COLLEGE STATION – A team of Texas AgriLife Extension Service economists have received a 2011 Superior Service Award for a series of economic impact studies.
Recipients are: Dean McCorkle, Extension program specialist; Dan Hanselka, Extension associate; David Anderson, Extension livestock economist; Steven Klose, Extension economist, risk management; and Mark Waller, Extension program leader.
The team published 68 AgriLife Extension economic impact studies from 2007-2011. These studies identified overall economic benefits of various Texas AgriLife programs of more than $2.4 billion, including annual direct economic impacts of $1.43 billion, supporting an additional 6,000 jobs in Texas. The studies included analysis of wheat variety demonstration tests, AgriLife Extension’s Walk Across Texas program, and the agency’s pesticide safety and food protection management programs.
Larry Smith, program director with the Texas Boll Weevil Eradication Foundation Inc., wrote in his nomination support letter, “In 2011, the economic impact team provided information that determined that $210 million was a direct benefit to cotton producers and the cumulative benefits since beginning the program exceeded $1.9 billion.
“Jobs are important at this time in our society and the data submitted showed that there are over 1,900 jobs supported through the eradication program.”
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