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The United States Department of Agriculture (informally the Agriculture Department or USDA) is the United States federal executive department
United States Federal Executive Departments

The United States federal executive departments are among the oldest primary units of the executive branch of the federal government of the United States—the Departments of United States Department of State, United States Department of War, and the United States Department of the Treasury all being established within a few weeks of each...
 responsible for developing and executing U.S. federal government
Federal government of the United States

The Federal Government of the United States is the central current reigning United States governmental body, established by the United States Constitution....
 policy on farming, agriculture
Agriculture

Agriculture refers to the production of food and goods through farming and forestry. Agriculture was the key development that led to the rise of civilization, with the animal husbandry of domestication animals and plants creating food surpluses that enabled the development of more Population density and Social stratification societies....
, and food
Food

Food is any substance, usually composed of carbohydrates, fats, proteins and water, that can be Eating or Drinking by an animal or human for nutrition or pleasure....
. It aims to meet the needs of farmer
Farmer

A farmer is a person who raises living organisms for food or raw materials....
s and ranchers, promote agricultural trade
Trade

Tradeis the willing exchange of goods, Service , or both. Trade is also called commerce. A mechanism that allows trade is called a market. The original form of trade was barter , the direct exchange of goods and services....
 and production, work to assure food safety
Food safety

Food safety is a scientific discipline describing handling, food processing, and storage of food in ways that prevent foodborne illness. This includes a number of routines that should be followed to avoid potentially severe health....
, protect natural resource
Natural resource

Renewable resources Renewable resources are sometimes living resources,, which can restock themselves if used sustainably and not over- harvested....
s, foster rural
Rural

Rural areas are large and isolated areas of a country, often with low populations. Today, 75 percent of the United States' inhabitants live in suburban and urban areas, but cities occupy only 2 percent of the country....
 communities and end hunger
Malnutrition

Malnutrition is a general term for a medical condition caused by an improper or inadequate diet and nutrition.According to the World Health Organization, hunger and malnutrition are the single gravest threats to the world's public health and malnutrition is by far the biggest contributor to child mortality, present in half of all cases....
 in the United States
United States

The United States of America is a Federal government constitutional republic comprising U.S. state and a federal district. The country is situated mostly in central North America, where its Contiguous United States and Washington, D.C., the Capital districts and territories, lie between the Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Oceans, Borders of the U...
 and abroad.

The head of the department is the Secretary of Agriculture
United States Secretary of Agriculture

The United States Secretary of Agriculture is the head of the United States Department of Agriculture. The current secretary is Tom Vilsack, who was confirmed by the U.S....
, who is a member of the Cabinet
United States Cabinet

The United States Cabinet is composed of the most senior appointed officers of the executive branch of the federal government of the United States, and its existence dates back to the first United States of America President of the United States, George Washington, who appointed a Cabinet of four people to advise and assist him in his dutie...
.






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The United States Department of Agriculture (informally the Agriculture Department or USDA) is the United States federal executive department
United States Federal Executive Departments

The United States federal executive departments are among the oldest primary units of the executive branch of the federal government of the United States—the Departments of United States Department of State, United States Department of War, and the United States Department of the Treasury all being established within a few weeks of each...
 responsible for developing and executing U.S. federal government
Federal government of the United States

The Federal Government of the United States is the central current reigning United States governmental body, established by the United States Constitution....
 policy on farming, agriculture
Agriculture

Agriculture refers to the production of food and goods through farming and forestry. Agriculture was the key development that led to the rise of civilization, with the animal husbandry of domestication animals and plants creating food surpluses that enabled the development of more Population density and Social stratification societies....
, and food
Food

Food is any substance, usually composed of carbohydrates, fats, proteins and water, that can be Eating or Drinking by an animal or human for nutrition or pleasure....
. It aims to meet the needs of farmer
Farmer

A farmer is a person who raises living organisms for food or raw materials....
s and ranchers, promote agricultural trade
Trade

Tradeis the willing exchange of goods, Service , or both. Trade is also called commerce. A mechanism that allows trade is called a market. The original form of trade was barter , the direct exchange of goods and services....
 and production, work to assure food safety
Food safety

Food safety is a scientific discipline describing handling, food processing, and storage of food in ways that prevent foodborne illness. This includes a number of routines that should be followed to avoid potentially severe health....
, protect natural resource
Natural resource

Renewable resources Renewable resources are sometimes living resources,, which can restock themselves if used sustainably and not over- harvested....
s, foster rural
Rural

Rural areas are large and isolated areas of a country, often with low populations. Today, 75 percent of the United States' inhabitants live in suburban and urban areas, but cities occupy only 2 percent of the country....
 communities and end hunger
Malnutrition

Malnutrition is a general term for a medical condition caused by an improper or inadequate diet and nutrition.According to the World Health Organization, hunger and malnutrition are the single gravest threats to the world's public health and malnutrition is by far the biggest contributor to child mortality, present in half of all cases....
 in the United States
United States

The United States of America is a Federal government constitutional republic comprising U.S. state and a federal district. The country is situated mostly in central North America, where its Contiguous United States and Washington, D.C., the Capital districts and territories, lie between the Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Oceans, Borders of the U...
 and abroad.

The head of the department is the Secretary of Agriculture
United States Secretary of Agriculture

The United States Secretary of Agriculture is the head of the United States Department of Agriculture. The current secretary is Tom Vilsack, who was confirmed by the U.S....
, who is a member of the Cabinet
United States Cabinet

The United States Cabinet is composed of the most senior appointed officers of the executive branch of the federal government of the United States, and its existence dates back to the first United States of America President of the United States, George Washington, who appointed a Cabinet of four people to advise and assist him in his dutie...
. The current Secretary is Tom Vilsack
Tom Vilsack

Thomas James "Tom" Vilsack is an United States politician, a member of the Democratic Party , and presently the United States Secretary of Agriculture....
.

History

The United States
Economy of the United States

The economy of the United States is the List of countries by GDP in the world. Its gross domestic product was estimated as $14.2 trillion in 2008....
 had a largely agrarian economy early in its history
History of the United States

The first known inhabitants of modern-day United States territory are believed to have arrived over a period of several thousand years beginning sometime prior to 15,000 - 50,000 years ago by crossing Beringia into Alaska....
. Officials in the federal government had long sought new and improved varieties of seeds, plants, and animals for importation to the United States. In 1836 Henry Leavitt Ellsworth
Henry Leavitt Ellsworth

Henry Leavitt Ellsworth was a Yale-educated attorney who became the first Commissioner of the United States Patent and Trademark Office, where he encouraged innovation by inventors Samuel F.B....
, a Yale-educated attorney interested in improving agriculture, became Commissioner of Patents
United States Patent and Trademark Office

The United States Patent and Trademark Office is an agency in the United States Department of Commerce that issues patents to inventors and businesses for their inventions, and trademark registration for product and intellectual property identification....
, a position within the Department of State
United States Department of State

The United States Department of State, often referred to as the State Department, is the United States Cabinet-level foreign affairs agency of the United States Federal government of the United States, similar to foreign ministries, foreign offices, ministries of external relations, etc....
. He soon began collecting and distributing new varieties of seeds and plants through members of the Congress
United States Congress

The United States Congress is the Bicameralism legislature of the Federal government of the United States of the United States of America, consisting of two houses, the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives....
 and agricultural societies. In 1839 Congress established the Agricultural Division within the Patent Office
United States Patent and Trademark Office

The United States Patent and Trademark Office is an agency in the United States Department of Commerce that issues patents to inventors and businesses for their inventions, and trademark registration for product and intellectual property identification....
 and allotted $1,000 for "the collection of agricultural statistics and other agricultural purposes."

Ellsworth's interest in aiding agriculture was evident in his annual reports that called for a public depository to preserve and distribute the various new seeds and plants, a clerk to collect agricultural statistics, the preparation of statewide reports about crops in different regions, and the application of chemistry to agriculture. Henry Leavitt Ellsworth's agricultural focus earned him the sobriquet
Sobriquet

A sobriquet is a nickname or a fancy name, usually a familiar name given by others as distinct from a pseudonym assumed as a disguise, but a nickname which is familiar enough such that it can be used in place of a real name without the need of explanation....
 of "The Father of the Department of Agriculture."

In 1849 the Patent Office was transferred to the newly created Department of the Interior
United States Department of the Interior

The United States Department of the Interior , also called the Interior Department, is the United States federal executive departments of the Federal government of the United States responsible for the management and conservation of most federal land and the administration of programs relating to Native Americans in the United States, A...
. In the ensuing years, agitation for a separate bureau of agriculture within the department or a separate department devoted to agriculture kept recurring.

On May 15, 1862, President Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln was the List of Presidents of the United States President of the United States. He successfully led the country through its greatest internal crisis, the American Civil War, preserving the Union and ending slavery....
 established the independent Department of Agriculture to be headed by a Commissioner without Cabinet status. Lincoln called it the "people's department." In the 1880s, varied interest group
Interest group

An interest group is an organized collection of people who seek to influence political decisions. It is a private organization that tries to persuade public officials to act or vote according to group members? interests....
s were lobbying for Cabinet representation. Business interests sought a Department of Commerce and Industry. Farmers tried to raise the Department of Agriculture to Cabinet rank. In 1887, the House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives

The United States House of Representatives, commonly referred to as "the House", is one of the bicameralism of the United States Congress; the other is the United States Senate....
 and Senate
United States Senate

The United States Senate is the upper house of the Bicameralism United States Congress, the lower house being the United States House of Representatives....
 passed bills giving Cabinet status to the Department of Agriculture and Labor, but farm interests objected to the addition of labor, and the bill was killed in conference committee
Conference committee

In the United States, a Conference committee is a committee of the legislature appointed by both chambers of the United States Congress to resolve disagreements on a particular Bill ....
. Finally, on February 9, 1889, President Grover Cleveland
Grover Cleveland

Stephen Grover Cleveland was both the List of Presidents of the United States President of the United States. Cleveland is the only President to serve two non-consecutive terms and therefore is the only individual to be counted twice in the numbering of the presidents....
 signed a bill into law elevating the Department of Agriculture to Cabinet level.

In 1887, the Hatch Act
Hatch Act of 1887

The Hatch Act of 1887 gave federal land grants to states in order to create a series of Agricultural experiment station, as well as pass along new information, especially in the areas of soil minerals and plant growth....
 provided for the federal funding of agricultural experiment station
Agricultural experiment station

An agricultural experiment station is a research center that conducts scientific investigations to solve problems and suggest improvements in the food and agriculture industry....
s in each state. The Smith-Lever Act of 1914
Smith-Lever Act of 1914

The Smith-Lever Act of 1914 is a United States federal law that established a system of cooperative extension services, connected to the land-grant universities, in order to inform people about current developments in agriculture, home economics, and related subjects....
 then funded cooperative extension service
Cooperative extension service

The Cooperative Extension Service, also known as the Extension Service of the USDA, is a non-formal educational program implemented in the United States designed to help people use research-based knowledge to improve their lives....
s in each state to teach agriculture, home economics and related subjects to the public. With these and similar provisions, the USDA reached out to every county of every state.

During the Great Depression
Great Depression

File:International depression.pngThe Great Depression was a worldwide economic Recession starting in most places in 1929 and ending at different times in the 1930s or early 1940s for different countries....
, farming remained a common way of life for millions of Americans. The Department of Agriculture was crucial to providing concerned persons with the assistance that they needed to make it through this difficult period, helping to ensure that food continued to be produced and distributed to those who needed it, assisting with loans for small landowners, and contributing to the education of the rural youth. In this way, the Department of Agriculture became a source of comfort as people struggled to survive in rural areas. Allegations have been made that throughout the agency's history it discriminated
Discrimination

Discrimination toward or against a person or group is the treatment or consideration based on class or category rather than individual merit. It is usually associated with prejudice....
 against African-American farmers, denying them loan
Loan

A loan is a type of debt. This article focuses exclusively on monetary loans, although, in practice, any material object might be lent. Like all debt instruments, a loan entails the redistribution of financial assets over time, between the wiktionary:lender and the wiktionary:borrower....
s and access to other programs well into the 1990s. In 1999, the USDA settled a class action lawsuit alleging discrimination against African-American farmers.

Today, many of the programs concerned with the distribution of food and nutrition to people of America and providing nourishment as well as nutrition education to those in need are run and operated under the USDA Food and Nutrition Service.

USDA also concerns itself with assisting farmers and food producers with the sale of crops and food on both a domestic and on the world market.

The USDA also plays an important role in overseas aid programs by providing surplus foods to developing countries. This aid can go through USAID, foreign governments, international bodies such as WFP, or approved non profit organizations. The Agriculture Act of 1949, section 416 (b) and Agricultural Development and Trade Act of 1954 (also known as Public Law 480 or just PL 480) provides the legal basis of such actions.

The United States Secretary of Agriculture
United States Secretary of Agriculture

The United States Secretary of Agriculture is the head of the United States Department of Agriculture. The current secretary is Tom Vilsack, who was confirmed by the U.S....
 administers the USDA.

The USDA's National Animal Identification System
National Animal Identification System

The National Animal Identification System, is a government-run program in the United States intended to permit improved animal health surveillance by identifying and tracking specific animals....
 assists large agri-business and factory farms track disease in herds, a necessary regulation for sale of meat overseas.

Operating units


Active

Dept of Agriculture
Usda1web
*Agricultural Marketing Service
Agricultural Marketing Service

The Agricultural Marketing Service is a division of the United States Department of Agriculture, and has programs in six commodity areas: cotton, dairy, fruit and vegetable, livestock and seed, poultry, and tobacco....
 (AMS)
    • National Organic Program
      National Organic Program

      In the United States, the National Organic Program is the federal regulatory framework governing organic food. It was made law in October 2002, and is administered by the Department of Agriculture ....
       (NOP)
  • Agricultural Research Service
    Agricultural Research Service

    The Agricultural Research Service is the principal in-house research agency of the United States Department of Agriculture . ARS is one of four agencies in USDA's Research, Education, and Economics mission area....
     (ARS)
    • National Agricultural Library (NAL)
  • Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
    Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

    Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is an operating unit of the United States Department of Agriculture .APHIS' mission : To protect the health and value of American agriculture and natural resources....
     (APHIS)
    • Animal Care (AC)
    • Biotechnology Regulatory Services (BRS)
    • International Services (IS)
    • Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ)
    • Veterinary Services
    • Wildlife Services
  • Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion
    Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion

    The Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion is an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture created on December 1, 1994, and is the focal point within the USDA where scientific research is linked with the nutritional needs of the American public....
     (CNPP)
  • Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service
    Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service

    The Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service is an agency within the U.S. Department of Agriculture , part of the executive branch of the federal government....
     (CSREES)
  • Economic Research Service
    Economic Research Service

    The Economic Research Service is the main source of economic information and research from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Located in Washington D.C., the mission of ERS is to inform and enhance public and private decision-making on economic and policy issues related to agriculture, food, farming, natural resources, and rural developm...
     (ERS)
  • Farm Service Agency
    Farm Service Agency

    The Farm Service Agency is the United States Department of Agriculture agency into which were merged several predecessor agencies, including the Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service ....
     (FSA)
  • Food and Nutrition Service
    Food and Nutrition Service

    The Food and Nutrition Service , an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture was established in August 8, 1969. FNS is the Federal agency responsible for administering the nation?s domestic nutrition assistance programs....
     (FNS)
  • Food Safety and Inspection Service
    Food Safety and Inspection Service

    The Food Safety and Inspection Service , an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture , recently commemorated over 100 years of protecting the food supply under the Federal Meat Inspection Act ....
     (FSIS)
  • Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS)
  • Forest Service
    United States Forest Service

    The USDA Forest Service is an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture that administers the nation's 155 United States National Forest and 20 United States National Grassland....
     (FS)
  • Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration
    Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration

    The Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration is an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture that facilitates the marketing of livestock, poultry, meat, cereals, oilseeds, and related agricultural products, and promotes fair and competitive trading practices for the overall benefit of consumers and American agricul...
     (GIPSA)
  • National Agricultural Statistics Service
    National Agricultural Statistics Service

    The National Agricultural Statistics Service or NASS is the statistics branch of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. NASS conducts hundreds of surveys and issues nearly 500 national reports each year on issues including agriculture production, economics, demographics and the environment ....
     (NASS)
  • National Finance Center
    National Finance Center

    File:Nfc usda logo.jpgThe National Finance Center provides HR, financial and administrative services for agencies of the federal government. NFC's customer base is comprised of more than 130 Federal organizations, representing all three branches of the Government....
     (NFC)
  • Natural Resources Conservation Service
    Natural Resources Conservation Service

    The Natural Resources Conservation Service , formerly known as the Soil Conservation Service , is an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture that provides technical assistance to private land owners and managers....
     (NRCS)
  • Risk Management Agency
    Risk Management Agency

    The Risk Management Agency is part of U.S. Department of Agriculture. The goal of the agency is to help producers manage their business risks through effective, market-based risk management solutions....
     (RMA)
  • Rural Development
    Rural development

    Rural development in general is used to denote the actions and initiatives taken to improve the standard of living in non-Urban neighbourhoods, countryside, and remote villages....
     (RD)
    • Office of Community Development
      Office of Community Development

      The Office of Community Development is a part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Development activities. OCD operates community development programs and initiatives throughout rural America and provides technical support to USDA-Rural Development's community development staff in offices throughout the United States....
       (OCD)
    • Rural Housing Service
      Rural Housing Service

      The Rural Housing Service is an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture . Located within the Department's Rural Development mission area, RHS operates a broad range of programs to provide:...
       (RHS)


Inactive

  • Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service
    Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service

    Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service was an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture. It administered programs concerning farm products and agricultural conservation....
     (ASCS)
  • Animal Damage Control (renamed Wildlife Services)


Related legislation


Important legislation setting policy of the USDA includes the:
  • 1890, 1891, 1897, 1906 Meat Inspection Act
    Meat Inspection Act

    The Meat Inspection Act of 1906 was a United States federal law that authorized the United States Secretary of Agriculture to inspect and condemn any meat product found unfit for human consumption....
  • 1906: Pure Food and Drug Act
    Pure Food and Drug Act

    The Pure Food and Drug Act of June 30, 1906 is a United States federal law that provided federal inspection of meat products and forbade the manufacture, sale, or transportation of adulterated food products and poisonous patent medicines....
  • 1914: Cotton Futures Act
    Cotton Futures Act

    The Cotton Futures Act of 1914 authorized the United States Department of Agriculture to establish physical standards as a means of determining color grade, staple length and strength, and other qualities and properties for cotton....
  • 1916: Federal Farm Loan Act
    Federal Farm Loan Act

    Federal Farm Loan Act of 1916 is a United States federal law that established twelve regional Farm Loan Banks to serve members of Farm Loan Associations....
  • 1917: Food Control and Production Acts
  • 1921: Packers and Stockyards Acts
  • 1922: Grain Futures Act
    Grain Futures Act

    The Grain Futures Act , is a United States federal law enacted September 21, 1922 involving the regulation of trading in certain commodity futures, and causing the establishment of the Grain Futures Administration, a predecessor organization to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission....
  • 1922: National Agricultural Conference
  • 1923: Agricultural Credits Act
  • 1933: Agricultural Adjustment Act
    Agricultural Adjustment Act

    The Agricultural Adjustment Act restricted production during the New Deal by paying farmers to reduce crop area. Its purpose was to reduce crop surplus so as to effectively raise the value of crops, thereby giving farmers relative stability again....
     (AAA)
  • 1933: Farm Credit Act
  • 1935: Resettlement Administration
    Resettlement Administration

    The Resettlement Administration was a U.S. federal agency that, between April 1935 and December 1936, relocated struggling urban and rural families to communities planned by the federal government....
  • 1936: Soil Conservation and Domestic Allotment Act
    Soil Conservation and Domestic Allotment Act

    The Soil Conservation and Domestic Allotment Act is a United States federal law that allowed the government to pay farmers to reduce production so as to "conserve soil", prevent erosion, and accomplish other minor goals....
  • 1937: Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act
  • 1941: National Victory Garden Program
  • 1941: Steagall Amendment
  • 1946: Farmers Home Administration
  • 1946: National School Lunch Act
    National School Lunch Act

    The Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act is a United States federal law signed by President Harry S Truman in 1946. The act created a program to provide low cost or free school lunch meals to qualified students through subsidies to schools....
     PL 79-396
  • 1946: Research and Marketing Act
  • 1948: Hope-Aiken Agriculture Act PL 80-897
  • 1956: Soil Bank Program authorized
  • 1957: Poultry Inspection Act
  • 1947: Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act
    Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act

    The Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act , et seq. is a United States federal law that set up the basic U.S. system of pesticide regulation to protect applicators, consumers and the natural environment....
     PL 80-104
  • 1949: Agricultural Act
    Agricultural Act

    Agricultural Act, the name of several United States federal laws, may refer to:*Agricultural Act of 1949*Agricultural Act of 1954*Agricultural Act of 1958...
     PL 81-439 (Section 416 (b))
  • 1954: Food for Peace Act PL 83-480
  • 1954: Agricultural Act
    Agricultural Act

    Agricultural Act, the name of several United States federal laws, may refer to:*Agricultural Act of 1949*Agricultural Act of 1954*Agricultural Act of 1958...
     PL 83-690
  • 1956: Mutual Security Act
    Mutual Security Act

    The Mutual Security Act of 1951 is a United States federal law that distributed $7 billion in foreign aid and thus extended the Marshall Plan....
     PL 84-726
  • 1957: Poultry Products Inspection Act PL 85-172
  • 1958: Food Additives Amendment PL 85-929
  • 1958: Humane Slaughter Act
    Humane Slaughter Act

    The Humane Slaughter Act, or the Humane Methods of Livestock Slaughter Act, is a United States federal law designed to protect food animals during the moment of their slaughter....
  • 1958: Agricultural Act
    Agricultural Act

    Agricultural Act, the name of several United States federal laws, may refer to:*Agricultural Act of 1949*Agricultural Act of 1954*Agricultural Act of 1958...
     PL 85-835
  • 1961: Agricultural Act
    Agricultural Act

    Agricultural Act, the name of several United States federal laws, may refer to:*Agricultural Act of 1949*Agricultural Act of 1954*Agricultural Act of 1958...
     PL 87-128
  • 1964: Agricultural Act
    Agricultural Act

    Agricultural Act, the name of several United States federal laws, may refer to:*Agricultural Act of 1949*Agricultural Act of 1954*Agricultural Act of 1958...
     PL 88-297
  • 1964: Food Stamp Act PL 88-525
  • 1964: Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act Extension PL 88-305
  • 1965: Appalachian Regional Development Act
  • 1965: Food and Agriculture Act PL 89-321
  • 1966: Child Nutrition Act
    Child Nutrition Act

    The Child Nutrition Act is a United States federal law signed on October 11, 1966 by President Lyndon B. Johnson. The Act was created as a result of the "years of cumulative successful experience under the National School Lunch Program to help meet the nutritional needs of children....
     PL 89-642
  • 1967: Wholesome Meat Act PL 90-201
  • 1968: Wholesome Poultry Products Act PL 90-492
  • 1970: Agricultural Act
    Agricultural Act

    Agricultural Act, the name of several United States federal laws, may refer to:*Agricultural Act of 1949*Agricultural Act of 1954*Agricultural Act of 1958...
     PL 91-524
  • 1972: Federal Environmental Pesticide Control Act PL 92-516
  • 1970: Environmental Quality Improvement Act
    Environmental Quality Improvement Act

    The Environmental Quality Improvement Act is an Act of Congress that amended the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969.Among other provisions, the Act added additional responsibilities to the Council on Environmental Quality....
  • 1970: Food Stamp Act PL 91-671
  • 1972: Rural Development Act
  • 1972: Rural Development Act Reform 3.31
  • 1972: National School Lunch Act Amendments (Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children) PL 92-433
  • 1973: Agriculture and Consumer Protection Act PL 93-86
  • 1974: Safe Drinking Water Act
    Safe Drinking Water Act

    The Safe Drinking Water Act is the principal United States federal law in the United States that ensures safe drinking water for the public. Pursuant to the act, the United States Environmental Protection Agency is required to set standards for drinking water quality and oversee all states, localities, and water suppliers who implement thes...
     PL 93-523
  • 1977: Food and Agriculture Act PL 95-113
  • 1985: Food Security Act PL 99-198
  • 1996: Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act PL 104-127
  • 1996: Food Quality Protection Act
    Food Quality Protection Act

    The Food Quality Protection Act of 1996 is a United States federal law. The FQPA amended the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act and the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act by changing the way that the United States Environmental Protection Agency evaluates and regulates pesticides....
     PL 104-170
  • 2000: Agriculture Risk Protection Act PL 106-224
  • 2002: Farm Security and Rural Investment Act
    Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002

    The Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002, also known as the 2002 U.S. Farm Bill, is the most recent incarnation of Federal government of the United States assistance to domestic farmers....
     PL 107-171
  • 2008: Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008
    Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008

    File:2008 Farm Bill logo .jpgThe Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 is a $288 billion, five-year agricultural policy bill being considered by the United States Congress as a continuation of the 2002 Farm Bill....
     PL 110-246


Energy efficiency, renewable energy and global warming


The USDA announced on August 27, 2008 that 639 farms and rural businesses in 43 states and the Virgin Islands
Virgin Islands

The Virgin Islands are an archipelago, part of the Leeward Islands in the Caribbean Sea. The Leeward Islands are the northern islands of the Lesser Antilles, where the Caribbean Sea meets the western Atlantic Ocean....
 have been selected to receive $35 million in grant
Grant

Grant may refer to:...
s and loan guarantees for renewable energy
Renewable energy

Renewable energy is energy generated from natural resources—such as sunlight, wind, rain, tidal energy and geothermal energy—which are Renewable resource ....
 systems and energy efficiency improvements. While many of the awards typically go towards more energy-efficient grain dryers, the USDA notes that a farm in Iowa
Iowa

The State of Iowa is a U.S. state in the Midwestern region of the United States of America, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland." It is bordered by Minnesota to the north, Wisconsin and Illinois to the east, Nebraska and South Dakota to the west, and Missouri to the south....
 will use its grant to replace a propane
Propane

Propane is a three-carbon alkane, normally a gas, but compressible to a transportable liquid. It is derived from other petroleum products during oil or natural gas processing....
 heating system with a geothermal
Geothermal

Geothermal is related to energy and may refer to:* Geothermal , heat that comes from within the Earth...
 heating system, while a firm in Louisiana
Louisiana

The State of Louisiana is a U.S. state located in the U.S. Southern States of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans....
 will purchase energy-efficient electric motor
Electric motor

An electric motor uses electrical energy to produce mechanical energy, nearly always by the interaction of magnetic fields and current-carrying conductors....
s for an irrigation well.

The grants and loans are awarded through the Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvements Program of the USDA Rural Development office. The program was created by Section 9006 of the 2002 Farm Bill and will be expanded next year under the 2008 Farm Bill.

See also

  • Agriculture in the United States
    Agriculture in the United States

    Agriculture is a major industry in the United States and the country is a net exporter of food....
  • Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion
    Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion

    The Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion is an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture created on December 1, 1994, and is the focal point within the USDA where scientific research is linked with the nutritional needs of the American public....
  • Farm Credit System
    Farm Credit System

    About the Farm Credit System:The Farm Credit System is a federally chartered network of borrower-owned lending institutions comprised of cooperatives and related service organizations....
  • Germplasm Resources Information Network
    Germplasm Resources Information Network

    Germplasm Resources Information Network or GRIN is an online software project of National Genetic Resources Program of USDA to provide germplasm information about plants, animals, microbes and invertebrates....
  • Graduate School, USDA
    Graduate School, USDA

    The Graduate School, USDA is a non-appropriated fund instrumentality government entity created in 1921 by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to provide adult continuing education....
  • MyPyramid
    MyPyramid

    MyPyramid, released by the USDA on April 19 2005, is an update on the ubiquitous U.S. food guide pyramid. The new icon stresses exercise and moderation along with a proper mix of food groups in one's diet ....


External links

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  • - July 23, 2004.
  • H5N1
    H5N1

    Influenza A virus subtype H5N1, also known as "bird flu," A or simply H5N1, is a subtype of the Influenzavirus A which can cause illness in humans and many other animal species....
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