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Bills, Nelson Lawrence
Cornell Emeritus Professor
Cornell Faculty Member
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Positions
- Prof Emeritus, Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management (AEM), College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS)
Nelson Bills joined the Cornell faculty in 1985 after an 18-year career with the USDAÕs Economic Research Service. He conducts research and extension programs on a variety of subjects related to rural land use and public policy. A particular interest is land and water issues encountered in farm and food production. His research program focuses on state and local farmland protection programs, property taxation, farmland markets and values, and regional economic analysis. Current projects also deal with prospects for agricultural-based economic development, landscape management concerns in the Northeastern U.S., and assessment of behaviors in residential property markets.
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Research
geographic focus
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country
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domestic geographical region
submitted impact statement
Publications
individual publications
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academic article
- Mapping potential foodsheds in New York State by food group: an approach for prioritizing which foods to grow locally. Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems. 27:125-137. 2012
- An assessment of the English Farm Woodland Premium Scheme and its ability to promote and sustain environmental improvements . Journal of Sustainable Forestry. 30:441-458. 2011
- Residential Preferences: What’s Terrorism Got to Do with It?. Rural Sociology. 75:426-454. 2010
- Foodshed analysis and its relevance to sustainability. Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems. 24:1-7. 2008
- Do Landowners Respond to Land Retirement Incentives? Evidence from the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program. Land Economics. 84:17-30. 2008
- Fifty Years of Farmland Protection Legislation in the Northeast: Persistent Issues and Emergent Research Opportunities. Agricultural and Resource Economics Review. 36:165-173. 2007
- The Changing Nature of Housing Markets in Upstate New York. Housing and Society. 34:65-75. 2007
- Sustaining Multifunctional Agricultural Landscapes: Comparing Stakeholder Perspectives in New York (US) and England (UK). Land Use Policy. 22:313-321. 2005
- Using Voluntary Approaches to Reduce Environmental Damages: Evidence from a Survey of New York Farms. Japan Journal of Rural Economics. 5:35-50. 2003
- Environmental and Economic Optimization of Dairy Manure Management: A Mathematical Programming Approach. Agronomy Journal. 94:757-766. 2002
- Will Voluntary and Educational Programs Meet Environmental Objectives? Evidence from a Survey of New York: Dairy Farms. Review of Agricultural Economics. 23:473-491. 2001
- Information Strategies for Agricultural Exporters. International Food and Agribusiness Management Review. 1:25-40. 1998
- The P’s of Farmland Protection. Policy Issues in Rural Land Use. 10. 1997
- Property Rights and Agro-Environmental Policy Alternatives. Policy Issues in Rural Land Use. 7. 1994
- Urban Influences on Farmland Use in New York State. Population Research and Policy Review. 13:179-194. 1994
- Participation in the Conservation Reserve Program: Implications of the New York Experience. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation. 44:512-516. 1989
- A Model to Explain Participation in New York's Agricultural Districts and Use-Value Assessment Program. Northeastern Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics. 17:167-177. 1988
- Soil Conservation and Tax Policy. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation. 41:225-228. 1986
- Soil Erosivity and Crop Yield: Implications of a Land Retirement Program for New York Cropland. Northeastern Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics. 14:57-64. 1985
- An Evaluation of Administrative Changes in New York's Farmland Use-Value Assessment Program. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation. 39:53-57. 1984
- An Improved Soil Erosion Classification for Conservation Policy. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation. 39:261-266. 1984
- Variability of New York's Agricultural Use Values and its Implications for Policy. Northeastern Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics. 13:254-263. 1984
- Impact of New Procedures for Estimating Agricultural Use Values in New York. Journal of the Northeastern Agricultural Economics Council. X:63-70. 1981
- Estimating Agricultural Use Values in New York State: Reply. Land Economics. 55:408-410. 1979
- Estimating Farmland Use-Values in New York State. Land Economics. 54:50-63. 1978
- Financial Options Used for Financing Selected Public Investments in Three Washington State Communities, 1930-1965. Southern Journal of Agricultural Economics. 4. 1972
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article
- Do Nursery and Landscape Industries in the Northeast benefit from Urban Agglomeration Economies?. Nursery Lines. 37. 2010
- Do Residential Preferences Foster Sprawl in Upstate New York? 2007
- What are the Plans of Owners of Idle Agricultural Land in NYS? 2007
- Fruit Consumption, Dietary Guidelines and Agricultural Production in New York State –Implications For Local Food Economies 2003
- Vegetable Consumption, Dietary Guidelines and Agricultural Production in New York State –Implications For Local Food Economies 2003
- 1999 Agricultural Economics Outlook: Tougher Water Quality Regs Will Force all Livestock and Poultry Farms Into Nutrient and Waste Plans by 2008 1999
- 1998 Agricultural Economics Outlook: "Environmental Funding Beefed Up" 1998
- Environment: Budget Tempers Policy 1996
- Federal Agricultural Environmental Legislative Update 1996
- Environment: Green Payments Could Benefit Northeast 1995
- Land Use in Rural New York - Agriculture or Development? 1990
- 1985 Reserve Program is Lagging - Northeast's Enrollment is Way Behind 1989
- The Buyout in New York: What Happened? 1988
- Retention of Farmland in Agriculture 1984
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book
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chapter
- Agribusiness Contributions and Inter-Industry Linkages in the New York State Economy. Yearbooks of Agricultural University of Poznan, Economy Series. 2007
- Trends in Land Use. New York State in the 21st Century. 15. 1999
- Urban Agriculture in the United States. Farmland Use in Suburban Areas in the Developed Societies. 293-314. 1994
- Nonfarm Rural Population Growth and Farmland Use in New York. Policy Issues in Rural Land Use. 1993
- Population Deconcentration and Farmland Use in New York. Policy Issues in Rural Land Use. 1993
- New York's Experience in Farmland Retention Through Agricultural Districts and Use-Value Assessment. Sustaining Agriculture Near Cities. 231-250. 1987
- An Improved Soil Erosion Classification: Update, Comparison, and Extension. Soil Conservation-Assessing the National Resources Inventory. 1986
- An Economic Perspective of Land Use. Economics, Ethics, Ecology: Roots of Productive Conservation. 1981
- Land and Water Base: Historical Overview and Current Inventory. Farm Structure-A Historical Perspective on Changes in the Number and Size of Farms. 1980
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conference paper
- Geospatial Analysis and Hedonic Price Modeling for Farmland Property Valuation. Annual Meetings, Taiwan Agricultural Economics Society. 2008
- Implicit Prices for Open Space in Urban, Suburban, and Rural Areas. Annual meetings of the American Economic Association. 2008
- Urban Agglomeration Economies In The U.S. Greenhouse and Nursery Production. Northeastern Agricultural and Resource Economics Association Annual Meeting. 2008
- Agri-environmental Programs in the US and the EU: Lessons from Germany and New York State. Conference on the Science and Education of Land Use: a Transatlantic, Multidisciplinary and Comparative Approach, cosponsored by the Association for European Life Sciences Universities and the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges. 2007
- Chapter 9-Agriculture and the Environment. Agribusiness Economic Outlook Conference. 2007
- Systemic Risk and Spatial Dependence of Specialty Crop Production: Implications for Whole-Farm Revenue Insurance. North American Meetings of the Regional Science Association International. 2007
- Assessing the Impact of Open Space on Residential Property Values in Urban, Suburban and Rural Areas: a Hedonic Pricing Study of Upstate New York. Northeastern Agricultural and Resource Economics Association. 2006
- Historical and Spatial Analysis of High-Value Crop Production in the US. North American Meetings of the Regional Science Association International. 28. 2006
- Chapter 11-Agriculture and the Environment. Agribusiness Economic Outlook Conference. 2005
- Chapter 11-Agriculture and the Environment. Agribusiness Economic Outlook Conference. 2004
- Incentives and Enrollment in the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP): An Approach Using Actual Enrollment and Geographic Information Systems. American Agricultural Economics Association. 2004
- Regional Trade Agreements: Impacts on Trade of Horticultural Products and Local Producers. Acta Hort. 421-428. 2004
- Regional Trade Agreements: Impacts on Trade of Horticultural Products and Local Producers. Proc. XVth IS on Hort Econ & Manag. 421-428. 2004
- The Importance of Spatial Data in Modeling Actual Enrollment in the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP). American Agricultural Economics Association Annual Meeting. 2004
- Chapter 11: Agriculture and the Environment. Agribusiness Economic Outlook Conference. 2003
- Problems and Possibilities of China’s Food and Agricultural Sector: Structural Adjustment in China and the United States. Proceedings of International Conference on the Development of Agricultural and Rural Economy of Northeast China. 63-71. 2002
- Will Voluntary and Educational Programs Meet Environmental Objectives? Evidence from a Survey of New York Dairy Farms. Annual Meetings of Japan Agricultural Economics Society. 2002
- Agricultural Districts: Lessons from New York. National Research Conference on the Performance of State Programs for Farmland Protection. 1998
- Survey of the Willingness to Participate in Manure Management Programs at Various Costs: Results from a Survey of Dairy Farmers in New York State. Proceedings of Managing Manure in Harmony with the Environment and Society. 1998
- Soil and Landscape Limitations on the Supply of Land in Urbanizing Areas. American Agricultural Economics Association Annual Meetings. 1997
- Farmland Preservation: Agricultural Districts, Right-to-Farm Laws and Related Legislation. Annual Meeting of the American Association for Advancement of Science. 1996
- Electric Energy Pricing and Power Use on Dairy Farms. Computers in Agricultural Extension Programs. 1992
- Current Outlook for U.S. Dairy Farming, Dairy Products, and Agricultural Policy in the United States. Workshop on the Present Status of, and Prospects for, Dairy Farming in Cold Regions, Obihiro University. 1991
- Urban Agriculture in the United States. Symposium on Planning of Agriculture and Environment in the Urban Fringe, XXI International Conference of Agricultural Economists. 1991
- "The Impact of the Dairy Termination Program on Land Use in New York.". Conference Proceeding from Planning for the Changing Rural Landscape of New England: Blending Theory and Practice. 1988
- Developing a Spatially Referenced Soil Quality Database for Land Use Research. Conference on Resolving Rural Development Conflicts. 1988
- Farmland Use in an Urban Environment: Status, Trends and Policy Issues. New York Farm Bureau's Conference on Farmland Planning and Preservation. 1988
- Information Needs for Evaluating the Agricultural District Approach to Farmland Protection. USDA-ERS Conference on Land Use Transition in Urbanizing Areas: Research and Information Needs. 1988
- Utilizing a Geographic Information System to Develop an Agricultural Land Use Database. Fourth New York State Geographic Information Systems Meeting. 1988
- The Impact of the Dairy Termination Program on Land Use in New York. Proceedings, Planning for the Changing Rural Landscape of New England: Blending Theory and Practice Conference. 92-106. 1987
- A Model to Explain Participation in New York's Agricultural Districts and Use-Value Assessment Programs. American Agricultural Economics Association Annual Meeting. 1986
- Cropland Lease Arrangements and Soil Erosion in the US. American Agricultural Economics Association Annual Meeting. 1985
- Relationships Between Erosion Control Benefits and Land Use Changes in Upstate New York. National Symposium on Erosion and Soil Productivity. 1984
- Geographic Information Systems in Policy Research: Examples from an Evolving System. Annual Meetings, Soil Conservation Society of America. 1983
- Impacts of New Procedures for Estimating Agricultural Use Values in New York. Annual Meeting of the Northeastern Agricultural Economics Council. 1981
- Location of Agricultural Districts Relative to Urban Places in New York. Annual Meeting of the American Agricultural Economics Association. 1977
- New York's Agricultural Districts. Severe Restriction of Development. 1977
- Inter-County Differentials in the Income Elasticity of the Property Tax. Proceedings, 43rd Western Agricultural Economics Association Meeting. 164-167. 1970
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conference poster
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document part
- A Comparison of Dairy Manure Management Practices with Proposed USDA/USEPA Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plan Objectives. 1324. 1999
- Connecting Taxes and Willingness to Pay for Farmland Protection: A Comparison of Local and State Funded Alternatives in New York. 1176. 1998
- Documenting the Status of Dairy Manure Management in New York: Current Practices and Willingness to Participate in Voluntary Programs. 289. 1998
- A Model to Explain Participation in New York's Agricultural Districts and Use-Value Assessment Program. 1390. 1986
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report
- Agriculture-based economic development in NYS: Trends and Prospects. 63. 2012
- Survey of Dairy Farm Employers 2009. 44. 2011
- Survey of Fruit and Vegetable Farm Employers 2009. 40. 2011
- Geospatial Analysis and Hedonic Price Modeling for Farm and Open Space Land 2008
- The New York State Agricultural Immigration and Human Resource Management Issues Study 2008
- Economic Value of the Equine Industry 2007
- Owners of Idle Agricultural and Forest Land in New York State: Results from a Mail Survey 2007
- Terrorism & Residential Location Preferences in New York State 2007
- The 2007 Farm Bill: Policy Options and Consequences Green Payments Policy 2007
- 2007 Farm Bill: Policy Options and Consequences for Northeast Specialty Crops Industries, Small Farms, and Sustainability Programs. 100. 2006
- 2007 Farm Bill: Policy Options and Consequences for Northeast Specialty Crops Industries, Small Farms, and Sustainability Programs. 114. 2006
- The 2007 Farm Bill: U.S. Producer Preferences for Agricultural, Food, and Public Policy. 76. 2006
- The NYSDAM Rural Landowner Survey: Follow-Up Surveys of Respondents Who Owns Idle Agricultural Land and Forest Land. 81. 2006
- Conservation Easements as Encumbered Ownership: Issues at Hand. 17. 2004
- Food, Agriculture, and the Emergent Service Economy: Challenges for the Northeast Region. 16. 2004
- Impacts of Trade Liberalization on the New York Horticultural Sector. 25. 2002
- Urban and Agricultural Communities: Opportunities for Common Ground. 124. 2002
- Agriculture-Based Economic Development: Trends and Prospects for New York. 67. 2001
- Ecologically Sustainable Agriculture and Fresh Water Conservation: A Survey of Nature Conservancy Field Project Staff and Scientists. 25. 2001
- Market Enhancement Programs Operated in New York’s Key Competitor States and Provinces. 308. 2001
- The 2002 Farm Bill: U.S. Producer Preferences for Agricultural, Food, and Public Policy 2001
- Boosting Local Economies Through Health Care 2000
- Boosting Local Economies Through Health Care 2000
- Direct Marketing Today: Challenges and Opportunities. 69. 2000
- Phase I and II Final Report: Review Town of Newstead Open Space and Land Preservation Proposed Ordinance. 21. 2000
- Phase I and II Final Report: Review Town of Newstead Open Space and Land Preservation Proposed Ordinance 1999
- Direct Marketing Today: Challenges and Opportunities Final Report. 128. 1999
- Place I Final Report: Review Town of Newstead Open Space and Land Preservation Proposed Ordinance 1999
- Agricultural and Farmland Protection Boards 1998
- Audit of Public Policies Affecting the Competition for Land: Northeast Case Studies 1998
- The Health Sector in Rural Economies: Alleghany, Cattaraugus, and Chautaugua Counties 1998
- Information Needs of Agricultural Exporters: Results from a Focus Group Series. 35. 1997
- Survey of Agricultural Exporters: Final Report. 105. 1996
- An Evaluation of Niagara Mohawk's 1993 Farm Rebate Program 1995
- An Evaluation of Niagara Mohawk's 1993 Farm Rebate Program. 64. 1994
- The Farmstead & Residence Electricity Demand Model (FRED): An Analytical Tool 1992
- Time-of-Use Rates and Electricity Costs of Representative New York Dairy Farms. 48. 1992
- An Analysis of the Effects on Electricity Costs for Phase III Farm Customers Assigned to Time-of-Use Residential Rates 1991
- Toward an integrated environmental stewardship and land-use program: issues, concerns, goals and priorities for research and extension 1991
- Review of Time-of-Use Research Project: Narrative of Proposed Research Methodologies. 64. 1990
- Statistical Summary of the 1987 Farm Management and Energy Survey. 77. 1989
- Feasibility of Expanded Potato Production in Western New York. 68. 1987
- Feasibility of Expanded Potato Production in Western New York 1987
- Farmland Protection in New York State 1986
- Income Tax Concessions and Investments in Soil Conservation Practices 1986
- Cropland Rental and Soil Conservation in the United States 1985
- A Time-Series Comparison of Alternative Agricultural Use-Value Estimates in New York 1984
- Assessing Erosion on U.S. Cropland - Land Management and Physical Features 1984
- Crop Yields and Net Income on Prime Farmland in New York 1984
- U.S. Cropland, Urbanization, and Landownership Patterns 1984
- Competing Demands for Farmland in the Tioughnioga Watershed-Cortland, Madison and Onondaga Counties, New York 1983
- The Structure of Agricultural Landownership in the United States, 1946 and 1978. 1-24. 1983
- Secondary Effects of Drainage Improvements in the Fort Covington Tributary 1982
- Competing Demands for Farmland: Normanskill Watershed 1981
- Agricultural Districts and Land Use: A Pilot Study 1980
- Perinton, New York: A Case Study in Farmland/ Open Space Preservation 1980
- Preserving Agriculture in an Urban Region 1980
- The Historical Setting for Discussing Agricultural Land Use Issues 1979
- The Historical Setting for Discussing Agricultural Land Use Issues 1979
- Estimating Farmland Use Value in New York State 1977
- Peri-Urban Agriculture: The New York Experience 1977
- A Non-Survey Technique for Regional I-O Models: Application to River Basin Planning 1976
- Runoff from Dairy Barnyards on the West Branch of the Delaware River 1976
- Historical and Projected Agricultural Production for River Basins in Eastern New York 1974
- Public Investments and Population Changes in Three Rural Washington State Towns 1973
- Urban Agglomeration Economies in the U.S. Greenhouse and Nursery Production. 2011
- Connecting Taxes and Willingness to Pay for Farmland Protection: A Comparison of Local and State Funded Alternatives in New York 2009
- Immigration Issues: Perceptions of Golf Course Superintendents 2008
- Trends in New York Land Use and Highlights of the 2008 Farm Bill 2008
- Trends in New York Agriculture and Highlights on the Role of Equine in Rural Land Use 2007
- 2007 Farm Bill: Policy Options and Consequences for Northeast Speciality Crop Industries, Small Farms, and Sustainability 2006
- Federal Policy Initiatives: Focus On the 2007 Farm Bill 2006
- Historical and Spatial Analysis of High-Value Crop Production in the US 2006
- Terrorism and Residential Preferences: Evidence in New York State 2006
- Agriculture and the Environment 2005
- Southern Tier Agriculture: A Regional Economic Resource and a Landscape In Transition 2005
- Conservation Easements as Encumbered Ownership: Issues at Hand 2004
- Defining Farm and Food: Agriculture in New York State's Total Economy 2004
- Defining Farm and Food: Farm Diversity 2004
- Defining Farm and Food: Real Farms 2004
- Defining Farm and Food: Value-Added Farm and Food Production 2004
- Medicaid and County Property Tax Levies on New York Farmland 2004
- Agriculture and the Environment 2003
- Fruit Consumption, Dietary Guidelines and Agricultural Production in New York State –Implications for Local Food Economies 2003
- Impacts of Changing Agri-Environmental Policy on Countryside Conservation: A Report of Focus Groups Held in Association with Skaneatles Lake Watershed, Skaneateles, NY, USA, and High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Goudhurst, Kent, England, UK 2003
- WP 2003-07: Value Added Ag-Based Economic Development: A Panacea or False Promise? Part 1. What is Value-Added and How Should we Study it? 2003
- WP 2003-08: Value Added Ag-Based Economic Development: A Panacea or False Promise? Part 2. What Should We Expect of Value-Added Activities? 2003
- Health Care and Genesee County, New York: Economic Implications of Reduced Hospital Services 2002
- Health Care and Genesee County, New York: Economic Implications of Reduced Hospital Services 2002
- Impacts of Trade Liberalization on the New York Horticultural Sector 2002
- Vegetable Consumption, Dietary Guidelines and Agricultural Production in New York State –Implications For Local Food Economies 2002
- Agriculture-Based Economic Development: Trends and Prospects for New York 2001
- Farmland Protection Planning in New York 2001
- Market Enhancement Programs Operated in New York’s Key Competitor States and Provinces 2001
- Documenting the Status of Dairy Manure Management in New York: Current Practices and Willingness to Participate in Voluntary Programs 1999
- Documenting the Status of Manure Management in New York: Current Practices and Willingness to Participate in Voluntary Programs 1999
- 1996 Farm Bill 1996
- Federal Agricultural Improvement and Reform (FAIR) Act of 1996: Selected Overview of Conservation Provisions 1996
- The Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996: The Conservation Title 1996
- The Return of Agricultural Lands to Forest: Changing Land Use in the Twentieth Century 1996
- Urban Influences on Farmland Use in New York State 1993
- Urban Influences on Farmland Use in New York State 1993
- Current Outlook for Dairy Farming, Dairy Products, and Agricultural Policy in the United States 1991
- Role of the Non-Profit Private Sector in Rural Land Conservation: Results from a Survey in the Northeastern United States 1991
- An Overview of the 1988 Rural Household and Farm Energy Use Survey 1989
- An Overview of the 1987 Farm Management and Energy Survey 1988
- Use Value Assessment of Agricultural Land in the Northeast 1987
- Agricultural Districts and Use-Value Assessment: The New York Experience in Farmland Retention 1986
- Enrollment in Use-Value Assessment Programs in the United States 1982
- Evaluation of Farmland Use-Value Assessment in New York 1980
- Who Owns the Land? A Preliminary Report for the Northeast States 1980
- Long-Run Population, Employment, and Income Trends: Implications for Rural Development 1973
- An Input-Output Analysis of the Upper South Branch Valley of West Virginia 1968
- The Resources of the Upper South Branch Valley 1967
featured in archived article
Teaching
Service
service to the profession
- Training Governance Group, New York Office of Real Property Tax Services Committee Member 2004 -
- Ex-offico Member, Agriculture Advisory Council, New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets Committee Member 1990 -
- American Agricultural Economics Association
- Farm Foundation Ag Policy Survey Task Force Committee Member 2004 - 2007
- Urban Agriculture Task Force, Council on Agriculture, Science, and Technology Committee Member 2000 - 2003
- Farm Foundation Ag Policy Survey Task Force Committee Member 2000 - 2001
- Farm Foundation Planning Committee for 2001 National Land Use Conference Committee Member 2000 - 2001
Background
education and training
- Ph.D. in, Washington State University 1971
- M.S. in, West Virginia University 1967
- B.S. in, Michigan State University 1963
awards and honors
- Award for Outstanding Public Service through Economics, 2007
- In-house Service Award for Dedicated Service, 2007
- State Distinguished Service Award, 2003
- Award for Outstanding Achievement in Public Issues Education, 2002
- Visiting Scholar, 2000
- Honorary Member, 1998
- Innovators Award, 1998
- Award for Distinguished Extension Program, 1997
- Award for Outstanding New Extension Publication, 1996
- John C. Walsh Professional Assistance Award, 1993
- Fulbright Award, Visiting research scholar, Kyoto University, 1992
- Award for Outstanding New Extension Publication, 1991
- Fellowship, 1990
- USDA Merit Pay Cash Award, 1984
- ERS Administrator's Award for Special Achievement, 1984
Other
college
- CALS