USDA Appoints Joseph L. Parsons As New NASS Administrator

In a recent announcement, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) introduced Joseph L. Parsons as the newly appointed administrator of the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). Parsons assumes this role following the retirement of Hubert Hamer back in March.

With a remarkable tenure spanning over 37 years within NASS, Parsons has been a steadfast advocate for American agriculture since he first joined federal service in 1985. 

According to Parsons in a USDA statement, "I am honored to have the opportunity to continue to lead the great and dedicated people at NASS as their Administrator. NASS is a wonderful place to work; our workplace flexibility has allowed us to recruit and retain some of the most talented staff in NASS’s history." He emphasized the importance of fostering a conducive work environment and outlined his vision for NASS's future endeavors, aiming to enhance services and adapt to the evolving needs of stakeholders.

Over the years, Parsons has held various pivotal positions within NASS, including serving as the Associate Administrator overseeing agency operations and agricultural statistics programs. Noteworthy roles such as chair of USDA’s Agricultural Statistics Board and director of NASS’s Methodology Division underscore his extensive experience and leadership acumen.

NASS stands as the federal statistical agency entrusted with the task of generating official data concerning U.S. agriculture, committed to delivering accurate and timely statistics to support the nation's agricultural sector.

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