Wisconsin Ag Connection - Boetel to Head UW-RF Ag Business Management Center

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Boetel to Head UW-RF Ag Business Management Center
Wisconsin Ag Connection - 09/12/2012

An associate professor of agricultural economics at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls has been appointed as the director of the school's newly created Center for Agricultural Business Management and Engagement. Brenda Boetel, who is also a UW-Extension agricultural marketing specialist, will help the program fulfill its mission of serving students and the agricultural community by providing and coordinating learning opportunities that develop knowledgeable leaders through teaching, research, and outreach.

The CABME was made possible by a $250,000 gift to the UW-River Falls Foundation by CHS, Inc. The new center will provide students with the ability to participate in undergraduate research examining agricultural business and production problems. They will also have the opportunity to gain practical job experience through internships, participation in professional conferences and international travel programs.

"Under Dr. Boetel's leadership, this new center will leverage the University's strengths in agriculture and business to address key regional and global issues, and will provide extraordinary opportunities for our students," said UW-River Falls Chancellor Dean Van Galen. "We are grateful to CHS, Inc. for their generous gift and continued support of UW-River Falls."

The initial activities of CABME will focus on agricultural commodity price risk and agribusiness management issues. Managing price risk will focus on evaluation of price volatility, market structure, government policy and insurance products. Agribusiness management activities will include financial and strategic management, evaluation of business profitability, transition planning, and industry organization.

CABME will also be the key campus partner in the annual Rod Nilsestuen lectureship in sustainability, conservation, and cooperatives, which was supported by a gift from the Ralph K Morris Foundation.

In addition to her background in agricultural and applied economics, Boetel has an interest in international development. She holds a Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota and focuses on the areas of grain and livestock marketing and price analysis in her role with UW Extension.

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