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 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