Jared Hutchins
@pablohutch.bsky.social
Assistant professor in Agricultural Economics at University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign
Research interests: agriculture/livestock/productivity/institutions/economic history/data viz
Research interests: agriculture/livestock/productivity/institutions/economic history/data viz
Happy Halloween!
October 27, 2025 at 2:01 AM
Happy Halloween!
Attempting to add to the drama here: someone taught me to do this and I never looked back.
Buy a Costco bag of garlic, spend an hour crushing it all at once, freeze it into a bag.
Break off chunks of delicious garlic popsicle when you need it.
Buy a Costco bag of garlic, spend an hour crushing it all at once, freeze it into a bag.
Break off chunks of delicious garlic popsicle when you need it.
October 17, 2025 at 7:58 PM
Attempting to add to the drama here: someone taught me to do this and I never looked back.
Buy a Costco bag of garlic, spend an hour crushing it all at once, freeze it into a bag.
Break off chunks of delicious garlic popsicle when you need it.
Buy a Costco bag of garlic, spend an hour crushing it all at once, freeze it into a bag.
Break off chunks of delicious garlic popsicle when you need it.
Bonus: I'm very proud of this table we did of public APIs, which we hoped could be useful for getting students started on APIs.
(though also nervous that these great data resources won't be available much longer if the admin keeps taking things down)
(though also nervous that these great data resources won't be available much longer if the admin keeps taking things down)
October 10, 2025 at 3:54 PM
Bonus: I'm very proud of this table we did of public APIs, which we hoped could be useful for getting students started on APIs.
(though also nervous that these great data resources won't be available much longer if the admin keeps taking things down)
(though also nervous that these great data resources won't be available much longer if the admin keeps taking things down)
We finally got to discuss a huge pet peeve of mine: the non-sensical diverging point on a diverging colormap.
Our example here illustrates the real misinterpretation that can result from using the wrong diverging point. In this case, it leads us to think unemployment rose instead of fell!
Our example here illustrates the real misinterpretation that can result from using the wrong diverging point. In this case, it leads us to think unemployment rose instead of fell!
October 10, 2025 at 3:51 PM
We finally got to discuss a huge pet peeve of mine: the non-sensical diverging point on a diverging colormap.
Our example here illustrates the real misinterpretation that can result from using the wrong diverging point. In this case, it leads us to think unemployment rose instead of fell!
Our example here illustrates the real misinterpretation that can result from using the wrong diverging point. In this case, it leads us to think unemployment rose instead of fell!
In my own experience teaching, I think the idea of a "pipeline" for data viz can be very helpful. In this paper, we use the collection -> processing -> visualization idea as a framework to discuss what tools exist in each language.
October 10, 2025 at 3:47 PM
In my own experience teaching, I think the idea of a "pipeline" for data viz can be very helpful. In this paper, we use the collection -> processing -> visualization idea as a framework to discuss what tools exist in each language.
In writing some of these sections, I did a deep dive into the seminal text by Edward Tufte. I think his minimalist style is often extreme for practitioners but helpful for teaching. His examples and principles help us think critically about when less can be more.
October 10, 2025 at 3:44 PM
In writing some of these sections, I did a deep dive into the seminal text by Edward Tufte. I think his minimalist style is often extreme for practitioners but helpful for teaching. His examples and principles help us think critically about when less can be more.
In some of our specifications, we even find that the info treatment increased WTP!
In our latent class model, we find that Class 3 (the younger and for more female class) was willing to pay more for diversity. Yet, the info treatment increased WTP across ALL classes.
In our latent class model, we find that Class 3 (the younger and for more female class) was willing to pay more for diversity. Yet, the info treatment increased WTP across ALL classes.
August 19, 2025 at 2:28 PM
In some of our specifications, we even find that the info treatment increased WTP!
In our latent class model, we find that Class 3 (the younger and for more female class) was willing to pay more for diversity. Yet, the info treatment increased WTP across ALL classes.
In our latent class model, we find that Class 3 (the younger and for more female class) was willing to pay more for diversity. Yet, the info treatment increased WTP across ALL classes.
Our fictional label on strawberries is "USDA Diverse Farmer," which we test with and without the organic label.
We also had an info treatment that showed about half of our respondents the current demographic makeup of agricultural producers (mostly white and male) before the choices.
We also had an info treatment that showed about half of our respondents the current demographic makeup of agricultural producers (mostly white and male) before the choices.
August 19, 2025 at 2:24 PM
Our fictional label on strawberries is "USDA Diverse Farmer," which we test with and without the organic label.
We also had an info treatment that showed about half of our respondents the current demographic makeup of agricultural producers (mostly white and male) before the choices.
We also had an info treatment that showed about half of our respondents the current demographic makeup of agricultural producers (mostly white and male) before the choices.
Kind of a mack when it comes to dog bites.
June 24, 2025 at 3:34 PM
Kind of a mack when it comes to dog bites.
My favorite detail of this work of AI fan fiction: the AI has a "Politics" stat where it becomes wildly... good at politics?
Also, I can't recommend the book "More Everything Forever" as necessary context about the belief system (religion, tbh) that produces this kind of writing.
Also, I can't recommend the book "More Everything Forever" as necessary context about the belief system (religion, tbh) that produces this kind of writing.
June 9, 2025 at 10:11 PM
My favorite detail of this work of AI fan fiction: the AI has a "Politics" stat where it becomes wildly... good at politics?
Also, I can't recommend the book "More Everything Forever" as necessary context about the belief system (religion, tbh) that produces this kind of writing.
Also, I can't recommend the book "More Everything Forever" as necessary context about the belief system (religion, tbh) that produces this kind of writing.
- On a more method focused note, the way that we usually approach estimating genetic gain in these trials is through variety fixed effects. Our main change is using the yield of the "check" variety as a control, and this had a big impact on how we estimated change using the FE method.
June 2, 2025 at 7:51 PM
- On a more method focused note, the way that we usually approach estimating genetic gain in these trials is through variety fixed effects. Our main change is using the yield of the "check" variety as a control, and this had a big impact on how we estimated change using the FE method.
The graph here shows that only in some years did GE varieties yield more than conventional.
Important to note: I think we had a higher rep of conventional varieties than other studies did.
Important to note: I think we had a higher rep of conventional varieties than other studies did.
June 2, 2025 at 7:48 PM
The graph here shows that only in some years did GE varieties yield more than conventional.
Important to note: I think we had a higher rep of conventional varieties than other studies did.
Important to note: I think we had a higher rep of conventional varieties than other studies did.
Example: we tabulated some great data from statistical bulletins for 1890 LGUs, showing how underfunded they were.
There are some great research questions to explore here!
There are some great research questions to explore here!
June 2, 2025 at 7:38 PM
Example: we tabulated some great data from statistical bulletins for 1890 LGUs, showing how underfunded they were.
There are some great research questions to explore here!
There are some great research questions to explore here!
Finally, in the early days of loans and subsidies, county committees had significant control over who got financial assistance from the government.
Black farmers were almost totally barred from county committees. Attempts at being elected were often met with stiff opposition.
Black farmers were almost totally barred from county committees. Attempts at being elected were often met with stiff opposition.
June 2, 2025 at 7:34 PM
Finally, in the early days of loans and subsidies, county committees had significant control over who got financial assistance from the government.
Black farmers were almost totally barred from county committees. Attempts at being elected were often met with stiff opposition.
Black farmers were almost totally barred from county committees. Attempts at being elected were often met with stiff opposition.
More blatant examples can be found in education policy.
In particular, Black farmers were owed equal funding for their Land Grants, called 1890s, but funding authority was given to state legislatures who often denied them funds.
Quotes from the congressional record show this had a racial goal.
In particular, Black farmers were owed equal funding for their Land Grants, called 1890s, but funding authority was given to state legislatures who often denied them funds.
Quotes from the congressional record show this had a racial goal.
June 2, 2025 at 7:31 PM
More blatant examples can be found in education policy.
In particular, Black farmers were owed equal funding for their Land Grants, called 1890s, but funding authority was given to state legislatures who often denied them funds.
Quotes from the congressional record show this had a racial goal.
In particular, Black farmers were owed equal funding for their Land Grants, called 1890s, but funding authority was given to state legislatures who often denied them funds.
Quotes from the congressional record show this had a racial goal.
Ok, but what does this have to do with racial inequity?
Well, after reaching their peak in 1920, the % of Black farmers dropped precipitously between 1920 and 1970.
A tempting conclusion is that this is not racial inequity, but simply the outcome of structural change, Cochrane's treadmill.
Well, after reaching their peak in 1920, the % of Black farmers dropped precipitously between 1920 and 1970.
A tempting conclusion is that this is not racial inequity, but simply the outcome of structural change, Cochrane's treadmill.
June 2, 2025 at 7:21 PM
Ok, but what does this have to do with racial inequity?
Well, after reaching their peak in 1920, the % of Black farmers dropped precipitously between 1920 and 1970.
A tempting conclusion is that this is not racial inequity, but simply the outcome of structural change, Cochrane's treadmill.
Well, after reaching their peak in 1920, the % of Black farmers dropped precipitously between 1920 and 1970.
A tempting conclusion is that this is not racial inequity, but simply the outcome of structural change, Cochrane's treadmill.
Polling my undergrads today after discussing school meal programs (~23 seniors and juniors).
Interestingly, a lot of them lived through the waivers during the pandemic so had a lot of personal experience with the programs.
Interestingly, a lot of them lived through the waivers during the pandemic so had a lot of personal experience with the programs.
April 24, 2025 at 7:11 PM
Polling my undergrads today after discussing school meal programs (~23 seniors and juniors).
Interestingly, a lot of them lived through the waivers during the pandemic so had a lot of personal experience with the programs.
Interestingly, a lot of them lived through the waivers during the pandemic so had a lot of personal experience with the programs.
Doing a tutorial on using the campus cluster for my department.
Looking forward to yet another year where this joke goes unappreciated.
Looking forward to yet another year where this joke goes unappreciated.
April 15, 2025 at 7:40 PM
Doing a tutorial on using the campus cluster for my department.
Looking forward to yet another year where this joke goes unappreciated.
Looking forward to yet another year where this joke goes unappreciated.
Super cool tool from the people at Open Street Map. A nice way to waste 10-20 minutes before a meeting!
It goes back to 4000 BCE it looks like
It goes back to 4000 BCE it looks like
March 26, 2025 at 3:58 PM
Super cool tool from the people at Open Street Map. A nice way to waste 10-20 minutes before a meeting!
It goes back to 4000 BCE it looks like
It goes back to 4000 BCE it looks like
Has anyone teaching seen students turn in papers with made up references like this?
I plugged my prompt into ChatGPT and it gave way better answers than this, so I'm wondering what LLM they are using to do this if any.
I plugged my prompt into ChatGPT and it gave way better answers than this, so I'm wondering what LLM they are using to do this if any.
March 6, 2025 at 9:16 PM
Has anyone teaching seen students turn in papers with made up references like this?
I plugged my prompt into ChatGPT and it gave way better answers than this, so I'm wondering what LLM they are using to do this if any.
I plugged my prompt into ChatGPT and it gave way better answers than this, so I'm wondering what LLM they are using to do this if any.
We then projected damages to 2050 using a number of climate models. We find mostly that extreme heat stress (> 140 heat load) will increase in the future. The losses from these dates is expected to double by 2050.
March 5, 2025 at 5:42 PM
We then projected damages to 2050 using a number of climate models. We find mostly that extreme heat stress (> 140 heat load) will increase in the future. The losses from these dates is expected to double by 2050.
An aside: this explains a result in another paper that finds cold stress impacts are just as high as heat stress. We can replicate this result by looking at the effects of "low THI" in our data.
However, this result goes away when we quality adjust. Cows are quite good in the cold.
However, this result goes away when we quality adjust. Cows are quite good in the cold.
March 5, 2025 at 5:39 PM
An aside: this explains a result in another paper that finds cold stress impacts are just as high as heat stress. We can replicate this result by looking at the effects of "low THI" in our data.
However, this result goes away when we quality adjust. Cows are quite good in the cold.
However, this result goes away when we quality adjust. Cows are quite good in the cold.