E-NEWSLETTER / SPECIAL EDITION
VOLUME 5, ISSUE 12
THE TALKING POINT
BIOGRAPHY
Agricultural Research
Carrying the Water for U.S. Competitiveness
By Darren Hudson
Darren Hudson is a professor and Larry
Combest Agricultural Competitiveness
Chair in Texas Tech University’s
Department of Agricultural & Applied
Economics. He is also director of the
university’s Cotton Economics Research
Institute. The program coordinates
economic research activities on all
aspects of cotton research within Texas
Tech and other research units
throughout the United States and other
countries. Hudson, an award-winning
agricultural economist, joined Tech in
2008 from Mississippi State University.
He earned a bachelor’s degree in
agricultural business and economics
from West Texas State University. His
master’s and doctorate degrees in
agricultural economics are from Texas
Tech.
NOTED
CASNR is a leader in teaching/
learning, research, and engagement
programs. CASNR activities and
programs have steadily expanded
during the past decade.
ABOUT THE COLLEGE
 1,437 undergraduates
 348 graduate students
 75 tenured/tenure-track faculty
 $37 million total endowment
 15 endowed professorships and
chairs
 $1.5 million in scholarship awards
 38 percent of students receiving
scholarships
 Over $14 million in research grants
 85 nat’l championship teams
UPDATE
Strategic Vision
CASNR continues to work toward
becoming a national leader in
Less than 2 percent of the American population lives or works on a farm. But, supplying input to
those farms, processing the product, transportation, and retailing of food and fiber products
collectively accounts for nearly 20 percent of U.S. employment and economic output. On the
Texas High Plains, that percentage is much higher – about 40 percent. And, around the globe,
agriculture forms the foundation for the economies of many nations.
Food and fiber production represents a cultural fabric that has bound together communities
and fostered economic development across the country and the world. Rural communities have
long depended on agriculture as the lifeblood that funded schools and communities and
provided employment for much of the rural population. The fact is, our present position is the
result of many, many years of agricultural research.
Food Availability. Beginning in earnest in the 1800s, agricultural research focused on increasing
the amount of product produced per farmer through breeding, mechanization, and chemical
applications. These developments reduced the need for labor on the farm, thereby freeing up
labor for industrial development. The progress has been such that a farmer typically fed 4 to 5
people in the 1800s, and now a typical U.S. farmer feeds around 150 people.
Along with the increase in food availability, real food prices have declined. Coupled with
increasing real incomes from industrial development, the United States went from spending
almost 50 percent of its income on food in the early 1900s to less than 10 percent today. That
means more money can be spent on education, housing, entertainment, etc. And, most all of
this decline can be attributed to agricultural research.
Technological Development. U.S. farmers are productive as a result of past research. But,
they’re facing increasing competition from foreign producers who face lower labor, chemical
and other costs. We will not have abundant, cheap labor in the United States again. So,
technological development is the primary means of maintaining competitiveness.
Why should we care? If foreign food is cheaper, why not just import it? Well, first and most
obvious, food security for this country is a vital element of national security. But, as already
noted, agriculture forms a foundation for nearly 20 percent of U.S. economic output. Losing
that production would both undercut our security, as well as our sources of employment and
income.
Global Population. Put simply, publicly funded research has been the cornerstone of
agricultural development. Most studies of rates of return to agricultural research generally
indicate a return of between 30 to 70 percent. That is amazing considering the rates of return of
many other types of research. But, agriculture has become a victim of its own success. Because
food is available, cheap and safe, the American public takes for granted that we will continue to
have our food without continuing to focus on agricultural research.
Out of sight, out of mind… But, the fact is that global population continues to expand. Food
production must continue to expand if we are to meet the needs of a growing population. And,
with growing incomes in China and other parts of the world, they’ll be demanding higher valued
food products, increasing prices at home.
Large Dividends. Tighter budgets at the government level, changing short-term priorities at
universities and government agencies, and the comfort level of the American public with
current food production levels have all conspired to pressure future funding levels.
Unfortunately, there are significant time lags, often as much as 30 years, between investments
in basic agricultural research and the ultimate outcomes in the private sector. So, decisions we
teaching/learning, research, and
engagement programs. It is currently
operating under the Strategic Plan for
the 2006-2010 time-period; with
periodic revision of goals, objective,
and strategies as deemed necessary by
the CASNR Strategic Planning and
Visioning Committee.
make today will affect both short-term research priorities and investments, as well as long-term
agricultural productivity and competitiveness.
Clearly, past research expenditures have paid large dividends for society in terms of food
supply, price and safety. Future competitiveness of U.S. food production hinges on
technological advances from research. Investing in the future of U.S. agriculture is a sound,
profitable decision. Agricultural research cannot become a relic of the past if we hope to sustain
our economy and nation in the future.
Administrative Council
DR. JOHN BURNS
Dean
john.burns@ttu.edu
DR. STEVE FRAZE
Agricultural Education
& Communications
steven.fraze@ttu.edu
DR. NORMAN HOPPER
Executive Associate Dean
for Academic & Student Programs
n.hopper@ttu.edu
DR. KEVIN POND
Animal & Food Sciences
kevin.pond@ttu.edu
DR. ALON KVASHNY
Landscape Architecture
alon.kvashny@ttu.edu
DR. SUKANT MISRA
Associate Dean for Research
sukant.misra@ttu.edu
DR. EDUARDO SEGARRA
Agricultural & Applied Economics
eduardo.segarra@ttu.edu
DR. PHILIP GIPSON
Natural Resources Management
philip.gipson@ttu.edu
College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources
PO Box 42123
Lubbock, Texas 79409-2123
806.742.2808 phone
806.742.2836 fax
norman.martin@ttu.edu
DR. THOMAS THOMPSON
Plant & Soil Science
thomas.thompson@ttu.edu
DR. CINDY AKERS
Student Services Center
cindy.akers@ttu.edu
JANE PIERCY
Development & Alumni Relations
jane.piercy@ttu.edu
NORMAN MARTIN
Marketing & Communications
norman.martin@ttu.edu