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.
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.
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
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.
RURAL
DEVELOPMENT
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.