Workshop Description: The Heartland Environmental and Resource Economics Workshop (HERE) will be held for the fourth year at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign on November 10, 2012. The focus of the workshop this year will be on topics in environmental valuation, water resources and water quality and environmental policy. We will also be recognizing our esteemed colleague, Dr. John Braden, who has retired after a distinguished career of over 30 years at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

The goals of Heartland@Illinois are, as always, to stimulate research and build community in environmental economics with a focus on the Midwest. The workshop will bring people together to exchange ideas and foster new collaborations. Through selected paper sessions it will identify pressing public policy issues and emerging research themes on environmental and resource economics. Finally, it will provide networking and development opportunities for graduate students in environmental and resource economics.

The day-long workshop proudly features Dr. Kathleen Segerson (University of Connecticut) as the key note speaker.

Due to limited funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for the workshop this year we will be able to provide only partial travel support for speakers. When submitting your abstract, please let us know if you will need travel funding in order to participate. We would greatly appreciate it if participants can secure other funding to participate in this conference. There will be no registration fee to attend the conference.

Spread the word and tell your colleagues and graduate students! We hope to see you in Champaign-Urbana in November.

Instructions for Abstract Submissions:

• Email a one-page abstract to Heartland@illinois.edu by August 31, 2012
• Put “Heartland Abstract” in the subject line of the email
• Include author(s)’ name(s), contact information, title, and a description of the paper to be presented. Identify the presenting author. Use either .pdf or MSWord format.
• Indicate in your email whether your submission is for a presentation or poster. If you prefer a presentation, tell us if you would be willing to display a poster if the abstract is not accepted for presentation.

Presentations should be of research that is at least in first-draft form. Posters are perfect for communicating anything from new ideas to finished work.

Abstract selection will be complete with all authors notified of the final program by no later than October 1, 2012.

With best regards from the Heartland@Illinois organizing committee, Amy W. Ando, Kathy Baylis, Nick Brozovic, and Madhu Khanna Department of Agricultural and Consumer Economics, University of Illinois Email: Heartland@illinois.edu Website: http://events.idtg.illinois.edu/here

Business Development Analyst/Energy Crops:

• An advanced degree in Ag Economics or related field.
• 8-10 yrs minimum hands-on Energy Crop Agricultural contracting/Land Lease Analysis and Ag Supply Chain development.
• Excellent Communication skills & Strategic planning, Risk & Data Analysis
• A dependable communicator who can interface between Growers, Governmental Authorities and the Company.
• A team player with, exceptional Statistical Modeling and computer skills like Excel, “@ Risk” software, & Oral Communications Skills.

The role is part of the Agriculture Business Development team and will manage a sub-team evaluating alternative production systems, components, investment alternatives and agricultural strategies.

Specific areas of focus include (but are not limited to):

• Crop Contracting Strategies
• Data sourcing, consolidation, mining and redistribution for continuous improvement
• Land, production, transportation and yield costs and risks
• Crop establishment, production and logistics operations, costs and risks
• Feedstock yield and portfolio optimization
• Perishability and storage considerations

For more information contact Michael Hall, search consultant, 641-325-1340, Mike@hummerag.com