On this episode, Dr. Valerie Kilders and Marie Mechley sit down for the first episode of a 3 part series on the Farm Bill. They are joined by Dr. Roman Keeney, a Department of Agricultural Economics professor who has been with the department since 2005 as a farm-rural household economics professor. He received his doctorate and initial faculty appointment at Purdue University, and he currently teaches a class on Agriculture Policy. Dr. Keeney gives his expert overview on what the Farm Bill is, what it includes, what causes increases in cost, why it has not been passed, and what the future may look like for the Farm Bill. With legislation at the forefront of many topics, this episode gives an insight into information many viewers may not know. 

Roman Keeney began his appointment with the agricultural economics faculty of Purdue University in August 2005 as assistant professor of farm and rural household economics. Prior to that, Roman was a Ph.D. student in the Purdue AgEcon department. Roman’s research program explores how farm households and rural residents respond to and are impacted by changes to farm and farm-related policies. Roman has worked extensively on the interaction between U.S. domestic farm programs and international trade barriers, focusing in particular on the distribution of gains and losses across the population of U.S. farmers. Recently, Roman has taken on Extension responsibilities for analysis and education of farm payment programs. In addition to research and Extension, Roman teaches the department’s undergraduate math programming course and graduate-level production economics course.