Contact: Dr. Gene Nelson, (979) 845-2116,NelsonG@tamu.edu
COLLEGE STATION - Dr. Ronald D. Knutson, former director of the Agricultural and Food Policy Center and professor emeritus of agricultural economics at Texas A&M University, was recognized recently by the American Agricultural Economics Association with a Fellow Award the most prestigious recognition given by the association.
The AAEA’s Fellow award recognizes continuous contribution to agricultural economics through research, teaching, extension, administration, or business. Knutson, along with five others, received the designation at the annual meetings held in Montreal and Quebec, Canada. Knutson also was presented the Eagle Award from the AAEA Foundation. This recognition is based on the contributions of grateful colleagues and friends to the funding of AAEA Foundation projects.
In conferring the Fellows award, the association emphasized Knutson’s national leadership in developing public policy education programs and input into the policy decision process.
From his arrival at Texas A&M University in 1975, Knutson has led the development of nationally-distributed public policy education materials for every farm bill through the 1996 bill. These materials were utilized by Extension educators throughout the United States.
Many of the issues associated with farm policy have been controversial and even intensely emotional.
“Dr. Knutson was never deterred from analyzing, discussing and providing insights on such issues,” said J.B. Penn, under secretary of Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services for the U.S. Department of Agriculture. “This course, which demanded the utmost intensity, commitment and personal professional risk, characterized Dr. Knutson’s career.”
Knutson led the formation of the Agricultural and Food Policy Center at Texas A&M. The center responds to requests from the agriculture committees of both the U.S. House and. Senate for assistance in evaluating the farm level impacts of changes in policy and programs.
Knutson is the lead author of the most widely accepted undergraduate policy textbook, “Agricultural and Food Policy,” first published in 1981 and currently in its fifth edition.
He also led the organization of the Agricultural and Natural Resource Policy Congressional Intern Program. The program places 25 students in a Congressional office for a semester, allowing students to witness policy-making procedures.
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