Glossary of USDA Acronyms | USDA
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Glossary of USDA Acronyms
Here are some common acronyms and terms used at USDA. While not complete or comprehensive, we will be adding more items periodically.
 
   A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z
  504 Rural Housing Repair and Rehabilitation Program
  2501 Outreach and Technical Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged and Veteran Farmers and Ranchers Program
  9003 Biorefinery Assistance Program
  9004 Repowering Assistance Program
  9005 Advanced Biofuel Payment Program
  1862s   Land-Grant Institutions Established by the Passage of the First Morrill Act (1862)
  1890s - 1890  Land-Grant Colleges and Universities, and Tuskegee University
  1994s - 1994 Land-Grant Colleges and Universities (also referred to as Tribal Colleges)
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 A
  ACA Accredited certifying agent
  ACEP Agricultural Conservation Easement Program
  ACRE Average Crop Revenue Election
  ADA                        Americans with Disabilities Act
  ADAAA                 Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act
  AES Agricultural Experiment Station
  AGM                Asian Gypsy moth
  AGR Adjusted Gross Revenue Pilot
  AGR-L Adjusted Gross Revenue-Lite
  AHPA             Animal Health Protection Act
  AI/AN American Indian / Alaska Native
  AIIS Automated Import Inspection System
  ALB                   Asian long-horned beetle
  AMA Agricultural Management Assistance Program
  AMS Agricultural Marketing Service
  ANCSA Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act
  ANPR Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
  ANREP  Association of Natural Resources Extension Professionals
  AO Administrative Officer
  APHIS Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
  AQI                  Agricultural Quarantine and Inspection
  ARC Agricultural Risk Coverage
  ARC-CO County Agricultural Risk Coverage
  ARC-IC Individual Agricultural Risk Coverage
  AREERA  Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998
  ARH Actual Revenue History
  ARIS Agricultural Research Information System
  ARMS Agricultural Resource Management Survey
  ARRA                      American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
  ARS Agricultural Research Service
  ATRA The American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012
  AWA                Animal Welfare Act
  AWEP  Agricultural Water Enhancement Program
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 B
  B&I Business and Industry Program
  BARC Beltsville Agricultural Research Center
  BCAP Biomass Crop Assistance Program
  BFRDP Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program
  BSE Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
  Bt Bacillus thuringiensis (bacterium)
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 C
  CAA Clean Air Act
  CAC Codex Alimentarius Commission
  CAPS Cooperative Agricultural Pest Survey 
  CARET  Council for Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching
  CAT Catastrophic level of coverage
  CCC Commodity Credit Corporation
  CCEP Commodity Exchange Price Provisions
  CCPs Counter-Cyclical Payments
  CDSI Conservation Delivery Streamlining Initiative
  CED County Executive Director
  CEP Community Eligibility Provisions
  CES Cooperative Extension System
  CF Community Facilities
  CFC Combined Federal Campaign
  CFR Code of Federal Regulations
  CID Commercial Item Description
  CIG Conservation Innovation Grants
  CITES Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species 
  CNA Child Nutrition Act
  CNAFR Council for Native American Farming and Ranching
  CNP Child Nutrition Programs
  CNPP Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion
  COB Close of Business
  CONUS Continental United States
  COOL Country of Origin Labeling program
  COOP Continuity of Operations Plan
  CP Commodity Procurement
  CPHST Center for Plant Health Science and Technology
  CPI Consumer Price Index
  CR Civil Rights
  CREP Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program
  CRIS Current Research Information System
  CRP Conservation Reserve Program
  CRP Conservation Reserve Program
  CSA Community-supported agriculture
  CSFP                       Commodity Supplemental Food Program
  CSP Conservation Stewardship Program
  CSRA Civil Service Reform Act
  CSREES  Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service
  CVB  Center for Veterinary Biologics
  CWA Clean Water Act
  CY Calendar Year
  CYFAR  Children, Youth, and Families at Risk
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 D
  DCP Direct and Counter-cyclical Payment Program
  DM Department of Management
  DPs Direct payments
  DSNAP Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
  DVMS District Veterinary Medical Specialist
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 E
  EA Environmental Assessment
  eAuth eAuthentication
  EBT Electronic Benefits Transfer
  eCFR Electronic Code of Federal Regulations
  ECP Emergency Conservation Program
  EDEN Extension Disaster Education Network
  e-Docs Electronic Document Creation System
  EEO Equal Employment Opportunity
  EFRP Emergency Forest Restoration Program
  EII Rural Economic Impact Initiative
  EIS                    Environmental Impact Statement
  ELAP Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-Raised Fish 
  EMP Emerging Markets Program
  EO Executive Order
  EPCRA Emergency Planning and Community Right-To-Know Act
  EPIA Egg Products Inspection Act
  EQIP Environmental Quality Incentives Program
  ERS Economic Research Service
  ES Extension Service
  eSFSP Enhanced Summer Food Service Program
  e-TDE Electronic Trade Document Exchange
  EWP  Emergency Watershed Protection Program
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 F
  F&V Fruit and Vegetable Program
  F2S Farm to School
  FACA Federal Advisory Committee Act
  FAO Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (USDA affiliate) 
  FAS Foreign Agricultural Service
  FCA Farm Credit Administration
  FCIC Federal Crop Insurance Corporation
  FDAMA Food and Drug Administration Modernization Act
  FDPIR Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations
  FERN Federal Emergency Response Network
  FFAS Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services
  FFVP                      Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program
  FGIS Federal Grain Inspection Service
  FL Farm Loans
  FLS Frontline Supervisor
  FLSA Fair Labor Standards Act
  FMD Financial Management Division
  FMD Foreign Market Development Program
  FMFIA Federal Managers' Financial Integrity Act
  FMIA Federal Meat Inspection Act
  FMLA Family and Medial Leave Act
  FMLFPP Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion Program
  FMMI Federal Management Modernization Initiative 
  FMMO Federal Milk Marketing Orders
  FMNP Farmers Market Nutrition Program
  FMPP Farmers’ Market Promotion Program
  FNCS Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services
  FNS Food and Nutrition Service
  FOB Free On Board
  FOIA Freedom of Information Act
  FONSI Finding of No Significant Impact
  FP Farm Programs
  FR Federal Register
  FRPP Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program
  FS Forest Service
  FSA Farm Service Agency
  FSES Food Safety Education Staff
  FSIS Food Safety and Inspection Service
  FSMIP Federal State Marketing Improvement Program
  FSRG Food Surveys Research Group
  FSWG President's Food Safety Working Group
  FTCA Federal Tort Claims Act
  FTE Full Time Equivalent
  FTTA Federal Technology Transfer Act
  FWP Farmable Wetlands Program
  FY Fiscal Year
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 G
  GAP Good Agricultural Practices
  GATS Global Agricultural Trade System 
  GHP Good Handling Practices
  GIPSA Grain Inspection, Packers, and Stockyards Administration
  GPRA Government Performance and Results Act
  GRP Grassland Reserve Program
  GS General Schedule
  GSM-I02 program Export credit guarantee
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 H
  HACCP Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point
  HECG High Energy Cost Grant Program
  HELC Highly Erodible Lands Conservation
  HFRP Healthy Forests Reserve Program
  HHFKA Healthy Hunger Free Kids Act
  HMSA Humane Methods of Slaughter Act
  HPA Horse Protection Act
  HQ Headquarters
  HR-ACE High-Risk Alternate Coverage Endorsement
  HT Herbicide-tolerant
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 I
  IEG Income Eligibility Guidelines
  IIC Inspector-in-Charge
  IMS Interstate Milk Shippers
  IPM Integrated Pest Management
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 K
  KYF Know Your Farmer
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 L
  LDPs Loan deficiency payments
  LEP Limited English Proficiency
  LFP Livestock Forage Program 
  LFPP Local Food Promotion Program
  LGM Livestock Gross Margin
  LIP Livestock Indemnity Program
  LMIC Let's Move! In Indian Country
  LPS Livestock, Poultry, and Seed Program
  LRP Livestock Risk Protection
  LRP Local and Regional Procurement
  LRPA Livestock Price Reinsurance Agreement
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 M
  MAP Market Access Program
  MFH Multi-family Housing Program 
  MILC Milk Income Loss Contract program
  MLGs Marketing loan gains
  MOA Memorandum of Agreement
  MOAD Marketing Order and Agreement Division
  MOI Memorandum of Interview
  MOU Memorandum of Understanding
  MPI Meat and Poultry Inspection
  MPP Margin Protection Program   
  MRP                Marketing and Regulatory Programs
  MYA Market year average
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 N
  NABG Nutrition Assistance Block Grants
  NACMCF National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods
  NACMPI National Advisory Committee on Meat and Poultry Inspection
  NAD National Appeals Division
  NAFTA North American Free Trade Agreement
  NAIS National Animal Identification System
  NAL National Agricultural Library
  NAP Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program
  NAREEE Board The National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, and Economics Advisory Board
  NASS National Agricultural Statistics Service
  NDS Nondiscrimination Statement
  NEPA National Environmental Policy Act
  NFC National Finance Center
  NHPA National Historic Preservation Act
  NIFA National Institute of Food and Agriculture
  NIMS National Information Management System 
  NLEA Nutrition Labeling and Education Act
  NNMRRA National Nutrition Monitoring and Related Research Act
  NOCCSP National Organic Certification Cost Share Program 
  NOP National Organic Program
  NPL National Program Leader
  NRCS Natural Resources Conservation Service
  NRE Natural Resources and Environment
  NRF National Response Framework
  NSIP Nutrition Services Incentive Program
  NSLA National School Lunch Act
  NSLP                       National School Lunch Program
  NTE Not to Exceed
  NTIS National Technology Information Service
  NTTC National Technology Transfer Coordinator
  NVSL                National Veterinary Services Laboratory
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 O
  OA Office of the Administrator
  OAA Office of the Associate Administrator
  OAE Office of Advocacy and Enterprise
  OALJ Office of Administrative Law Judges
  OAO Office of Advocacy and Outreach
  OASA Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration
  OASCR Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights 
  OBPA Office of Budget and Program Analysis
  OC Office of Communications 
  OCA Office of the Consumer Advisor
  OCCSP Organic Certification Cost Share Programs 
  OCE Office of Community Engagement
  OCE Office of the Chief Economist
  OCFO Office of Chief Financial Officer
  OCHRO Office of the Chief Human Resources Officer
  OCIO Office Chief Information Officer
  OCONUS Outside Continental United States
  OCR Office of Congressional Relations
  OCS Office of the Chief Scientist 
  OCT Office of Cultural Transformation
  OES Office of the Executive Secretariat
  OGC Office of the General Counsel
  OGE Office of Government Ethics
  OHR Office of Human Resources
  OHSE Office of Homeland Security and Emergency
  OIE World Organization for Animal Health 
  OIG Office of Inspector General
  OMB Office of Management and Budget
  OSDBU Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization
  OSEC Office of Secretary
  OTR Office of Tribal Relations
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 P
  PA Privacy Act
  PACA Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act of 1930
  PBIS Performance Based Inspection System
  PD Position Description
  PFGE Pulse-Field Gel Electrophoresis
  PHHRS Public Health Human Resources System Demonstration Project
  PHIS Public Health Information System
  PHV Public Health Veterinarian
  Phyto Phytosanitary Certificate (also called PC) 
  PIA Privacy Impact Assessment
  PII Personally Identifiable Information
  PIQ Partners in Quality
  PL Public Law
  PLC Price Loss Coverage
  PPA Plant Protection Act
  PPI Producer Price Index
  PPIA Poultry Products Inspection Act
  PPQ Plant Protection and Quarantine (APHIS)
  PSA Packers and Stockyards Administration
  PVPA Plant Variety Protection Act
  PVPC Plant Variety Protection Certificate
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 Q
  QAD Quality Assessment Division
  QAR Quality Assurance Review
  QSP Quality Samples Program
  QTV Qualified Through Verification Program
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 R
  R&P Research and Promotion Program
  RBEG Rural Business Enterprise Program Grants
  RBIP Rural Business Investment Program
  RBOG Rural Business Opportunity Program Grants
  RBS Rural Business-Cooperative Service
  RCDG Rural Cooperative Development Grants
  RCPP Regional Conservation Partnership Program
  RCRA Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
  RD Rural Development
  REA Rural Electrification Administration
  REAP (9007) Rural Energy for America Program
  REAP Zone Rural Economic Area Partnership Program
  REDLG Rural Economic Development Loans and Grants
  REE Research, Education and Economics
  RHS Rural Housing Service 
  RIF Reduction in Force
  RMA Risk Management Agency
  RMAP Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program
  RMD Recall Management Division
  RUS Rural Utilities Service
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 S
  S&T Science and Technology Program
  S2F Start To Farm
  SARA Superfund Amendments and Re-authorization Act
  SARE  Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program
  SBP School Breakfast Program
  SCBG Specialty Crop Block Grant Program
  SCI Specialty Crops Inspection Division
  SCO Supplemental Coverage Option
  SCS Soil Conservation Service
  SED State Executive Director
  SES Senior Executive Service
  SF Standard Form
  SFH Single Family Housing Direct Loan Program
  SFH-G Single Family Housing Guaranteed Loan Program
  SFMNP Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program
  SFSP Summer Food Service Program
  SMP Special Milk Program
  SNAP Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
  SOD Sudden Oak Death/Phytopthora ramorum
  SOP Standard Operating Procedure
  SPS Sanitary and Phytosanitary, usually “SPS Agreement”
  SRA Standard Reinsurance Agreement
  SS Sacred Site
  SSA Social Security Act
  SSDPG Small Socially Disadvantaged Producer Program Grants
  SSI Supplemental Security Income
  SSOP Sanitation Standard Operating Procedure
  STEC Shiga-toxin Producing Escherichia coli
  SURE Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payments Program
  SWPP Source Water Protection Program
  SY Scientist Year (Category 1 or 4 positions)
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 T
  T&M Transportation and Marketing Program
  TA Talmadge-Aiken
  TANF Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
  TAP Tree Assistance Program
  TASC Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops
  TEFAP The Emergency Food Assistance Program
  TRQ Tariff-rate quota
  TSCA Toxic Substance Control Act
  TSE Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy
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 U
  U.S.C. United States Code
  USDA United States Department of Agriculture
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 V
  VAPG Value-Added Producer Grants
  VMO Veterinary Medical Officer
  VRA Veterans Readjustments Act
  VRA Veterans Recruitment Appointment 
  VS Veterinary Services
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 W
  WAOB World Agricultural Outlook Board
  WASDE World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report
  WBSCM Web Based Supply Chain Management
  WC Wetland Conservation
  WIC Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children
  WRP Wetlands Reserve Program
  WS Wildlife Services