Welcome to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)

• History of American
Agriculture
•The People's Department
• Agriculture Factbook
• Past Administrations
• Mission Statement

• Current Administration
• Budget Summary 2000
• Agencies
• Strategic Plan

• United States Code (USC)
• Code of Federal Regulations (CFR)
• Current Legislation from USDA

In 1862, when President Abraham Lincoln founded the U.S. Department of Agriculture, he called it the "people's Department." In Lincoln's day, 90 percent of the people were farmers who were in need of good seed and information to grow their crops. Today, USDA continues Lincoln's legacy by serving all Americans, the two percent who farm as well as everyone who eats, wears clothes, lives in a house, or visits a rural area or a national forest.

USDA remains committed to assisting America's farmers and ranchers. But we also do much more--

USDA leads the Federal anti-hunger effort with the Food Stamp, School Lunch, School Breakfast, and the WIC Programs.

USDA is the steward of our nation's 192 million acres of national forests and rangelands.

USDA is the country's largest conservation agency, encouraging voluntary efforts to protect soil, water, and wildlife on the 70 percent of America's lands that are in private hands.

USDA brings housing, modern telecommunications, and safe drinking water to rural America.

USDA is responsible for the safety of meat, poultry, and egg products.

USDA is a research leader in everything from human nutrition to new crop technologies that allow us to grow more food and fiber using less water and pesticides.

USDA helps ensure open markets for U.S. agricultural products and provides food aid to needy people overseas.

To learn more about USDA:

Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services assists farmers and ranchers and represents American agriculture around the world.

Food, Nutrition, & Consumer Service runs the Federal food assistance programs and coordinates nutrition research and policy.

Food Safety administers the Federal meat and poultry inspection system and educates industry and consumers about food safety.

Marketing & Regulatory Programs assists with the marketing of American agricultural products and monitors animal and plant health and safety.

Natural Resources & Environment maintains our national forests and grasslands and promotes conservation of private lands.

Rural Development is dedicated to improving the economy and quality of life in rural America.

Research, Education, & Economics conducts agricultural and economic research to assess and develop solutions to agricultural problems.

Departmental Administration is USDA's administrative, management organization.

Comments, Questions to vic.powell@usda.gov