Guide to USDA Programs for American Indians and Alaska Natives

Marketing and Regulatory Programs

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is charged with protecting America’s agricultural resources by keeping foreign pests and diseases out of the country, minimizing damage caused by wildlife, and protecting certain animals from inhumane treatment.

APHIS officials work cooperatively with tribal governments, other Federal agencies and departments, and State and local organizations to enlist their interest in and support of efforts that are mutually beneficial to all parties involved. Program specialists maintain networking systems to consult with tribal leaders relative to tribal concerns and needs. Managers and program coordinators within the agency consider the impact of agency decisions on tribal trust resources and consult with tribal governments to ensure that tribal rights, issues, and concerns are considered during the development of projects, programs, and policies.

• Native American Working Group

  In response to President Clinton’s April 29, 1994, Executive Memorandum on Government-to- Government Relations with Native American Tribal Governments, APHIS established the APHIS Native American Working Group, which has representatives from all APHIS program areas. The group advises the agency's top management about ways to enhance program delivery and accessibility to Indian tribes, intertribal committees, and related organizations, such as the Intertribal Agriculture Council. The group also facilitates the coordination of active partnerships with tribal governments by providing assistance and advice to the agency's units.

  The APHIS Native American Working Group functions under the direction of the APHIS Administrator. The Administrator retains authority for establishing agency policy relating to all APHIS activities and programs of interest to American Indians and Alaska Natives.

• APHIS Program Areas

  APHIS promotes the health of animal and plant resources; protects agricultural and natural resources, property, and human health and safety; promotes animal welfare; protects and enhances ecosystems; and enhances America's share in world agricultural trade. Fair and safe agricultural trade standards and practices are ensured through APHIS' cooperation with customers and stakeholders. APHIS also develops biologically sound pest and disease exclusion programs and promotes international standards and globally recognized certification systems ensuring an abundance of agricultural commodities for U.S. consumers. APHIS maintains a highly motivated and capable team of diverse individuals who share leadership within an agency community that cares about the professional and personal lives of others. Through shared leadership, APHIS anticipates and responds to issues involving animal and plant health, wildlife damage, global economics, environmental protection, and animal care and welfare.

  Generally, APHIS tries to establish either Memoranda of Understanding with Indian tribes or cooperative agreements. APHIS then provides a wide variety of services for protection of resources and human health and safety. As part of this effort, APHIS has also helped sponsor and support workshops and meetings with tribal leaders and individuals on a regular basis and maintains frequent contacts through the efforts of employees.

  APHIS joined other USDA agencies to fund an outreach program to Indian tribes, managed by the Intertribal Agriculture Council. In conjunction with this outreach effort, APHIS appointed State liaisons to be the contact point regarding issues with Indian tribes, other USDA agencies, and other APHIS program employees.

• Animal and Plant Health

  Through inspection of baggage and cargo and interception of illegal agricultural commodities, APHIS inspectors provide technical assistance to State and local governments in plant and animal pest and disease control programs. APHIS veterinarians administer national programs to protect U.S. livestock and poultry resources and to provide technical assistance and vital support services to State and local cooperators to eradicate and control livestock and poultry pests and diseases. APHIS scientists also conduct surveillance and detection programs to further safeguard the Nation's agricultural resources. In support of all field programs, APHIS specialists and technicians conduct methods development and research activities.

• Wildlife Damage

  APHIS provides programs to help alleviate or minimize wildlife-caused damage to agricultural and natural resources nationwide. Program goals include reducing wildlife damage, protecting threatened or endangered wildlife from predation, and working to minimize the threats wild animals pose to human health and safety. APHIS’ wildlife services personnel remove wild animals that prey on livestock, discourage birds from living near U.S. airports, and investigate ways science can help manage wildlife damage problems, such as through vaccination against disease and immunocontraception for population reduction.

• Global Economics

  APHIS works closely with other countries to facilitate agricultural trade. To accomplish this, APHIS incorporates international standards and marketing concerns in its domestic agricultural programs. To reduce the threat of pests and diseases from overseas, APHIS scientists seek international cooperation and coordination to develop animal and plant pest and disease eradication programs abroad and to find new solutions to pest and disease problems. APHIS also serves stakeholders by providing assistance in preclearance of commodities in foreign countries before the items begin their journey to the United States.

• Environmental Protection

  APHIS employees ensure that agency programs comply with applicable environmental laws, regulate and license veterinary biological products, and issue permits for certain genetically engineered plants. All employees are encouraged to exercise environmental responsibility and develop and implement systems based on environmentally sound decisionmaking. APHIS scientists analyze the potential effects of introducing genetically engineered plants that may be plant pests into the environment and issue permits to regulate the release and movement of these plants. The aquaculture industry benefits from APHIS programs that regulate fish vaccines, prevent the introduction of aquatic pests and weeds, and reduce losses from fish-eating birds. APHIS promotes programs using biological control methods to limit damage to crops by plant pests and diseases while lessening the public's dependence on pesticides.

• Animal Care and Welfare

  APHIS enforces Federal regulations regarding animal care and welfare and investigates violations of all agency regulations, including animal welfare legislation. APHIS also administers animal protection legislation, including the Animal Welfare Act and the Horse Protection Act.

• APHIS Change Agenda

  APHIS employees have identified themselves as "change agents." They are continually striving to make changes to more effectively serve farmers, ranchers, and other Americans nationwide. They care about providing quality service and support to our stakeholders and cooperators. To meet new needs in the global marketplace, they develop and manage information as an agency resource to address agency needs. The goal is to improve program delivery, on an equal basis, for all segments of the population, through the development and communication of scientific, technical, and administrative information.

• Valuing People

  APHIS values diversity in its workforce. APHIS promotes and facilitates continual learning as a business strategy needed to exceed customers' expectations and survive and thrive in an environment of accelerated change. Continual learning and empowerment give APHIS employees the tools to understand, refine, and better participate in customer service practices and build partnerships nationwide with stakeholders and on a government-to-government basis with American Indian and Alaska Native tribes. The importance the agency places on this subject is reflected in "Relationships With Native Americans and Tribal Governments," APHIS directive 1040.1, dated September 8, 1995, a document that explains to all employees the agency's policy concerning American Indians.

• Getting in Touch With APHIS

  To receive additional information, see the list of APHIS Native American Working Group State Representatives below or write to: USDA, APHIS, Civil Rights Enforcement and Compliance, 4700 River Road, Unit 92, Riverdale, MD 20737–1234. Or contact an APHIS office near you. You can e-mail APHIS using this address: lmoore@aphis.usda.gov

• Printed Information Available

  APHIS has developed a materials package for each Indian tribe within the United States which explains the services available and instructions for obtaining them. Materials were also developed for each APHIS field manager to provide information about working with Indian tribes, tribal contacts, and coordinating efforts across APHIS program areas and also across USDA agency lines. The information package is entitled “Partnerships Across Nations: Resource Guide for American Indians and Alaska Natives.”

• Enabling Legislation

  The following list covers most of the major laws authorizing APHIS to operate in the animal and plant health arena.

  Animal Care

  • Animal Welfare Act, as amended (7 U.S.C. §§ 2131 et seq.)
  • Horse Protection Act, as amended (15 U.S.C. §§ 1821–1831)
  • Marine Mammal Protection Act
  • Laboratory Animal Welfare Act of 1966

  Wildlife Services (Known until July 1997 as Animal Damage Control)

  • Animal Damage Control Act of March 2, 1931, as amended (7 U.S.C. 426-426c; 46 Stat. 1468)
  • Rural Development, Agriculture, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 1988 (Public Law 100-202, December 22, 1987, Stat.1329-1331 [7 U.S.C. 426c])
  • Lacey Act (18 U.S.D. 42) [in regard to importation or shipment of injurious mammals, birds, and fish]

  Plant Protection and Quarantine

  • Federal Plant Pest Act (7 U.S.C. 159aa-150jj)
  • Plant Quarantine Act (7 U.S.C. 151-164a, 167)
  • Organic Act of 1944, Sec. 102 (u U.S.C. 47a, 148, 148a-e)
  • Federal Seed Act, Title III (7 U.S.C. 1581)
  • Federal Noxious Weed Act (7 U.S.C. 2801-2813)
  • Golden Nematode Act (7 US.C. 150-150g)
  • Mexican Border Act (7 U.S.C. 149)
  • Endangered Species Act (plants) (16 U.S.C. 1531-1542)
  • Honeybee Act (7 U.S.C. 281-282)
  • Terminal Inspection Act (7 U.S.C. 166)
  • Grasshopper control (7 U.S.C. 148f)

  Veterinary Services

  • Animal quarantine laws (21 U.S.C. 101-105, 111-114a(1), 115-135)
  • Tariff Act of 1930, sec. 306 (19 U.S.C. 1306)
  • Food and Drug Act of 1906 (in regard to use of veterinary drugs)
  • Virus-Serum-Toxin Act of 1913 (in regard to interstate shipment of viruses, serum, and toxins for treatment of domestic livestock)

APHIS Native American Working Group State Representatives September 12, 1997

Agricultural Marketing Service

The Agricultural Marketing Service provides market news reports; develops quality grade standards for agricultural commodities; provides voluntary grading services for livestock, meat, poultry, eggs, dairy products, fruits and vegetables, cotton, and tobacco; administers marketing regulatory programs, marketing agreements and orders, and research and promotion programs; administers national organic standards activities; administers USDA’s laboratory accreditation program; administers Federal-State marketing improvement programs, wholesale facilities research programs, and food purchases for USDA food assistance programs; and is the coordinator for USDA’s pesticide data program and pesticide recordkeeping program activities.

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. One of GIPSA’s programs, the Packers and Stockyards Programs, ensures open and competitive markets for livestock, meat, and poultry. The other, the Federal Grain Inspection Service, facilitates the marketing of U.S. grain and related agricultural products by providing the market with Federal quality standards and a uniform system for applying them.

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