DEPARTMENTAL ADMINISTRATION
Office of
Operations
The
mission of the Office of Operations is to provide direct support and services
to USDA agencies, primarily in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, for
human resources, facilities, mail, security, central supplies, warehousing, and
disposal of excess property, health and interpreting services. The Office of Operations operates the
four-building headquarters complex, as well as the Beltsville Service Center,
and the George Washington Carver Complex.
FARM AND FOREIGN
AGRICULTURAL SERVICES
The
mission of the Farm Service Agency is to ensure a healthy and abundant supply
of food and fiber while conserving our land, water and wildlife, and deliver
services efficiently in order to protect the economic security of American
farmers.
Foreign
Agricultural Service
The
mission of the Foreign Agricultural Service is to advance interests of the
agricultural community and the general public by working to develop and expand
foreign markets for U.S. food and agricultural products.
Risk Management
Agency
The
Risk Management Agency provides and supports cost‑effective means of
managing risk for agricultural producers in order to improve the economic
stability of agriculture.
FOOD, NUTRITION, AND
CONSUMER SERVICES
The
mission of the Food and Nutrition Service is to reduce hunger and food
insecurity in partnership with cooperating organizations by providing children
and needy people access to food, a healthful diet, and nutrition education in a
manner that supports American agriculture.
FOOD SAFETY
Food Safety and
Inspection Service
The
Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is the public health agency in the
U.S. Department of Agriculture responsible for ensuring that the nation=s commercial
supply of meat, poultry, and egg products is safe, wholesome, and correctly
labeled and packaged, as required by the Federal Meat Inspection Act, the
Poultry Products Inspection Act, and the Egg Products Inspection Act.
MARKETING AND REGULATORY
PROGRAMS
Marketing
and Regulatory Programs (MRP) facilitate the domestic and international
marketing of U.S. agricultural products and ensure the health and care of
animals and plants while improving competitiveness and the economy for the
overall benefit of both consumers and American agriculture. MRP consists of the Agricultural Marketing
Service (AMS), Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), and Grain
Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA).
Agricultural
Marketing Service
The
Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) administers programs that facilitate the
efficient, fair marketing of U.S. agricultural products, including food, fiber,
and specialty crops. AMS helps make
sure the U.S. marketing system remains world class.
Animal and
Plant Health Inspection Service
The
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service protects America's animal and plant resources
by: safeguarding resources from exotic invasive pests and diseases, monitoring
and managing agricultural pests and diseases existing in the United States,
resolving and managing trade issues related to animal or plant health, and
ensuring the humane care and treatment of animals.
Grain
Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration
The
Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration facilitates the
marketing of livestock, poultry, meat,
cereals, oilseeds, and related agricultural products and promotes fair and
competitive trading practices for the overall benefit of consumers and American
agriculture.
NATURAL RESOURCES AND
ENVIRONMENT
Natural
Resources Conservation Service
The
mission of the Soil Conservation Service is to provide national leadership in
the conservation and wise use of soil, water, and related resources through a
balanced, cooperative program that protects, restores, and improves those
resources.
RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND
ECONOMICS
Agricultural
Research Service (ARS) is the U.S. Department of Agriculture's principal
in-house research agency, working to provide the scientific knowledge and
technologies needed to ensure the viability of American agriculture. ARS conducts research to develop and
transfer solutions to agricultural problems of high national priority and
provides information access and dissemination to: ensure high‑quality, safe food and other agricultural
products; assess the nutritional needs of Americans; sustain a competitive
agricultural economy; enhance the natural resource base and the environment
and; provide economic opportunities for rural citizens, communities, and
society as a whole. ARS has over 100
research facilities strategically located in major farm and rangeland
ecosystems throughout the United States.
The
Rural Development programs help the people of rural America develop sustainable
communities and improve their quality of life.
The programs help rural communities build or improve community facilities,
such as schools health clinics and fire stations. The Rural Development programs also create jobs by funding the
growth and creation of rural businesses and cooperatives. The programs also help build or extend
utilities, including water, sewers, waste disposal, electricity and
telecommunications services. The Rural
Housing Service addresses the need and requirement to eliminate substandard
housing from rural America by helping rural people buy, build, repair or rent
decent housing.