Stephanie Mercier

About Stephanie Mercier

I am now a full-time agricultural policy consultant, able to take on new projects in addition to continuing in a consulting role with the Farm Journal Foundation.Under my position as Director of Policy at the Farm Journal Foundation between 20••••17, I was able to use my background and experience to continue to work to promote international agricultural development issues.As chief economist on the Senate Agriculture Committee staff between 19••••11, I coordinated budget and economic analyses on numerous issues under the Committee\'s jurisdiction. In my previous role at USDA\'s Economic Research Service, I served a coordinating role in impact analyses of proposals for the Uruguay Round trade negotiations, between 1989-94.Also, I coordinated development and passage of trade title in the 2002 and 2008 farm bills, and crop insurance title in 2008 farm bill.Since leaving the Agriculture Committee in 2011, I have worked as an independent policy consultant on a number of agricultural issues, including food aid and agricultural development policy, farm programs and risk management, conservation/environmental policy, and renewable energy policy. I have also given a number of public presentations on farm bill and other agricultural policy issues.Specialties: agricultural trade policy, food aid policy and agricultural development, domestic farm programs, risk management policy, including federal crop insurance and disaster assistance programs

Experience

1. Senior Policy Advisor

   Farm Journal Foundation

   Jun 2017 — Present · Washington, DC, US

   For more than three years between 2014 and 2017, I managed the Farm Team program as Director of Policy and Advocacy at Farm Journal Foundation. In my current capacity as Senior Policy Advisor, I conduct policy analysis, develop advocacy and educational content and engage in coalition building for the Farm Journal Foundation.Since its launch in 2010, The Farm Journal Foundation (FJF) has brought new voices to the agricultural development policy table, broadening the agriculture discussion between stakeholders, and serves as a bridge between development and agricultural groups through several platforms: • HungerU, a Next Generation engagement platform aimed at millennial students, connects to university populations, raising awareness of nutrition and food security issues. Additionally, this platform provides experiential learning opportunities and classroom curriculum that directly connects students to a field-level view of the diversity and importance of the global food system. A vibrant digital and social media network engages more than students in ongoing education and advocacy opportunities.• Farmers Feeding the World, a national network of farmers passionate about the role of agriculture in addressing hunger around the world. Currently, elite farmers are active in sixteen states, engaging national policymakers at the local and at the federal level to advance the government’s commitment to international development in U.S. foreign policy. • The Farm Journal Foundation Dialogue identifies important policy moments and delivers the best, updated information available to decision makers at critical moments. Through this new platform, the FJF is working with some of the most elite, global thought leadership in the world on topics including agricultural research, institutional capacity building and trade to create concise, meaningful research papers.

Education

• Washington University in St. Louis

  A.B., cum laude, Economics

  1979 — 1983

• Iowa State University

  Ph.D., Agricultural Economics

  1983 — 1988

Skills

• International Economics
• Analysis
• Africa
• Federal Budget Expertise
• Economic Development
• Climate Change
• Sustainability
• Public Affairs
• Agricultural Policy
• International Relations
• Government
• Nonprofits
• Lobbying
• Research
• Policy Analysis
• Rural Development
• Economic Research
• International Trade
• Coalitions
• Political Campaigns
• Strategic Communications
• Community Development
• Legislative Relations
• European Union
• Environmental Policy
• Energy Policy
• Agriculture
• Program Evaluation
• Program Management
• Sustainable Development
• International Development
• Politics
• Capacity Building
• Econometrics
• Sustainable Agriculture
• Public Speaking
• Policy
• Economics
• Strategic Planning
• Proposal Writing