American Family Farmer

DANNELE PECK is Director and Agricultural Economist, USDA ARS Rangeland Resources and Systems Research Unit. Previously, she was an Associate Professor of Agricultural Economics at the University of Wyoming, where she conducted research, extension, and teaching for 10 years. Her area of expertise is decision-making under risk and uncertainty. Raised on a dairy farm in upstate New York, Dannele is a first-generation college graduate. Her region, which includes Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota -- is an agricultural powerhouse. Dairies are sprouting up and growing in Colorado, Nebraska and South Dakota, while beef cattle feedlots dot the landscape throughout. In crop production, the Dakotas rank high nationally for production of field crops like oats, wheat, sunflowers and dry beans. THE NORTHERN PLAINS HUB OF THE USDA is responsible for delivering science-based knowledge, practical information, management/conservation strategies, and decision tools to farmers, ranchers, forest