Measuring performance is essential to managing programs effectively. USDA works continuously to improve the quality of our measures to make them more meaningful and outcome-oriented.

USDA is rated each quarter on progress in several PMA initiatives, including Human Capital, Competitive Sourcing, Improved Financial Performance, E-Government, Eliminating Improper Payments, Real Property Asset Management, Improved Credit Management, Faith Based and Community Initiative and the Performance Improvement Initiative.

USDA's six strategic goals mirror our commitment to provide first-class service, state-of-the-art-science, and consistent management excellence across the broad responsibilities of the Department. Although change has been a constant in the evolution of the U.S. farm and food sector, the new century brings growing importance to consumer preferences and the reach of global markets. To reflect this, these goals contain 17 objectives that cover the myriad programs and services within USDA's mission.

Describes the annual performance targets which USDA intends to work toward within the fiscal year and the funding included in the President's Budget that is necessary to accomplish the Department's goals and objectives as defined in the current Strategic Plan.

USDA's annual Performance and Accountability Reports are included in the Annual Financial Statements. The PAR is Section III of the Financial Statements.

Audit of USDA's Annual Financial Statements - Chief Financial Officers (CFO) Act of 1990 requires, among other things, the annual preparation and audit of organization wide financial statements of the 24 major executive departments and agencies.

Program Assessment Rating Tool (PART) assessments - PART assessments help USDA learn how we can achieve better results for the American people - we are always striving to make improvements to ensure the most effective and efficient use of taxpayer dollars.

Inspector General Audits, Investigative Reports, and Hotline to Report Waste, Fraud, and Abuse - The Office of Inspector General is an independent office within USDA that performs audits, evaluations, and investigations of USDA and its contractors, to promote economy and efficiency, and to prevent and detect fraud, waste, and abuse.

GAO High Risk Series - Since 1990, GAO has identified and reported on government programs and operations at "high risk." GAO has made hundreds of recommendations to executive branch agencies and the Congress aimed at improving these programs. GAO provides its high-risk reports at the start of each new Congress to help in setting the congressional oversight agenda. USDA currently has one program on the list that was added in 2007 - "Transforming Federal Oversight of Food Safety."

GAO Major Management Challenges and Program Risks - In January 2003, GAO issued its Performance and Accountability Series: Major Management Challenges and Program Risks. This series, first issued in 1999 and updated in 2001, consisted of separate reports on cabinet departments, major independent agencies and the U.S. Postal Service. The reports in that series also identified any areas that had been designated as high-risk within those agencies. USDA has addressed the management challenges and program risks GAO identified in 2003.