About

Michael Ellerbrock is a Professor in the Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics at Virginia Tech, located in Hutcheson Hall, Blacksburg, VA. He holds a Ph.D. in Applied Economics from Clemson University, earned in 1980, along with a Master of Regional Planning and a Bachelor's degree in Recreation and Parks from Clemson University and Texas A&M University, respectively. Ellerbrock is passionate about connecting with students and igniting their curiosity for economics. Beyond his teaching responsibilities, he is deeply involved in impactful Extension initiatives, including the Virginia Natural Resources Leadership Institute (VNRLI) and the EPA's National Environmental Justice Advisory Council (NEJAC). His research and outreach focus on sustainable development, environmental justice, and the economic impacts of ecotourism, among other topics. Throughout his career, he has received numerous awards for teaching excellence and service, including the Virginia Tech Principles of Community Award, the AAEA Distinguished Teaching Award, and the USDA National Award for Teaching Excellence. His work emphasizes the importance of environmental justice and sustainable development, contributing to both academic scholarship and practical policy solutions.

Research topics

• Business
• Economics
• Sociology
• Political science
• Computer science

Selected publications

• Conceptualizing the True Nature of Cost: Agriculture, Education and Falling in Love

  JOJ Horticulture & Arboriculture · 2018-06-26

  articleOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  Horticulture & Arboriculture (JOJHA) is an international Journal publishes original research on horticultural an arboriculture crops and their products or directly related research areas. The journal includes various aspects of horticultural science and directly related subjects such as: - Biotechnology - Developmental Physiology - Environmental Stress Physiology

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Sustainable development requires environmental justice

  International Journal of Sustainable Development and Planning · 2018-02-01 · 6 citations

  articleOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  As an appointed member of the U.S. Environmental

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Conceptualizing the True Nature of Cost: Agriculture, Education and Falling in Love

  Agricultural Research & Technology Open Access Journal · 2017-11-21

  articleOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  Agricultural Research & Technology: Open Access Journal is a dynamic journal for publishing research reports, short communications, Critical Reviews in Agricultural Economics and Farm Management, Agronomy, Forestry, Animal Science, Food Technology, etc. The goal of the open access journalsis to publish articles on new and emerging fields and concepts for providing future directions to promote agricultural research globally. It is a unique open access journal covering all the disciplines of crop sciences, animal sciences, fishery sciences, forestry sciences and natural resources management sciences, to stimulate interest in inter-disciplinary research. This open access journal will catalyze policy development on issues impacting rational agricultural growth and development globally. It also publishes open access books.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Factors Affecting Income Over Feed Cost by County on Northeast Texas Dairies

  Texas journal of agriculture and natural resources · 2016-12-16

  articleOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  Using Dairy Herd Improvement Association (DHIA) records on Northeast Texas farms, this study develops a predictive model of Income Over Feed cost (IOFC) for the region as a whole and for individual counties. Emphasis is placed on factors under a manager's regular control, as opposed to long run structural changes or investments. The findings present quantitative estimates of the in-fluence of various factors on IOFC; e.g., each hour between milkings from a.m. to p.m. tended to reduce IOFC per cow by $0.47 to $0.51 per day, whereas the pounds of concentrate fed, Holstein breed and month of March raised IOFC by $0.38, $4.16, and $0.95 per day, respectively.

  Publisher

• Dairy Herd Size and Income Over Feed Cost

  Texas journal of agriculture and natural resources · 2016-11-08

  articleOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  Dairy herd size was examined for possible direct or indirect influence on Income Over Feed Cost per cow. Monthly Dairy Herd Improvement Association records were used to predict daily Income Over Feed Cost by herd size categories. The monetary impact of 146 factors recorded monthly per herd are examined by multiple regression and the findings are presented for the 19 most significant factors. The most important positive contributors to Income Over Feed Cost are the percent of cows in milk, energy value of concentrates fed, mean cow weight, days in milk, and Persistency Index. The most significant negative factors are the days open, percent of herd milking over 305 days, somatic cell count, and mixed herds. Herd size, age, first breeding conception rate, and the percent of possible breedings actually serviced were not significant predictors.

  Publisher

• How Can Virginia Cooperative Extension Promote Civic Harmony in Our Polarized World?

  VTechWorks (Virginia Tech) · 2014-03-17

  articleOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  The Virginia Natural Resources Leadership Institute (VNRLI) trains agents, community leaders, activists, educators, industry officials, and environmental professionals in group strategies and personal skills for pursuing consensus-based solutions to complex local problems.

  PublisherOA PDF

• Common Ground: How Can Virginia Cooperative Extension Promote Civic Harmony in Our Polarized World?

  VTechWorks (Virginia Tech) · 2014-03-17

  articleOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  The Virginia Natural Resources Leadership Institute (VNRLI) trains agents, community leaders, activists, educators, industry officials, and environmental professionals in group strategies and personal skills for pursuing consensus-based solutions to complex local problems.

  PublisherOA PDF

• Cost-Effectiveness of Nutrition Education Programs for Limited-Resource Youth

  Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior · 2012-06-26

  article
  PublisherDOI

• Evolution of a Liberal Education Course Linking Agriculture, the Arts, and Society

  2010-03-01

  article
  Publisher

• Applying Cost Benefit Analysis to Nutrition Education Programs: Focus on the Virginia Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program

  VTechWorks (Virginia Tech) · 2009-05-01 · 13 citations

  articleSenior author

  This study presents the procedures and results of a cost-benefit analysis of Virginia EFNEP to measure the economic efficiency of the program for the federal sponsors.

  Publisher

Frequent coauthors

• Gary J. Wells

  13 shared

• James C. Hite

  6 shared

• J. D. Roach

  2 shared

• Michael Lambur

  2 shared

• J. Walter Milon

  2 shared

• J. S. Norwood

  2 shared

• Karen Roth Gehrt

  1 shared

• Dave Moore

  1 shared

Awards & honors

• 2025 Virginia Tech Principles of Community Award
• 2022 Recipient of the AAEA - Agricultural & Applied Economic…
• 2020 Virginia Tech Academy of Faculty Service
• 2019 Virginia Tech CALS Diversity and Inclusion Service Awar…
• 2010 University Wine Award for teaching excellence