University of Kentucky Department of Agricultural Economics

University of Kentucky Department of Agricultural Economics The department works to provide knowledge and information that will assist in solving social and eco and Ph.D..

Agricultural Economics is the major of approximately 250 undergraduates in the UK College of Agriculture and approximately 40 graduate students evenly split between M.S. The department attracts students interested in topics such as business and entrepreneurship, farm management, natural resource economics, international and rural development, and public policy. Students learn techniques in marketi

ng, management, data analysis, and problem solving- skills which are useful on the farm, in agribusinesses and in public agencies.

We welcomed our graduate and undergraduate students at orientation last week, and today the Fall semester officially beg...
08/24/2026

We welcomed our graduate and undergraduate students at orientation last week, and today the Fall semester officially began. Wishing our faculty, staff, and students a successful, productive, and rewarding semester ahead!

We hosted the 2026 Midwest Extension Farm Management and Outlook Conference on August 12-14 at the Gatton Student Center...
08/17/2026

We hosted the 2026 Midwest Extension Farm Management and Outlook Conference on August 12-14 at the Gatton Student Center in Lexington.
Coordinated by Dr. Grant Gardner, the conference brought together Extension economists from more than a dozen land-grant universities, along with speakers from USDA and the Livestock Marketing Information Center.
Over three days, attendees explored topics critical to agricultural producers, including the macroeconomic and farm financial outlook, trade, farm policy, land values, input costs, labor markets, and the outlook for grain and livestock sectors. Lightning talks highlighted innovative Extension programming from across the region, and participants had the opportunity to experience one of Kentucky's iconic destinations, Keeneland.
Thank you to everyone who traveled to Lexington, shared their expertise, and contributed to meaningful discussions that support agriculture and rural communities across the country.

Dr. Snell moderated an expert panel, 'Collaborating Across Ag for Global Growth,' at the Midwest Agricultural Export Sum...
08/12/2026

Dr. Snell moderated an expert panel, 'Collaborating Across Ag for Global Growth,' at the Midwest Agricultural Export Summit organized by South Dakota Trade. Panelists included the Honorable Krysta Harden, President & CEO of the U.S. Dairy Export Council; Mr. Jim Sutter, President & CEO of the U.S. Soybean Export Council; Ms. Amy France, Chair of the National Sorghum Producers; Dr. Dusty Oedekoven, Chief Veterinarian of the National Pork Board; and Mr. Dan Halstrom, President & CEO of the U.S. Meat Export Federation. They shared insights on how collaboration across agricultural sectors strengthens U.S. competitiveness abroad, highlighting new export opportunities, common challenges in reaching global markets, and the importance of industry collaboration for long-term growth.

Please join us in congratulating Babatunde Fati for successfully defending his M.S. thesis titled “Manufacturer Response...
08/10/2026

Please join us in congratulating Babatunde Fati for successfully defending his M.S. thesis titled “Manufacturer Responses to Mandatory Warning Labels: Evidence From Israel's Front-Of-Package Nutrition Policy.” His thesis committee members are Dr. Shuoli Zhao (chair), Dr. Yoko Kusunose and Dr. Steve Buck.

Please join us in congratulating Raj Chaudhary for successfully defending his M.S. thesis titled “Determinants of Price ...
08/07/2026

Please join us in congratulating Raj Chaudhary for successfully defending his M.S. thesis titled “Determinants of Price in Ready-to-Drink (RTD) Alcoholic Beverages in the US: A Hedonic Analysis.” His thesis committee members are Dr. Tyler Mark (chair), Dr. Yuqing Zheng, Dr. Grant Gardner, and Dr. Buddhika Patalee.

Please join us in congratulating Muditha Dissanayaka for successfully defending his M.S. thesis titled “Hedonic Pricing ...
08/06/2026

Please join us in congratulating Muditha Dissanayaka for successfully defending his M.S. thesis titled “Hedonic Pricing of Whiskey in the United States – Evidence from Product Attributes and Labeling Characteristics.” His thesis committee members are Dr. Yuqing Zheng (chair), Dr. Tyler Mark, and Dr. Shuoli Zhao.

What a great showing at the AAEA Annual Conference in Kansas City! Our students represented UK with excellence, includin...
07/31/2026

What a great showing at the AAEA Annual Conference in Kansas City! Our students represented UK with excellence, including two undergraduate Quiz Bowl teams (six students total), a graduate student Case Study Competition team (three students), and a graduate student Extension Competition where Julio Cortarelly placed third. Faculty and graduate students also shared their research through conference presentations, highlighting the breadth and impact of our department's work. Beyond the competitions and presentations, we enjoyed reconnecting with alumni at a co-hosted reunion event and meeting with prospective candidates for our Production Economics faculty position throughout Tuesday. One of the highlights was gathering for a department group photo and celebrating the strong presence of UK AEC throughout the conference. Thank you to everyone who represented UK so well. It was a great week and a great showing by UK Ag Econ!

We are proud to announce that Dr. Shuoli Zhao has been named a Bill Gatton Foundation Distinguished Professor! This pres...
07/20/2026

We are proud to announce that Dr. Shuoli Zhao has been named a Bill Gatton Foundation Distinguished Professor! This prestigious recognition supports Dr. Zhao's innovative research focused on understanding food purchasing and consumption decisions. His project will develop a Kentucky-focused Food Demand Ecosystem platform that integrates food access, consumer purchasing behavior, nutrition programs, retail environments, and agricultural markets.

Please join us in celebrating this well-deserved honor and the impact Dr. Zhao's work will have on Kentucky and beyond.

https://uknow.uky.edu/professional-news/bill-gatton-foundation-professorships-2026-announced-advancing-kentucky-through

📢 New Resource Available for Kentucky FarmersKentucky producers continue to face economic challenges, including tight cr...
07/20/2026

📢 New Resource Available for Kentucky Farmers
Kentucky producers continue to face economic challenges, including tight crop margins, elevated input costs, and growing financial pressure across parts of the agricultural sector. To help producers make informed decisions, Extension economists from across the Southern region have developed Surviving the Farm Economy Downturn: 2026 Update, a comprehensive publication featuring 24 peer-reviewed articles and practical management strategies.
The resource covers topics including:
✅ Understanding the current economic environment
✅ Crop and livestock market outlooks
✅ Credit and risk management
✅ Farm business strategies
✅ Building long-term resilience
Learn more about this valuable resource: 🔗 https://agecon.mgcafe.uky.edu/articles/new-resource-helps-kentucky-farmers-navigate-economic-uncertainty

Address

400 Charles E Barnhart Bldg
Lexington, KY
40546

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm

Telephone

(859) 257-5762

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