Faculty Profile

James Pritchett

August 2009

Water is the lifeblood for any farmer. James Pritchett, associate professor in the College of Agricultural Sciences' Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, is developing strategies for growing crops for small- and medium- sized farms with limited water resources.

"I'm part of an interdisciplinary team interested in enhancing agricultural production, profitability and sustainability with limited irrigation supplies," Pritchett said. "We have been successful in creating research and demonstration sites focusing on the techniques. The sites are located near the Colorado cities of Akron, Berthoud, Fort Collins, and Iliff."

Pritchett's research and outreach efforts target applied economic issues important to stakeholders in Colorado agriculture and throughout the West. Most recently, he has focused on water resources. Specifically on how farms might make the best use of limited water resources, the economic activity generated by irrigated agriculture in rural regional economies, and the perceptions that households have for water use.

Additionally, Pritchett has researched if crop insurance is an effective risk management tool for dry land wheat farmers, the economics of animal disease, and creating business plans for small and medium sized businesses.

Pritchett is one of several CSU professors exploring the future of Colorado agriculture. He is involved in a year-long study that addresses major issues facing the agriculture industry in Colorado including consumer demand, economic conditions, marketing, environmental factors, water, labor practices and land use issues.

His research has been supported by the USDA's National Research Initiative competitive grants program, the Colorado Water Resources Research Institute, the USDA Agricultural Research Service, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and Colorado's Agriculture Experiment Station.

Pritchett also won the Western Agricultural Economics Association's 2009 Outstanding Undergraduate Teacher Award for professors with less than 10 years experience.

He came to Colorado State in 2001. Pritchett holds a Ph.D. in Agricultural and Applied Economics from the University of Minnesota. He earned his master's degree in Agricultural and Resource Economics from Colorado State University in 1995 and his bachelor's degree in Agriculture Business from CSU in 1993.