The Cornell Program on Dairy
Markets and Policy is an applied research and extension education program of
the Department of Applied Economics and
Management in the College of
Agriculture and Life Sciences at Cornell
University. It builds on a history of leadership and excellence at Cornell
University in the area of dairy marketing that dates to the early 1920s.
Personnel
Andrew M. Novakovic
Mark W. Stephenson
Charles F. Nicholson
Angela M. Gloy
Andrea M. Besley
Dr. Leland Spencer was the first land-grant
university economist to devote his career exclusively to the study of dairy
markets and policy. Appointed to the faculty at Cornell in 1924, he initiated
the first regular undergraduate course in dairy marketing in 1926, a course
that is still taught today. In the early 1930s, he was the research director
for a landmark New York State legislative commission. The extensive report he
wrote became the basis of New York's economic policies for the dairy industry
and influenced federal legislation in the 1930s. An exacting researcher with an
unusual penchant for detail and thoroughness, Dr. Spencer's career spanned the
era during which government programs were borne and matured, and his body of
work covers the full range of topics relevant to dairy markets and policy.
In the 1940s, Dr. Spencer was joined by
Dr. Robert Story. Dr. Story also focused his attention on research and teaching
related to dairy markets and policy. Like Dr. Spencer, he was particularly
noted for his analytical talents and attention to detail. His counsel was
frequently sought and highly valued by dairy cooperatives in New York and the
Northeast, with whom he had a long and productive association.
In the early 1970s, after Dr. Spencer
retired, Walter Wasserman was hired as a Senior Extension Associate to work
through Cornell Cooperative Extension and develop an expanded statewide program
in dairy markets and policy. Mr. Wasserman worked closely with other Extension
Educators and industry members to help farmers and others better understand the
dairy market environment and the policies which regulate and influence it. He
developed a particular expertise in the area of milk transportation.
Dr. Andrew Novakovic joined the Cornell
faculty in 1979, just prior to Dr. Story's retirement. Under his leadership,
the Program on Dairy Markets and Policy was organized to build upon the
distinguished historical emphasis in this area and further enhance the program.
Dr. Mark Stephenson was hired in 1993 as a Senior Extension Associate,
following Mr. Wasserman's retirement. Dr. Charles Nicholson joined the Program in 2000 as a Senior
Research Associate. The most
recent addition to the Program staff is Dr. Angela Gloy in the position of
Research Associate. Ms. Andrea
Besley serves the Program in the role of Research Aide, providing
administrative and program support.
last updated July 2004