US Agricultural Policy
AGEC 460 – Spring 2015
School of Agriculture - Western Illinois University
INSTRUCTOR
Professor William C Bailey
Office Phone: 309/298-1522
Office: 321 Knoblauch
Office Hours: Monday 1:00-2:00; Tuesday 9:30 – 11:00;
Thursday 9:30 – 11:00
Office Fax: 309/298-2280
E-mail: WC-Bailey@WIU.EDU
CLASS TIMES AND LOCATIONS
AGEC 460 will meet on Monday and Wednesday in KH308 from 2:00 – 3:15 p.m.
COURSE DESCRIPTION AND PREREQUISITES
CATALOG DESCRIPTION: Examination of US agricultural policies, with an emphasis on current
farm legislation and regulation. Includes analysis of the impact of contemporary agricultural policies
on farming operations.
Prerequisites: AGRI220 or equivalent
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
1. Describe the history of U.S. agricultural policy, including the philosophies used to justify
government involvement in agriculture.
2. Discuss how knowledge of contemporary agricultural policy issues is useful to professionals
employed in a variety of agriculture-related occupations.
3. Outline the process, including the groups involved, used to develop agricultural and food
policy.
4. Describe the availability of resources (especially online resources) pertaining to agricultural
policy formation and analysis useful for remaining informed on important agricultural policy
issues.
EXPECTATIONS OF STUDENTS
Participation: Students are expected to regularly attend class and to actively participate in discussions.
Academic Integrity: The rules and regulations outlined in the University's policy on academic integrity
are applied to this course.
Student Rights and Responsibilities: Detailed information regarding student rights and responsibilities
can be found at http://www.wiu.edu/provost/student/. It is your responsibility to be familiar with the
posted information.
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Special Accommodations: If you need special accommodations, please feel free to stop by and discuss
your needs or contact Disability Support Services at 298-2512.
USE OF CELLULAR PHONES AND PAGERS
As a courtesy to other students and to the instructor, all cell phones and pagers should be turned off
prior to class. Continued disregard of this policy may result in ejection from the course. If, due to
medical or public safety concerns, a student needs an exception to this policy he/she should inform the
instructor prior to class. Cell phones are not to be used under any circumstances on exams. Texting is
not allowed during class and repeated violations will lead to dismissal from the course with an
assigned grade of F.
IMPORTANT DATES
Feb 12 – Abraham Lincoln Birthday
Mar 16 – 20 – Spring Break
May 11, 3:00 PM – Final Exam
GRADING POLICY
The course grade will be based on the following factors, with weightings as indicated:
Exam I
25 %
Comprehensive Final Exam 40 %
Quizzes
10 %
Homework
25 %
Total
100%
QUIZZES
The instructor reserves the right to use both announced and unannounced quizzes. Only excused
absences will be allowed to make up quizzes. Unless there is an emergency, only absences, approved
in advance, will be excused. It is at the discretion of the instructor as to whether an absence is excused
or unexcused.
HOMEWORK
Homework will focus on understanding key concepts with a focus on problem solving. Students are
strongly encouraged to work on their own assignment before checking their answers with other
students. Assignments are due at the beginning of class. Late assignments will be docked 10% per
day. Assignments will not be accepted after the problem has been discussed in class.
EXAMS
There will be one exam during the semester and one final exam. Exams will consist mostly of short
answers and problem solving. The final will be comprehensive. Makeup exams will be given only in
extreme situations.
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COURSE OUTLINE
Jan 20 – Week 1 – What is agricultural public policy?
Class 1 – Introduction, the policy setting
Jan 26 – Week 2 – How is the past relevant to today's policy issues? Watch “The Dust Bowl”
Class 1 – “The Dust Bowl 1”
Class 2 – “The Dust Bowl 2”
Feb 2 – Week 3 – Broad farm policy
Class 1 – The farm problem
Class 2 – Domestic farm policy, including early farm bills, parity
Feb 9 – Week 4 – Continued
Class 1 – Farm bills 1949 – 1980
Class 2 – Farm bills 1980 – today
Feb 16 – Week 5- What are today's key farm problems and what is the “farm bill”?
Class 1 – Current farm legislation
Class 2 – (continued)
Feb 23 – Week 6 – What is current domestic farm policy and how does it affect production
agriculture?
Class 1 – The policy and regulatory process
Class 2 – Cont. – including interest groups – Agri-Pulse
Mar 2 – Week 7 –
Class 1 – Consumer food concerns, food policies and programs
Class 2 – Outside speaker
Mar 9 – Week 8 –
Class 1 - Review
Class 2 – Exam
Mar 16 – Spring Break
Mar 23 – Week 9 – What are the policy issues related to world hunger and sustainable agriculture?
Class 1 – Farm Bill discussion (relevant titles), environmental regulations
Class 2 – Cont.
Mar 30 – Week 10 – What are the key international policy issues for US agriculture?
Class 1 – Key international institutions, terms and tools
Class 2 – (continued)
April 6 – Week 11 – Continued
Class 1 – US agriculture’s relation with the world economy
Class 2 – Current trade issues
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April 13 – Week 12 – What are other key policy issues affecting agriculture and rural America?
(Rural, natural resources/environment, general economy, immigration, agribusiness)
Class 1 – Resource problems and policies
Class 2 – Agriculture’s role in the general economy; immigration
April 20 – Week 13 – Continued
Class 1 – Transportation
Class 2 – Outside speaker
April 27 – Week 14 – What are future agricultural policy issues in the US?
May 4 – Week 15 – Review
May 5 – Final Exam
Please be advised that this syllabus is tentative. All classes are different and we may or may not be
able to address all of the content areas or stick with the anticipated number of exams. Any deviations
from the syllabus will be announced as soon as possible.
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