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Agricultural Economics: Library Resources
Below we have gathered together a number of resources to help you in your Agricultural Economics research. Immediately below are Research Databases provided by WKU--at considerable expense--that will help you find articles and data about your topic. Further down on the page we have also collected a number of resources available on the open Web, free of charge. Many of these free resources are as useful--perhaps more useful--than some of the expensive resources. Please take some time to review them, as they will be useful throughout your career.
And, of course, if you need more help, please feel free to contact the Library Reference Desk, the WKU Business Librarian (John Gottfried), or the WKU Law and Government Documents Librarian (Rosemary Meszaros).
The databases below are licensed to Western Kentucky University Libraries for the use of its students, faculty, and staff. Access to WKU databases requires entering your WKU NetID and password at the Database Access Page. Once registered, you will go to a list of databases which may be viewed alphabetically or by subject. Look for the databases below in the list.
ABI/Inform
Combining the foremost business journals and the leading sources of online business news with exclusive, international and scholarly works, ABI/INFORM provides high-quality, comprehensive business content including top journals and periodicals, leading newspapers like the Wall Street Journal and Financial Times, working papers, SWOT Analysis and marketing reports, along with much more.
AGRICOLA
Available through EBSCO databases, AGRICOLA contains bibliographic records from the U.S. Department o Agriculture’s National Agricultural Library. This database contains more than 4.8 million citations. The citations are comprised of journal articles, book chapters, monographs, theses, patents, software, audiovisual materials, and technical reports related to agriculture. AGRICOLA. encompasses all aspects of agriculture and allied disciplines.
Business Source Premier
Business Source Premier is the industry’s most used business research database, providing full text for more than 2,300 journals, including full text for more than 1,100 peer-reviewed titles. And, though BSC is best known as an article database, it also contains a number of industry surveys and market research reports. Search for your topic and then select "industry profiles" or "market research reports" from the Results column on the left side of the screen.
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GreenFILE
GreenFILE offers well-researched information covering all aspects of human impact to the environment. Its collection of scholarly, government and general-interest titles includes content on global warming, green building, pollution, sustainable agriculture, renewable energy, recycling, and more. The database provides indexing and abstracts for more than 384,000 records, as well as Open Access full text for more than 4,700 records.
LexisNexis Academic Universe
LexisNexis boasts a new entry page, where it is now much easier to search for news and information on companies, people, countries, and law.
LexisNexis Statistical Insight
Good starting place to search for data from a number of sources, including federal and state agencies, commercial publishers, trade associations, organizations and universities. There is also international information searchable by continent and region.
Newspaper Source
Newspaper Source provides cover-to-cover full text for more than 40 (U.S.) & international newspapers, selective full text for 389 regional (U.S.) newspapers, and some full text television & radio news transcripts
Regional Business News
Provides comprehensive full text coverage for regional business publications, incorporating coverage of more than 80 regional business publications covering all metropolitan and rural areas within the United States.
STAT-USA
STAT-USA is an excellent source of U.S. government statistics, collected and sorted into a single location. It is a service WKU pays for, and has considered well worth the money for many years. However, as of October 1, 2010, this service will be discontinued. All of the data in STAT-USA is still available for free, though, as it is all provided by agencies of the U.S. government. We have compiled a Web page containing links to the various sources of information included in STAT-USA, which you will find by clicking here.
Other Links and Information from the Open Web
The Web resources below are free for anyone to use. There are some very useful Web sites here.
AEAweb (American Economic Association)
One of the largest economics organizations, the American Economic Association website provides access to information concerning the AEA, upcoming conferences, and publications
AgEcon Search
AgEcon Search is a free, open access repository of full-text scholarly literature in agricultural and applied economics, including working papers, conference papers, and journal articles. It is co-sponsored by the Department of Applied Economics and the University Libraries at University of Minnesota and the Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
Agribusiness Association of Iowa: Links
Large links site providing access to resources of interest to the Agribusiness community
USDA Agricultural Statistics
From USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). Online version of the annual publication Agricultural Statistics 1994-present.
Agriculture Network Information Center (AgNIC)
Through AgNIC you can search the world of agriculture or stay up-to-date with the latest agricultural news and events taking place around the world.
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American Agricultural Economics Association
The Agricultural & Applied Economics Association (AAEA) is a not-for-profit association serving the professional interests of members working in agricultural and broadly related fields of applied economics. Members of the AAEA are employed by academic or government institutions, as well as in industry and not-for-profit organizations, and engage in a variety of teaching, research, and extension/outreach activities.
USDA GAIN Attaché Reports
USDA'S Global Agriculture Information Network (GAIN) provides timely information on the agricultural economy, products and issues in foreign countries since 1995 that are likely to have an impact on United States agricultural production and trade. U.S. Foreign Service officers working at posts overseas collect and submit information on the agricultural situation in more than 130 countries to USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), which maintains the GAIN reports..
BEA--U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis
BEA produces economic accounts statistics that enable government and business decision-makers, researchers, and the American public to follow and understand the performance of the Nation's economy.
Bureau of Labor Statistics
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) of the U.S. Department of Labor is the principal Federal agency responsible for measuring labor market activity, working conditions, and price changes in the economy. They collect, analyze, and disseminate essential economic information to support public and private decision–making..
Census of Agriculture
From the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). The Census of Agriculture, taken every five years, is a complete count of U.S. farms and ranches and the people who operate them. The Census looks at land use and ownership, operator characteristics, production practices, income and expenditures and many other areas.
Departments of Agricultural Economics and Extension
An extensive list of links to agricultural economics departments, both in the United States and internationally, provided by Texas Tech.
Economagic
A comprehensive site of free, easily available economic time series data useful for economic research, in particular economic forecasting, originally designed help students in an Applied Forecasting class..
Economic Research Service (ERS)
The Economic Research Service is a primary source of economic information and research in the U.S. Department of Agriculture. ERS staff conducts research, analyzes food and commodity markets, produces policy studies, and develops economic and statistical indicators.
Economics, Statistics and Market Information System (ESMIS)
Joint project of the USDA and Cornell University Mann Library. Approximately 2500 reports and datasets on U.S. and international agriculture.
FAOSTAT
The Statistical Division of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations produces FAOSTAT, an on-line multilingual database currently containing over 3 million time-series records from over 210 countries and territories covering statistics on agriculture, nutrition, fisheries, forestry, food aid, land use and population.
Food Industry Associations on the Web
List of associations provided by the Food Institute
Fruit & Vegetable Market News Portal
Since 1915, Fruit and Vegetable Market News reports have provided an exchange of information among growers, shippers, wholesalers, and others on current supplies, demand, and prices of over 400 fresh fruit, vegetable, nut, ornamental, and other specialty crops. .
Global Agricultural Trade System (GATS)
USDA Foreign Agricultural Service's Global Agricultural Trade System. GATS includes international agricultural, fish, forest and textile products trade statistics dating from the inception of the Harmonized coding system in 1989 to present.
Government Documents Center, University of Michigan Library
Links to U.S. government documents and statistics provided by the University of Michigan..
International Food and Agribusiness Management Association
Provides access to the IFAMA professional site, including organization information and job announcements.
Resources for Economists on the Internet (RFE)
Sponsored by the American Economic Association. It lists more than 2,000 resources in 97 sections and sub-sections available on the Internet of interest to academic and practicing economists, and those interested in economics.
Statistical Agencies (International)
Page from the US Census Bureau with links to statistical agencies of foreign countries.
World Bank Open Data
The World Bank's Open Data initiative is intended to provide all users with access to World Bank data. The data catalog is a listing of available World Bank data sources.
Here are some useful guides and tools for market analysis and creating a marketing plan.
Edward Lowe Foundation: How to Prepare a Market Analysis
A detailed report on market analysis, including many valuable suggestions and tips, along with checklists.
Small Business Administration
A guide to marketing research from the Small Business Administration
KnowThis.com
A description of creating a marketing plan from KnowThis.com, a leading information and resource website for those involved in marketing, market research, advertising, selling, promotion, and other marketing-related areas.
Resources to help you create a business plan.
Small Business Administration: Plan Your Business
From sample plans to a business plan primer, the Small Business Administration offers guidance on the tools and resources necessary to write a winning business plan. .
Businessplans.org
Information about all aspect of developing a business plan, including sample plans
Online MBA: Ultimate Guide to Business Plan Writing
Massive collection of links to Business Plan advice, samples, blogs, and more.