The premise of this paper is that agricultural economics, as a distinct subdiscipline of economics, faces perhaps the most serious challenges since struggling for a separate identity nearly a century ago. I fully appreciate the fact that nearly all professional presidential addresses key on the theme of change to one extent or another. However, the environment within which we practice our profession is undergoing such significant transition that I believe radical changes are needed in how we frame and implement our instructional, research, and outreach programs. In his 1986 American Agricultural Economics Association presidential address, Joe Havlicek identified five megatrends affecting agriculture that he believed would have profound implications for our profession: (1) food consumption changes, (2) internationalism and macroeconomic forces, (3) technological change, (4) structural change, and (5) environmentalism.

Key demographic trends in the rural South over the next decade—the aging of the population as baby boomers enter retirement, continued migration to the South, and rapid increases in shares of Hispanic residents—may have profound consequences for the financing of rural community public services. In this paper, we provide an overview of demographic and economic trends that are expected to influence the ability of rural communities to provide essential public services. In addition, we provide econometric evidence on the impacts that these trends are likely to have on the financing of K-12 education in South Carolina.

This paper examines trends in the socioeconomic well-being in rural counties where Black residents represent one third or more of the population. These racially diverse rural counties (RDRCs) are located exclusively in the rural South and generally have low levels of economic well-being. On a positive note, college education levels in RDRCs are found to have increased rapidly between 1990 and 2000. Regression analysis suggests that these increases were in part due to the concentration of Historically Black Colleges and Universities in the region. Local investments in K-12 education are also found to be linked to county education levels.

In 1991, the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA) changed the federal-state transportation relationship by devolving decision making to the states. In turn, states were required to work with local officials on transportation improvements. ISTEA was authorized for 1992–1997, and the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century continued ISTEA policies through 2003. Changes in road and bridge conditions in the rural south are examined under these new transportation policies. Federal funding trends are detailed with state funding. Overall condition of roads and bridges eligible for federal funding improved, traffic increased on all roads, but condition disparities between local roads and federally funded roads grew.

U.S. growers filed an antidumping case against Canadian growers of greenhouse-grown tomatoes, alleging that U.S. growers were being injured, or threatened with material injury, by imports from Canada. The U.S. Department of Commerce determined that imports of greenhouse-grown tomatoes were being sold in U.S. markets at less than fair market value. The U.S. International Trade Commission determined the “like product” to be all fresh market tomatoes, concluding the domestic industry was not materially injured. Anecdotal evidence used by the Commission Department in determining like product ignores the wealth of knowledge that economics can add. An economic model is proposed for purposes of determining like product.

Produce growers in Kentucky, North Carolina, and Tennessee were surveyed in 2002 to gather information about their decision making in the areas of planting, postharvest handling, marketing, and expected changes. North Carolina has proportionately more respondents with large operations, and Kentucky and Tennessee were more similar and concentrated in smaller farms. Tennessee and Kentucky respondents were less likely to have engaged in activities that were associated with the commercial distribution system. Greater reliance on the commercial distribution system on the part of North Carolina growers is consistent with more produce export activity.

This paper develops a framework for competitiveness that incorporates path dependency within production regions. Patterns of technological innovation, product development, institutions, and market orientation follow a certain local path. This evolution creates regional economies that emerge with unexpected competitive advantage. The model draws on previous work looking at, among other things, induced innovation. The framework is applied here to the major regional tomato producers in North America. The paper examines the role of various institutions (grower associations, governments, research institutions, and support industry) in influencing the path along which a regional sector evolves.

The demand for a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables, including fresh market tomatoes, has increased significantly over the past decade because of greater convenience in use, improved selection, and rising health and diet concerns. As U.S. demand for tomatoes and other horticultural crops strengthens, inexperienced domestic and international suppliers believe they can compete effectively within U.S. markets. Free trade agreements have reduced monetary barriers to trade, but remaining impediments, such as institutional and competitive market constraints, represent significant challenges for southern U.S. growers. This paper discusses points addressed by VanSickle, Eastwood, and Woods concerning trade and horticultural market development.