Welcome to the Amarillo AgEcon Blog! This blog is an outreach project of Texas A&M AgriLife Extension. Our goal is to keep producers in the Texas High Plains, and around the state, engaged in discussions about agricultural markets, research findings from agricultural economists, current issues facing the field of agriculture, and the implications of regularly released USDA reports. We also aim to provide access to Texas A&M AgriLife Extension resources and programs where you can learn more about these topics. We’re glad you’re here to learn with us!
About the Authors
Justin Benavidez is an Assistant Professor and Extension Economist in Amarillo who covers issues relating to the economics of agriculture in the Texas High Plains. He focuses on farm management economics pertaining to livestock and row crops, bio-economic modelling, farm policy, marketing, animal health, and water’s impact on agriculture. Justin is a member of the Agriculture and Applied Economics Association (AAEA), the Southern Agricultural Economics Association (SAEA), and the Western Agricultural Economics Association (WAEA).
Justin grew up on a small family farm in Tulia, Texas, and received his bachelors, masters, and Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics from Texas A&M University.
Francisco Abelló is an Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist – Economist Management at Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, in Vernon Texas. He provides district leadership and coordination for Extension education programs and applied research in farm and ranch management, livestock economics, financial and profitability analysis, marketing, resources, and farm policy. Provides agricultural economics tools to help farmers and ranchers to improve profitability and be better prepared to manage risk.
Prior to joining Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, Francisco was CEO of all farms and ranchers managed by TraulenCo, a management and administration firm in Argentina which comprises multiple farm/ranch operations of wheat, corn, sunflower, soybeans, (17,000 acres) and cow-calf (54,000 acres). Additionally, Mr. Abelló provided agricultural production, economic and financial business consulting in Latin America for private equity investments and capital management funds (Argentina, Perú, Nicaragua, Paraguay, and Brazil).
Mr. Abelló obtaneid his Agriculture Production Engnieering degree from the Argentinian Catholic Univeristy (Universidad Catolica Argentina), Department of Agricultural Science. Master of Science in Agricultural Economics and Master of Agribusiness from Texas A&M University.