United States Department of Agriculture
Seal of the U.S. Department of Agriculture
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Logo of the U.S. Department of Agriculture
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 Flag of the U.S. Department of Agriculture |
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| Agency overview | |
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| Formed | May 15, 1862 Cabinet status: February 15, 1889 |
| Preceding agency |
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| Jurisdiction | U.S. federal government |
| Headquarters |
Jamie L. Whitten Building 1301 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 38°53′17″N 77°1′48″W / 38.88806°N 77.03000°WCoordinates: 38°53′17″N 77°1′48″W / 38.88806°N 77.03000°W |
| Employees | 105,778 (June 2007) |
| Annual budget | US$139.7 billion (2015) |
| Agency executives |
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| Website | USDA |
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), also known as the Agriculture Department, is the U.S. federal executive department responsible for developing and executing federal laws related to farming, agriculture, forestry, and food. It aims to meet the needs of farmers and ranchers, promote agricultural trade and production, work to assure food safety, protect natural resources, foster rural communities and end hunger in the United States and internationally.
Approximately 80% of USDA's $140 billion budget goes to the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) program. The largest component of the FNS budget is the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (formerly known as the Food Stamp program), which is the cornerstone of USDA's nutrition assistance.
After the resignation of Thomas Vilsack on January 13, 2017 and the departure of President Barack Obama from office on January 20, 2017, the acting Secretary of Agriculture is Michael Young.
Many of the programs concerned with the distribution of food and nutrition to people of America and providing nourishment as well as nutrition education to those in need are run and operated under the USDA Food and Nutrition Service. Activities in this program include the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which provides healthy food to over 40 million low-income and homeless people each month. USDA is a member of the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness, where it is committed to working with other agencies to ensure these mainstream benefits are accessed by those experiencing homelessness.
The USDA also is concerned with assisting farmers and food producers with the sale of crops and food on both the domestic and world markets. It plays a role in overseas aid programs by providing surplus foods to developing countries. This aid can go through USAID, foreign governments, international bodies such as World Food Program, or approved nonprofits. The Agricultural Act of 1949, section 416 (b) and Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954, also known as Food for Peace, provides the legal basis of such actions. The USDA is a partner of the World Cocoa Foundation.
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