University of Minnesota. Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics

Farm economics first appeared as a collegiate-level course in the University’s College of Agriculture 1896-1897 Catalogue. The 1898-1899 College of Agriculture Catalogue listed farm economics under the Agriculture Course of Study with the following description, “Farm management, rotation, weeds, labor, prices, purchases and sales, farm finances, the permanent farm investment, agricultural pedagogics.” Farm economics does not appear in later catalogues, but agricultural economics appeared under the Agriculture Course of Study in the College of Agriculture 1905-1906 Catalogue.

The December 14, 1911, University Board of Regents meeting minutes noted, “On the recommendation of the President it was voted to establish in the Department of Agriculture a Research Bureau in Agricultural Economics and to appoint as director of this Bureau, beginning February 1, 1912, Assistant Professor C.W. Thompson.” The 1911-1912 President’s Report explained that the Bureau would “undertake special studies and issue reports concerning the marketing of different commodities” and study marketing problems, credit for farmers, land titles, and related issues in the Minnesota agricultural community.

The Research Bureau in Agricultural Economics also was referred to as the Division of Research in Agricultural Economics in University publications of the time.

During the 1910s, courses in Agricultural Economics were taught either through the College of Agriculture or the College of Science, Literature and the Arts. The seminars and other courses encompassed the fundamentals of economics as they were applied to agricultural management with special attention to questions concerning prices, credit, and land tenancy.

At their June 17, 1920, meeting, the Board of Regents voted to change the name of the Division of Research in Agricultural Economics to the Division of Agricultural Economics. The change was made on the recommendation of the Dean of the Department of Agriculture. Agricultural Economics courses in the 1920s included agricultural statistics, farm finance, marketing of farm products, economics of consumption, and land tenure.

Agricultural Economics underwent two names changes between 1928 and 1930, both approved by the Board of Regents. At the Regents April 5, 1928, meeting, they “voted to authorize the reorganization of the Division of Agricultural Economics and the Division of Farm Management, Agronomy and Plant Genetics to the Division of Farm Management and Agricultural Economics and the Division of Agronomy and Plant Genetics.” At their April 25-26, 1930, meeting, the Regents voted to change the name of Department of Farm Management and Agricultural Economics to the Department of Agricultural Economics.

The 1928-1930 President’s Report listed a sample of research projects in the Division of Agricultural Economics, including studies in the cost of producing farm products, prices of farm products, marketing of farm products, taxation affecting agriculture, land valuation, and agricultural credit.

During subsequent decades, students in Agricultural Economics had opportunities to specialize in fields such as farm management, marketing, agricultural prices, and farm finance.

In July 1970, the Department of Agricultural Economics became the Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics. A major in Agricultural and Applied Economics was described as suited to students “who plan to work in areas of agricultural production or processing where a rather extensive knowledge of the technical phases of the work is involved.”

In the 1990s, the Department saw a continuation of a trend started in the 1960s, namely a diversification into subject matter areas not part of traditional agricultural economics. In the research area, work was expanded in the fields of consumer and consumption economics, economics of tourism and recreation, and environmental economics.

At their May 11, 1995, meeting, the Board of Regents Educational Planning and Policy Committee proposed approval of a name change from the Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics to the Department of Applied Economics. According to the meeting minutes, one regent raised concerns from the community that the place of the College of Agriculture was being diminished by the proposed name change while another regent responded that the Dean of the College of Agriculture consulted extensively on this issue and the change put into context the work being done in the department. At their May 12, 1995, meeting, the Board of Regents voted to approve the name change recommendation.

The Department of Applied Economics organized its teaching, research, and outreach programs in four broad areas: environmental and resource economics; food systems; growth, development, and trade; and public sector economics.

From the guide to the Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics records, 1904-1984, (bulk 1925-1960), (University of Minnesota Libraries. University of Minnesota Archives [uarc])