Thomas Worth

Division Director, Resource and Rural Economics Division
816-412-6180
thomas.worth@usda.gov

Briefly

Thomas Worth is the Director of the Resource and Rural Economics Division at USDA, Economic Research Service (ERS). He leads ERS’s research on conservation and land use, climate and energy, rural households and economy, farm finance, agricultural technology, productivity, and market structure.

Background

Thomas first joined ERS in August of 1997 in the Specialty Crops Branch, where he did research on international trade, market structure, and risk. In 2002, he moved to USDA, Risk Management Agency where he served as a senior economist, and then as chief actuary. Thomas was responsible for the actuarial soundness of premium rates for the crop insurance program. He led research on the impacts of climate, soil, and technological changes on crop yield risk. He provided economic and policy analyses on a variety of actuarial and program issues. Thomas led the research, development, and implementation of several major crop insurance programs. He served as a technical expert for the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation Board of Directors, and provided technical assistance to Congressional staff, the Congressional Budget Office, the Office of Management and Budget, and across USDA. Thomas also provided technical advice to officials from crop insurance programs in several countries.

Education

Ph.D. economics, University of Wisconsin—Madison.
M.S. economics, University of Wisconsin—Madison.
B.A. economics, Grinnell College.