Legal Status
Agriculture Department
The Department of Agriculture works to improve and maintain farm income and to develop and expand markets abroad for agricultural products. The Department helps to curb and cure poverty, hunger, and malnutrition. It works to enhance the environment and to maintain production capacity by helping landowners protect the soil, water, forests, and other natural resources. The Department, through inspection and grading services, safeguards and ensures standards of quality in the daily food supply.
The Department of Agriculture (USDA) was created by act of May 15, 1862 (7 U.S.C. 2201).
- Agency URL:
- http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome
- Sub-agencies:
- Agricultural Marketing Service
- Agricultural Research Service
- Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
- Commodity Credit Corporation
- Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service
- Economic Analysis Staff
- Economic Research Service
- Farm Service Agency
- Federal Crop Insurance Corporation
- Food and Consumer Service
- Food and Nutrition Service
- Food Safety and Inspection Service
- Foreign Agricultural Service
- Forest Service
- Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration
- Inspector General Office, Agriculture Department
- National Agricultural Library
- National Agricultural Statistics Service
- National Institute of Food and Agriculture
- Natural Resources Conservation Service
- Operations Office
- Risk Management Agency
- Rural Business-Cooperative Service
- Rural Housing and Community Development Service
- Rural Housing Service
- Rural Telephone Bank
- Rural Utilities Service
- Energy Policy and New Uses Office
- Procurement and Property Management, Office of
- Transportation Office
- Advocacy and Outreach Office
- Office of the Chief Financial Officer, Agriculture Department
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Local School Wellness Policy Implementation Under the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010; Approval of Information Collection Request
The final rule titled Local School Wellness Policy Implementation Under the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 was published on July 29, 2016. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) cleared the associated information collection requirements (ICR) on September 12, 2016. This document announces approval of the ICR.
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Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): Eligibility, Certification, and Employment and Training Provisions of the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008
This final rule implements provisions of the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 (FCEA) affecting the eligibility, benefits, certification, and employment and training (E&T) requirements for applicant or participant households in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The rule amends the SNAP regulations to: Exclude military...
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Local School Wellness Policy Implementation Under the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010
This document contains technical corrections to the Code of Federal Regulations regarding the final rule published in the Federal Register on July 29, 2016, ``Local School Wellness Policy Implementation Under the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010.''
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Enhancing Retailer Standards in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS or the Agency) is updating Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP or the Program) regulations pertaining to the eligibility criteria for retail food stores to participate in the Program by finalizing a proposed rule that was published on February 17, 2016. The Agricultural Act of 2014 (the 2014 Farm...
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Viruses, Serums, Toxins, and Analogous Products; Packaging and Labeling
In a final rule published in the Federal Register on August 30, 2016, and effective on October 31, 2016, we amended the Virus- Serum-Toxin Act regulations to make veterinary biologics labeling requirements more consistent with current science and veterinary practice. However, we inadvertently removed a requirement for an indications statement...
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Notice of Request for Extension of Approval of an Information Collection; Importation of Avocados From Continental Spain
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's intention to request an extension of approval of an information collection associated with regulations for the importation of avocados from continental Spain.
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Organic Research, Promotion, and Information Order
This rulemaking proposes the establishment of an industry- funded promotion, research, and information program for certified organic products. The purpose of the program would be to strengthen the position of certified organic products in the marketplace, support research to benefit the organic industry, and improve access to information and...
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Updates to the Biotechnology Regulatory Services BQMS Program
We are advising the public that Biotechnology Regulatory Services of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is updating its Biotechnology Quality Management System Program and renaming it the Biotechnology Quality Management Support Program to offer a more flexible, more customizable, and less costly program that is easily...
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Section 538 Guaranteed Rural Rental Housing Program 2017 Industry Forums-Open Teleconference and/or Web Conference Meetings
This Notice announces a series of teleconference and/or web conference meetings regarding the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Section 538 Guaranteed Rural Rental Housing (GRRH) program, which are scheduled to occur during 2017 and 2018. This Notice also outlines suggested discussion topics for the meetings and is intended to notify the...
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National Organic Program (NOP); Sunset 2017 Amendments to the National List
This proposed rule would address recommendations submitted to the Secretary of Agriculture (Secretary) by the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) following their October 2015 meeting. These recommendations pertain to the 2017 Sunset Review of substances on the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) National List of Allowed and Prohibited...
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Availability of an Environmental Assessment for Field Testing a Vaccine for Use Against Infectious Bursal Disease, Marek's Disease, and Newcastle Disease
We are advising the public that the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has prepared an environmental assessment concerning authorization to ship for the purpose of field testing, and then to field test, an unlicensed Bursal Disease-Marek's Disease-Newcastle Disease Vaccine, Serotype 3, Live Marek's Disease Vector. Based on the...
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Notice of Request for Extension of Approval of an Information Collection; Federally Recognized State Managed Phytosanitary Program
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's intention to request an extension of approval of an information collection associated with Federal recognition of a State's plant pest containment, eradication, or exclusion program as a Federally Recognized State...
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Availability of a Final Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact for a Biological Control Agent for Giant Reed
We are advising the public that the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has prepared a final environmental assessment and finding of no significant impact relative to the release of Lasioptera donacis for the biological control of giant reed, Arundo donax, in the continental United States. Based on its finding of no significant impact,...
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Notice of Request for Extension of Approval of an Information Collection; Importation of Fresh Apricots From Continental Spain
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's intention to request an extension of approval of an information collection associated with regulations for the importation of fresh apricots from continental Spain.
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Notice of Request for Extension of Approval of an Information Collection; Importation of Emerald Ash Borer Host Material From Canada
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's intention to request an extension of approval of an information collection associated with the regulations for the importation of emerald ash borer host material from Canada to prevent the introduction and spread of...