USDA's Chief Economist to Lead FAPRI

OMAHA (DTN) -- USDA's chief economist will leave his post at the end of the year to lead the Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute (FAPRI) at the beginning of 2026.

Seth Meyer, who has been USDA's chief economist since 2021, will replace Pat Westhoff as director of FAPRI. Westhoff, who has directed FAPRI since 2011, is retiring effective March 1, 2026.

Meyer's move comes as USDA is pressing for a reorganization and has cut staff across agencies. In the Office of the Chief Economist, USDA's proposed FY 2026 budget called for reducing spending from $32.3 million annually down to $20 million. Congress provided $29 million for the office but required $10 million in funding for grants and cooperative agreements. The office of the Chief Economist in 2025 spent $30.5 million for 58 full-time staff equivalents (FTEs). USDA proposed cutting that to $19.8 million for 38 FTEs.

Back in May, USDA also delayed its quarterly Outlook for U.S. Agricultural Trade released by the Economic Research Service and eliminated analysis provided by USDA economists for the report because the numbers and analysis ran counter to the administration's messaging that agriculture would boost exports and lower the trade deficit this year.

USDA also has announced it will cut certain reports produced by USDA economists such as an annual report on household food security. Several reports also were delayed or suspended over the past two months due to the government shutdown.

Meyer was assistant director of FAPRI until 2021. He has held multiple roles at USDA's Office of the Chief Economist and FAPRI over the years. He was head of USDA's World Agricultural Outlook Board, which publishes the monthly World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE). He holds a PhD in agricultural economics from Mizzou.

"This is a great opportunity to continue to provide solid agricultural policy development in support of the agricultural sector, cooperate with other faculty members and return home to Missouri," Meyer said in a news release. "I look forward to the opportunity to do more in-depth analysis and research. FAPRI provides the holistic picture; they are deliberate, objective. Both sides of the aisle call on them to make informed decisions."

As director of FAPRI, Meyer will oversee a team of about a dozen faculty and staff members who generate research for non-academic and academic audiences, teach undergraduate and graduate students, support and undertake extension and outreach, and conduct service for the institution, according to the university news release. FAPRI's annual baseline report offers a summary of 10-year projections for economic indicators including farm income, farm program spending and domestic commodity markets; their team also frequently fills requests from Congress to examine particular policy issues. International work has included projects in the UK, Ireland, Africa and Bulgaria, as well as scholar exchanges.

In a statement, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins credited Meyer for his work at the department.

"Secretary Rollins is deeply grateful for Seth Meyer's many years of dedicated service at USDA," USDA stated.

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