(COLUMBIA, MO) — Seth Meyer, the Chief Economist at the U.S. Department of Agriculture since 2021, is set to join the University of Missouri to lead the Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute (FAPRI) starting on January 1st, 2026. He is set to take over for Pat Westhoff, who has led FAPRI since 2011 and is retiring on March 1st, 2026.
During his time at USDA, Meyer has been head of the World Agricultural Outlook Board, hosted the Agricultural Outlook Forum, overseen the publishing of monthly World Agricultural Supply and Demand (WASDE) reports and much more. A Mizzou grad, Meyer also has served as assistant director for FAPRI before rejoining the USDA in 2021.
According to a news release on Tuesday, Meyer is welcoming the chance to lead FAPRI and return home to Missouri. “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. “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.”
FAPRI is a College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources’ Program of Distinction, celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2024. The institute provides objective analysis of agricultural markets and policies for audiences including the U.S. Congress, USDA, commodity groups and international governments. FAPRI reports breakdown how changes in policies or market conditions would affect prices and quantities, producers, consumers and government costs.
Read more from the University of Missouri here: https://cafnr.missouri.edu/stories/meyer-takes-helm-of-mizzous-food-agricultural-policy-research-institute/
