Distance Learning Program

What is the Distance Learning Program?

The ERS Distance Learning Program links ERS with minority-serving universities and their students to enhance the instruction, understanding, and discussion of food and agricultural policy.

The program…

  • Leverages ERS expertise in key policy areas
  • Introduces students and faculty to ERS researchers engaged in policy research
  • Increases students' interest in careers in agricultural economics
  • Improves the diversity of faculty and students with policy analysis expertise
  • Builds stronger relationships and collaborative networks between ERS researchers and minority-serving institutions

How does the program work?

Each semester, ERS researchers give presentations on timely and policy-relevant topics that broadly cover issues pertaining to food and agricultural policy. The presentations are delivered directly to the classrooms of participating institutions using interactive, real-time technologies. Students interact with ERS researchers by asking questions during the presentation and by giving their own presentations.

Fall 2022 Schedule of Distance Learning Seminars: (All Seminars will be given on Tuesdays from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM Eastern Time)
Date Topic Speaker

9/20/2022

 Low-Income and Low-Foodstore-Access Census Tracts, 2015–19 Alana Rhone
9/27/2022 Poultry Expected to Continue Leading Global Meat Imports as Demand Rises Matthew Miller
10/4/2022 Chinese cotton: Textiles, Imports, and Xinjiang Fred Gale and
Eric Davis
10/11/2022 USDA’s New Interactive Visualization Tool Aids Exploration of Global Agricultural Trends Adam Gerval
10/18/2022 Farm Labor, Human Capital, and Agricultural Productivity in the United States Sun Ling Wang
10/25/2022 Embargoes from Past Avian Flu Outbreaks Reduced Demand for U.S. Chicken Meat Matthew MacLachlan
11/1/2022 U.S. Hog Production: Rising Output and Changing Trends in Productivity Growth LaPorchia Collins
11/8/2022 The Food and Nutrition Assistance Landscape: Fiscal Year 2021 Annual Report (Data description) Saied Toossi

To register for a seminar, please send an email to alana.y.rhone@usda.gov, william.hahn@usda.gov or christopher.davis2@usda.gov