Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced the appointment of Justin Benavidez as chief economist at the USDA.
Benavidez most recently served as chief economist for the majority staff of the House Committee on Agriculture, providing analysis on farm bill policy, commodity markets and agricultural legislation. Earlier in his career, he worked with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, focusing on farm and ranch management and production economics. As USDA’s chief economist, Benavidez will oversee economic forecasting and analysis, guiding federal farm policy.
National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) Senior Vice President of Government Affairs Ethan Lane said the role is critical to delivering the reliable data producers rely on daily, adding that NCBA looks forward to working with Benavidez for the benefit of U.S. cattle producers.
