Signature Programs
ISU China Ag Center
I co-founded the ISU China Ag Center in 2017 joint with Dr. Dermot Hayes at Iowa State University in collaboration with Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences. Our research and extension efforts focus on critical Chinese agricultural market and policy changes that have global trade implications, including US-China Phase-One Trade Deal, China's African Swine Fever, China's Ethanol Mandate, and China's Corn Tariff Rate Quote (TRQ). Our efforts have attracted over a million USD funding support from USDA NIFA and have received several prestigious awards including the 2019 AAEA Bruce Garner Memorial Prize for Applied Policy Analysis Award.
I co-founded the ISU China Ag Center in 2017 joint with Dr. Dermot Hayes at Iowa State University in collaboration with Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences. Our research and extension efforts focus on critical Chinese agricultural market and policy changes that have global trade implications, including US-China Phase-One Trade Deal, China's African Swine Fever, China's Ethanol Mandate, and China's Corn Tariff Rate Quote (TRQ). Our efforts have attracted over a million USD funding support from USDA NIFA and have received several prestigious awards including the 2019 AAEA Bruce Garner Memorial Prize for Applied Policy Analysis Award.
Smarter & Intelligent Spraying for Apples
This ongoing NIFA grant evaluates a new type of sprayer technology, developed by USDA-ARS engineers, for IPM on apples in the Midwest. See The Intelligent Sprayer in action in an apple orchard that acts like driverless cars and able to sense the size and depth of apple tree canopies. With this laser-guided technology, the Intelligent Sprayer can minimize spray drift and use much less pesticide.
This ongoing NIFA grant evaluates a new type of sprayer technology, developed by USDA-ARS engineers, for IPM on apples in the Midwest. See The Intelligent Sprayer in action in an apple orchard that acts like driverless cars and able to sense the size and depth of apple tree canopies. With this laser-guided technology, the Intelligent Sprayer can minimize spray drift and use much less pesticide.
Mesotunnels for Organic Curcurbit Crops
This $2M USDA OREI grant led by Dr. Mark Gleason at Iowa State aims at optimizing a barrier system called “mesotunnels” against insect pests and the bacterial diseases they carry. Mesotunnels, with a height of 36-42 inches, got their name because they are intermediate in scale between low tunnels and high tunnels. Like other barrier systems, they are intended to keep out pest insects and the pathogens they carry, as well as to prevent hail damage. Mesotunnels are supported by hoops made from electrical conduit, and use a nylon-mesh fabric similar to window-screen material as a cover.
This $2M USDA OREI grant led by Dr. Mark Gleason at Iowa State aims at optimizing a barrier system called “mesotunnels” against insect pests and the bacterial diseases they carry. Mesotunnels, with a height of 36-42 inches, got their name because they are intermediate in scale between low tunnels and high tunnels. Like other barrier systems, they are intended to keep out pest insects and the pathogens they carry, as well as to prevent hail damage. Mesotunnels are supported by hoops made from electrical conduit, and use a nylon-mesh fabric similar to window-screen material as a cover.
Iowa Lakes Survey
I led this signature non-market valuation survey of lake recreation by Iowans and neighboring state residents in 2019, and CARD staff Yongjie Ji led the development of a new web-portal that collects all findings of the Iowa Lakes Survey from 2002 to 2019. It contains a wide array of information for about 140 lakes in Iowa, including visitation patterns, water quality, lake usage, and the value of a lake to its local economy. Additionally, this site contains economic analysis of the benefits to Iowans and communities from improvements in water quality. There is an ongoing survey effort to examine the lake recreation and visitation patterns by underrepresented Iowans, including low-income households, rural Iowans and people of color.
I led this signature non-market valuation survey of lake recreation by Iowans and neighboring state residents in 2019, and CARD staff Yongjie Ji led the development of a new web-portal that collects all findings of the Iowa Lakes Survey from 2002 to 2019. It contains a wide array of information for about 140 lakes in Iowa, including visitation patterns, water quality, lake usage, and the value of a lake to its local economy. Additionally, this site contains economic analysis of the benefits to Iowans and communities from improvements in water quality. There is an ongoing survey effort to examine the lake recreation and visitation patterns by underrepresented Iowans, including low-income households, rural Iowans and people of color.
Iowa Farmland Portal & Annual Iowa Land Value Survey
I led the annual Iowa Land Value Survey, the first of its kind since 1940s and one of the most used across the nation, from 2015 to 2022. An expert opinion survey, it is still the only data source that provides an annual farmland value estimates for each of 99 counties in Iowa since 1950. I also developed a new web portal to pool various sources of Iowa farmland values. It offers visualization tools like charts and interactive county maps to examine land value trends over time and across space at the county, district, and state level.
I led the annual Iowa Land Value Survey, the first of its kind since 1940s and one of the most used across the nation, from 2015 to 2022. An expert opinion survey, it is still the only data source that provides an annual farmland value estimates for each of 99 counties in Iowa since 1950. I also developed a new web portal to pool various sources of Iowa farmland values. It offers visualization tools like charts and interactive county maps to examine land value trends over time and across space at the county, district, and state level.
Iowa Farmland Ownership & Tenure Survey
This is a unique survey across the nation which provides statistically representative information on many aspects of land ownership, tenure and transitions in Iowa. Mandated by the Iowa Code since 1980s, it is conducted every five years and I led the survey in 2017 and 2022. In 2017, the survey finds that 60% of Iowa land is owned by people 65 years or older, 82% of Iowa land is owned free of debt, and 29% of all acres is primarily owned for family or sentimental reasons.
ISU Soil Management Land Valuation Conference
Sponsored by the ISU College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and ISU Extension, the Soil Management and Land Valuation Conference is intended for farm managers, rural appraisers, real estate brokers and others interested in the land market in Iowa. This is the longest running conference at Iowa State in both research and extension, and 2022 will mark the 94th annual meeting in this series. It is designed for anyone who has an interest in agricultural land, land management, and land valuation. I led the SMLV conferences from 2016 to 2022.
Women Landowners