Beckman’s Policy-Focused Ag-Econ Analysis Supports Yeutter Institute’s Mission

By Geitner Simmons

Jayson Beckman has joined the Department of Agricultural Economics as an associate professor and the department’s faculty chair to the Clayton Yeutter Institute of International Trade and Finance. He previously worked as a senior economist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service, providing policy-oriented analysis on a wide range of topics including energy and biofuels, renewable energy, fertilizers, trade, and farm policy.

In his position with the Yeutter Institute, Beckman will help provide strategic direction in collaboration with Jill O’Donnell, the Haggart-Work Director of the institute, and faculty chairs from the College of Law and College of Business. Students regularly note how the institute’s multidisciplinary approach enriches the instruction.

“Understanding the impact of rapid trade policy changes on global agricultural markets and producers has never been more important,” O’Donnell said. “Dr. Beckman’s vast experience doing just that — and explaining it to policymakers — will serve the Yeutter Institute well as we continue to train the next generation of international trade scholars and professionals, and help offer farmers and the public new insights as the trading system evolves.”

Beckman said he is especially impressed by how the institute focuses its trade analysis on Nebraska’s practical needs. His range of analytical work at the USDA similarly focused on practical application, and in a graduate course he will teach he will lead doctoral students in connecting economic theory to real-world relevance and application.

At the undergraduate level, he will teach International Agricultural Trade to help students understand ag-focused global trade including policy issues such as tariffs, quotas and plant- and animal-focused sanitary regulations.