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John Newton, Ph.D., is the Executive Head of Terrain. Guiding the team’s endeavors, he has more than two decades of experience using data to address agriculture’s challenges.

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John Newton, Ph.D., is the Executive Head of Terrain. Guiding the team’s endeavors, he has more than two decades of experience using data to address agriculture’s challenges.

John has a deep understanding of how governmental policy and risk management programs impact the financial outcomes of America’s farming and ranching families. He previously held positions as the Republican Chief Economist for the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition &amp; Forestry, Chief Economist at the American Farm Bureau Federation and at the National Milk Producers Federation, as an economist for the U.S. Department of Agriculture and as an award-winning faculty member at the University of Illinois. In 2021, John received the Distinguished Alumni award from the Ohio State University, where he earned his Ph.D. in agricultural economics and master’s degrees in applied economics and macroeconomics.

John has a deep understanding of how governmental policy and risk management programs impact the financial outcomes of America’s farming and ranching families. He previously held positions as the Republican Chief Economist for the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition &amp; Forestry, Chief Economist at the American Farm Bureau Federation and at the National Milk Producers Federation, as an economist for the U.S. Department of Agriculture and as an award-winning faculty member at the University of Illinois. In 2021, John received the Distinguished Alumni award from the Ohio State University, where he earned his Ph.D. in agricultural economics and master’s degrees in applied economics and macroeconomics.

<a href="mailto:jnewton@agloan.com">Email John</a>

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John Newton

Bree Baatz is a Terrain grain and oilseed analyst. During her previous, nearly 20-year tenure at Union Pacific Railroad, Bree accumulated extensive experience with research, marketing, strategy, pricing, forecasting and analysis. Some of the commodities she’s covered include corn, soybeans, wheat, milo, oilseed meals, DDGs and other corn milling byproducts, fertilizers, and feed ingredients.

Bree Baatz is a Terrain grain and oilseed analyst. During her previous, nearly 20-year tenure at Union Pacific Railroad, Bree accumulated extensive experience with research, marketing, strategy, pricing, forecasting and analysis. Some of the commodities she’s covered include corn, soybeans, wheat, milo, oilseed meals, DDGs and other corn milling byproducts, fertilizers, and feed ingredients.

Bree is passionate about improving on-farm business decisions based on data-proven research. She brings firsthand knowledge of the importance to U.S. farmers of transportation and other supply chain-related resources. Bree earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Nebraska – Lincoln and Master of Business Administration from Bellevue University.

Bree is passionate about improving on-farm business decisions based on data-proven research. She brings firsthand knowledge of the importance to U.S. farmers of transportation and other supply chain-related resources. Bree earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Nebraska – Lincoln and Master of Business Administration from Bellevue University.

<a href="mailto: bbaatz@agloan.com" data-type="mailto" data-id="mailto: bbaatz@agloan.com">Email Bree</a>

<a href="mailto: bbaatz@agloan.com" data-type="mailto" data-id="mailto: bbaatz@agloan.com">Email Bree</a>

Meet Bree Baatz, one of Terrain's grain analysts

Grain

Bree Baatz

Chris Bitter, Ph.D., is Terrain’s senior wine and grape analyst, focusing on generating research and insights in the areas that impact the business of vineyards and wineries. With more than 20 years of experience as an economist and market analyst, Chris is a former faculty member of the University of Washington’s Runstad Center for Real Estate Studies. In 2016, he left his academic position to launch Vintage Economics, a market research and consulting firm focused on the wine industry.

Chris Bitter, Ph.D., is Terrain’s senior wine and grape analyst, focusing on generating research and insights in the areas that impact the business of vineyards and wineries. With more than 20 years of experience as an economist and market analyst, Chris is a former faculty member of the University of Washington’s Runstad Center for Real Estate Studies. In 2016, he left his academic position to launch Vintage Economics, a market research and consulting firm focused on the wine industry.

Chris earned his Ph.D. in economic geography with a minor in agricultural and resource economics from the University of Arizona. His research has been published in a variety of national and international publications, including the Journal of Wine Economics, and he has delivered presentations at wine industry conferences around the globe.

Chris earned his Ph.D. in economic geography with a minor in agricultural and resource economics from the University of Arizona. His research has been published in a variety of national and international publications, including the Journal of Wine Economics, and he has delivered presentations at wine industry conferences around the globe.

<a href="mailto:cbitter@agloan.com" data-type="internal">Email Chris</a>

<a href="mailto:cbitter@agloan.com" data-type="internal">Email Chris</a>

Grapes & Wine

Chris Bitter

Matt Clark is Terrain’s senior rural economy analyst, focusing on the impacts of interest rates, land values and other macroeconomic trends on agriculture. He previously worked as the senior industry analyst with American AgCredit, one of the largest associations in the Farm Credit System, and as an assistant economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City.

Matt Clark is Terrain’s senior rural economy analyst, focusing on the impacts of interest rates, land values and other macroeconomic trends on agriculture. He previously worked as the senior industry analyst with American AgCredit, one of the largest associations in the Farm Credit System, and as an assistant economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City.

Matt has an extensive background analyzing and forecasting key commodities such as wine grapes, field crops, dairy, beef, permanent plantings and forest products; providing macroeconomic analysis, statistical validation of risk models; and chairing various commodity and risk analysis committees. Matt earned his BS and MS degrees in agricultural economics from Kansas State University.

Matt has an extensive background analyzing and forecasting key commodities such as wine grapes, field crops, dairy, beef, permanent plantings and forest products; providing macroeconomic analysis, statistical validation of risk models; and chairing various commodity and risk analysis committees. Matt earned his BS and MS degrees in agricultural economics from Kansas State University.

<a href="mailto:mclark@terrainag.com">Email Matt</a>

Industry

Macroeconomics

Matt Clark

Don Close is Terrain’s Chief Research &amp; Analytics Officer. Don’s prior experience includes his work as a senior animal protein analyst at Rabobank, and as a market director for the Texas Cattle Feeders Association, where he worked on all economic and market-sensitive policy issues for cattle feeders in Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico.&nbsp;

Don Close is Terrain’s Chief Research &amp; Analytics Officer. Don’s prior experience includes his work as a senior animal protein analyst at Rabobank, and as a market director for the Texas Cattle Feeders Association, where he worked on all economic and market-sensitive policy issues for cattle feeders in Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico.&nbsp;

In his three decades of professional experience, Don has been a licensed commodity broker, handled risk management and pricing for large cattle operations, managed a grain procurement program, and published market updates and outlooks for cattle and hogs. Don has conducted research on a wide range of topics including confinement cow/calf operations, dairy-beef crossbreeds, and development in international trade. Don earned his BS in agricultural economics from West Texas A&amp;M.

In his three decades of professional experience, Don has been a licensed commodity broker, handled risk management and pricing for large cattle operations, managed a grain procurement program, and published market updates and outlooks for cattle and hogs. Don has conducted research on a wide range of topics including confinement cow/calf operations, dairy-beef crossbreeds, and development in international trade. Don earned his BS in agricultural economics from West Texas A&amp;M.

<a href="mailto:dclose@terrainag.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Email Don</a>

<a href="mailto:dclose@terrainag.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Email Don</a>

Don Close

Ben Laine is Terrain’s senior dairy analyst. His previous experience includes work as a dairy analyst for Rabobank, a senior economist covering the dairy industry at CoBank, and a commodity hedging manager and economist at Agri-Mark dairy farmer cooperative. While at Agri-Mark, he developed a tool for dairy producers to manage their milk price risk. 

Ben Laine is Terrain’s senior dairy analyst. His previous experience includes work as a dairy analyst for Rabobank, a senior economist covering the dairy industry at CoBank, and a commodity hedging manager and economist at Agri-Mark dairy farmer cooperative. While at Agri-Mark, he developed a tool for dairy producers to manage their milk price risk.

Ben has also developed trading and risk management programs for commercial dairy commodity businesses, produced price forecasts and provided economic outlooks. His research has spanned the dairy supply chain, consumer trends, methane reduction and export markets. Ben earned his MS in resource economics at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

Ben has also developed trading and risk management programs for commercial dairy commodity businesses, produced price forecasts and provided economic outlooks. His research has spanned the dairy supply chain, consumer trends, methane reduction and export markets. Ben earned his MS in resource economics at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

<a href="mailto:blaine@terrainag.com">Email Ben</a>

Dairy

Ben Laine

Dave Weaber is Terrain’s senior animal protein analyst. Dave’s career analyzing the animal and meat production business has spanned many sectors of the meat supply chain, from primary production, slaughter and processing to the retail grocery and food service sectors. His career’s work has covered the beef, pork and poultry industries.&nbsp;

Dave Weaber is Terrain’s senior animal protein analyst. Dave’s career analyzing the animal and meat production business has spanned many sectors of the meat supply chain, from primary production, slaughter and processing to the retail grocery and food service sectors. His career’s work has covered the beef, pork and poultry industries.&nbsp;

Dave has experience translating broad market and supply chain trends into actionable strategy for cow-calf and other cattle producers. He has served as a trustee of the Colorado 4-H Youth Fund and on the National Pork Board Retail Advisory Committee. Dave earned his BS and MS in animal science and ruminant nutrition from Colorado State University.

Dave has experience translating broad market and supply chain trends into actionable strategy for cow-calf and other cattle producers. He has served as a trustee of the Colorado 4-H Youth Fund and on the National Pork Board Retail Advisory Committee. Dave earned his BS and MS in animal science and ruminant nutrition from Colorado State University.

<a href="mailto:dweaber@terrainag.com">Email Dave</a>

Beef

Swine

Dave Weaber

Matt Woolf, Ph.D., is Terrain’s specialty crop analyst, focusing on tree nuts, fruits and vegetables. He is a native of California’s Central Valley, where his family grows almonds, pistachios and a variety of row crops.

Matt Woolf, Ph.D., is Terrain’s specialty crop analyst, focusing on tree nuts, fruits and vegetables. He is a native of California’s Central Valley, where his family grows almonds, pistachios and a variety of row crops.

Matt has an extensive academic, teaching and research background in economics. He earned bachelor’s degrees in political science and economics, a master’s degree in international and development economics, and a Ph.D. in economics from the Australian National University. He has experience in economic modeling, macroeconomic analysis, data science techniques and their applications in agriculture.

Matt has an extensive academic, teaching and research background in economics. He earned bachelor’s degrees in political science and economics, a master’s degree in international and development economics, and a Ph.D. in economics from the Australian National University. He has experience in economic modeling, macroeconomic analysis, data science techniques and their applications in agriculture.

<a href="mailto: mwoolf@terrainag.com">Email Matt.</a>

Fruit, Nut & Vegetable

Matt Woolf

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