Documents & Presentations by Eric Atkinson
| Title | Date | Downloads |
|---|---|---|
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What Counts as a Farm? Bringing Real-World Conditions into Agricultural Policy | Clearing the Air
What does it actually mean when policymakers say a proposal will affect "farmers"? The answer depends in part on which farms are being counted. In this episode of Clearing the Air on Agricultural Policy, Bart Fischer, co-director of the Agricultural and Food Policy Center (AFPC) at Texas A&M University, explains how farm-level analysis helps Congress and USDA understand the financial conditions facing working farms and the potential consequences of policy decisions. |
September 10, 2026 | |
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How Clear, Timely Science Communication Supports Effective Agricultural Policy | Clearing the Air
Effective agricultural policy depends on credible facts and a clear understanding of scientific reality. But research can contribute to policy decisions only when its findings are communicated clearly, at the right level of detail, and while the issue is still under consideration. |
August 7, 2026 | |
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Fertilizer Markets, China Trade & Prevent Plant: What the Data Shows | Clearing the Air
Sandro Steinbach and Shawn Arita of North Dakota State University's Agricultural Risk Policy Center joined Eric Atkinson, Jennifer Ifft, and Mark Edelman for a full accounting of what the data shows on questions of supply shocks, trade relatiations, and agricultural policy -- and how that analysis is actually reaching USDA and Congress. |
July 2, 2026 | |
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How Agricultural Policy Actually Gets Made | Clearing the Air
The Flinchbaugh Center sat down with Seth Meyer, Director of FAPRI at the University of Missouri and former USDA Chief Economist, for a conversation that pulled back the curtain on how policy actually gets made — the assumptions, data vulnerabilities, and behind-the-scenes dynamics that shape outcomes long before legislation reaches a floor vote. |
June 11, 2026 | |
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Farm Bill 2026: Why the Process Has Changed and What It Means | Clearing the Air
The Farm Bill isn't just late. The process for writing it has fundamentally changed — and that shift has consequences for every American. |
April 27, 2026 | |
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The Role of Biofuels and Agricultural Policy | Clearing the Air
Love it, like it, or hate it, the financial health of many U.S. crop farms is tied to biofuels. With 45Z, sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), and even talk of maritime fuels, that connection may only deepen. |
March 30, 2026 | |
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21st Century Production Ag Commission Revisited | Clearing the Air
How can agricultural policy support a secure and affordable food supply and prosperous rural communities while navigating the wide range of interests that shape food and agriculture? In the late 1990s, the Commission on 21st Century Production Agriculture was convened to take on exactly that task. |
February 16, 2026 | |
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USDA Chief Economist Perspectives on Ag Policy | Clearing the Air
Drawing on his experience as USDA’s chief economist, Dr. Joe Glauber reflects on navigating political pressures, delivering fact‑based analysis to policymakers, and managing the tension between economic realities and political agendas. |
January 7, 2026 | |
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Flinchbaugh Economic Indicators (Thumbs Up or Thumbs Down on the Economy) | Clearing the Air
In the spirit of Dr. Barry Flinchbaugh, Jenny Ifft, Brad Lubben, & Mark Edelman bring you honest, informed analysis—thumbs up or thumbs down—on where the economy is headed and what it means for rural America. |
October 10, 2025 | |
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The Flinchbaugh Focus (Thumbs Up or Thumbs Down on the Economy) | Clearing the Air
In our very first episode, we take a hard look at current U.S. economic indicators—GDP, unemployment, and more—with a panel of experts who knew Dr. Barry Flinchbaugh personally and professionally. |
May 28, 2025 |