June 2026
Building on the theme of reflecting on our past and preparing for our future, I would like to turn to another central institution of the Association: the SAEA Journal. From almost the beginning, the SAEA Journal has served as a major avenue for its members, both as an outlet for their work and as a source of new information. The Journal’s original name, Southern Journal of Agricultural Economics, was used from 1969 to 1992. In 1993, the Journal was renamed the Journal of Agricultural and Applied Economics (JAAE), a name that it continues to use today. I want to use this space to talk about its history and status, a topic that is also personal to me given my service as editor of the Journal for three years.
The historical importance of the Journal to the SAEA is highlighted by the fact that Article V of the SAEA Constitution, adopted in 1968, provided for the publication of a journal.1,2 The first journal issue is dated December 1969 and includes a unanimously adopted resolution that highlighted the shortage of publication outlets for the profession and thanked the Farm Foundation for supporting the publication of the Journal.
Given this history, the main emphasis of the articles in the Journal, especially during the first years, was on problems of U.S. Southern agriculture. However, like the Association itself, the Journal has tried to be dynamic and adapt to new times to remain competitive. For example, in 1984, Havlicek reports the publication of referred microcomputer software, reflecting the need, at that time, for outlets for this type of work for agricultural economists working in that area, as well as the need for information from other colleagues.1
The change of the name of the Association’s Journal to the Journal of Agricultural and Applied Economics in 1993 was in response to a desire to broaden its scope.2 This broadening has continued with the update of the Journal’s mission statement in 2020 to more clearly articulate its national and international relevance, and its scope related not only to agricultural economics but more generally to agribusiness economics, natural resource economics, and rural development.
For many years, the Journal managed all aspects related to publication (typesetting, printing, etc.), before it outsourced to outside publishers. In 2015, the JAAE started to be published in association with Cambridge University Press and became the first U.S. agricultural economics journal that was only digital and open access.
Another concern through the years, particularly starting in the late 2000s, was the inclusion of the Journal in major indexing services to obtain an impact factor.3 After many attempts, the JAAE obtained an impact factor in 2022 and is included in various indices such as Scopus and the Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI). Besides the impact factor and other journal metrics, which we all know have weaknesses, there is ample evidence reflecting the high standing of the JAAE among the profession, due to its content, its backing by a professional organization, and the many editors who have maintained high standards of review. 4,5 A recent Cambridge University Press report also reflects the fact that, despite its growth and increasing national and international standing, JAAE continues to serve as an important avenue for the Association’s members (most authors are from the Southern region).
In closing, first, I want to express our gratitude to the outgoing JAAE editors: Chris Boyer and Edward Yu from the University of Tennessee, and Michael Vassalos from Clemson University. This group of editors has done a fantastic job managing a record number of submissions. We also welcome and congratulate the new team of editors, composed of Karen DeLong and Carlos Trejo-Pech from the University of Tennessee, Aleks Schaefer from Oklahoma State University, and Seong Yun from Mississippi State University. The team was selected from among several strong groups that applied for the position. We thank all the members who expressed interest in serving the Association.
Second, I want to announce a new initiative: a Special JAAE Issue initiative spearheaded by the outgoing group of editors on sustainability and economic development (see announcement below). The special issue intends to expand the topics published in the Journal, with a focus on current and relevant issues, as well as broadening the geographic diversity of authors and contributions. We thank Michael Vassalos and Edward Yu for agreeing to continue serving as invited editors of this special issue even after their term as regular editors has ended.
Together, these developments leave me very hopeful for the future of the SAEA and its Journal, as a new generation of agricultural economists engaged in both brings renewed energy and perspectives.
[1] Havlicek Jr, J., 1983. The Southern Agricultural Economics Association: Past, Present, and Future. Journal of Agricultural and Applied Economics, 16(1), 1-6.
2 Segarra, E., 1998. Current State and Future Directions of SAEA. Journal of Agricultural and Applied Economics, 30(1), 1-19.
3 Petrolia, D.R. and Hudson, D. 2013. Why is the Journal of Agricultural & Applied Economics Not in the Major Citation Indices and Does It Really Matter? Journal of Agricultural and Applied Economics, 45(3), 381-388.
4 Hilmer, C.E. and Hilmer, M.J. 2007. On the Relationship between the Student-Advisor Match and Early Career Research Productivity for Agricultural and Resource Economics Ph.D.s. American Journal of Agricultural Economics, 89(1), 162-175.
5 Beilock, R. and Polopolus, L. 1988. Ranking of Agricultural Economics Departments: Influence of Regional Journals, Joint Authorship, and Self-Citations. American Journal of Agricultural Economics, 70(2), 403-409.