Tony Prato

Professor Emeritus of Agricultural Economics, and
Co-Director Emeritus, Center for Agricultural, Resource and Environmental Systems
College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources
University of Missouri-Columbia


12310 Paradise Loop Rd.
Marion, MT 59925
Tel: (406) 858-2235
E-mail: PratoA@missouri.edu

Education

  • PhD, Agricultural Economics, Univ. California (Berkeley), 1969
  • MA, Applied Statistics, Univ. California (Berkeley), 1968
  • MS, Agricultural Economics, Purdue University, 1966
  • BS, Agriculture (with honors), Univ. Connecticut, 1964

Honors/Awards

  • Distinguished Researcher Award, College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, University of Missouri-Columbia. 2006.
  • USDA Group Honor Award for Excellence to principal investigators of Management Systems Evaluation Areas Project, 1997.
  • Soil and Water Conservation Society Honorable Mention Award for "Converting hydric cropland to wetland in Missouri: A geoeconomic analysis,"J. Soil and Water Cons. 50(1995):101-106
  • Gamma Sigma Delta Distinguished Award in Research, University of Missouri-Columbia, 1996
  • Norman A. and Ruth A. Berg Fellow in Conservation Policy, Soil and Water Cons. Society, 1995-96
  • Gamma Sigma Delta Graduate Level Superior Teaching Award, University of Missouri-Columbia, 1992
  • Nominated for the Gold Chalk Award (for graduate teaching), 1991
  • Quality step pay increase, US Department of Energy, 1979
  • Giannini Foundation Fellowship in Agricultural Economics, 1966-68
  • MS thesis received outstanding award from American Farm Economics Association, 1966

Current Appointments

Areas of Expertise - Research

  • Integrated modeling and analysis of human-environmental systems
  • Assessing ecological economic impacts of climate and land use changes
  • Adaptive management of natural systems
  • Conservation and management of parks and protected areas
  • Multiple attribute decision-making
  • Spatial decision support systems
  • Risk and uncertainty analysis

Areas of Expertise - Teaching

  • Natural resource and environmental economics
  • Conservation and management of protected areas

Current Projects

  • Adaptively Managing Agricultural Production for Future Climate and Land Use Changes in Montana’s Flathead River Basin, USDA-CSREES-NRI, 2006-2009
    http://cares.missouri.edu/agclim-montana/
  • Assessing and Adaptively Managing Wildfire Risk in the Wildland-Urban Interface for Future Climate and Land Use Changes (no website yet)

Selected Publications

Prato, T. 2009. Evaluating tradeoffs between economic and wildlife values associated with future economic growth and development in the Northern Rocky Mountains. Mountain Research and Development 29:46-58. http://www.bioone.org/doi/pdf/10.1659/mrd.992

Prato, T. 2009. Fuzzy adaptive management of social and ecological carrying capacities for protected areas. Journal of Environmental Management. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2009.01.015.

Prato, T. 2009. Evaluating and managing wildlife impacts of climate change under uncertainty. Ecological Modelling. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2009.01.010

Prato, T. 2009. Adaptive management of natural systems using fuzzy logic. 2009. Environmental Modelling & Software. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.envsoft.2009.01.007.

Prato, T., A. Clark, and Y. Barnett. 2008. Evaluating potential wildlife impacts of future land development adjacent to protected areas. George Wright Forum 25:70-88.

Prato, T. 2008. Conceptual framework for assessing and managing the ecosystem impacts of climate change. Ecological Complexity. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ecocom.2008.09.002

Prato, T. 2008. Stochastic multiple attribute evaluation of land use policies. Ecological Modelling 219:115-124. Online at http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6VBS-4TJ505X-4&_user=3419478&_rdoc=1&_fmt=&_orig=search&_sort=d&view=c&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=3419478&md5=9f53caaa2556ff7f8e3b6ec5481137f5

Prato, T. 2008. Adaptive management for national parks: consideration for an experimental approach. Park Science 25:Summer.

Prato, T., and B-J. Woo. 2008. Evaluation of weed control practices for profitability and reduction of atrazine concentrations in surface runoff. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation 63:54A.

Woo, B-J., and T. Prato. 2008. Integrated analysis of weed control practices for reducing atrazine contamination in an agricultural watershed. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation 63:99-104.

Prato, T., A.S. Clark, K. Dolle, and Y. Barnett. 2007. Evaluating alternative economic growth rates and land use policies for Flathead County, Montana. Landscape and Urban Planning 83:327–339.

Prato, T. 2007. Accounting for risk and uncertainty in determining preferred strategies for adapting to future climate change. Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change. Online: http://www.springerlink.com/content/720051j053475670/fulltext.html

Prato, T, and D. Fagre (eds.). 2007. Sustaining Rocky Mountain Landscapes: Science, Policy and Management of the Crown of the Continent Ecosystem. RFF Press, Washington, DC.

Prato, T. 2007. Selection and evaluation of project to conserve ecosystem services. Ecological Modelling 203:290-296.

Prato, T. 2007. Assessing ecosystem sustainability and management using fuzzy logic. Ecological Economics 61: 171-177.

Prato, T. 2007. Evaluating land use policies under uncertainty. Land Use Policy 24: 165-174. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2006.02.003

Herath, G., and T. Prato (eds.). 2006. Using Multi-criteria Decision Analysis in Natural Resource Management: Empirical Applications. Ashgate Publishing, Ltd., UK.

Qiu, Z., T. Prato, and G. Boehm. 2006. Economic valuation of riparian buffers and open space in a suburban watershed. Journal of the American Water Resources Association 1583-1596.

Prato, T. 2006. Targeting conservation easements to reduce impacts of private land development on protected areas. George Wright Forum 23:13-23.

Prato, T., and D. Fagre. 2006. Coping with climate change. ActionBioscience.org. http://www.actionbioscience.org/environment/prato_fagre.html

Prato, T. Adaptive management of national park ecosystems. George Wright Society 23(2006): 72-86.

Prato, T. and D. Hey. Economic analysis of wetland restoration along the Illinois River. Journal of the American Water Resources Association 42(2006): 125-131.

Wu, S., T. Prato, and M. Kaylen. Cost efficiency and its decomposition for Missouri grain farms. The Journal of Economics 31(2005): 19-44.

Prato, T. A fuzzy logic approach to ecosystem sustainability. Ecological Modelling 187(2005): 361-368.

Prato, T. Accounting for uncertainty in making species protection decisions. Conservation Biology 19 (2005): 806-814.

Prato, T. Modeling ecological impacts of landscape change. Environmental Modelling & Software. 20(2005): 1359-1363.

Prato, T. Accounting for uncertainty in making species protection decisions. Conservation Biology 19(2005): 806-814.

Prato, T. and D. Fagre. 2005. National Parks and Protected Areas: Approaches for Balancing Social, Economic and Ecological Values. Blackwell Publishing Professional, Ames, IA.

Prato, T. Bayesian Adaptive Management of Ecosystems. Ecological Modelling 183(2005): 147-156.

Prato, T. Multiple Attribute Evaluation for National Parks and Protected Areas. George Wright Forum 21(2004): 62-75.

Prato, T. Alleviating Multiple Threats to Protected Areas with Adaptive Ecosystem Management: Case of Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park. George Wright Forum 20 (2004): 41-52.

Prato, T. Adaptive Management of Large Rivers with Special Reference to the Missouri River. Journal of the American Water Resources Association 39(2003): 935-936.

Prato, T. Multiple Attribute Evaluation of Ecosystem Management for the Missouri River. Ecological Economics. 45(2003): 297-309

Wang, D., Z. Qiu, T. Prato, N. Kitchen and K. Sudduth. Economic and environmental evaluation of variable rate nitrogen and lime application for claypan soil fields. Precision Agriculture: An International Journal on Advances in Precision Agriculture 4(2003): 35-52.

Wu, S. and T. Prato. An environmental decision support system: watershed application. Journal of Harbin Institute of Technology (New Series) 9(2002): 32-38.

Qiu, Z., T. Prato, L. Godsey and V. Benson. Integrated Assessment of Uses of Woody Draws in Agricultural Landscapes. The Journal of American Water Resources Association 38(2002):1255-1269.

Strassert, G. and T. Prato. Selecting Farming Systems Using a New Multiple Criteria Decision Model: The Balancing and Ranking Method. Ecological Economics 40(2002): 269-277.

Sugumaran, R., D. Zerr and T. Prato. Improved Urban Land Cover using Multi-temporal IKONOS Images for Local Government Planning. Canadian Journal of Remote Sensing 28(2002): 90-95.

Prato, T. Modeling Carrying Capacity for National Parks. Ecological Economics 39(2001): 321-331.

Panusittikorn, P. and T. Prato. Conservation of Protected Areas in Thailand: The Case of Khao Yai National Park. George Wright Forum 18(2001): 66-76.

Qiu, Z. and Tony Prato. Physical Determinants of Economic Value of Riparian Buffers in an Agricultural Watershed. Journal of the American Water Resources Association 37(2001): 295-304.

Qiu, Z., T. Prato, and F. McCamley. Evaluating Environmental Risks Using Safety-first Constraints. American Journal of Agricultural Economics 83(2001): 402-413.

Prato, T and S. Hajkowicz. Comparison of Profit Maximization and Multiple Criteria Models for Selecting Farming Systems. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation 56(2001): 52-55.

Prato, T. Multiple Attribute Evaluation of Landscape Management. Journal of Environmental Management 60(2001): 325-337.

Prato, T. Multiple Attribute Bayesian Analysis of Adaptive Ecosystem Management. Ecological Modelling 133(2000): 181-193.

Sugumaran, R., C. Davis, J. Meyer, T. Prato and C. Fulcher. Web-Based Decision Support Tool for Floodplain Management Using High Resolution DEM. Photogrammetric Engineering and Remote Sensing 66(2000): 1261-1265.

Prato, T. and M. Hamed. Restoring Natural Habitats: Economic Impacts of the Big Muddy National Fish and Wildlife Refuge. Impact Assessment and Project Appraisal 17(1999): 227-241.

Prato, T. Risk-based Multiattribute Decision Making in Property and Watershed Management. Natural Resource Modeling 12(1999).

Prato, T. Multiple Attribute Decision Analysis for Ecosystem Management. Ecological Economics 30(1999): 207-222.

Prato, T. Soil and Water Conservation is Essential for Ecosystem Management (Viewpoint). J. Soil and Water Conserv. 54(1999): 522-523.

Prato, T. and S. Hajkowicz. Selection and Sustainability of Land and Water Resource Management Systems. Journal of the American Water Resources Association 35(1999): 739-752.

Qiu, Z. and T. Prato. Accounting for Spatial Characteristics of Watershed in Evaluating Water Pollution Abatement Policies. J. of Agr. and Applied Econ. 34 (1999): 161-175.

Prato, T. and C. Kang. Water Quality Effects of Uniform and Variable Rate Application of Nitrogen. Journal of the American Water Resources Association 6(1998):1465-1472.

Qiu, Z., T. Prato, C. Fulcher and Y. Barnett. WAMADSS – An Agricultural Resource Management Tool for Evaluating Sustainable Agriculture. J. Soil and Water Conserv. 53(1998): 159.

Qiu, Z., T. Prato and M. Kaylen. Watershed-scale Economic and Environmental Tradeoffs Incorporating Risks: A Target MOTAD Approach. Agr. and Resource Econ. Rev. 27(1998): 231-240.

Thongrak, S., T. Prato, S. Chayvareesajja and W. Kurtz. Economic and water quality evaluation of intensive shrimp production systems in Thailand. Agr. Systems 53(1997): 121-141.

Prato, T., C. Fulcher, S. Wu. J. Ma. Multiple-objective decision making for agroecosystem management. Agr. and Resource Econ. Rev. 25 (1996): 200-212.

Xu, Feng, T. Prato and M. Zhu. Effects of distribution assumptions for sediment yields on farm returns in a chance-constrained programming model. Rev. Agr. Econ. 18(1996): 53-64.

Prato, T. and S. Wu. Alternative spatial criteria for targeting soil and water quality improvements in an agricultural watershed. Rev. Agr. Econ. 18(1996): 293-301.

Prato, T., C. Fulcher, S. Wu and J. Ma. Multiple-objective decision making for agroecosystem management. Agr. and Resource Econ. Rev. 25(1996): 200-212.

Xu, F. and T. Prato. Onsite erosion damages in Missouri corn production. J. Soil and Water Cons. 50(1995): 312-316.

Prato, T., Y. Wang, T. Haithcoat, C. Barnett and C. Fulcher. Converting hydric cropland to wetland in Missouri: A geoeconomic analysis. J. Soil and Water Cons. 50(1995): 101-106.

Xu, F. and T. Prato. Optimal farm-level use and value of broiler litter. 1995. Animal Waste and the Land-Water Interface, Kenneth Steele (ed.), Lewis Publishers, New York, pp. 293-291.

Prato, T., C. Fulcher and F. Xu. 1995. Decision support system for total watershed management. Animal Waste and the Land-Water Interface, Kenneth Steele (ed.), Lewis Publishers, New York, pp. 333-342.

Xu, F., T. Prato and J.C. Ma. Integrated evaluation of alternative farming systems in Missouri MSEA. Abstract, J. Agr. and Applied Econ. 26(1994): 1.

Xu, F. and T. Prato. 1994. Agricultural resource policies and government intervention. Market Economy and Government Functions, China Economics Publishing House, Peoples Republic of China, pp. 439-444.

Wangia, C. and T. Prato. 1994. Soil erosion and conservation programs and policies in Africa: A review. Adopting Conservation on the Farm: An International Perspective of the Socioeconomics of Soil and Water Conservation, Ted L. Napier, Silvana M. Camboni and Samir Al El-Swaify (eds.), Soil and Water Conservation Society, Ankeny, IA, pp. 119-132.

Prato, T. and S. Wu. 1994. Erosion, sediment, and income effects of conservation compliance in an agricultural watershed. Agricultural Policy and the Environment: Iron Fist or Open Hand, Louis E. Swanson and Frank B. Clearfield (eds.), Soil and Water Conservation Society, Ankeny, IA, pp. 171-182.

Xu, F., T. Prato and C. Fulcher. Broiler litter application to land in an agricultural watershed: a GIS approach. Water Science and Technology, 28(1993): 111-118.

Donald, W.W. and T. Prato. Efficacy and economics of herbicides for Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense) control in no-till spring wheat (Triticum aestivum). Weed Science 40(1992): 233-240.

Donald, W.W. and T. Prato. Effectiveness and economics of repeated sequences of herbicides for Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense) control in reduced-till spring wheat (Triticum aestivum). Canadian J. Plant Science 72(1992): 599-618.

Donald, W.W. and T. Prato. Profitable, effective herbicides for planting-time weed control in no-till spring wheat (Triticum aestivum). Weed Science 39(1991): 83-90.

Prato, T. and K. Dauten. Economic feasibility of agricultural management practices for reducing sedimentation in a water supply lake. Agr. Water Mgt. 19(1991): 361-370.

Prato, T. and S. Wu. Erosion and sediment control benefits of conservation compliance in a agricultural watershed. J. Soil and Water Cons. 46(1991): 211-214.

Prato, T.. Economic feasibility of conservation tillage with stochastic yields and erosion rates. No. Cen. J. Agr. Econ. 12(1990): 333-344.

Prato, T. and H. Shi. A comparison of erosion and water pollution control strategies for an agricultural watershed. Water Resources Research 26(1990): 199-205.

Prato T., H. Shi, R. Rhew, and M. Brusven. Soil erosion and nonpoint pollution control in an agricultural watershed. J. Soil and Water Cons. 44(1989): 323-328.

Professional and Conservation Affiliations

  • Consortium for Integrated Climate Research in Western Mountains
  • The Glacier Institute
  • Glacier Natural History Association
  • International Society for Ecological Economics
  • National Geographic Society
  • National Parks Conservation Association
  • Society for Conservation Biology
  • The George Wright Society
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