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As USDA looks toward the next century and millennium, we also look back to the rich past of American agriculture. Agriculture has played a central role in this Nation's history, from its discovery and settlement to its growth into the world leader it is today.

Abraham Lincoln established the U.S. Department of Agriculture in 1862 "to acquire and to diffuse among the people of the United States useful information on subjects connected with agriculture in the most general and comprehensive sense of that word." He called it "the people's Department," and it still is.

Since 1862, the Department has been charged with very wide and diverse responsibilities–from the farm support programs and soil conservation measures of the 1930's to the feeding programs of the 1960's; from inspecting all meat and poultry going through interstate commerce to helping bring rural homeownership to an all-time high; from high-tech research on pest management, biotechnology, nutrition, and food safety to management of 192 million acres of national forest and grass lands.

At the turn of the 21st century, we reflect on all the jobs we do, observing important historic markers along the way. This look backward to see where we have been can help us look forward with better awareness as we meet the challenges of the new millennium.

As part of the Federal Government's celebration of the Millennium, USDA has created a web site especially for kids. USDA for Kids covers the full range of USDA programs, and it will increase young people's access to accurate, reliable Government information on the internet.

We hope you will join USDA in Celebrating the Millennium in your communities.