Official Name: United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)

Mission Statement:  "We provide leadership on food, agriculture, natural resources, and related issues based on sound public policy, the best available science, and efficient management.”

Director: Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns

Employees:  92,221 (the proposed figure for the FY2008 full-time staffed positions)

Budget:

• The USDA has seven mission areas: Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services; Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services; Food Safety; Marketing and Regulatory Programs; Natural Resources and Environment; Research, Education and Economics; Rural Development.  According to the USDA’s website, the missions of each area are as follows:
• Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services helps to keep America's farmers and ranchers in business as they face the uncertainties of weather and markets. They deliver commodity, credit, conservation, disaster, and emergency assistance programs that help improve the stability and strength of the agricultural economy. 
• Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services works to harness the Nation's agricultural abundance to end hunger and improve health in the United States. Its agencies administer federal domestic nutrition assistance programs and the Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion, which links scientific research to the nutrition needs of consumers through science-based dietary guidance, nutrition policy coordination, and nutrition education. 
• Food Safety ensures that the Nation's commercial supply of meat, poultry, and egg products is safe, wholesome, and properly labeled, and packaged. This mission area also plays a key role in the President's Council on Food Safety and has been instrumental in coordinating a national food safety strategic plan among various partner agencies including the Department of Health and Human Services and the Environmental Protection Agency. 
• Marketing and Regulatory Programs facilitates domestic and international marketing of U.S. agricultural products and ensures the health and care of animals and plants. MRP agencies are active participants in setting national and international standards. 
• Natural Resources and Environment ensures the health of the land through sustainable management. Its agencies work to prevent damage to natural resources and the environment, restore the resource base, and promote good land management. 
• Research, Education and Economics is dedicated to the creation of a safe, sustainable, competitive U.S. food and fiber system, as well as strong communities, families, and youth through integrated research, analysis, and education. 
• Rural Development is committed to helping improve the economy and quality of life in all of rural America by providing financial programs to support essential public facilities and services as water and sewer systems, housing, health clinics, emergency service facilities and electric and telephone service. Rural Development promotes economic development by providing loans to businesses through banks and community-managed lending pools, while also assisting communities to participate in community empowerment programs.

• Coined by Lincoln as “The People’s Department”
• USDA employs people in over 7,000 locations worldwide
• USDA prints numerous publications, including Amber Waves Magazine, be FoodSafe: The Food Safety and Inspection Service Magazine, Agricultural Research Magazine, Rural Cooperatives Magazine, Foreign Agricultural Service Worldwide Magazine.
• USDA has a graduate school – Graduate School, USDA – open to anyone at least 18 years of age, regardless of their educational background or place of employment.

• Pandemic flu and avian influenza
• Nutrition and dietary guidelines, and related issues such as obesity

History:

1862    -    On May 15, Abraham Lincoln signed law creating what would become the USDA. It was originally called The Department of Agriculture, and also known as the People’s Department

1889    -    The Department of Agriculture was elevated to cabinet level by President Grover Cleveland

Key Agencies

• Agricultural Marketing Service
• Agricultural Research Service
• Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
• Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion
• Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service
• Economic Research Service
• Farm Service Agency
• Food and Nutrition Service
• Food Safety and Inspection Service
• Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services
• Foreign Agricultural Service Forest Service
• Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration
• Marketing and Regulatory Programs
• National Agricultural Statistics Service
• Natural Resources Conservation Service
• Office of Community Development
• Research, Education and Economics
• Risk Management Agency
• Rural Business-Cooperative Service
• Rural Development
• Rural Housing Service
• Rural Utilities Service