Biography

Dr. Richard A. Levins has worked directly with farmers, farm groups, and public officials for almost 25 years in matters of farm management, farm policy, and sustainable agriculture. On campus, he has taught first-year economics, the history of U.S. agriculture, and research methods for graduate students. Dr. Levins is a native of Florida. He received his BA in Mathematics and his MS in Food and Resource Economics from the University of Florida in Gainesville. His doctorate in Agricultural Economics was earned at Mississippi State University. Before joining the University of Minnesota in 1988, he served on the faculty of the University of Maryland and the University of Florida. Dr. Levins has authored or co-authored over 150 professional papers, popular articles, books, book reviews, and conference presentations. His professional articles have appeared in American Journal of Agricultural Economics, Choices, Journal of Soil and Water Conservation, American Journal of Alternative Agriculture, Journal of Production Agriculture, and Land Economics. His most recent book is Willard Cochrane and the American Family Farm, a story of farm policy and family farming in the twentieth century. Dr. Levins was honored as a Food and Society Policy Fellow during 2001-2003. He writes extensively for the media on issues of family farming, collective bargaining for farmers, and competition in the food system. His articles have appeared in many major newspapers including the St. Louis Post Dispatch, Minneapolis Star Tribune, and the Detroit Free Press. He also writes regularly for major farm publications including Hoard's Dairyman and Successful Farming. Dr. Levins retired from the Minnesota Extension Service. He maintains an active consulting practice.