Teaching/Communication/Extension/Profession,

Polopolus, Leo C.

English

Research Papers in Economics

SOUTHERN JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS  JULY 1990
CURRENT  STATUS  AND  FUTURE  DIRECTIONS  OF
AGRICULTURAL  ECONOMICS  PROGRAMS  AT  1890
INSTITUTIONS:  DISCUSSION
Leo C. Polopolus
The original sixteen  1890 land grant institutions  year degree programs, as well as time lags between
were charged with the goal of providing educational  establishment of four-year degree programs and ini-
programs  with a rural focus for black people  (Wil-  tiation of graduate degree programs. While there are
liams). It was not, however, until the  1950s or later  some  exceptions,  undergraduate  agricultural  eco-
that  formal  undergraduate  degrees  in  agricultural  nomics or agribusiness curricula were initiated after
economics or agribusiness were offered. Three 1890  graduate  degree  programs  in  nonagricultural  eco-
institutions initiated agricultural economics or agri-  nomics  areas  had  already  been  established  at  the
business  programs  in  the  1980s,  with  two  1890  1890 institutions. By the 1988-1989 academic year,
universities  still without formal  undergraduate  de-  however, there were 500 undergraduate agricultural
gree programs in the discipline by  1989.  economics/agribusiness  majors at twelve reporting
Why  was there  a 50 to 60 year lag in developing  1890 institutions, or an average of 42 undergraduate
degree  programs  in agricultural  economics  at the  students  per program.  Thus,  despite  time lags and
predominantly  black  universities?  Certainly,  the  underemphasis  in  earlier  years,  agricultural  eco-
problems  of economic  development,  human  re-  nomics  seems to have generated at least reasonable
source development, and adjustment to new agricul-  student interest at 1890 institutions.
tural  technologies  were  major  concerns  of  1890
institutions  from  their  inception.  These issues  are  CURRENT  ISSUES
primarily social  science related and within at least  While  the  McDowell-Evans  paper  provides  a
the partial purview of agricultural economics.  good  description  of the  historical  development  of
To be honest,  there was also a 50 to 60 year time  agricultural  economics  programs  at  1890  institu-
lag  in  the  development  of agricultural economics  tions,  it provides  only a cursory introduction  to the
curricula at  1862  institutions  in the South. The lag  contemporary problems or issues confronted by ag-
in response at both 1862 and 1890 land grant insti-  ricultural  economics  units  at  these institutions.  A
tutions in developing specialized  curricula in agri-  partial listing of issues would include the following:
cultural  economics  was  due  to  several  factors,  Enhancing the Research-Teaching Interface
including the following:  (1) agricultural economics  Subject Matter Focus for Research
did not emerge until the 1920s as a well-recognized  Role of Agribusiness  in the Undergraduate
discipline  with  a scholarly  journal,  a professional  Curriculum
association,  and graduate  degree programs;  (2) ag-
ricultural  college  administrators  were  dominated  Faculty Retention/Faculty Salaes
with faculty oriented and trained in production ag-  Enhancing the Research-Teaching  Interface
rculture; and (3)  undergraduate  curricula tended to
produce general "agriculturalists" until the 1950s, as  r  er 
opposed  to  specialized,  discipline-oriented  B.S.  ago,  research  findings  constantly  render  the sub-
opsgraduates  pcaier.  stance  of instruction  obsolete  and replace  it  with
The McDowell-Evans  paper is useful and interest-  fresh and  more  valid materials...  Teaching  can  no
ing from the point of view of tracing the historical  longerconcernitselfonlywithwhatisknown.How
truth is discovered, what tools and methods are used development of the  1890 institutions and Tuskegee  t  oe  o  and  etod  are
University.  Considerable  time  lags  occurred  be-  to expound knowledge, and how adequate or inade-
tween  the founding date and the initiation of four-are  all  tea  g 
____~~~~~~____  (H~ess).
Leo C. Polopolus is a Professorat the University of Florida. The author deeply appreciates constructive comments by Professor Carlton
G. Davis. Florida Agricultural Experiment Station Journal Series No. R-00500.
Invited paper presented at the annual meeting of the Southern Agricultural Economics  Association, Little Rock, Arkansas,  February
3-7,  1990. Invited papers are routinely published in the July SJAE without editorial council review but with review of the Editor (as per
Executive Committee action June 25,  1982).
Copyright 1990, Southern Agricultural Economics Association.
57According to the McDowell-Evans survey, all ag-  the answer  is no, then the  research program  is  off
ricultural economists at the 1890 institutions (except  target,  irrespective  of the  number  of publications
those at Langston University) have formal research  and the  number of times  these  publications  have
appointments  of at least 25%. At six  1890 universi-  been cited by other scholars.
ties, the average faculty member has at least 50% of
his or her appointment in research.  Given this state  Subject Matter Focus for Research
of events  (which  is a considerable  increase  in  re-  The McDowell-Evans  paper correctly  points  out
search  support  over  what existed  twenty  or more  that the subject matter focus of research at the  1890
years ago), the key question has to do with the nature  institutions  is  predominantly  involved  with  small
and quality  of  the  research  output in  agricultural  farm  or  limited  resource  analysis.  Two  questions
economics  from  1890 institutions.  Has  the  overall  quickly  come  to  mind.  What is  the  nature  of  the
level of scholarly productivity increased  over time  small  farm  and/or  limited  resource  analysis  cur-
in line with the increase in research budgets, or have  rently underway, and what are the other appropriate
increased  research  allocations  merely  subsidized  and priority researchable  issues at these institutions
heavy teaching assignments?  in the immediate future?
The quality of research is much more difficult to measure-when  cmpared  withhemesWhile  it is true that our predominantly  black uni- measure when  compared with the measurement of  ..
versities were  almost exclusively  teaching  institu-
the total number of  research publications. The Amer-  .e  s  st
tions until the late 1960s, the current and prospective ican Journal  of Agricultural  Economics reported in  . . .
196an  ranking  of  18r9  institut  onsmincs  f te  rt  i  expectation  is that these institutions will come into
1986 a ranking of 1890 institutions in  terms of the.  . . . •  • 
* *  r*,1**  r  *-r  i  *~  the mainstream of major American universities with
citations of the scholarly output of its faculty (Beil-  . of 
increased  emphasis  on  research  of contemporary ock, Polopolus, and Correal). The use of citations of  ease  ehasis  on  reserch  cne  rr ",  ^~  . ~.  '.  . ,  ^issues  relevant to the society served by each univer-
authors to rank academic institutions places the em- 
phasis upon the usefulness of literary output rather  sity
than  sheer volume  of a unit's  output.  Based upon  Admittedly,  a strong case can be made for contin-
total citations of 1890 authors  over the  1980-1984  ued research  on the economic problems  associated
period, the  top ranked institutions  were as follows  with small farms and farms limited with land, capi-
(in  order):  Tennessee  State,  Southern  University,  ta,  and possibly even labor for harvest.  This work
Delaware  State, North Carolina A & T, and South  is primarily focused upon farm management or mi-
Carolina  State.  Tennessee  State's  agricultural eco-  croeconomic  issues  of the individual  farm  firm.  It
nomics unit ranked  in the top 50 institutions  in the  can,  of  course,  also  be  broadened  to  look  at  the
United  States,  with  citation  totals  comparable  to  associated marketing and infrastructure problems of
such 1862 institutions as New Mexico  State, Loui-  transportation, packing/processing  facilities, credit,
siana  State,  Rutgers,  Delaware,  and  Mississippi  and distribution.  Small farm analysis  can also lead
State. While ranked relatively high in basic research,  to interesting issues of human resource development
it is interesting  to note that Tennessee State Univer-  of the individuals involved  with small farming,  as
sity, however, ranks third lowest among 1890 insti-  well as community development for the rural areas
tutions  in  enrollment  of  B.S.  level  majors  in  impacted  with  a  high  incidence  of  small  farms.
agricultural economics  and agribusiness.  Several relatively new conceptual frameworks, such
The bulk of the research conducted in agricultural  as Alternative Agriculture, LISA (low input sustain-
economics  at  the  1890  institutions  is  applied  in  able  agriculture),  Organic  Farming,  and Farming
nature. Citation indexes are not necessarily the most  Systems,  provide  paradigms  for  analysis,  usually
appropriate methods  for evaluating  the "quality" or  within a multidisciplinary  format.
effectiveness of applied research completed at these  A research  menu limited to the analysis  of small
1890 universities. It has been argued elsewhere that  farm issues, however intriguing, seems to be overly
applied research and extension programs in agricul-  narrow  and restrictive as  1890 universities  look to
tural economics can best be evaluated by comparing  the twenty-first century. It also seems overly restric-
the research  effort in relation  to research  need, not  tive to require  or assume that the  1890  institutions
by  tabulating  the output of publications  from  re-  will conduct applied research only on issues pertain-
search (Polopolus and Beilock).  Effort can be mea-  ing to the  rural black population.  Professor  Davis
sured  by  the  number  of professional  man  years,  argued as early as 1974 that 1890 institutions might
while "need" can be defined in terms of the mission  have to broaden  their research  orientation beyond
of the 1890 institutions. In effect, is the actual or real  their  historical  association  with  black  clientele  if
applied  research  agenda  in  consonance  with  the  meaningful  research cooperation with  1862 institu-
perceived needs  and goals  of 1890  institutions?  If  tions is to be attained (Davis,  1974).
58Overall, an  appropriate research agenda  for agri-  sociation for editing and control.  The intent of this
cultural economists  at the  1890 institutions should  new professional association is to provide a profes-
include the following: (1) small farm analysis, both  sional "home" for agribusiness specialists at educa-
the farm management and marketing  components,  tional institutions across many  disciplines, as well
as  well  as the  appropriate  aspects  of Alternative  as  to  meet  the research  and  education  needs  of
Agriculture,  LISA, Organic Farming,  and Farming  private businessmen, large and small, involved with
Systems; (2)  small business analysis for rural soci-  agribusiness on a daily basis.
eties and communities; and (3) human and/or com-
munity resource development.  Faculty Retention/Faculty  Salaries
All  three  of these  research  areas  require  close  A chronic  and  serious  problem  associated  with
working  relationships  with scholars  in the  agricul-  improving the condition of teaching and research at
tural  production  sciences, business  administration,  1890 institutions has to do with disparities between
and sociology, as appropriate to the specific research  faculty  salaries  at 1862 and  1890 institutions.  The
project.  Agricultural economists  must take the ini-  AAEA  Report  on  "Opportunities  and  Status  of
tiative and leadership in developing  those interdis-  Blacks in the Agricultural Economics  Profession"
ciplinary  ties  and  relationships.  Not  only  is  it  concluded that "...  being black and employed for a
appropriate  to  develop  working  relationships  and  long time at an  1890 institution  reduces  earnings"
joint projects with other disciplines  on  1890  cam-  (Allen et al.). This report further stated that the 1890
puses, but also it could  become  extremely benefi-  universities have not been able to maintain compet-
cial  for maximum  social  product if there were  an  itive salary  levels  as professionals  receive promo-
increase  in  the  number  of joint  research  projects  tions. As increased employment opportunities occur
between  1890 and 1862 agricultural economists  on  for black agricultural  economists at 1862 universi-
an  interregional  and/or  intrastate  basis  (Davis,  ties,  in  government,  and  in  private  industry,  the
1973).  problem of recruiting and retaining well-trained ag-
ricultural economists  becomes even more serious.
Role of Agribusiness in the Undergraduate Role of Agribusiness in the Undergraduate  In addition to lower average faculty salaries at the
~~Curriculum  ^1890  institutions,  these  universities  have  suffered
Properly  trained graduates  with agribusiness  de-  historically  from  a  much  lower  level  of Federal
grees are heavily recruited on 1890 campuses. Entry  support for research  and extension  activities. Until
level salaries for these B.S. graduates are known to  the passage of the  1981 Food and Agriculture Act,
exceed salaries of many M.S. and Ph.D. level agri-  1890  institutions  did  not receive  annual  research
cultural economists (Davis, 1985). Yet the academic  appropriations  as  opposed to  grants  on  a year-to-
training of the agricultural economics  faculty  may  year basis.  Although  the Smith-Lever  Act of  1914
not be synchronous with the subject matter needs of  permitted funding for extension  services, the  1890
a strong agribusiness curriculum.  This is frankly  a  universities did not receive Federal extension funds
serious problem at both 1890 and 1862 universities.  until a modest allocation  began in  1972 (Williams
One way to deal with the problem is to reorient the  and Williamson).  Meager  and/or  conditional  Fed-
research agenda to include  nonfarm small business  eral support for research and extension functions has
management  and marketing issues, as noted above.  severely limited the attractiveness of 1890 universi-
Another method of handling the problem is to pre-  ties  as  employers  of the  best  trained  Ph.D.  level
scribe agribusiness  management  and/or marketing  agricultural economists.
training at the time of initial faculty employment.  How  can 1890 institutions  cope with this faculty
From the standpoint of professional respectability,  salary/retention  problem?  While there  is no quick
individuals  who  take  the  agribusiness  route  are  fix  on  this  tough  issue,  there  are  some  tangible
sometimes looked down upon by agricultural "econ-  approaches  to the problem. First, all faculty  should
omists."  This is rubbish.  There is room for highly  be  required  regularly  to  seek  contract  and  grant
respected professionals  carrying  the label of either  dollars to support their research agendas. University
agribusiness  economist  or  agricultural  economist.  rules  and  regulations  should  become  flexible
To  give added professional  stature to the specialty  enough to permit outside funds to augment faculty
of agribusiness,  the International  Agribusiness  As-  salaries, either for summer research or as an adden-
sociation will become legally chartered this year in  dum to regular salary rates. Second, private consult-
the state of Arkansas, with the international business  ing that relates closely to faculty research priorities
office located  at Texas  A & M University.  In  due  should  be  encouraged.  Third,  special  efforts  and
course,  the international  journal Agribusiness will  well-designed  college  or  university  development
be transferred to the International Agribusiness As-  activities should be geared toward creating  special
59endowments for undergraduate and graduate schol-  and 1890 universities. With concentration upon such
arships,  lectureships,  research  travel/support,  and  areas as small nonfarm business management, small
even endowed  chairs (or special premiums paid to  farm analysis, and human and community resource
existing faculty positions).  development, it is unlikely that the 1890 universities
will have much of a problem of duplication of effort
CONCLUDING REMARKS  with the  1862 universities.
The 1890 land grant universities are an important  As  noted by  T.  T.  Williams  in  1973,  the  1890
national resource.  American  society has benefited  institutions have specialized knowledge and experi-
greatly from their contributions toward a better ed-  ence in dealing with limited resource owners and the
ucated, better informed populace.  In a world beset  rural  poor.  The  goal  should  be  to  maximize  the
with many social and economic problems, there is a  beneficial economic and social productivity and to
full plate of challenges in need of response from the  minimize  the  problems of alienation, poverty,  and
limited number of agricultural economists  at these  crime in rural America.  The faculty and students in
1890 institutions. Sufficient communication and co-  the  1890  universities, particularly the  social scien-
ordination,  however,  must occur to avoid  duplica-  tists,  have a challenging  and important role to play
tion of research  efforts by faculty  at both the 1862  in dealing with these important issues.
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60

A Survey of Agricultural Economics Programs at 1890 Institutions: Current Status and Future Directions.&quot; Southern Agricultural Economics Association meetings,

Assessing the Performance of Agricultural Economics Departments: Concepts and Methods.&quot;

Major Trends and Issues in Higher Education Today: Implications for Improved Instruction.&quot;

Ranking of Agricultural Economics Departments by Citations.&quot;

Rural Development Research Programs of Southern 1862 and 1890 Land Grant Institutions: Characteristics, Needs, and Priorities for the 1970s.&quot;

Teaching, Research, and Extension Programs at Predominantly Black Land Grant Institutions.&quot;

The Role of the 1890 Colleges and Universities in Research on Minority Problems.&quot;

Traditional Graduate Admission Standards as Constraints to Increasing the Supply of Black Professional Agriculturalists: The Florida Experience.&quot;

CURRENT STATUS AND FUTURE DIRECTIONS OF AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS PROGRAMS AT 1890 INSTITUTIONS: DISCUSSION

CURRENT STATUS AND FUTURE DIRECTIONS OF AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS PROGRAMS AT 1890 INSTITUTIONS: DISCUSSION

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