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.

Spring 2017 Schedule of Distance Learning Seminars: (All Seminars will be given on Tuesdays from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM Eastern Standard Time)
Date Topic Speaker
2/14/2017 Household Food Security in the United States in 2015 Alisha Coleman-Jensen
2/21/2017 The Potential Impact of Changes in Immigration Policy on U.S. Agriculture and the Market for Hired Farm Labor: A Simulation Analysis Steven Zahniser and Thomas Hertz
2/28/2017 The Stimulus Act of 2009 and Its Effect on Food-At-Home Spending by SNAP Participants Charlotte Tuttle
3/7/2017 WIC Household Food Purchases Using WIC Benefits or Paying Out of Pocket: A Case Study of Cold Cereal Purchases Diansheng Dong and Haden Stewart
3/28/2017 Growth of U.S. Dairy Exports Jerry Cessna
4/4/2017 USDA Microloans for Farmers: Participation Patterns and Effects of Outreach Sarah Tulman
4/11/2017 U.S. Food Commodity Availability by Food Source, 1994-2008 Biing-Hwan Lin and Tobenna Anekwe
4/18/2017 America's Diverse Family Farms, 2016 Edition Robert Hoppe

To register for a seminar, please send an email Christopher G. Davis.