THE ECONOMICS
of agriculture
Farmer. Rancher. Ag teacher. Veterinarian. Extension agent. Not only are these just a few of the career opportunities that a degree in agriculture can lead to, they are fairly common across the country. One job title that isn’t as top of mind but is still critical to the industry is that of agricultural economist. It’s a role that Cameron alumnus Stan Bevers held for almost three decades before retiring in 2016. After earning a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Education in 1982 (the first year that degree program was offered), Bevers spent five years as a vocational agriculture instructor at Carmen-Dacoma High School in Carmen, Oklahoma. After receiving a Master of Science degree in Agricultural Economics at Texas A&M University in 1989, he served as an Extension economist with the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, retiring as professor and Extension economist. As you might expect, an agriculture economist deals with the money end of the industry, including balance sheets, profit and loss statements, financial projects on cattle and other livestock, agronomy and more. Bevers says it’s a profession that is becoming more critical to the ag industry. “Ag economists are needed more and more,” he explains. “Cattle prices are dropping like a rock. Although people see that, they don’t recognize the impact on the economy because 95 percent of the population only sees prices at the grocery stores and restaurants. They think the price of beef is high, yet they don’t see the low prices that cattle producers are currently experiencing. There are a lot of middlemen in between the producer and the end user.” Another largely unknown fact is that one agriculture producer provides enough food substance for 120 people annually. 20
CAMERON UNIVERSITY
Yet many of those consumers discount the importance of agriculture, choosing to focus on what Bevers refers to as “cow farts.”
“If you want to reduce greenhouse emissions, you quit driving your car and stop heating and air conditioning your home,” he says. “Those activities account for more than 50 percent of greenhouse gas emissions, while cows account for less than three percent.”
