Klinefelter, internationally recognized agricultural economist, dies at 76

Internationally recognized Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service economics professor, Daniel “Danny” Klinefelter, Ph.D., died at the age of 76 on July 24 in College Station.

Klinefelter, who retired in 2017 from the Department of Agricultural Economics in Texas A&M’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences after more than 32 years of service, was considered a pioneer in his field.

Growing up on a family farm in Illinois, he developed a love of agriculture that would last a lifetime and shape him both personally and professionally.

Klinefelter earned a bachelor’s degree from Southern Illinois University and master’s and doctoral degrees from the University of Illinois. He was a nationally and internationally known and respected Honors Professor at Texas A&M, as well as a Regents Fellow and AgriLife Extension Economist Emeritus.

During his long and distinguished career, Klinefelter had many significant achievements that were of benefit to Texas, U.S. and international agriculture. He was influential in developing novel educational programs and providing expertise in such diverse areas as agricultural finance, farm and ranch management, business and personnel management, and risk management.

Klinefelter also distinguished himself as a teacher, referred to off and on campus as “Dr. Agricultural Finance.” In 2009, he was named one of the top 25 most influential people in American agriculture by Top Producer magazine. 

“Danny was a pioneer in developing executive education programs for large-scale farmers and ranchers across Texas, the U.S. and eventually, the world,” said Parr Rosson, Ph.D., professor and AgriLife Extension specialist who was a longtime friend and coworker of Klinefelter’s.

Developing a pioneering program

Rosson said Klinefelter’s efforts led to the formation of The Executive Program for Agricultural Producers, TEPAP, which was nationally recognized for educating top producers in all aspects of agricultural operations. He later formed an alumni association of TEPAP graduates, pioneering the concept of peer-to-peer learning in AgriLife Extension education.

“Much of Danny’s work was supported by private sector donors in farm credit and lending, farm equipment manufacturers and market information firms,” Rosson said. “He maintained ties to these organizations well into his retirement.”

Klinefelter’s innovativeness resulted in the development of programs unique in the application of management science to agricultural business management and agricultural finance. He also formed diverse partnerships within and outside the university to create programs to the specific needs of various agricultural groups.

“Danny was a true innovator in the agricultural finance and farm management space, developing educational programs and publications that have had, and continue to have, a national and international impact on commercial production agriculture,” said Mark Waller, Ph.D., retired AgriLife Extension specialist, Department of Agricultural Economics.    

Klinefelter’s reputation and expertise led to his receiving more than 450 invitations to give presentations at industry associations and professional meetings in 40 states, Australia, Canada, China, Mexico and Ukraine. He was the author or co-author of 12 books, 17 journal articles, 71 Extension publications and numerous research reports, articles and monographs. Additionally, his program efforts also generated more than $20 million from grants, contracts and fee-based programs.  

Klinefelter received a plethora of awards and other types of recognition for his work. Among his awards were two Vice Chancellor Awards in Excellence, two AgriLife Extension Superior Service awards and a Texas A&M Association of Former Students Distinguished Faculty Achievement Award for both Extension and Teaching. He also received two American Agricultural Economics Association’s Quality of Published Communication Awards as well as the Southern Agricultural Economics Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

In addition to being named one of the top 25 most influential people in American agriculture by Top Producer magazine, in 2013 the publication also named him one of the 30 innovators who had the biggest impact on agriculture in the past 30 years — and one of seven bankers and economists to have challenged the status quo. 

Funeral services

Services will be at 11 a.m. Aug. 4 at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, 1200 Foxfire Drive, College Station. Visitation preceding the service will be from 9:30-11 a.m. Lunch will be served at noon, also at the church.