Faculty and Staff

Education:
Ph.D., University of Minnesota
M.A., University of Kentucky
B.A., Moorhead State University

Brenda Boetel's teaching program and extension research provides leadership in educational programming for problems facing the livestock/meat and corn/soybean industries. She teaches classes at UWRF on price risk management, has authored articles on livestock issues and been interviewed by high impact outlets, including the US Farm Report.

Education:
Ph.D., University of Kentucky, Agricultural Economics (2017)
M.S., University of Kentucky, Economics (2014)
M.B.A., University of Louisville (2011)
B.A., Hanover College, Economics and Mathematics,  (2010)

Courses Taught:
AGEC 365: Agricultural Financial Management
AGEC 465: Advanced Agricultural Finance
AGEC 205: Agricultural Business Accounting

Research Interests:
Dr. Burney’s research interests are twofold: (a) factors impacting the agricultural industry in the U.S. and strategies for improving farm profitability in an ever-changing environment, and (b) the economics of low-income households, particularly those who are facing food insecurity and are eligible to participate in federal food and nutrition assistance programs. Recent work has included developing extension resources for Midwestern farmers, including financial tools for hemp growers and feasibility analyses of using robotic milking on dairy farms. Notable published work on the economics of low-income households has explored the connection between two large federal assistance programs for low-income households, Medicaid and SNAP (formerly known as the Food Stamp Program), and how they mediate household food insecurity and poverty, and has evaluated the impact of state and local grocery taxes (or food taxes) on household food insecurity and on food spending patterns. Dr. Burney has also conducted academic research on the impacts of COVID-19 on agricultural labor markets. 

Professional Activities:
Adviser, Agricultural Business and Marketing Society (ABMS) student organization

Publications:

• Burney, S., Boehm, R., and Rigoberto Lopez. 2021. “The Impact of the 2014 Medicaid Expansion on SNAP Participation.” Food Policy, 101(c). 
• Zheng, Y., Zhao, J., Buck, S., Burney, S., Kaiser, H. M. Wilson, N.L. 2021. “Putting grocery food taxes on the table: Evidence for food security policy-makers.” Food Policy, 101. 
• Pena-Levano, L., Burney, S., Adams, C. (2020). Labor Disruptions Caused by COVID-19 in the U.S. Agriculture and Non-Farm Industries. Choices: The Magazine of Food, Farm, and Resource Issues, 35(3). 
•  Zheng, Y., Dong, D., Burney, S., Kaiser, H. (2019). Eat at Home or Away from Home? The Role of Grocery and Restaurant Food Sales Taxes. Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, 44(1): 98-116.  
• Burney, S. (2018). In-Kind Benefits and Household Behavior: The Impact of SNAP on Food-Away-From-Home Consumption. 

Education:
Ph.D., Oklahoma State University (2008)
M.S., Oklahoma State University (2001)
B.S., East Central University, Oklahoma (1997)

Research Interests: Profitability of small grain for small scale farmers

Courses Taught:
AGEC 101 Economics and Management in Agriculture
AGEC 230 Introduction to Agriculture Economics
AGEC 320 Statistical Methods
AGEC 360 Farm Management
AGEC 361 Small Agribusiness Management
AGEC 450 Introduction to Natural Resources Economics
AFES 310 Agricultural Human Resources Management 

Professional Activities:
Southern Agricultural Economics Association (member)
Agricultural & Applied Economics Association (member)
Teaching, Learning and Communication section of AAEA (past-chair, member)

Advising and Service:
Agribusiness Quiz Bowl Team (Coach)
Collegiate Farm Bureau (Advisor)
Sigma Alpha-Beta Zeta (Advisor)
CAFES Internship Faculty Coordinator 

Publications:
Jungbluth, A., S. Howry, E. Ratliff. 2021. “Evaluating the Profitability of a Small Grain Enterprise and a Novel Pull Behind Combine for Small Scale Farming in Western Wisconsin”. Annual Agricultural & Applied Economics Association Meetings, Austin, TX.

Howry, S., E. Ratliff. 2021. “Teaching Enterprise Budgets: Case Using Small Pull Behind Harvester for Small Scale Farming”. Annual Agricultural & Applied Economics Association Meetings, Austin, TX.

Dietz, C., S. Howry, A. Monroe. 2019. “Plot Day Effects on Purchasing Decisions.” Annual Southern Agricultural Economics Association Meetings, Birmingham, Alabama.

Hovel, N., S. Payne, S. Howry, M. Digman. 2019. “High School Outreach Curriculum Development: Introducing High School Students to Various Aspects of Farming through an Agricultural Camp.” Annual Southern Agricultural Economics Association Meetings, Birmingham, Alabama.

Smith, K. S. Howry, A. Monroe. 2018. “Economic Efficiency of Fungicide Effectiveness on Established Cranberry Stands.” Annual Southern Agricultural Economics Association Meetings, Jacksonville, Florida.

Education:
Ph.D., Purdue University - Agricultural Economics
M.S., Purdue University - Agricultural Economics
B.A., Saint Mary's College (Notre Dame) - Economics/History

Courses Taught:
AGEC 205 Agricultural Accounting
AGEC 250 World Food and Populations
AGEC 330 Agricultural Production and Optimization
AGEC 350 Agricultural Product Marketing
AGEC 355 Agricultural Markets and Pricing
AGEC 440 Agricultural Policy

Advising and Service:
Delta Theta Sigma (Co-Adviser)
North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture - Ag Business (Co-Adviser)
UWRF Calendar Committee (Chair)
UWRF Faculty Senate (Member)

Education:
Ph.D., University of Minnesota
M.B.A., University of Pennsylvania/Wharton School
Coursework in Public Policy, Harvard University/John F. Kennedy School of Government
B.S., University of Michigan.