New prof to explore policy and market impacts on agrifood systems

Nov 06, 2024

Dr. Tengda Gong joined the Department of Agribusiness and Agricultural Economics as Assistant Professor in Agribusiness Finance on October 1, 2024. His upbringing in a farming village in China inspired his pursuit of agricultural economics. Tengda’s research focuses on understanding how public policies and market dynamics impact the functioning of agrifood systems.

Tell us about yourself.

I got my PhD in agricultural and development economics from the University of California, Davis in 2024.

Why did you get into this area of study?

I grew up in a farming village of China during the 1990s. I witnessed the hardship of making a good living from agriculture in my childhood. This motivated me to study agricultural and development economics at graduate school.

What are you seeking to explore with your research?

My research focuses on understanding how public policies and market mechanisms affect the functioning of agrifood systems amid market imperfections and climate change, with a focus on welfare implications.

Will you be teaching? What appeals to you about being a teacher?

I will teach the course of Introduction to Management Science this winter. I look forward to communicating with students who have fresh minds.

What do you like to do in your spare time?

During my spare time, I like to hike in nature and cook at home.

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Video: Winter Canola Trial in Mississippi | Can It Work for Double Cropping? | Pioneer Agronomy

Can winter canola open new opportunities for growers in the Mid-South? In this agronomy update from Noxubee County, Mississippi, Pioneer agronomist Gus Eifling shares an early look at a first-year winter canola trial and what farmers are learning from the field.

Planted in late October on 30-inch rows, the crop is now entering the bloom stage and progressing quickly. In this video, we walk through current field conditions, fertility management, and how timing could make this crop a valuable option for double-cropping soybeans or cotton.

If harvest timing lines up with early May, growers may be able to transition directly into another crop during ideal planting windows. Ongoing field trials will help determine whether canola could become a viable rotational option for the region.

Watch for:

How winter canola is performing in its first season in this Mississippi field

Why growers chose 30-inch rows for this trial

What the crop looks like as it moves from bolting into bloom

Fertility strategy, including nitrogen and sulfur applications

How canola harvest timing could enable double-cropping with soybeans or cotton

Upcoming trials comparing soybeans after canola vs. traditional planting

As more growers look for ways to maximize acres and diversify rotations, experiments like this help determine what new crops might fit into existing systems.