View source for Economic Research Service

{{Short description|Component of the United States Department of Agriculture}}
{{Use American English|date=April 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2023}}
{{Redirect|Bureau of Agricultural Economics|the Australian body formerly of that name|Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics}}
{{Infobox Government agency|agency_name=Economic Research Service|logo=|logo_width=175px|logo_caption=|seal=US-EconomicResearchService-Logo.svg|seal_width=175px|seal_caption=|picture=|picture_caption=|formed={{Start date and age|1961|04|03}}|preceding1=|jurisdiction=[[United States Department of Agriculture]]|coordinates=|employees=|budget=|chief1_name=Spiro Stefanou|chief1_position=Administrator|chief2_name=|chief2_position=|chief3_name=|chief3_position=|child1_agency=|child2_agency=|child3_agency=|child4_agency=|website=|chief4_name=|chief4_position=|chief5_name=|chief5_position=|chief6_name=|chief6_position=|chief7_name=|chief7_position=|chief8_name=|chief8_position=|chief9_name=|chief9_position=|parent_department=|dissolved=|native_name_a=|superseding1=| headquarters         = [[Washington, D.C.]]}}

The '''Economic Research Service''' ('''ERS''') is a component of the [[United States Department of Agriculture]] (USDA) and a principal agency of the [[Federal Statistical System of the United States]]. It provides information and research on agriculture and economics.

==History==
The first USDA agency formally tasked with data collection was the Division of Statistics, created in 1863, one year after the USDA itself was created.<ref name="Seeds">Panel to Study the Research Program of the Economic Research Service, ''[http://www.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=6320 Sowing Seeds of Change: Informing Public Policy in the Economic Research Service of USDA]'', Committee on National Statistics, Commission on Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education, [[National Research Council (United States)|National Research Council]] (John F. Gewek et al., eds. 1999).</ref> By 1902, a Division of Foreign Markets had been created, and the following year, that division was merged with the Division of Statistics to form the Bureau of Statistics.<ref name="Seeds"/> In 1914, the bureau was renamed the Bureau of Crop Estimates, and in 1921 this bureau merged with the Bureau of Markets to form the Bureau of Markets and Crop Estimates.<ref name="Seeds"/> This merger brought together "responsibility for the collection of farm-level crop and livestock data with that for major domestic and foreign commodity market transactions" in a single agency.<ref name="Seeds"/>

While the USDA's data collection activities were developing, the department was also developing expertise in [[agricultural economics]] research.<ref name="Seeds"/> In 1903, the Office of Farm Management was formed within the Bureau of Plant Industry.<ref name="Seeds"/> In 1915, this office was transferred to the Office of the Secretary to provide analytic support during World War I.  In 1919, the office was renamed in Office of Farm Management and Farm Economics. In 1920, the office became a separate USDA agency.<ref name="Seeds"/>

In 1922, the '''Bureau of Agricultural Economics''' ('''BAE'''), the ERS's immediate predecessor, was established by the merger of the Office of Farm Management and Farm Economics and the Bureau of Markets and Crop Estimates, bringing together responsibility for data collection and economic research/analysis in a single agency.<ref name="Seeds"/> This new agency brought together for the first time in data collection and economic analysis and research.<ref name="Seeds"/> The first leader of the BAE was the pioneering agricultural economist [[Henry Charles Taylor]], appointed by [[United States Secretary of Agriculture|Secretary of Agriculture]] [[Henry C. Wallace]].<ref name="Taylor">[http://www.ers.usda.gov/about-ers/ers-history/milestones-in-ers-history/henry-taylor.aspx Milestones in ERS History: Henry C. Taylor] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150710232941/http://www.ers.usda.gov/about-ers/ers-history/milestones-in-ers-history/henry-taylor.aspx |date=July 10, 2015 }}, Economic Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture.</ref> In its initial years the BAE recruited agricultural economists from the handful of [[Land-grant university|land-grant universities]] that offered the [[Doctor of Philosophy|Ph.D]] in agriculture, such as [[University of Wisconsin–Madison|Wisconsin]], [[University of Minnesota|Minnesota]], and [[Cornell University|Cornell]].<ref name="Seeds"/>

The ERS was established by Secretary of Agriculture Memorandum 1446, supp. 1, of April 3, 1961.<ref name="Manual">''[https://books.google.com/books?id=JtcQ8UUH81QC&pg=PA555 United States Government Manual 2012]'', [[Office of the Federal Register]], [[National Archives and Records Administration]], p. 555.</ref> It was subsequently consolidated with other USDA units (including the Economic Development Service, established in 1969, and the Economic Management Support Center, established 1974) into the '''Economics, Statistics, and Cooperatives Service''' by Secretary's Memorandum 1927, effective December 23, 1977.<ref name="Manual"/>  The agency was redesignated as the ''Economic Research Service'' by secretarial order of October 1, 1981.<ref name="Manual"/>

Under the [[First presidency of Donald Trump|Trump administration]], the ERS and another USDA agency, the [[National Institute of Food and Agriculture]] were directed to move from the USDA's headquarters in [[Washington, D.C.]] to the [[Kansas City metropolitan area]]. Two-thirds of the USDA employees reassigned chose to quit rather than accept relocation.<ref name="Moon">Emily Moon, [https://psmag.com/social-justice/cut-relocate-eviscerate-moving-a-usda-research-agency-will-have-lasting-consequences-employees-say 'Cut, Relocate, Eviscerate': Moving a USDA Research Agency Will Have Lasting Consequences, Employees Say], ''Pacific Standard'' (July 18, 2019).</ref><ref name="Guarino">Ben Guarino, [https://www.washingtonpost.com/science/2019/07/18/many-usda-workers-quit-research-agencies-move-kansas-city-brain-drain-we-all-feared/ Many USDA workers to quit as research agencies move to Kansas City: 'The brain drain we all feared'], ''Washington Post'' (July 18, 2019).</ref> In 2018, the office of Trump's [[U.S. Secretary of Agriculture|Agriculture Secretary]], [[Sonny Perdue]], also issued a directive to ERS and other research components of USDA, ordering them to include a disclaimer on peer-reviewed research in [[scientific journal]]s stating that findings and conclusions were "preliminary" and "should not be construed to represent any agency determination or policy."<ref name="GuarinoPreliminary">Ben Guarino, [https://www.washingtonpost.com/science/2019/04/19/usda-orders-scientists-say-published-research-is-preliminary/ USDA orders scientists to say published research is 'preliminary'], ''Washington Post'' (April 19, 2019).</ref><ref name="McCrimmon">Ryan McCrimmon, [https://www.politico.com/story/2019/05/07/agriculture-economists-leave-trump-1307146 Economists flee Agriculture Dept. after feeling punished under Trump], ''Politico'' (May 7, 2019).</ref> Susan Offutt, the ERS administrator under the [[Clinton administration|Clinton]] and [[George W. Bush administration]]s, said that the requirement was contrary to the USDA's longstanding policy that permitted and encouraged federal scientists to publish work in journals,<ref name="GuarinoPreliminary"/> and the "disclaimer" mandate was strongly criticized by USDA employees, science advocates, and scientific journal editors.<ref name="Guarino2019">Ben Guarino, [https://www.washingtonpost.com/science/2019/05/10/after-outcry-usda-will-no-longer-require-scientists-label-research-preliminary/ After outcry, USDA will no longer require scientists to label research 'preliminary'], ''Washington Post'' (May 10, 2019).</ref> In May 2019, following an outcry, the USDA rescinded the directive.<ref name="Guarino2019"/>

Current and former employees of the ERS were strongly critical of the relocation to Kansas City and other Trump administration policies, and the exodus of scientific and economic talent and disruption to federal research (especially on [[climate change]] and [[food security]]) that they had caused.<ref name="Moon"/><ref name="Guarino"/><ref name="Crampton">Liz Crampton, [https://www.politico.com/story/2019/06/25/department-agriculture-union-relocation-1554201 ERS union predicts mass exodus ahead of relocation], ''Politico'' (June 25, 2019).</ref><ref name="McCrimmon"/><ref>"''The Department of Agriculture must restore the viability of the Economic Research Service.''" American Economic Association. Recommendation 9. [https://www.aeaweb.org/content/file?id=13507 Necessary Improvement in the U.S. Statistical Infrastructure: A Report to Inform the Biden-Harris Transition]. November 2020</ref> The move to Kansas City area resulted in an attrition rate particularly high in the Resource and Rural Economics Division (90%) and in the Food Economics Division (up to 89%).<ref name="Crampton"/> ERS economists said that the Trump administration's moves were retaliation against the agency for publishing research reports detailing the negative economic effects of Trump's policies, including [[Trump tariffs|tariffs]] and [[Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017|Republican tax legislation]], on U.S. agriculture.<ref name="McCrimmon"/>

==Functions==
Today, ERS's mission is to provide "economic research and information to inform public and private decision making on economic and policy issues related to agriculture, food, natural resources, and [[rural America]]."<ref>[http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?contentidonly=true&contentid=ERS_Agency_Splash.xml Economic Research Service (ERS) Overview], United States Department of Agriculture.</ref>

The ERS and [[National Agricultural Statistics Service]] (NASS) jointly fund and manage the [[Agricultural Resource Management Survey]], a multi-phase, nationally representative survey of U.S. farms that is the USDA's "primary source of information on the financial condition, production practices, and resource use of America's farm businesses and the economic well-being of America's farm households."<ref>[http://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/arms-farm-financial-and-crop-production-practices.aspx Overview: ARMS Farm Financial and Crop Production Practices], Economic Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture.</ref><ref name="Principles"/>

The ERS publishes the magazine ''Amber Waves'' five times a year.<ref name="Garvin">Peggy Garvin, ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=EgrklhEPk-gC&pg=PA9 The United States Government Internet Directory 2010]'' (Bernan Press, 2011), p. 9.</ref> The publication began in February 2003; it replaced ''Agricultural Outlook'', ''FoodReview'', and ''Rural America''.<ref name="Garvin"/> The publication "features information and economic analysis about food, farms, natural resources, and rural community issues" and includes data and charts on various economic indications, including livestock cash receipts, farm [[household income]], agricultural imports and exports, and food spending.<ref name="Garvin"/>

==Leadership, organization, and staff==
The ERS is led by an administrator, historically a career [[Senior Executive Service]] appointee<ref name="Principles">Committee on National Statistics, ''[http://www.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=12564 Principles and Practices for a Federal Statistical Agency]'' (4th ed. 2009, eds. [[Constance F. Citro]], Margaret E. Martin & Miron L. Straf), Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education. [[National Research Council (United States)|National Research Council]].</ref> that (along with NASS) reported to the [[Under Secretary for Research, Education, and Economics]].<ref name="Principles"/> However, in 2019, the [[First presidency of Donald Trump|Trump administration]], under [[U.S. Secretary of Agriculture|Agriculture Secretary]] [[Sonny Perdue]], moved to place ERS under the direct oversight of a political appointee, reporting to the chief economist under the Office of the Secretary.<ref name="Hagstrom">[https://www.thefencepost.com/news/perdues-plan-to-put-ers-under-chief-economist-move-ers-nifa-out-of-washington-area-doesnt-escape-criticism/ Perdue's plan to put ERS under chief economist, move ERS, NIFA out of Washington area doesn't escape criticism], ''Hagstrom Report'' (August 10, 2018).</ref> This restructuring prompted criticism that the ERS's historically independent and autonomous data-collection mission would be compromised by political interference.<ref name="Hagstrom"/>

The ERS is organized into the Office of the Administrator and four divisions: The Food Economics Division; the Information Services Division; the Market and Trade Economics Division; and the Resource and Rural Economics Division.<ref name="Mgmt">[http://www.ers.usda.gov/contact-us/management-directory.aspx Management Directory], Economic Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture.</ref> Each division is led by a director.<ref name="Mgmt"/>

ERS had about 510 employees in 1998,<ref name="Principles"/> 430 employees in 2009,<ref name="Principles"/> and 250 employees in 2019.<ref name="Ogrysko">Nicole Ogrysko, [https://federalnewsnetwork.com/unions/2019/05/faced-with-possible-relocation-usdas-ers-employees-vote-to-unionize/ Faced with possible relocation, USDA's ERS employees vote to unionize], [[Federal News Network]] (May 9, 2019).</ref> In 2019, in the wake of a relocation order, ERS employees voted overwhelmingly to unionize under the [[American Federation of Government Employees]], forming their own [[bargaining unit]].<ref name="Ogrysko"/><ref>Dan Nosowitz, [https://modernfarmer.com/2019/07/the-usdas-scientific-department-has-unionized-will-the-usda-care/ The USDA's Scientific Department Has Unionized. Will the USDA Care?], ''[[Modern Farmer (magazine)|Modern Farmer]]'' (July 9, 2019).</ref>

==Administrators==
The following individuals served as the administrators of the ERS from 1961 to the present:<ref name="Milestones">"[http://www.ers.usda.gov/about-ers/ers-history/milestones-in-ers-history.aspx Milestones in ERS History]", Economic Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture.</ref>

# 1961–1965: Nathan M. Koffsky
# 1965–1972: Melvin L. Upchurch
# 1972–1977: Quentin M. West
# 1977–1981: Kenneth R. Farrell (ESCS Administrator); J.B. Penn (Associate Administrator for Economics)
# 1982–1993: John E. Lee
# 1993–1996: ''Acting administrators''
# 1996–2006: Susan Offutt
# 2007–2011: Kitty Smith
# 2011–2018: Mary Bohman
# 2018–2020: ''Acting administrators''
#2020–present: Spiro Stefanou

==See also==
* [[Agricultural extension]]
* [[Agricultural Research Service]]
* [[Economics of global warming]]
** [[Economics of climate change mitigation]]
* [[Henry Cantwell Wallace]]
* [[World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates]]

==Notes==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Economic Research Service}}
* {{Official website|https://www.ers.usda.gov/}}
* [https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/economic-research-service Economic Research Service] in the [[Federal Register]]

{{USDA agencies}}
{{US research agencies}}
{{ES Government}}
{{US Statistical Agencies}}

{{Authority control}}
[[Category:United States Department of Agriculture agencies]]
[[Category:National statistical services]]
[[Category:Statistical organizations in the United States]]
[[Category:Federal Statistical System of the United States]]