John Newton, Ph.D.

Former AFBF Economist

jnewton@fb.org
Dr. Newton served as Chief Economist from 2019 to 2024. 


Dr. Newton's work in the agricultural sector spans over the last decade. From 2004 to 2014 he worked for the USDA as an Agricultural Economist working on issues related to commodity risk management and marketing. While serving in this role Dr. Newton had the prestigious opportunity to work as a 2013 fellow on the United States Senate Agriculture Committee. Thereafter, he served a detail with the USDA Office of the Chief Economist providing policy insight for the 2014 Farm Bill. Following his service to USDA and the Congressional Committee, Dr. Newton was on faculty at the University of Illinois where he led collaborative efforts on the award-winning USDA sponsored Farm Bill Tools project. In 2015, Dr. Newton and his family relocated to Washington where he first served as Chief Economist for National Milk Producers Federation before joining American Farm Bureau Federation as Director, Market Intelligence in June of 2016.