Contact: Maridith Geuder
Steven C. Turner
The head of Mississippi State University's agricultural economics department is the new leader of a national professional organization for agricultural and natural resource economists.
Steven C. Turner in September becomes chair of the Council on Food, Agricultural and Resource Economics. He recently concluded service as president of the Southern Agricultural Economics Association.
Based in Washington, D.C., C-FARE is a nonprofit organization formed in 1993 to improve service through research, extension and resident instruction programs.
"In particular, the council seeks to represent key issues related to agriculture and economics to the nation's policymakers," Turner said.
Agricultural and natural resource economics involves a range of issues, including, among others, the economics of food production, distribution and consumption; international trade and development; natural and human resources; and environmental quality, he explained.
"Support of agricultural economics research is an important component in addressing issues associated with national security, the food supply and the nation's health," Turner said.
He and other council representatives met recently with Mississippi's congressional delegation to discuss what Turner called the "crucial need for a balanced federally funded research portfolio for the agricultural sciences."
Members of the staff of Sen. Thad Cochran (R-Miss.), chair of the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, were among those in attendance. They also met with staff members representing Congressmen Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) and Chip Pickering (R-Miss.).
"Mississippi is fortunate that its congressional delegation views research as an investment for the future," said Turner, who came to MSU in 2003 from the University of Georgia.
"The work of the council plays a major role in establishing policies related to issues that touch the lives of every American," said Vance Watson, vice president of MSU's Division of Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Medicine. "Dr. Turner's experience and dedication make him an excellent choice for this important leadership position."
Other institutions represented on the council's board of directors include Louisiana State, Michigan State, North Carolina State, North Dakota State, Oklahoma State, Penn State, Southern Illinois, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, and Virginia Tech universities. The universities of California, Connecticut, Illinois, Kentucky, and Tennessee also have board members.
After receiving a bachelor's degree in English from Mercer University, Turner completed a master's in agricultural economics from the University of Georgia and a doctorate, also in agricultural economics, from Virginia Tech.
His research writings have been featured in a wide range of professional publications, including American Journal of Agricultural Economics, Journal of Food Distribution Research and Journal of Futures Markets, among others.