Adauto B. Rocha Jr., Ph.D.

Assistant Professor of Cooperative Extension and Director of the California Agriculture and Finance Policy Network (CA AgFin Network)

I am an applied agricultural economist with two Ph.D. degrees (Agricultural Economics and Applied Economics) and expertise in econometric and spatial modeling using Stata, R, OxMetrics, MATLAB, QGIS, and Google Earth. My research examines how risk, externalities, and institutional frictions shape decision-making among agricultural producers, and how targeted policy design and data-driven decision-support tools can improve efficiency, resilience, and welfare. I combine structural modelling, causal inference, experimental methods, and applied tool development to study both underlying mechanisms and practical solutions.

I develop accessible extension tools by integrating Power BI, API programming, Power Query, and Qualtrics, and lead interdisciplinary research on small farming, livestock, and environmental economics.

My consulting work for institutions such as the Brazilian Ministry of Information and Technology, the World Bank Group, Société d'Études Techniques et Économiques (SETEC), and the Climate and Land Use Alliance emphasizes causal inference grounded in both theoretical and empirical rigor.

I also have experience advising and mentoring students, having served on two Ph.D. committees at the University of São Paulo and currently co-advising a master's student at the University of Missouri-Columbia. Additionally, I advised 45 MBA students at Pecege (ESALQ-USP), primarily on economic feasibility analysis of projects.

Email: arochajr@ucanr.edu

Curriculum Vitae

About the California Agriculture and Finance Policy Network (CA AgFin Network):

The California Agricultural Finance and Policy Network (CA AgFin Network) is a new statewide initiative currently being established by the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR) in collaboration with the UC Davis Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, the UC Santa Cruz Center for Analytical Finance, and the Rural & Farm Finance Policy Analysis Center (RaFF) at the University of Missouri. The Network is designed to bring together agricultural producers, commodity organizations, agricultural lenders, appraisers, university researchers, Extension professionals, and public agencies to strengthen agricultural economic analysis, Extension programming, and policy development in California. The inaugural meeting is planned for Fall 2026.

The CA AgFin Network has two primary objectives. First, it provides a permanent forum where stakeholders will contribute to reviewing and providing feedback on the California Farm Income Outlook, helping ensure that economic projections reflect current market conditions, regional expertise, and industry knowledge before publication. Second, it serves as a statewide platform to identify emerging challenges, opportunities, and research and Extension priorities facing California agriculture. Through structured discussions, surveys, and stakeholder engagement, the Network will produce industry needs assessment reports that summarize emerging issues and recommendations from California's agricultural community. These reports will be shared with the Rural & Farm Finance Policy Analysis Center (RaFF) and the USDA Office of the Chief Economist (OCE) to help refine agricultural outlook projections and inform federal agricultural policy discussions, while also identifying areas where additional research, Extension, or policy attention may be needed.

The Network is supported by a Technical Advisory Board composed of faculty and Extension specialists from UC Santa Cruz, UC Davis, UC Berkeley, and UC ANR, together with an Industry Advisory Board representing California's major commodity organizations, agricultural lenders, appraisers, and other agricultural stakeholders. By fostering ongoing dialogue between California's agricultural community, researchers, and federal policymakers, the CA AgFin Network aims to strengthen the quality of agricultural economic information and support more informed decision-making across California's diverse agricultural sectors.

Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles

9. Rocha Jr., A. B.; Wilson, K.; Valli, L.; Mukembo, S.; Hendrickson, M. (2025). Trends and Barriers to Underserved Farmers’

Participation in Federal Conservation Programs and Their Association with Policy Changes. Choices, 41(1). (Link)

8. Kadari, P. K.; Singh, G.; Nelson, K. A.; Kaur, G.; Rocha Jr., A. B. (2025). Nitrapyrin Application at Different Topographic Positions

Affects Corn Productivity and Economic Returns. Agronomy Journal, 117(6). (Link)

7. Wang, S. L.; Nehring, R.; Mosheim, R.; Rocha Jr., A. B. (2025). Inputs, Outputs, and Total Factor Productivity in the U.S. Farm Sector: A New State-level Analysis (1960-2015). The Review of Income and Wealth, 71(1), e12718. (Link)

6. Rocha Jr., A. B.; Ferreira Filho, J. B. de S. (2024). Assessing the productivity effects of agricultural extension in a pluralistic system: an analysis of Brazilian family farming in 2017. The Journal of Agricultural Education and Extension (Taylor & Francis), 1-23. (Link).

5. Rocha Jr., A. B., Silva, R. O. D., Peterle Neto, W., & Rodrigues, C. T. (2020). Impact evaluation of technical assistance on the income of Brazilian family farmers in 2014. The Brazilian Journal of Rural Economics and Sociology (Brazil), 58. (Link)

4. Araujo, M. A. D., Martins, S. P., Sparovek, G., Ranieri, S. B. L., & Rocha Jr., A. B. (2020). Territorial analysis, development and technical assistance, and rural extension for family farming. Brazilian Journal of Agriculture, 95(2), 123-139. (Link)

3. Rocha Jr., A. B., de Freitas, J. A., Cassuce, F. C. D. C., & Costa, S. M. A. L. (2019). Determinants of the use of technical assistance by Brazilian family farmers in 2014. The Brazilian Journal of Rural Economics and Sociology (Brazil), 181-197. (Link)

2. Rocha Jr., A. B.; Cassuce, F. C. da C.; Cirino, J.F. (2017). Determinants of the use of rural credit through the National Program for Strengthening of Family Farming in 2014. Agricultural Policy Journal (Brazil), v.26, p.100 - 114. (Link)

1. Rocha Jr., A. B.; Sabbag, O. J.; Costa, S.M.A. L.; Carvalho, J. B. (2011). The efficiency of using rural credit and social capital in the aquaculture of Brazilian states in 2011. Agronomic Culture Journal (Brazil), v.24, p.355 - 368, 2015. (Link)

Grant funds as Principal Investigator (PI or Co-PI)

4. Role: PI. Project title: “California Farm Income Outlook and California Agricultural Finance and Policy Network (CA AgFin Network)” Funding Source: University of Missouri. Award Value: $110,000. Award Period: 07/01/2026 – 06/31/2027.

3. Role: PI. Project title: “Helping Farmers to Improve Drought Preparedness Through Participation in Federal Conservation Programs.” Funding Source: North Central Extension Risk Management Education Center (NCERME). Award Value: $74,710. Award Period: 04/01/2024 – 09/30/2025.

2. Role: Co-PI. Project title: “Advancing Aquaculture In The Midwestern Region”. Funding Source: North Central Regional Aquaculture Center (NCRAC). Award Value: $177,158. Award Period: 01/15/2024 – 06/15/2025.

1. Role: Co-PI. Do Crop Rotations and Cover Crops Impact Soil Health, Soil Water, Productivity, and Profitability in Missouri Soybean Systems? The Next Step. MO Soybean Merchandising Council (MSMC). Award Value: $28,000. Award Period: 04/01/2024 – 03/31/2025.

Grant funds as Colaborator

3. Role: Economic Analyst. Project title: “Drones: Use, Evaluation, and Field Demonstrations for Missouri Farming Systems.” Funding

Source: USDA-NRCS Missouri Conservation Innovation Grant (CIG). Award Value: $103,998. Award Period: 09/30/2023 – 09/30/2025.

2. Role: Economic Analyst. Project title: “Examining Accessibility And Inclusivity Of A Pilot App To Support Participation Of Climate-

Smart Agriculture Incentive Programs”. Funding Source: Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI). Award Value: $642,623.

Award Period: 09/01/2023 – 08/31/2027.

1. Role: Research Assistant. Project title: “Measurement of biological capital assets in the U.S. farm sector.” Economic Research Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA-ERS). Award Value: $143,474. Award Period: 01/01/2022 – 05/01/2025.

Other Publications and Research Experience

5 Book Chapters, Essays, and Other Publications
24 Selected Poster and Paper Presentations
16 Completed Research and Consulting Projects
4 Working Papers and 1 Journal Article under Review

Teaching and Advising Experience

3 courses taught as Visiting Professor in the MBA Program of the Continuing Education Program in Economics and Business

Management (PECEGE) at the University of São Paulo (ESALQ-USP)

45 students advised in the Master of Business Administration course of the Continuing Education Program in Economics and

Business Management (PECEGE) at the University of São Paulo (ESALQ-USP)

Teaching Assistant in 4 Institutions.
2 External Doctoral Committees and an ongoing Master's committee

Extension Experience

3 Extension Appointments
16 Extension Articles or Guides
20 Extension Tools
18 Extension Presentations

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