Molly Sears
Publications on Google Scholar
Dr. Sears is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics, appointed in the tenure system. She graduated from UC Berkeley with a PhD in Agricultural and Resource Economics in May 2022.
Dr. Sears’s research integrates agricultural and environmental policy, focusing on improving agricultural productivity while preserving soil health and water quality. Her work is stakeholder focused and takes an interdisciplinary approach, including agricultural producers, agronomists, and hydrologists (among others) to provide valuable context and rigorous science behind her economic analysis. Dr. Sears’s research agenda is currently comprised of three main components: (1) nutrient management, application, and behavior; (2) innovations and adaptation in agricultural water quality; and (3) agricultural resilience to climate and market shocks. Dr. Sears also has an Extension appointment, working with Michigan agricultural communities on topics related to specialty crops, irrigation and water quality, and Farm Bill, marketing, and conservation programs.
Dr. Sears has published her work in a variety of journals, including Ecological Economics, Applied Economics Perspectives and Policy, European Review of Agricultural Economics, Agriculture and Human Values, and Land Use Policy. She has presented her work at over 30 conferences and seminars, as well as many grower and technical adviser meetings.
Research and Outreach Interests
- Technology adoption and innovation
- Water management and policy
- Nutrient Management
- Choice Modeling
- Survey Design
Teaching Experience
- (MSU) AFRE 300: Public Policy in the Agri-Food System, Spring Semester (2023-2024)
- (UC Berkeley) EEP C101: Environmental Economics, Summer (2019)
- (UC Berkeley) ARE 375: Pedagogy for ARE Graduate Student Instructors, Fall (2018)
Related Work
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Marketing spotlighted in new season of risk management series from MSU Extension
Published on October 30, 2024
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Review your break-even grain prices to secure profits or minimize losses
Published on October 30, 2024
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Join the Marketing and Input Strategies program to discuss securing profits and minimizing input costs
Published on October 30, 2024
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Analyzing the costs of energy for irrigation in Michigan
Published on September 13, 2024
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SCO Insurance Program and its use in Michigan
Published on March 1, 2024
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MSU Farm Bill Analyzer 2024
Published on December 8, 2023
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The Importance of checking irrigation system uniformity
Published on August 18, 2023
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Drought resources for Michigan farmers
Published on June 15, 2023