United States Department of Agriculture

Hello! My name is Dave DeWalt, State Statistician for the USDAs National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Arizona Field Office. More than half of my 36-year career has been spent in the Arizona Field Office with time also served in Idaho, Washington D.C. and California.

This is my 4th position with NASS in the Arizona Field Office. I was a student intern with NASS during the summer of 1984, a journeyman statistician from 1991 to 1997, the Deputy Director from 2004 to 2013, and the State Statistician since December, 2014.

I grew up in southeastern Arizona on a 5-acre livestock farm that included an acre or two of various hays, vegetables, melons, and too many weeds. During my high school years, I helped my neighbor with his 300-head dairy, feeding and milking cows and taking care of calves.

Growing up an avid Wildcat fan, I had always wanted to attend the University of Arizona. I earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Plant Sciences (Agriculture Business curriculum) and a Master’s Degree in Agricultural Economics.

Working for NASS has been ideal for me in that I’m a numbers and an agriculture guy. Analyzing and interpreting data, then using the information to estimate commodity acreage, yield, production and value and livestock operation inventories in Arizona, then telling the public what the statistics are, sets the stage for producer decision-making, legislative policy-making, university research and sometimes just bragging rights for various commodities.