Ag Proud – Idaho would like you to meet:
Colby Field
Assistant Professor and Area Extension Educator – Risk Management
University of Idaho Extension – Dept. of Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology
Moscow, Idaho
What education are you bringing with you to this position?
I earned my bachelor of science in agricultural business with a double major in economics from Montana State University. While there, I worked on research projects related to grain industry expansion in the pulse crop market and how government agricultural policy impacts conservation-minded producers. I earned my master of science in applied economics from the University of Idaho, focusing on agricultural production, natural resources and rural community economics. My graduate research projects were on the market viability of circular bioeconomy products made from byproducts of the dairy industry and comparing government rainfall insurance programs to land conservation programs as risk management tools.
Please describe your agricultural background
Between my two terms as a student, I gained experience in government administration of agriculture and natural resources, the grain industry and in agricultural production. I completed an internship for a state natural resources department where I worked on projects related to state trust land agricultural leases, as well as timber harvest planning. I then spent a year working for a large international grain company, gaining insight into the operations of grain origination and transportation. Just prior to returning to graduate school, I had the opportunity to gain firsthand experience farming for five seasons on a soil health-focused grain and pulse farm in the Palouse.
What are your new responsibilities?
As an area extension educator, my primary responsibility is to use my agricultural economics skill set to assist Idaho stakeholders in solving their problems, with a focus on managing the ever-present risks in agriculture and rural life. The main components of my appointment are extension and research, both of which will be accomplished in partnership with academic and extension faculty, and crucially, stakeholders from government agencies, private industry and producers.
What previous positions have you held?
I spent five seasons as an agricultural technician on a medium-sized grain and pulse farm in the Palouse. I was an elevator manager trainee immediately out of my undergraduate education at a river barge loading facility. While in school, I was an undergraduate researcher for three different projects, and I was a research assistant in graduate school.
Who has made the biggest impact on your career?
Without a doubt, the farmers who were willing to hire and train me in production agriculture, despite having no previous on-farm experience, changed the path of my career and life. They gave me the opportunity to gain a deep understanding of production agriculture and issues of greatest concern to farmers, while encouraging me to seek more education to move forward in my career in agricultural extension. I also have benefited from the guidance and mentorship of several professors, teachers, family and friends.
How will you be of most help to producers in Idaho?
Through my diverse agricultural experience and education, my hope is that I can be a resource to assist producers with their economic challenges, with insights into the on-the-ground issues of their operations. I also hope to provide stakeholders access to relevant and developing university research that can improve their economic conditions.
What goals would you like to accomplish while in this position?
My primary goals are to become a valuable and accessible resource for Idaho agricultural stakeholders facing complex economic problems. Secondarily, I would like, with the assistance of colleagues, to develop applicable tools and information publications to help producers, particularly those experimenting with new emerging technologies.
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