Week Now
Marketplace
Morning Ag Clips
Brownfield Ag News
Illinois Farmer Today
Star Press
The Scoop
KORN News Radio
University of St. Thomas Newsroom
Farms.com |
UPCOMING EVENTS
| 2026 AAEA Annual Meeting
Mark your calendars for the 2026 AAEA Annual Meeting, happening July 26–28 at the Kansas City Marriott Downtown! The event features a mix of invited paper sessions, case study papers, organized symposia, lightning and paper sessions, poster sessions, and more.
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CENTER AND EXTENSION NEWS
|  |  | Farmer sentiment drifts lower as trade uncertainty hangs over agriculture | Farmer sentiment dipped slightly in December, with the Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer dropping 3 points to 136. The decline was attributable to a softening in producers’ long-term outlook. The Future Expectations Index fell 4 points from the previous month to 140, while the Current Conditions Index remained steady at 128. Crop producers expressed increased concern about the competitiveness of U.S. soybean exports as Brazil expands its role in global markets, contributing to the more cautious outlook. The survey was conducted Dec. 1-5, 2025.
The report was covered by: The Post and Mail, Agrinews, Korn News Radio, Brownfield Ag News, Stock Titan, Agri-View, SFN Today, inkFreeNews, Red River Farm Network, Wisconsin Ag Connection, Farms.com, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Farm Policy News, Farm Week Now, Fresh Fruit Portal, Capital Press, Investing.com, Michigan Farm News, Equipment Finance News, AgTechNavigator, AgDaily and PR Newswire.
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| Financial Stress, Labor Decisions, and Farm Resilience: Tools to Evaluate Your OperationMichael Langemeier | Bringing another person into the farm operation — whether a family member returning to the farm or a new employee — is one of the most important financial decisions a business can make. While the conversation often focuses on roles, responsibilities, and transition planning, the financial capacity of the operation must come first.
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| Farm Finance Lab: Turn Tax Data into Financial Management InsightChad Fiechter | Most commercial farms already generate the information needed to evaluate financial performance each year. The challenge isn’t access to data — it’s turning that information into useful management insight.
The Farm Finance Lab tool was developed to make that step easier. Using information producers already prepare for tax reporting — specifically Schedule F — along with two balance sheets, the tool converts farm records into key financial ratios that help evaluate overall financial position and performance.
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| Adaptation & Strong Relationships: A Conversation with Ben Brown, AgCast 205 | Adaptability and strong relationships are becoming just as important as yields and costs in today’s farm economy—and that’s the focus of this episode of the Purdue Commercial AgCast. Chad Fiechter is joined by Ben Brown of the University of Missouri’s Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute (FAPRI), along with guest hosts Avery Pounds and Jonah Armstrong, for a conversation that builds on Brown’s recent presentation at the Purdue Top Farmer Conference.
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| Crop Basis Trends Up Across the Eastern Corn Belt, but Regional Variance is Significant | From Iowa to Ohio, corn and soybean basis to March futures have been steady to slightly increasing since the beginning of 2026. In many crop reporting districts across the region, basis has remained at or above the historical average. However, despite recent strengthening, corn and soybean basis in Iowa remain well below historical averages. This variation underscores significant variance in local basis levels across the region.
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| Crop Net Return and Farmland Market, Presentation at Fort Wayne Farm ShowMichael Langemeier | Michael Langemeier presented at the Fort Wayne Farm Show on January 14, 2026, on crop net returns prospects and the farmland market.
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| Trends in the U.S. Farm Balance Sheet: A New Data Tool for Tracking Financial StrengthJosh Strine | Discussions about farm financial conditions often focus on income and margins. While those measures matter, the balance sheet provides a broader picture of long-term financial health—capturing changes in assets, debt, equity, and leverage over time.
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| Labor StandardsMichael Langemeier | A previous article discussed labor efficiency and productivity benchmarks (Langemeier, 2025a). Labor efficiency is computed by dividing total labor cost (hired labor plus family and operator labor) by gross farm income. Family and operator labor can be represented by owner withdrawals. Labor productivity is computed by dividing gross farm income by the number of farm workers. This article examines labor hours per acre and labor efficiency for crop farms using FINBIN data from 2007 to 2024. Crop farms are broken down into four farm size categories: less than 500 crop acres, 500 to 1000 crop acres, 1000 to 2000 crops acres, and greater than 2000 crop acres.
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|  | | Consumer Food Insights: December 2025 |
The center team found the following key insights: - The Sustainable Food Purchasing (SFP) Index continues to exhibit little change, reflecting stability in consumer food purchasing habits and
- intentions. Households with higher incomes have a higher score in the SFP index.
- Food security (14%) was 2 percentage points lower than November.
- The Consumer Price Index (CPI) for food at home rose by 3.8% over the past 12 months.
- Most consumers (82%) made changes to their grocery shopping in 2025, though only 5% currently expect to implement those changes in
- 2026, suggesting adaptations were largely reactive to economic pressures that consumers expect to be temporary.
- Nearly one-quarter of households (24%) sought out more sales and discounts or used more coupons in 2025 as a cost-management strategy.
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|  | | Why agribusiness leaders should invest in their peopleWritten by Aissa Good, Managing Director, Purdue University | Periods of volatility in agriculture are nothing new. Input costs shift, weather remains unpredictable, global markets send mixed signals and producers face increasingly complex decisions. But when pressure builds, one truth becomes even clearer: organizations that outperform are the ones whose people are equipped to adapt, communicate and move strategy forward.
Yet when markets tighten, training and development are often the first investments pulled back.
At Purdue’s Center for Food and Agricultural Business, we see something different. Across our work with agribusiness companies, retailers, and cooperatives, the organizations that continue to invest intentionally in their people during challenging periods strengthen capability, protect customer relationships and position themselves for faster growth when conditions improve.
That belief sits at the core of our custom programming and our structured 5-D process we use to build it.
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Below are some of our recent and upcoming programs happening for agribusiness professionals.
Business-to-business relationships are the lifeblood of successful salespeople. It’s the environment in which salespeople truly connect with their customers. Those connections are often what result in long-term partnerships. Repeat business, upselling and cross-selling opportunities abound when you invest time in understanding and nurturing your clients.
March 3-6, 2026 | Purdue University (Krannert 758) – West Lafayette, Indiana In a world of tight margins and dynamic marketplaces, financial goals are gaining increased visibility throughout all aspects of the agribusiness value chain. Today, it’s more important than ever for non-financial managers to understand how their decisions impact company profitability. During this three-day interactive program, you’ll gain an increased understanding of key financial ratios needed to analyze the financial standings of your business, how to help customers see a return on investment in your offerings and much more.
May 19-20, 2026 | West Lafayette, IN We used to think great salespeople had been given a gift. While this may still be true, we know today’s sales managers play a key role in developing this gift to meet its full potential. During this two-day interactive program, Drs. Scott Downey and Dave Downey will guide you in assessing your people development skills, creating a high-performing culture, using tools to become a more effective coach for your team and more through group discussions, activities and networking opportunities.
This program is especially beneficial for current supervisors of salespeople, novice sales managers or those who will soon be promoted who are looking to amplify their performance.
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| | NCRCRD’s 2026 Grant RFPs Now AvailableThe NCRCRD’s grant program offers four funding opportunities that supports new and ongoing regional research, Extension, and integrated activities and enhances the ability of the North Central Region’s thirty-four land-grant institutions to positively influence the quality of life in the region’s rural areas. The four opportunities are: - Small Grants: Offered once per year, NCRCRD is now accepting Small Grant proposals until the submission deadline of March 16, 2026, 5:00 pm ET.
- Fellows Program: Proposals accepted on a rolling basis throughout 2026.
- Extension Collaboration and Implementation Grants: Proposals accepted on a rolling basis throughout 2026.
- Thematic Working Groups: Proposals accepted on a rolling basis throughout 2026.
Learn more about NCRCRD grants and download the RFPs |
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| NCRCRD Webinar SeriesAdditional details and registration for upcoming NCRCRD webinars can be found at https://ncrcrd.org/webinars/. NCRCRD's webinars are open to all participants. FEBRUARY WEBINAR Freely Shared, Widely Adapted: First Impressions Turns 35 Wednesday, February 18, 2026 • 1:00 pm ET Join us to celebrate 35 years of First Impressions programming. Designed to help communities see themselves through the eyes of a visitor, First Impressions has been freely shared and widely adapted for fostering local engagement, placemaking, and economic vitality. This webinar will explore the program’s history with University of Wisconsin; highlight the program’s adaption and use with Kansas State and Iowa State Universities; and discuss how its principles continue to inspire new approaches to community improvement. February Webinar Registration | |
| New NCRCRD Story Behind the Numbers Article Rural Small Businesses in the North Central Region: Workforce Development By Renee D. Wiatt, NCRCRD Research and Extension Specialist Workforce development challenges are reshaping rural businesses and the communities they serve. This article examines workforce statistics for rural and urban small businesses in the North Central Region (NCR) using data from the NCR-Stat: Small Business Survey (Wiatt et al., 2024). | |
|  | Previous Presentations and Activities- Renee Wiatt presented at Hancock County during a PARP on “First Steps in Succession Planning” on January 13th
- Renee also presented “Why Are We Fighting? How to Implement Conflict Modes” as a guest lecturer in TLI115 on January 16th
- Renee served as a keynote speaker for the 2026 Growmark FS Agronomy Conference in Peoria, IL, on January 27th, presenting “Passing the Torch: How Can Agriculture Prepare for the Next Generation for Family Farm Leadership?”
- Renee presented on January 28th in Bloomington at Farm Shield: Protecting Your Legacy from Life’s Uncertainties on the topic of “Addressing Family Conflict”
- Renee presented at the Purdue Ag Engage Conference on February 29th in Bloomington on the topic of “How to Have Difficult Conversations”
Upcoming Presentations and Activities - Renee will be presenting on February 24th at the “Your Land is Your Legacy: Plan Today to Protect Tomorrow” on the topic of having conversations and setting goals on the farm. This is a workshop collaboration between Geswein Farm & Land, American Farmland Trust, and the Purdue Extension Succession Planning Team (see flyer below).
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|  | Recent GTAP Events
Speakers: Channing Arndt, Angel Aguiar, Thiago Simonato, Uris Lantz Baldos, Maksym Chepeliev, Erwin Corong
--------------------------- Upcoming GTAP Events “Confronting Developmental and Environmental Challenges in Asia and the New Trade Landscape” June 17-19, 2026 | Kyoto, Japan
--------------------------- Upcoming GTAP-U Courses
“Introduction to Computable General Equilibrium Modeling in the GTAP Framework” March 16 – May 3, 2026 | Online Course
“Theory and Applications of Computable General Equilibrium Analysis with the GTAP Model” June 1 – August 7, 2026 | Hybrid Course |  | Journal of Global Economic Analysis, Vol. 10 No. 2 (2025) Released | The Journal of Global Economic Analysis provides an open access, peer-reviewed platform for publication and dissemination of innovations concerning applied general equilibrium modeling. The Journal is an online-only periodical and is published by the Center for Global Trade Analysis. The Journal of Global Economic Analysis is ranked in the best quartile of Economics and Econometrics journals by major ranking agencies and is included in leading citation databases.
Advances in Data and Parameters Angel Aguiar, Uris Baldos, Maksym Chepeliev, Erwin Corong, Thiago Simonato
Advances in Methods and Theory Peter Dixon, Maureen Rimmer
Glyn Wittwer
Advances in Software Micah Cameron Harp, Nelson Villoria, Jayson Beckman |
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Call for ApplicationsWe are pleased to announce the 2026 GLASSNET ECR Travel Award to support early career researchers seeking to advance their scholarly development through collaboration, training, and engagement with the GLASSNET research community.
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Purpose of the AwardThese awards are intended to support short-term travel that strengthens research connections, fosters interdisciplinary collaboration, and enhances participation in GLASSNET activities. Funding provided through this award is intended to meaningfully support the activities that: - Engage with GLASSNET faculty, scholars, partner institutions, and other key collaborators
- Support professional development by enabling early career researchers to build networks, exchange ideas, and gain exposure to new research environments.
- Participate in collaborative research activities aligned with the GLASSNET thematic areas, which reflect priority topics identified during the 2025 Biennial Meeting.
Due Date: February 15, 2026 5:00 PM ET (UTC-5)
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|  | DIAL Ventures Resources
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|  | Latest Blog Posts
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|  | Purdue Extension Community Development News
The mission for Purdue Extension Community Development is to strengthen the capacity of local leaders, residents and organizations to build strong, vibrant communities by using research-based resources to guide their decisions. Learn more about their programs, offerings, and catch up on the latest news on their website. | |
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PUBLICATIONS AND DEPARTMENT HAPPENINGS
| PublicationsHaddock, T., Schaefer, K. A., Whitacre, B. E., & Malone, T. (2026). Local news deserts and community social capital erosion. Journal of Regional Science. https://doi.org/10.1111/jors.70053
Heim, B. T., & Montenovo, L. (2025). Are Charitable Donations and Volunteering Substitutes or Complements? New Evidence from Recent Tax Changes. National Tax Journal, 78(3), 609–636. https://doi.org/10.1086/735743
Horan, R. D., Shortle, J. S., & Reeling, C. (2025). Review paper — Economics and Policy of Point-Nonpoint Source Water Pollution Trading Programs. Water Economics and Policy, 11(04). https://doi.org/10.1142/s2382624x2530004x
Langemeier, M. “Labor Standards.” farmdoc daily (16):1, Department of Agricultural and Consumer Economics, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, January 2, 2026. Marques, J. M. R., Torres, A. P., Marques, F. M. F. R., Pivaral, K. O., & Spaulding, A. D. (2025). Inside the hearts and minds of oat milk enthusiasts: consumer preferences and values. British Food Journal, 128(13), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1108/bfj-08-2025-1127 Ortez, M. A., Smith, M. L., & Widmar, N. O. (2026). U.S. Public Perceptions of “Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG)” Investments. Journal of Consumer Policy, 49(1). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10603-025-09609-x | |
| Presentations and ActivitiesGolub, A., Chepeliev, M., Simonato, T., Fischer, C. G., Mason-D’Croz, D., & van der Mensbrugghe, D. "Shifting Trade Policies and Environmental Outcomes in Livestock Sectors." Presented by Alla Golub at the International Agricultural Trade Research Consortium Annual Meeting. Tyson, VA. December 14-16, 2025.
On January 23, Jay Akridge moderated a panel session at the Farm Foundation Roundtable Meetings in El Paso, Texas. | |
| | | Yi Wang delivered presentations at the ASSA/AEA Annual Meeting and the Farm Foundation Roundtable.
At the Farm Foundation Round Table in El Paso, Texas, held January 13–16, Yi was invited to participate as a Farm Foundation Cultivator and present their job market paper in both presentation and poster formats.
Yi also presented at the 2026 ASSA/AEA Annual Meeting in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, held January 3–5. | | | |
| | Thomas Hertel Retirement CelebrationCongratulations to Tom Hertel on his recent retirement from the Department of Agricultural Economics. Tom’s retirement reception was attended by many who shared their memories and the impact Tom has had on this industry, the department and their lives. It was a packed room in Dauch, and we all wish Tom the absolute best as he enjoys retirement on the Chicago lakefront. | | | |
| | Frank Dooley RetirementDecember was a month of retirements for the department, as we also wished Frank Dooley a happy retirement while he delivered a valedictory lecture, with many colleagues joining virtually to listen. After hearing more about Frank’s journey and his vision for Purdue's future, we celebrated his retirement with a wonderful reception where stories were shared over a delicious brunch. | | | |
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For a list of recent publications and endeavors by faculty, staff, and students in the department of agricultural economics, visit our publications and endeavors pages.
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| | | Purdue AgEcon News is a monthly publication of department happenings. The publication is edited by Morgan French (mmfrench@purdue.edu). | | Purdue University Agricultural Economics Department 403 Mitch Daniels Blvd Krannert Building Room 651 West Lafayette, IN 47907 765-494-4191 agecon1@purdue.edu | |
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