Agriculture FACT BOOK 98: Chapter 5-C

[Agriculture Fact Book 98]

5. U.S. Department of Agriculture

Office of the Chief Economist

The Office of the Chief Economist advises the Secretary of Agriculture on policies and programs affecting U.S. agriculture and rural areas. This advice includes assessments of USDA program proposals, legislative proposals, and economic developments of importance to agriculture and rural areas. In addition, the Office of the Chief Economist is responsible for several programs, described below, that coordinate activities across USDA agencies.

The World Wide Web address for the Office of the Chief Economist is http://www.usda.gov/oce/

World Agricultural Outlook Board

The World Agricultural Outlook Board is USDA’s focal point for forecasts and projections of global commodity markets. Each month the Board brings together interagency committees of experts to forecast the supply, use, and prices of major commodities in the United States and abroad. The committees also clear agricultural forecasts published by other USDA agencies. This teamwork ensures that USDA forecasts are objective and consistent.

Because the weather is vital to crop forecasts, specialists from the Board work side-by- side with weather forecasters from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to monitor the weather and assess its effect on crops. Their work provides timely information on potential changes in global production. In related work, the Board also coordinates department- wide activity on long-term economic projections, remote sensing, and climate.

The World Wide Web address for the World Agricultural Outlook Board is http://www.usda.gov/oce/waob/waob.htm

Office of Risk Assessment and Cost-Benefit Analysis

This office is responsible for coordinating, reviewing, and approving all risk assessments and cost-benefit analyses of mitigation measures associated with major regulations of the Department. Major regulations are economically significant (with an impact of at least $100 million each year) and have a primary effect on human health, human safety, or the environment. The office provides direction to USDA agencies on appropriate methods for these analyses and serves as a focal point on matters relating to risk assessment in interagency reviews.

The World Wide Web address for the Office of Risk Assessment and Cost-Benefit Analysis is http://www.usda.gov/oce/oracba/oracba.htm

Agricultural Labor Affairs

The coordinator of agricultural labor affairs is a focal point for agricultural labor policy in USDA. Areas of concern include immigration, the H-2A temporary agricultural worker program, worker protection standards for pesticide use, farm labor supply, and agricultural employment issues.

The World Wide Web address for this office is http://www.usda.gov/oce/oce/labor- affairs/affairs.htm

Sustainable Development

The director of sustainable development coordinates USDA policies and programs in sustainable development, including sustainable agriculture, forestry, and rural communities. The director chairs a sustainable development council within USDA and serves as a liaison for Federal sustainable development activities.

The World Wide Web address for this office is http://www.usda.gov/oce/oce/sustainable-development/sustain.htm

Global Change

Global climate change, whether from natural causes or human activity, could have important consequences for farming, forestry, and rural areas. The Global Change Program Office functions as the USDA-wide coordinator of global change program and policy issues facing the Department. The Office coordinates activities with other agencies, interacts with the legislative branch on climate change issues, and represents USDA in international climate change discussions. It also is a source of objective assessment of the economic effects of climate change and proposed mitigation strategies on agriculture and forestry.

The World Wide Web address for this office is http://www.usda.gov/oce/oce/global-change/global.htm