Author: Natalie Hampton

May 8, 2014

Survey shows farmers skeptical of climate change

A recent survey in four states, led by NC State economist Roderick Rejesus, shows that farmers don’t readily accept the concept of climate change or the science behind it. They also have trouble believing crop yields would suffer due to climate change. 

May 2, 2014

Future of Food lecturers share perspectives on agriculture, food

The Future of Food lecture series, which started last fall, included four speakers on a variety of food-related topics. Dr. Sam Pardue, associate dean and director of Academic Programs for the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, developed the series to “stimulate discussion surrounding the important food issues of the day.” 

May 1, 2014

Increased drought portends lower future Midwest crop yields

Increasingly harsh drought conditions in the U.S. Midwest’s Corn Belt may take a serious toll on corn and soybean yields over the next half-century, according to research published today in the journal Science. Corn yields could drop by 15 to 30 percent, according to the paper’s estimates; soybean yield losses would be less severe. 

Apr 28, 2014

Reaping a healthy harvest

Nearly 8,000 miles, an ocean and seven time zones separate the small town of Kannapolis, N.C. from the heartland of southern Africa. Food scientist Mary Ann Lila knows the distance all too well. She’s visited 17 African countries in the past eight years. 

Apr 24, 2014

Peak population

For the first time in centuries, perhaps since the Middle Ages, experts are predicting an eventual limit for the world’s population. This is after decades of an exploding population and concerns about adequate resources, says host Mary Walden. "What has caused the turnaround?" she asks her husband, N.C. State University economist Mike Walden. 

Apr 23, 2014

A switch in poverty

I can remember when I was a child several decades ago (we won’t say how many) that my family worried a lot about my grandparents, says host Mary Walden. That wasn’t unusual because living in old age wasn’t easy for many economically. Once they stopped working, older folks had no labor income and pensions were meager. "Has that changed today?" she asks her husband, N.C. State University economist Mike Walden. 

Apr 22, 2014

Confusion from the Fed

New Fed Chair Janet Yellen recently held her first press conference. She was asked about rules or statistics the Fed would use to make decisions about changing interest rates. Some say Chairperson Yellen’s answer created more confusion than clarity, says host Mary Walden, who asks her husband, N.C. State University economist Mike Walden, "What happened?" 

Apr 21, 2014

Study: Dan River water safe for irrigation, livestock

Using projections of water-quality trends based on hundreds of water analyses made during a 40-day period following the release of approximately 39,000 tons of coal ash into the Dan River on Feb. 2, 2014, North Carolina State University soil scientists conclude that the river water is suitable for use as irrigation water on crops and as drinking water for livestock. 

Apr 21, 2014

Slack labor market?

We still have an unemployment rate that is much higher than we’d like, says host Mary Walden. It is nowhere near the 4.5 percent jobless rate we had prior to the recession. Still, the rate has come down substantially from the highs of four years ago. She asks her husband, N.C. State University economist Mike Walden, “Do economists think we could see further drops?” 

Apr 18, 2014

Millennials vs. boomers

Demographers say the millennial generation, those born after 1980, is now larger in numbers than the boomer generation, which includes individuals born from 1946 to 1964, says host Mary Walden. She asks her husband, N.C. State University economist Mike Walden, “What kinds of implications does this have for the economy?”