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Empowering the Commonwealth from Farm to Fork.
The scope of Agricultural Economics might be broader than you think. Our faculty and students explore the entire 'farm-to-fork' food system, environmental and natural resources issues, and local and international economic development.
As one of the longest-standing departments at the University of Kentucky, we started out as a farm economics department that included rural sociology and have grown to a department of nearly 60 faculty, staff, and instructors, and home to numerous affiliated programs and units. Together we carry out the mission of teaching, extension, and research.
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Undergraduate
Our Undergraduate Program includes a B.S. in Agricultural Economics and an option to minor in agricultural economics, which complements numerous majors from community and leadership development to animal and food science.
Learn about UndergradGraduate
Our Graduate Program offers an M.S. degree with both thesis and non-thesis tracks, options to further specialize through focus areas, and opportunities to collaborate on grant projects and extension programs including professional conference and presentation opportunities.
Learn about GradExtension
As the outreach component of AEC, our extension faculty and staff work to deliver programming to a wide range of audiences, serve as directors for numerous state-wide programs, and continue to hold leadership roles in national professional organizations.
Learn about ExtensionResearch
With a broad range of interests, our research faculty and staff conduct collaborative and innovative research in areas including regional economics/rural economic development, agricultural marketing/consumer behavior, and production economics.
Learn about Research
Making Opportunities Possible.
AgriBusiness Club: Creating Connections for Students
AgriBusiness Club's first meeting featured Abigail Hurst from Consolidated Grain and Barge! As an Ag Econ alumna, she shared insider tips about their Grain Leadership Trainee program and how to land those coveted industry roles.
Read about the Club
Agribusiness & Industry Career Fair Builds Bridges
Check out the highlights from the 2025 KY Signature Industries Career Fair! Students got to connect directly with employers, explore diverse career paths, and gain real-world insights beyond the classroom. The fair was all about making career-defining connections.
Read about the Fair
Maggie Board | Class of 2025
While at UK, Board was looking for a creative program that could teach her business fundamentals, marketing, analytics and agribusiness. She found the right mix in the agricultural economics undergraduate program at MGCAFE, following in the footsteps of her father, who graduated with the same degree.
Read about BoardAg Econ Insider E-newsletter
Keep up with recent graduates, student activities & clubs, departmental updates, extension programs, recent awards, and more in one short, easy read through our triannual e-newsletter.
Subscribe to InsiderSummer 2025 Newsletter
The latest issue of the Ag Econ Insider is now available and includes our recent graduates, club activities, recent retirements and new faces, extension programming updates, and a spotlight on current undergrad Andrea Cooksey.
Read Latest Newsletter
Extension for Kentucky and Beyond.
Publications
Our peer-reviewed extension publications cover topics to a greater length and in greater detail to fully present the complexities of various management decisions, policy issues, and provide worksheets and walkthrough resources.
Browse PublicationsEconomic & Policy Update
Each month, extension faculty and staff collaborate on 3-5 short articles on timely topics in our Economic and Policy Update E-newsletter covering market updates, policy changes, human resources, profitability estimates, and much more.
Read the NewsletterBudgets & Decision Tools
Our enterprise budgets provide a foundation for gauging the profitability of specific enterprises such as corn, soybeans, tobacco, etc. We also have decision tools to aid in cost estimations and management decisions.
Browse ResourcesAg Economic Situation & Outlook
The Ag Economic Situation & Outlook is now available for 2025-2026 to read and download. Publications from previous years are also available to read and download.
Read the OutlookExtension Programs
We are home to numerous standing extension programs and also host several conferences and extension agent trainings on an annual basis. Extension faculty and staff regularly travel to present regional and county programming.
Explore Extension ProgramsVideo Library
Browse our featured videos and access our full video library on the UK Agricultural Economics YouTube channel.
@UKYAgEcon YouTube
Our People Making a Difference.
UK study explores horse owners’ preparation and preferences for veterinary care
UK researchers have conducted the most expansive study on horse owner/veterinarian relationships to date — uncovering data on spending habits, veterinary interaction and adapting to new care methods and technologies.
‘Making informed decisions’: UK secures USDA grant to investigate impact of food labelling
Yuqing Zheng, Shuoli Zhao, Tyler Mark and Yawotse Nouve received USDA NIFA grant of nearly $800,000 to support a three-year research project aimed at bioengineered (BE) and non-GMO food labeling and its impacts on consumer preferences and producer outcomes.
Why Agricultural Economics @UK.
Braden Porter, '24
"Ag Econ has the best professors. They are personable, outgoing, and eager to build relationships. My recommendation is to attend office hours and get to know your professors."
Read Porter's Spotlight
Sarah Bryant, '21
"The connections I made in the department have contributed to my success by allowing me to create a network which I continue to utilize in my current position."
Read Bryant's Spotlight
Grace Jenkins, '23
"The Ag Econ Department has always taken an interest in me and put students in general first. Everyone I know in the Agricultural Economics Department has always tried to help me personally or connect me with others in the industry. If they do not know how to help me, they can get me in touch with someone who can."
100+
Year history as a department at UK
We celebrated our 100-year anniversary as a department at the University of Kentucky in 2014. In those years, we have served Kentucky and evolved to fit the changing needs of the Commonwealth.
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Primary Source
The Department is the state’s primary source of research and extension programming related to the economics of agriculture and rural communities.
Connect with Us.
Ag Econ Insider E-newsletter
Keep up with recent graduates, student activities & clubs, departmental updates, extension programs, recent awards, and more in one short, easy read through our triannual e-newsletter.
Subscribe to InsiderEconomic & Policy Update E-newsletter
Each month, extension faculty and staff collaborate on 3-5 short, timely articles in our Economic and Policy Update (EPU) e-newsletter. We also include new program and event announcements.
Subscribe to UpdateContact Us
We are here to help. If you need assistance, don't hesitate to reach out. Faculty, staff, instructors, and graduate students have contact information available through the "Our People" page or connect with us on our socials.
Contact UsDepartment of Agricultural Economics
400 Charles E. Barnhart Building
Lexington, KY 40546-0276
@UKYAgEcon