U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA): Definition and Purpose

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Updated August 31, 2022

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What Is the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)?

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is the federal agency that proposes programs and implements policies and regulations related to American farming, forestry, ranching, food quality, and nutrition.

President Abraham Lincoln founded the USDA in 1862, when about half of all Americans lived on farms. The department now has 29 agencies with wide-ranging responsibilities, from food safety inspections to economic development for rural communities.

Key Takeaways

USDA stands for U.S. Department of Agriculture and is a federal agency that Abraham Lincoln founded in 1862.
The USDA is responsible for overseeing farming, ranching, and forestry industries, as well as regulating aspects of food quality and safety and nutrition labeling.
The USDA is further tasked with administering several social welfare programs including free school lunches and food stamps.

What Does the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Do?

The USDA is made up of 29 agencies and offices, which include valuable resources like the Forest Service, the Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion, and the National Agricultural Library. Its programs help provide the following services, among others: broadband access in rural areas; disaster assistance to farmers, ranchers, and rural residents; soil, water, and other natural resource conservation to landowners; wildfire prevention; and agricultural research and statistics.

The USDA also is responsible for several social welfare programs, including: school meal nutrition; nutrition education; food assistance for women, infants, and children (WIC); and the food stamp program (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP).

The USDA is vital in helping to keep America's farmers and ranchers in business and making sure that the nation's commercial supply of meat, poultry, and egg products is safe, wholesome, and properly labeled. It also helps to support and ensure the health and care of animals and plants and the health of the land through sustainable management.

The head of the USDA is the secretary of agriculture. Second in charge is the deputy secretary of agriculture, who oversees the department’s daily operations and budget. Undersecretaries oversee the divisions for rural development, food safety, and other areas, with nearly 100,000 employees who serve at more than 4,500 locations across the country and abroad.

The USDA also works to improve the economy and quality of life in all of rural America.

USDA in Rural Development

One of the USDA's main tasks is in the area of rural development, especially rural housing. The USDA gives financial assistance for purchasing and refinancing rural homes through USDA Rural Development. It provides direct loans to very-low-income borrowers who want to purchase a rural home, guaranteed loans to moderate-income homebuyers, and loans and grants for rural home improvements and repairs.

USDA Rural Development includes three agencies that provide assistance to rural families and communities. In addition to its housing program, it has a utilities program and a business program.

What Is the Role of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)?

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is a federal agency that plays a major role in rural development, particularly housing. It also oversees and implements programs related to the farming, ranching, and forestry industries and regulates food quality and safety, and nutrition labeling. In addition, the USDA runs several social welfare programs including free school lunches, food stamps, and food assistance for women and children.

How Does the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Operate?

The USDA employs 100,000 people at 29 agencies, in more than 4,500 locations across the United States and abroad.

What Is the USDA Office of Rural Development?

The USDA Office of Rural Development includes three agencies that provide economic assistance to rural families and communities—a housing program, a utilities program, and a business program. The housing program provides guaranteed and direct home loans to help low- and moderate-income borrowers in rural areas purchase modest homes with no down payment.

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U.S. Department of Agriculture. “.” Accessed Oct. 11, 2021.
U.S. Department of Agriculture. “.” Accessed Oct. 11, 2021.
U.S. Department of Agriculture. “.” Accessed Oct. 11, 2021.
USDA Rural Development. “.” Accessed Oct. 11, 2021.
USDA Rural Development. “.” Accessed Oct. 11, 2021.

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