Agriculture Secretary

Secretary of Agriculture of the United States
Seal of the Department of Agriculture
Flag of the Secretary of Agriculture
Incumbent Sonny Perdue since April 25, 2017
United States Department of Agriculture
Style	Mr. Secretary
Member of	Cabinet
Reports to	The President
Seat	Washington, D.C., U.S.
Appointer	The President with Senate advice and consent
Term length	No fixed term
Constituting instrument	7 U.S.C. § 2202
Formation	February 15, 1889
First holder	Norman Jay Coleman
Succession	Ninth
Deputy	Deputy Secretary of Agriculture
Salary	Executive Schedule, level 1
Website	www.usda.gov

The United States Secretary of Agriculture is the head of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The current Secretary of Agriculture is former Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue. Perdue took office on April 25, 2017 after being confirmed by the U.S Senate 87-11. The position carries similar responsibilities to those of agriculture ministers in other governments.

The department includes several organizations. The 297,000 mi² (770,000 km²) of national forests and grasslands are managed by the United States Forest Service. The safety of food produced and sold in the United States is ensured by the United States Food Safety and Inspection Service. The Food Stamp Program works with the states to provide food to low-income people. Advice for farmers and gardeners is provided by the United States Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service.

The following is a list of Secretaries of Agriculture, since the creation of the office in 1889.

  Democratic (14)   Republican (18)

As of June 2018, there are nine living former Secretaries of Agriculture (with all Secretaries that have served since 1993 still living), the oldest being Robert Bergland (served 1977–1981, born 1928). The most recent Secretary of Agriculture to die was Clayton Yeutter (served 1989–1991, born 1930), on March 4, 2017. The most recently serving Secretary to die was Edward Rell Madigan (1991-1993, born 1936) on December 7, 1994.