The USDA oversees food, agriculture, and environmental concerns, employing over 100,000 people in 7,000 locations worldwide. Its branches include Farm and Foreign Agriculture Services, Food Nutrition and Consumer Services, Food Safety, Marketing and Regulatory Programs, Natural Resources and Environment, and Rural Development. Its primary goals are to maintain a model for food production and a safe and healthy food supply while balancing concern for natural resources and conservation.
The United States Department of Agriculture, commonly referred to as USDA, was established by President Abraham Lincoln as the “People’s Department”. This sector of the US government oversees education, manufacturing, research, and many other areas related to food, the environment, and agriculture. While less than 2% of the US population is employed in agriculture, they provide food for the US and other countries around the world. USDA employs over 100,000 people in more than 7,000 locations around the world.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s primary goals include establishing and maintaining a model for food production, environmental concerns, and a safe and healthy food supply. The department strives to keep the American food manufacturing industry competitive worldwide by balancing concern for natural resources and conservation. Under the agency’s broad umbrella, individual areas focus on specific sectors of the nutrition industry and food manufacturing.
The USDA’s Farm and Foreign Agriculture Services Branch creates and oversees programs in domestic agriculture, humanitarian aid and expanding global markets. This section seeks to provide relief to other countries through food programs, while the Food Nutrition and Consumer Services branch provides home food assistance programs such as the Women Infants and Children (WIC) program, free and reduced school lunches, and dietary guidelines including the food pyramid diagram.
Another section of the United States Department of Agriculture is Food Safety, which inspects milk, poultry and eggs, but also uses science to develop regulations for proper food production. This branch works to ensure a safe food supply, prevent contamination, and educate the public on proper food handling. Marketing and Regulatory Programs works to market the U.S. food supply domestically and internationally, as well as research industry practices and monitor animal and plant health.
Natural Resources and Environment oversees the Forest Service and manages programs designed to improve farmers’ conservation practices. The research, education and business sector provides support to colleges and other types of educational facilities and helps agricultural programs such as FFA and 4-H. Research and testing in this area is being used and applied to many areas including obesity, alternative food uses, genomics and environmental issues. The area called Rural Development helps communities with energy, infrastructure, business development and ventures, water and sanitation, and housing.
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