Assistant Professor, Agricultural and Applied Economics
| E-mail address: | |
| Telephone: | (608) 265-6514 |
| Fax: | (608) 262-4376 |
| Office Address: | 418 Taylor Hall
427 Lorch St.
Madison, WI 53706 |
Prof. Mitchell's Curriculum Vitae (PDF) 
Prof. Mitchell's Personal Web Page
Research Interests
My research emphasizes understanding the role of information and uncertainty in technology adoption and input use in order to improve environmental policies for agriculture. Specific applications include using contract theory to assess fines, subsidies, and insurance to encourage/enforce compliance with Bt corn refuge requirements and evaluating insurance to encourage adoption of nutrient best management practices and integrated pest management. My other research in pest economics includes improving econometric models for estimating pest damage functions with experimental data and using population-genetics simulation models to evaluate insect and weed resistance management strategies.
Outreach and Extension Interests
My extension program focuses on making my research useful to UW Extension system, especially in the Agriculture and Natural Resources Program, as well as to farmers and groups concerned with improving cropping systems and environmental management in Wisconsin.
Recent Publications
- D. W. Crowder, D. W. Onstad, M. E. Gray, P. D. Mitchell, J. L. Spencer and R. J. Brazee. "Economic Analysis of Dynamic Management Strategies Utilizing Transgenic Corn for Control of Western Corn Rootworm (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)" Journal of Economic Entomology 98(2005)
- D. W. Onstad, D. W. Crowder, P. D. Mitchell, C. A. Guse, J. L. Spencer, E. Levine and M. E. Gray "Economics versus Alleles: Balancing IPM and IRM for Rotation-Resistant Western Corn Rootworm (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)" Journal of Economic Entomology 96(2003)
- J. M. Alston, J. Hyde, M. C. Marra and P. D. Mitchell "An Ex Ante Analysis of the Benefits from the Adoption of Corn Rootworm Resistant, Transgenic Corn Technology" AgBioForum 5(2003)
- P. D. Mitchell and D. W. Onstad "Effect of Extended Diapause on the Evolution of Resistance to Transgenic Bacillus thuringiensis Corn by Northern Corn Rootworm (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)" Journal of Economic Entomology 98(2005)
- T. C. Mueller, P. D. Mitchell, B. G. Young and A. S. Culpepper "Proactive versus Reactive Management of Glyphosate-Resistant or Tolerant Weeds" Weed Technology 19(2005)
- P.D. Mitchell and T.M. Hurley "Adverse Selection, Moral Hazard, and Grower Compliance with Bt Corn Refuge." in R. E. Just / J. Alston / D. Zilberman, ed. Economics of Regulation of Agricultural Biotechnologies. New York: Springer, 2006, pp.599-624.
Education
Ph.D., 1999, Economics (Major Agricultural Economics), Iowa State University
M.A., 1991, Classics, University of Wisconsin-Madison
B.A., 1990, History, Iowa State University