Purpose of the USDA Established in 1862 by

President Abraham Lincoln

Back then, more than half of the Nation’s population lived and worked on farms

It was established to improve the Nation’s economy and quality of life

Purpose of the USDA

Today, some of the improvements of the Nation include: Enhancing economic opportunities for U.S.

farmers and ranchers

Supporting the sound, sustainable development of rural communities

Working to reduce hunger and improve America’s health through good nutrition

Mission Statement

“To provide leadership on food, agriculture, natural resources, rural development and related issues based on sound public policy, the best available science, and efficient management.”

-USDA

Vision Statement of the USDA Dynamic organization that is able to

enhance agricultural trade

Protect the Nation’s food supply

Protect and enhance the Nation’s natural resource base and environment

USDA Organization Chart

USDA Mission Areas

The USDA established mission areas which are a collection of agencies that work together to achieve USDA’s strategic goals.

Natural Resources and Environment

Forest Service

- 193 million acres of national forests and grasslands

Natural Resources Conservation Service

- Assists famers, rancher and other private landowners in managing their acreage for environmental and economic sustainability.

Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services

Farm Service Agency (FSA)- Delivers most traditional farm programs

Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS)- Assists with U.S. agricultural exports

Risk Management Agency (RMA)- Handles programs that help farmers and ranchers address the unavoidable challenges in agriculture, such as natural disasters

Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services (Continued)

Includes Two Government-owned corporations:

Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC)- Works to stabilize farm income and prices to help ensure an adequate, affordable supply of food and fiber.

Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC)- Improves the economic stability of agriculture through a sound system of crop insurance.

Rural Development (RD)

Focus on creating economic opportunities and improving the quality of life in rural America.

Rural Utilities Services

Rural Housing Service

Rural Business-Cooperative Service

Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services (FNCS)

Food and Nutrition Service (FNS)Administers Federal nutrition programs

Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion (CNPP)Provides science-based dietary guidance to the Nation.

*15 Federal nutrition assistance programs

Food Safety

Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS)

Public health agency responsible for ensuring that the Nation’s commercial supply of meat, poultry, and egg products is safe, wholesome and labeled and packaged correctly.

Research, Education and Economics (REE)

Brings together all of the efforts underway throughout USDA to advance a safe, sustainable and competitive U.S.

food and fiber system

Agricultural Research Service (ARS)

Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES)

Economic Research Service (ERS)

National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS)

National Agricultural Library

Marketing and Regulatory Programs (MRP)

Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) Facilitates domestic and international marketing of U.S.

agricultural products

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Protects the U.S agriculture from plant and animal

health related threats. Ensures humane treatment of animals

Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyard Administration (GIPSA) Promotes fair and competitive trading practices for the

overall benefit of the consumers and American agriculture.

Strategic Plan Goals

To enhance international competitiveness of American agriculture

To enhance protection and safety of the Nation’s food supply

To support increased economic opportunities and improved quality of life in rural America

Strategic Plan Goals

Through these six goals, the USDA will strive to:

Improve nutrition by providing food assistance and nutrition education and promotion

Provide financing needed to help expand job opportunities and improve housing, utilities, and infrastructure in rural America

Ongoing Objectives

Research Provides the

foundation for modern agriculture

Developing renewable resources Bioenergy

Manufacturing products Insulators, dyes,

and other bioproducts

Food-based health products Neutraceuticals

and functional foods

Ongoing Objectives

Genetics and molecular biology Reduce recurring problems of plant and

animal disease

Education Builds scientific and agricultural literacy

Continuing Research

Bio-fuels/Bio-energy Bio-fuel production from Bio-dried animal

manure

Nanotechnology Genome sequencing of Haemophillus para

Obesity/Weight Control An integrated approach to prevention of

obesity in high risk families