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U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)

Among the many responsibilities of USDA are implementing the

Food Stamp Program and other food and nutrition assistance

programs; managing Federal forest land; implementing

standards of humane care and treatment of animals; providing

incentives for adopting wildlife habitat enhancements and other

conservation practices; participating in trade negotiations;

ensuring the safety of meat, poultry, and eggs; providing funds

for rural business development; and implementing farm

programs legislated by Congress. The Department has a broad

mandate, and virtually everything with which it is charged has

economic dimensions. It is not surprising, then, that USDA

employs over 800 economists across 16 of its agencies.

Roles of Economists

• USDA’s chief economist provides direct economic guidance

and advice to the Secretary of Agriculture and subcabinet

officials of the Department, often in immediate or very quick

turnaround situations. 

• The economists employed by USDA agencies that

implement programs examine the efficiency of those

programs, conduct cost-benefit analyses, provide analysis to

decisionmakers who allocate scarce budget resources, help

set program parameters, and develop economic outlook and

projections of market or other phenomena critical to agency

operations.

• Economists in research agencies and units perform longer

term, largely applied economic research on issues that

inform decisions made within USDA, with findings also

disseminated to audiences with a stake in those decisions or

an academic interest in the economic findings, data, or

approach.

• The work of USDA economists is presented to Members of

Congress, State and local governments, businesses, and the

general public. The objective information and analytical

findings also attract the attention of major media.
• USDA economists come from a wide range of backgrounds.

They may be employed strictly as “economists” or in a variety

of other positions, including research social scientists, food

program specialists, management or program analysts,

research foresters, budget analysts, and risk management

specialists. Most USDA economists have degrees in economics

or economic specialties, but some hold degrees in such

disciplines as public policy, political science, demography,

regional science, or statistics. There are USDA economist

positions held by recipients of terminal degrees at the

bachelor’s, master’s, and Ph.D. levels. Economists at USDA

may work mainly with other economists; with biologists,

foresters, food scientists, or other interdisciplinary partners;

with university counterparts; and/or directly with policy

decisionmakers.

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"The analytical work of economists is

indispensable to USDA's understanding of

commodity market fundamentals. Monthly

contributions to the Department's flagship

World Agricultural Supply and Demand

Estimates report have helped make this report one

of the most respected sources of information used

globally by commodity markets for price

discovery."

Gerald Bange, 

World Agricultural Outlook Board, OCE
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USDA economistsAgency/Office Number* Grade Agricultural Marketing Service 52 GS11-15 Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service 20 GS9-15 Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion 2 GS13-14 Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service 4 GS15-SES Economic Research Service 280 GS9-SES Farm Service Agency 50 GS13-SES Food and Nutrition Service 40 GS9-15 Food Safety and Inspection Service 5 GS13-14 Foreign Agricultural Service 200 GS7-15 Forest Service 40 GS11-15 Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration 15 GS13-15 Natural Resources Conservation Service 45 GS12-15 Office of Budget and Program Analysis 8 GS9-SES Office of the Chief Economist 29 GS12-SL-SRisk Management Agency 10 GS12-14 Rural Development 25 GS12-15 Not all USDA agencies are represented above, as not all agencies hire economists.*Numbers are approximate and based on data collected in summer 2008. SES = Senior Executive Ser
Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS)

Mission

To facilitate the strategic marketing of agricultural products in domestic

and international markets, while ensuring fair trading practices and

promoting a competitive and efficient marketplace to the benefit of

producers, traders, and consumers of U.S. food and fiber products

Roles of Economists

• Analyze the economic impacts of policies and regulations

affecting marketing and trade of cotton, dairy, fruit,

vegetables, livestock, meat, seed, poultry, eggs, and tobacco

• Analyze market conditions to inform policy decisions

regarding procurement for the National School Lunch

Program and other Federal food and nutrition assistance

programs 

• Research commodity distribution, logistics, packaging, and

wholesale market development to enhance food supply chain

efficiency and facilitate the distribution of U.S. agricultural

products

• Collect and publish information on transportation costs for

shipping commodities by rail, barge, and truck, which helps

policymakers and industry participants understand the

impact of exports and market competition

• Provide situation reports on market conditions and

transportation costs to USDA leadership and others during

natural disasters, labor strikes, and other market disruptions 

Positions Held by Economists

Economists, marketing specialists, and agricultural

economists

For more information about AMS, visit www.ams.usda.gov. 

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Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

(APHIS)

Mission

To provide leadership in ensuring the health and care of animals and

plants and to improve agricultural productivity and competitiveness and

contribute to the national economy and the public health

Roles of Economists

• Perform cost-benefit analyses of proposed regulations

pertaining to U.S. agricultural health and genetically engineered organisms

• Evaluate the proposed regulations’ impacts on small businesses

• Perform economic analyses for specific animal and plantrelated projects to report to the Under Secretary for Marketing

and Regulatory Programs and Congress 

Positions Held by Economists

Economists

For more information about APHIS, visit www.aphis.usda.gov.

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Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion (CNPP)

Mission

To improve the health of Americans by developing and promoting dietary

guidance that links scientific research to the nutritional needs of

consumers

Roles of Economists

• Produce the USDA Food Plans, which estimate the costs of a

healthful diet for households and provide the basis for

maximum food stamp allotments, the Basic Allowance for

Subsistence for members of the armed services, and an estimate

of the portion of a bankruptee’s income to allocate to necessary

food expenses

• Estimate the cost of raising children from birth through age 17

for major budgetary components; States use this information

to set child support guidelines and foster care payments 

Positions Held by Economists

Economists

For more information about CNPP, visit www.cnpp.usda.gov. 

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Cooperative State Research, Education, and

Extension Service (CSREES)

Mission

To advance knowledge for agriculture, the environment, human health and

well-being, and communities through national program leadership and

Federal assistance

Roles of Economists

• Determine how to allocate grant money to formula-funded

programs (land-grant universities) and competitive programs

(colleges and some small agribusinesses) by conducting

institutional and programmatic reviews, managing proposal

panels, and prioritizing funding objectives

• Prepare Requests for Applications for competitive funding,

review and approve funding proposals and awards for

competitive, formula, and congressionally earmarked projects;

provide guidance to support academic research, teaching, and

outreach; and assess and evaluate funded projects and

programs

• Bring the attention of the agricultural economics community

to the full spectrum of CSREES grant programs

• Foster the development of multistate committees of

interdisciplinary professionals who address significant

challenges in agriculture

Positions Held by Economists

Economists

For more information about CSREES, visit www.csrees.usda.gov.

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Economic Research Service (ERS)

Mission

To anticipate economic and policy issues related to agriculture, food, the

environment, and rural development, and conduct economic research that

broadly and specifically informs public program and policy decisions

Roles of Economists

• Conduct economic research, analyze food and commodity

markets, and produce policy studies 

• Serve as the primary source of economic information and

research for the Department 

• Create and maintain databases and release market outlook

reports on farm conditions and specific commodities

• Produce statistical information used by a broad audience,

including the media, trade associations, securities analysts,

public interest groups, and the general public

• Publish peer-reviewed research in economic research reports

and journals, ERS’s Amber Waves magazine, and on the ERS

Web site 

Positions Held by Economists

Economists

For more information about ERS, visit www.ers.usda.gov.

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“Working at ERS provides me with

opportunities to contribute to both

academic and policy discussions. I know

that when I write an ERS report, it’s

going to be read.”

Shelly Ver Ploeg, ERS
Farm Service Agency (FSA)

Mission

To equitably serve all farmers, ranchers, and agricultural partners through

the delivery of effective, efficient agricultural programs for all Americans

Roles of Economists

• Analyze farm commodity, credit, conservation, bioenergy,

disaster, and loan programs to improve economic stability in

the agricultural industry

• Prepare cost-benefit analyses and risk assessments for

proposed changes for the FSA Administrator, Under Secretary

for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services, and Secretary of

Agriculture for use in policymaking decisions

• Forecast commodity supply and use, farm prices, Commodity

Credit Corporation loan activity and outlays, and Conservation

Reserve Program enrollment and outlays for the President’s

budget 

Positions Held by Economists

Economists, program analysts, program managers, and

agricultural marketing specialists

For more information about FSA, visit www.fsa.usda.gov.

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"Applied economics takes on a

different meaning when you're

given less than a day to turn policy

on assumptions that changed the

day before."

Steve Gill, FSA
or of 

ications

General Counsel Office of Budget and 

Program Analysis

Under Secretary for 

Research, 

Education, and 

Economics

Under Secretary for 

Marketing and 

Regulatory 

Programs

Agricultural Research 

ServiceCooperative State 

Research, Education, 

and Extension 

ServiceEconomic Research ServiceNational Agricultural 

Statistics Service

Agricultural Marketing 

ServiceAnimal and Plant 

Health Inspection ServiceGrain Inspection, 

Packers and 

StockyardsAdministration
Food and Nutrition Service (FNS)

Mission

To provide children and needy families better access to food and a more

healthful diet through food and nutrition assistance programs and

comprehensive nutrition education efforts

Roles of Economists

• Analyze the impacts of proposed legislative changes to a

variety of food and nutrition assistance programs

• Publish research reports on program-related issues to inform

USDA policy officials and the advocate community

• Provide general technical assistance to State partners, which

administer the programs

Positions Held by Economists

Economists, research social scientists, food program

specialists, program analysts, and budget analysts

For more information about FNS, visit www.fns.usda.gov.

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“Virtually every day I apply my skills

knowing that my analyses will inform

policy decisions and have an impact on

the nutrition assistance provided to

those in need.”

Bob Dalrymple, FNS
Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS)

Mission

To ensure that the Nation’s commercial supply of meat, poultry, and

processed egg products is safe, wholesome, and correctly labeled and

packaged

Roles of Economists

• Perform cost-benefit and cost-effectiveness analyses for policies

designed to ensure the safety of meat, poultry, and processed

egg products

• Evaluate the impact on small businesses of proposed changes

to food safety regulations and policy alternatives 

Positions Held by Economists

Economists, management and program analysts, and food

technologists

For more information about FSIS, visit www.fsis.usda.gov.

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Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS)

Mission

To create economic opportunity for U.S. agriculture by expanding 

global markets

Roles of Economists

• Develop, maintain, and analyze USDA’s agricultural production, supply, and demand data

• Analyze key countries and regions to develop strategies for

international agricultural trade policy and evaluate and

monitor trade agreements, including World Trade Organization negotiations and agreements

• Analyze the costs of technical, sanitary, and phytosanitary

barriers to trade

• Analyze market development programs, export credit

guarantees, and import programs for sugar, dairy, and trade

adjustment assistance

• Partner with the U.S. Agency for International Development to

evaluate food aid programs; trade, science, and regulatory

capacity building projects; and post-conflict, post-disaster

reconstruction efforts

Positions Held by Economists

Agricultural and international economists, management and

program analysts, international trade specialists, and

agricultural marketing specialists

For more information about FAS, visit www.fas.usda.gov.

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Forest Service (FS)

Mission

To sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the Nation’s forests

and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations

Roles of Economists

• Analyze forest management and forest policy topics, including

forest values, forest product markets, and wildland fire

• Publish peer-reviewed research in scientific journals, FS

technical science series, and nontechnical outlets 

• Provide economic support for national forest planning and

project analyses, environmental impact assessments, and

planning appeals

• Conduct economic analysis required for programmatic

planning and regulatory actions

Positions Held by Economists

Economists, social scientists, foresters, research economists,

and research foresters

For more information about FS, visit www.fs.fed.us. 

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Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards

Administration (GIPSA)

Mission

To facilitate the marketing of livestock, poultry, meat, cereals, oilseeds, and

related agricultural products, and promote fair and competitive trading

practices for the overall benefit of consumers and U.S. agriculture

Roles of Economists

• Analyze the structure and nature of competition in the

livestock, meat, and poultry industries to enforce the Packers

and Stockyards Act of 1921

• Evaluate the effects of existing and proposed Federal legislation on the livestock, meat, and poultry industries 

• Monitor and analyze livestock prices and other market trends

• Participate in investigations of the marketing and procurement

practices of regulated firms

• Provide analyses and data that help regulate the livestock,

meat, and poultry industries 

Positions Held by Economists

Economists, agricultural economists, budget analysts, and 

grain marketing specialists

For more information about GIPSA, visit www.gipsa.usda.gov.

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Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)

Mission

To provide products and services that enable people to be good stewards of

their soil, water, and related natural resources

Roles of Economists

• Conduct cost-benefit analyses of proposed changes to

regulations pertaining to soil, water, and other natural

resources and conservation programs, which are submitted to

the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for approval and

recorded in the Federal Register as regulatory impact analyses

• Develop and publish economic and technical information to

assist landowners, communities, units of State and local

government, and Federal agencies in planning and implementing conservation systems

• Foster communication between the State offices, three national

technology support centers, and national headquarters through

an active economist discussion forum and Web presentation

• Assist State offices in the construction of practice payment

schedules, partial budgeting to determine the economics of

conservation practices, and special projects (such as analysis of

cost-effectiveness of certain programs and/or practices) 

Positions Held by Economists

Economists and management and program analysts

For more information about NRCS, visit www.nrcs.usda.gov.

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Office of Budget and Program Analysis (OBPA)

Mission

To provide analyses and information to the Office of the Secretary and

other policy officials to support informed decisionmaking regarding the

Department’s programs, policies, budget, legislative proposals, and

regulatory actions

Roles of Economists

• Review and analyze USDA agency-level budget proposals and

assist in developing the Department’s annual budget request

that is submitted to OMB and Congress

• Review programs and policies as well as legislative proposals

and evaluate alternatives and budgetary implications

• Help initiate and review economic analyses, such as regulatory

impact analyses that are required for significant regulations

affecting USDA programs

• Assist in the implementation of the Performance Improvement

Initiative, including using the Program Assessment Rating Tool

to assess program performance and evaluating agency

performance measures

Positions Held by Economists

Economists, program analysts, and budget analysts

For more information about OBPA, visit www.obpa.usda.gov.

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“Budgeting is classic economics in that it is

done to allocate scarce resources among

competing uses to achieve desired outcomes.”

Scott Steele, OBPA
Office of the Chief Economist (OCE)

Mission

To advise the Secretary of Agriculture on the economic prospects in

agricultural markets and the economic implications of policies, programs,

and economic events affecting U.S. agriculture, rural communities, and

forestry; to ensure the public has consistent, objective, and reliable

agricultural forecasts and projections; to promote effective and efficient

rules governing Departmental programs; to coordinate global change

program issues; and to conduct research on and coordinate energy issues

related to agriculture 

Roles of Economists

• Advise the Secretary, testify before Congress, and produce

internal reports about the implications of policies affecting the

U.S. food and fiber system and rural areas

• Analyze energy markets and climate change and perform risk

assessments and cost-benefit analyses of proposed regulatory

actions

• Coordinate, review, and approve USDA’s commodity forecasts,

incorporating the meteorological impact on crops detailed in

the inhouse Joint Agricultural Weather Facility’s reports; these

forecasts are published in the monthly World Agricultural

Supply and Demand Estimates reports, which predict supply

and demand for U.S. and global crops and U.S. livestock and

are used by agribusinesses, commodity traders, farmers, and

the press 

Positions Held by Economists

Economists and program analysts

For more information about OCE, visit www.usda.gov/oce 

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Risk Management Agency (RMA)

Mission

To promote, support, and regulate sound risk management solutions to

preserve and strengthen the economic stability of America's agricultural

producers

Roles of Economists

• Calculate crop prices to use in estimating prices needed to

guarantee crops for the inhouse Federal Crop Insurance

Corporation

• Perform statistical and risk management analyses to help

determine insurance premium rates for over 100 crops

throughout the country 

Positions Held by Economists

Economists, risk management specialists, and statisticians

For more information about RMA, visit www.rma.usda.gov.

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Rural Development (RD)

Mission

To increase economic opportunity and improve the quality of life for all

rural Americans

Roles of Economists

• Engage in development planning for, provide technical

business advisory assistance to, and research issues affecting

rural businesses and cooperatives

• Perform grant and loan analysis and engage in a variety of

outreach and educational activities

• Evaluate rural business and cooperative, housing, and utilities

programs and participate in the use of the program assessment

rating tool as required by OMB to ensure performance-based

budgeting

• Contribute articles to Rural Cooperatives magazine and other

publications 

Positions Held by Economists

Economists, program analysts, and agricultural marketing

specialists

For more information about RD, visit www.rurdev.usda.gov.

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“USDA provides opportunities to work in a

variety of areas, from food and nutrition to

forestry to international trade. I have been

able to adapt to changing environments

because my degree in agricultural

economics provided me a range of skills that

always seem in demand.

Jim Jacobs, RD
Careers at USDA

Employment at USDA offers a stimulating intellectual

environment with great potential for personal and

professional growth. Our staff includes professionals trained

in economics who work on timely, policy-relevant research

topics as economists, management and program analysts,

budget analysts, and marketing specialists. These individuals

collaborate with coworkers from diverse backgrounds and

interact with other professionals through team projects,

seminars, and joint efforts with peers in academia, outside

institutions, and other Government agencies. 

USDA economists disseminate research results in a broad

portfolio of high-quality publications, in print and on our

Web site. Some economists also publish in respected peerreviewed academic journals, further enhancing their

professional credentials. 

As a member of the USDA team, you’ll find satisfaction in

conducting independent and collaborative work on issues

that matter, and a challenging environment in which to

continue your professional career.

Job announcements are published on USAJobs at 

www.usajobs.com, on the USDA Web site at www.usda.gov,

and on the various USDA agency Web sites.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs

and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation,

genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual’s

income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply

to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact

USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of

discrimination, write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202)

720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

November 2008

Photo credits: Cover photo of USDA building; pages 7, 8, and 17,

USDA. All other photos, ERS.