The Southern Agricultural Economics Association: Past, Present, and Future

Abstract

It is a privilege and pleasure to have the opportunity to present the inaugural presidential address of the Southern Agricultural Economics Association (SAEA). As I considered alternative topics which might be candidates for this presidential address, an intriguing question kept attracting my attention. Why are there regional agricultural economics associations and in particular why is there a Southern Agricultural Economics Association? What services does the SAEA provide to its membership that a national association such as the American Agricultural Economics Association does not provide? Or possibly it is not what services a regional association provides but how and in what kind of an environment the services are provided to members.