Teaching/Communication/Extension/Profession,

Faris, J. Edwin

English

Research Papers in Economics

SOUTHERN  JOURNAL  OF  AGRICULTURAL  ECONOMICS  JULY, 1979
DISCUSSION:  FINANCING  AGRICULTURAL  ECONOMICS  RESEARCH
AND EXTENSION  IN  THE  SOUTHERN  REGION
J. Edwin Faris
Toussaint points out that generally  depart-
ments  of agricultural economics  in the south-  PERCEIVED  PERFORMANCE
ern region have not been overly favored in rela-
tion  to other  departments  in  the  colleges  of  Performance may be rather difficult to quan-
agriculture.  He  emphasizes  the  concern  with  tify, yet our  salary  adjustments  are partially
our not getting a "fair share"  of college exten-  or totally based on some performance  criteria.
sion and research  funds. Department  heads or  Most of us know or find out about the "rules of
faculty  in  other  departments  of  the  college,  the game" with respect to performance.  If we
however,  may  believe  that  we  are  receiving  cannot, we  feel very uncomfortable.  If we fail
more than our "fair share."  to  play  by  the  rules,  we  are  likely  to  be
penalized.  Are  agricultural  economics
Is it obvious that we need more agricultural  departments playing by the rules of the admin-
economists at universities in the Southeast at  istrators? Toussaint indicates that he does not
the expense of animal scientists,  agronomists,  believe  that the reason  for  our receiving  less
horticulturists, and others? I suspect that agri-  support is related to our level of performance.
cultural economists feel that way. Yet perhaps  Perhaps  this  is  true.  However,  departments
we  are  receiving  our  "fair  share"  when  all  can perform outstandingly  in an area the dean
things are taken into account.  One should ask  or  director believes  is relatively unimportant.
the question,  "What is agricultural economics'  An administrator's view may be different from
fair share?"  It  can be answered only in a  sub-  the economist's view.  Academic  freedom may
jective manner. The outputs from our research  have  a cost attached  to it. That cost may ac-
and  extension  programs  cannot  be  defined  crue to the department as well as to the faculty
clearly and measured quantitatively. Inputs in  member. This is one of the reasons for keeping
man-years or dollars do not appear to be a very  faculty  informed  about  "important"  research
good  measure unless  outputs are the same  - and extension programs.
and I do not think they are the same. We  discuss  growth  and/or  survival  strate-
The cost of doing research has increased fast-  gies  in  our  teaching,  research,  and  extension
er for most departments in the college than for  programs.  Is it possible  that there  is  an  ap-
agricultural  economics  departments.  Salaries  propriate strategy for a department  to follow?
have  increased at a  slower rate than have the  I suspect this to be the case.  Some elements to
costs  of most  other inputs.  A  larger  share  of  be considered follow.
our  departmental  research  budgets  goes  to
wages and salaries than is the case in other de-
partments  in  the  college.  The  same  is  not  PERCEIVED  NEEDS
necessarily true for extension.
The  answer that counts in terms  of a  "fair  Sometimes there appears to be a communica-
share"  comes from administrative units above  tion problem  between  departmental  faculties
the department  level  - directors,  deans,  and/  and  college  and  university  administrators.
or vice presidents. They, in turn, are influenced  Neither side  appears to be listening.  Perhaps
by special and general funding considerations,  part of the strategy should be to listen - even
perceived needs, perceived performances  of de-  if the signals are dim. The administration may
partments,  ongoing  obligations,  special  place  emphasis on extension and research pro-
interest  groups,  and  other  factors.  Some  as-  grams related to state, regional,  national,  and
pects  of  the  interaction  between  these  influ-  international  problems  in a  descending  order
ences and departments of agricultural econom-  as listed. We may not. With the larger share of
ics are explored in following sections.  the college budget coming from state funding,
J. Edwin Faris is Professor and Head, Department of Agricultural  Economics and Rural Sociology, Clemson University.
29the emphasis on state problems is understand-  than those of the individual departments. This
able.  It  forms  a  base  for  future  budget  re-  emphasis  is  most  rational.  Many  individuals
quests.  Another problem may arise from sub-  outside  colleges  of  agriculture  put  more  em-
sidizing  teaching  from research  and/or  exten-  phasis on the agriculture  than they do on the
sion funds.  If the effectiveness  of the current  economics.  Most of our clientele  are not very
research or extension programs is perceived  as  concerned  about  departmental  affiliations.
being  reduced  very  much  by  these  teaching  They  are  just  looking  for  someone  to assist
commitments, conflicts  can arise which can be  them in solving  their problems.  Special inter-
detrimental  to  departmental  support  and  est groups  do influence  administrators'  prior-
departmental faculty.  ities  for  programs  and  projects.  Generally,
Agricultural  economics  departments  in  the  they  are  likely  to support the  college  budget
Southeast have had a large number of unfilled  and  ongoing  programs,  especially  those  con-
positions.  Convincing  the administration  of a  taining  research  and  extension  programs  of
great  need  for  additional  support  is  difficult  special interest to them.
when there are unfilled positions in the depart-  It  is my impression that the college and uni-
ment. Perhaps the supply of agricultural  econ-  versity feel an obligation to faculty who are in
omists  at  the  wages  offered  has  limited  positions classified  as permanent.  In addition,
growth.  there is an obligation to fund or help fund the
Toussaint  indicates a trend back to  produc-  programs of these permanent faculty  that are
tion  economics  and  commercial  agriculture.  considered  productive  by  the  adminstration.
This  is  a  most  rational  strategy.  Marketing  These are "ongoing obligations."
and  production  economics/farm  management  This commitment can work to the advantage
extension and research faculty are in a position  as well as to the disadvantage of departments
to provide  useful information  to help  farmers  of agricultural economics. The disadvantage  is
solve  problems  they  perceive  as  important.  that  it  can  slow  the growth  of a  department
Marketing  strategies  and  financial  when  its services  are in great demand.  It  can
management are perceived as two of their most  work to our advantage if Toussaint  is correct
pressing problem  areas.  Are we  doing as well  in  stating  the  trend  toward  an  increased
as we should be doing? An outstanding perfor-  emphasis  on  basic  research  and  non-social-
mance in these areas might result in additional  science-oriented  competitive  grants.  The  pro-
resources  which the department can devote to  duction departments  in the college will be bet-
other programs or areas.  ter able to compete for these funds. State funds
A  number  of  agricultural  economists  per-  will then make  up a larger  portion  of the  de-
ceived that rural development research and ex-  partments  of agricultural economics'  budgets.
tension programs would be supported at a high  Our budgets may not be hurt much because we
level  from  federal  and  state  funds.  This  has  are one of the "ongoing obligations" of the col-
been a misconception.  The needs  perceived by  lege. Our downside risk is reduced.
the legislature have been primarily in terms of
action programs.  Most recipient agencies have
not  perceived  much  need  for  our  educational  SUMMARY  AND  CONCLUSIONS
and research programs.  The same  is basically
true of most state agencies.  Yet  it appears  we  Toussaint's three implications for funding of
have much  to offer.  A  strategy  based  on per-  extension and research in agricultural  econom-
sonal contact and delivery of needed extension  ics are well stated. Perhaps  I am a little more
programs  and  research  can  change,  and  in  optimistic about the generation  of funds  from
some instances has changed, their perceptions  the state legislatures.
of needs.  This  approach  can provide  a  fertile  All in all, I do not see a way that agricultural
field for future grants.  economics  will be  able  to obtain  a very  much
Toussaint's concern  about accepting  grants  larger "piece of the pie" with respect to college
that  do not  complement  ongoing or  proposed  funds.  Certainly  some  strategies  should  be
programs  is certainly  shared. There is an addi-  helpful  in  making  our  departments  competi-
tional  danger.  We  need  to  make  certain  that  tive with other departments in the college.  We
time is still available  to pursue  research  and  might better spend our energies in trying to in-
extension efforts based  on future needs rather  crease  the  size  of  the  pie  (so-called  "hard
than  being  subsumed  by  current,  pressing  funds") coming to the college rather than being
problems.  Our  reservoirs  of  knowledge  are  so concerned about the size of each slice. Grant
being depleted.  funds are not considered as part of the pie, but
rather the ice cream that goes with the pie.  Of
ONGOING  OBLIGATIONS  course,  if  one has  enough ice  cream,  one may
receive a smaller piece of the pie or may be able
The usual tendency of college administrators  to support  more activities  from the  same size
is to emphasize  the needs of the college  rather  piece.
30I  suspect  that  I  am  an  optimist.  We  may  lieve, however,  that we will continue to be able have to work a little harder to get funding. We  to  finance  our  research  and  extension may have to work together a little better. We  programs  at  present  levels.  If  we  put  our may  have  to  realize  more  fully  that  we  are  minds to it, we might even expand our support hired to help the citizens of the state, region, or  levels.
nation rather  than  to help  ourselves.  I  do be-
31

DISCUSSION: FINANCING AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS RESEARCH AND EXTENSION IN THE SOUTHERN REGION

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