About Us

Welcome to the Agricultural Economics website

Welcome to the Agricultural Economics website. As we begin a new year in 2013, we are embarking on our 100th year as a department. From our beginning in 1913 as the Department of Markets and Rural Economics under Professor T. J. Brooks' direction, we have been educating students to apply their economic training to address challenges and opportunities. Along the way, we incorporated research and outreach/extension into our mission. Today, we provide undergraduate programs in Agribusiness and Environmental Economics and Management and graduate programs in Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness Management. Learn more about the department's programs and activities as you explore this website. Thank you for visiting our site and please contact us if you have any questions.

Steven Turner
Department Head

Seminars

• Ag Econ Seminar Series

Mississippi Agricultural Economics Association Annual Meeting

• Mississippi Agricultural Economics Association Annual Meeting Brochure
• MAEA Annual Meeting Registration Form

Economic Thoughts

A recent report, What's It Worth: The Economic Value of College Majors, published by the Center on Education and the Workforce at Georgetown University, presents some revealing, but not surprising, information on the value of economic undergraduate education (cew.georgetown.edu/whatsitworth/). Across the board, whether it is agriculture, business, or social science, students who major in agricultural economics (which includes agribusiness and environmental economics), business economics, or economics have the highest or near highest median incomes. Within the Agriculture and Natural Resources category, agricultural economics majors had the second highest median income ($60,000). Only Food Science majors had higher median incomes ($65,000). Within the Business category, business economics had the highest median income ($75,000) of all majors. And among the Social Science category, economics majors had the highest median incomes ($70,000).

As an agricultural economist, I believe what we do is important to our communities, state, nation, and the world. Having a solid foundation in economic thinking enables a person to make not only informed personal decisions but also contribute to public decisions that affect the social fabric and health of our nation. The above report reinforces the idea that the market rewards those who have differentiated themselves and have skills that are in demand. Rigorous economic thinking is needed as much today as ever. The Department of Agricultural Economics at Mississippi State University has a legacy of teaching, research, and outreach that makes a difference. Please let us know if we can assist you in becoming a better economist. It is a good payoff for you and your neighbors. CLICK FOR MORE...

Contact Us

The Department of Agricultural Economics at Mississippi State University is known across the country and around the world for it's ability to provide "relevant, applied analyses to address the myriad of complex problems facing agriculture." The Department is currently involved in a number of projects with the government and with private industries covering a wide range of topics.

Quicklinks

• Groupwise
• myState
• MyCourses