Arkansas ag economics professors receive prestigious national award
July 6, 2018
By Jessica Wesson
U of A System Division of Agriculture
Fast Facts
- Lanier Nalley, Michael Popp named Agricultural and Resource Economics Review Fellows
- Both recognized at Northeastern Agricultural and Resource Economics Association in Philadelphia in June
(780 words)
(Newsrooms, with photos of Popp: https://flic.kr/p/27qmXtw, Nalley: https://flic.kr/p/27qmX1C )
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FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- Northeastern Agricultural and Resource Economics Association named two University of Arkansas agricultural economics and agribusiness professors Agricultural and Resource Economics Review Fellows because of their outstanding research and publications.
Lanier Nalley, agricultural economics and agribusiness professor and the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture and the Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences, said he is honored to receive this award.
Nalley has taught countless Arkansas students in his 10 years at Fayetteville. He has also led of them through service projects in Mozambique, where they are provided with a window to the developing world.
“I teach them to approach meaningful but difficult questions which will continually affect our world,” he said.
Nalley’s research focuses on a variety of topics such as the economics of plant genetics and international agriculture policy. He viewed this award as an opportunity to shed a light on the true value of agriculture globally.
“Awards like this show that agriculture is not only a large part of the GDP and social life in Arkansas, but globally,” said Nalley. GDP, or gross domestic product, is the value of goods produced and services provided in a year.
Nalley said his accomplishments would not have been possible without the help of those around him.
“There is a Namibian proverb which states that ‘those who have been carried don’t really know how far they have traveled.’ I feel like I have been carried for a large portion of my career so this award is for those who have done the heavy lifting as I was carried,” Nalley said.
Michael Popp, agricultural economics and agribusiness professor and the Division of Agriculture and the Bumpers College, is the other recipient of the fellow award.
Although his students may be at different points in their respective careers, Popp said he tries to give them skills that prepare them for life.
Popp said that his students work on various research projects that target livestock and crop enterprise production methods, and “as a result, students are able to make better decisions and thereby contribute to society,” he said.
Popp’s research areas include farm and agribusiness management with an emphasis on alternative production practices and related implications for returns, risk and environment. He said this award will benefit the entire Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness department at the university.
Like Nalley, Popp also gave credit to others for his achievement.
“I’m honored to have received the reward,” he said. “This work would not be possible without support from multi-disciplinary approaches and colleagues I work with at the University of Arkansas and other institutions.”
Robert Bacon, agricultural business and economics department head for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture and the Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences, said that he was proud to work with these incredible men.
“Drs. Popp and Nalley have demonstrated excellence in applied research, training, service, and program administration throughout their established careers. Both professors are true assets, possessing the scientific and technical backgrounds that any research journal would be happy to be associated with,” he said.
Bacon added that he was especially pleased for these awards to be brought back to Arkansas.
“Naturally, we’re always proud to see our dedicated faculty members receive acclaim for their hard work. In particular, the ARER Fellows award is reserved for authors who demonstrate sustained excellence in research and commitment to the association’s journal and have published five or more peer-reviewed articles in Agricultural and Resource Economics Review,” he said. “ARER Fellows represent less than 3 percent of the total number of authors who have published in this journal, so Drs. Popp and Nalley are certainly in elite company. This type of recognition reinforces the position of the Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness department at the University of Arkansas as an elite institution of education and research.”
According to Bacon, these professors gave their students something valuable and irreplaceable.
“The magnitude of impact on the lives of their students is incalculable; however, I’d sum it up in one word: opportunity,” he said. “Both Drs. Popp and Nalley are advocates for their students, providing advice and mentorship to their students in the realms of professional and personal development. Drs. Popp and Nalley encourage their students, both in and out of the classroom, in such a way that opens opportunities for students that they may not have had otherwise.”
For more information about the Northeastern Agricultural and Resource Economics Association visit: http://www.narea.org/
About the Division of Agriculture
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work within the nation’s historic land grant education system.
The Division of Agriculture is one of 20 entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on five system campuses.
Pursuant to 7 CFR § 15.3, the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs and services (including employment) without regard to race, color, sex, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, sexual preference, pregnancy or any other legally protected status, and is an equal opportunity institution.
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Media Contact: Mary Hightower
Dir. of Communication Services
U of A System Division of Agriculture
Cooperative Extension Service
(501) 671-2126
mhightower@uada.edu
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