The Economics of Energy in Agriculture
Farmers are expected to plant 15 percent more corn this year than last in response to increased demand from ethanol production.
As ethanol production booms questions are abound.
* How many bushels of corn are equal to the energy equivalent of one barrel of oil?
* How much is the government subsidizing the industry?
* What do the coproducts of ethanol add to the economy?
* What will increasing costs of corn do to the cost of ethanol?
* What will the increasing costs of corn do to the price of beef, chicken, pork?
* How are industries and the economy being impacted?
To discuss these questions and more is Neilson Conklin from USDA.
Speaker Bio
Neilson C. Conklin is currently the Director of the Market and Trade Economics Division in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service. The Market and Trade Economics Division provides a broad range of economic research and analysis on global agricultural markets. Prior to assuming his current position, Dr. Conklin was Chief Economist at the Farm Credit Council, a trade association representing the Farm Credit System.
Between 1984 and 1988 Neil worked at the USDA Economic Research Service in various capacities including fruit and vegetable outlook and Deputy Director of the Agriculture and Trade Analysis Division. Neil has also served as Chief of the Agriculture Branch at the Office of Management and Budget and on the faculties of Colorado State University, The University of Arizona and Arizona State University.
Neil received a Ph.D. in Agricultural and Applied Economics from the University of Minnesota. He also holds an M.S. degree in Agricultural Economics from the University of Wyoming and a B.A. in History from Castleton State College in Vermont. Neil lives with his wife, Hilary Sheevers and his daughter Anna in Rockville Maryland.
