The U.S. Census Bureau and the Local Employment Dynamics (LED) Partnership in collaboration with the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) and the Labor Market Information (LMI) Institute, welcomes Alan Spell and Justin Krohn as they present “The Importance of Off-Farm Income to the Agriculture Economy.” Off-farm jobs and income are critically important to farmers and ranchers, as the rural and agricultural economy has evolved over the past half century to benefit connected and diverse communities. While growing rural and urban economic interdependence can be hard to see at times, an appreciation of this dynamic relationship is vital to informing policies that strengthen the financial health of communities and agricultural producers alike. Misunderstanding of “rural” connectiveness and industry diversity can lead to well-intentioned federal programs that actually hinder policy efforts to support these communities. Using the Longitudinal Employer-Household Dynamics (LEHD) Origin-Destination Employment Statistics (LODES) data, studies found commuting gains speed, especially in rural counties.:  

Alan Spell is an Assistant Extension Professor in the University of Missouri’s Division of Applied Social Sciences. Spell’s current work includes industry and workforce analysis, regional economic development, economic impact studies, and spatial data analysis.  

Alan has worked in economic/workforce development for over 25 years in various roles including labor and industry research, land planning, and site selection. He holds degrees in economics and landscape architecture, as well as certification as an Economic Research Professional.  

Prior to joining the University in January 2020, Alan led the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center (MERIC) at the Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development.  

Justin Krohn is a Research Project Analyst for the Center for Applied Research and Engagement Systems, for the University of Missouri-Extension.

Justin works within SQL server and utilizes python, R, and Powershell to complete other data related tasks. He works to automate data flows from beginning to end including data download, processing, and mapping/visualization with these and other tools.  

Justin has a Bachelor’s in science in Natural Resources from Washington State, and a Master's in Geography from Western Illinois University, with a Post-Baccalaureate certificate in Community Development and Planning. Justin is currently pursuing his PhD in geoinformatics with an interest in conservation, natural resource management, and their human dimensions.