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 2019 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
2/26/2019 Farm Labor Markets in U.S. and Mexico Pose Challenges for U.S. Agriculture Steven Zahniser and Thomas Hertz
3/5/2019 Rural America at a Glance, 2018 Edition John Pender
3/12/2019 Changes in U.S. Farm Income Carrie Litkowski
3/19/2019 Major Changes in Export Flows over Last Decade Show U.S. Is Losing Market Share in Global Grain Trade Olga Liefert
3/26/2019 USDA School Meal Programs: How and Why the Cost of Food Purchases Varies Across Locales Michael Ollinger
4/2/2019 New U.S. Food Expenditure Estimates Find Food-Away-From-Home Spending Is Higher Than Previous Estimates Howard Elitzak
4/9/2019 Insights into U.S. Cost of Production William McBride
4/16/2019 Adult Eating and Health Patterns: Evidence from 2014-2016 Eating & Health Module of the American Time Use Survey Eliana Zeballos
4/23/2019 Growth in Quick-Service Restaurants Outpaced Full-Service Restaurants in Most U.S. Counties Patrick McLaughlin

To register for a seminar, please send an email to chrisdavis@ers.usda.gov.

For more information contact: Christopher G. Davis