Jim Staiert is the Associate Administrator of the Economic Research Service. Jim was born and raised on a mixed-use family farm (dairy, hog, corn, beans) in Southwest Iowa. 

Jim began his career at USDA in 1990 as an Economist with the Agricultural Cooperative Service conducting research of the financial performance of the nation’s 100 largest agricultural cooperatives. In 1995, Jim moved on the Office of Budget and Program Analysis (OBPA) where he served as a Program Analyst providing advice to the Office of the Secretary on legislative, regulatory and budgetary matters of the Department. At various times during his time with OBPA, his area of responsibility has included the mission areas of Rural Development (RD), Farm and Foreign Agricultural Service (FFAS), Farm Production and Conservation (FPAC), Natural Resources and Environment (NRE), and the Marketing and Regulatory Programs (MRP).  In 2018, Jim became the first Budget Director for the newly created Farm Production and Conservation Business Center.  In this role, Jim helped to merge 3 existing budget offices to create a consolidated office for the entire mission area. Jim and his wife Ana enjoy travel and have traveled extensively to Europe and South/Central America.

Jim attended Iowa State University and received undergraduate degrees in Finance and Agricultural Business as well as a Master’s in Economics.