United States Department of Agriculture

The U.S. Department of Agriculture, also called the Agriculture Department, or USDA, is a Cabinet department of the United States Federal Government. Its purpose is to develop and execute policy on farming, agriculture, 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, also to meet the needs of the american people, and end hunger, in America and abroad.

Related legislation

Important legislation setting policy of the USDA includes the:

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• 1890, 1891, 1897, 1906 Meat Inspection Act
• 1906 - Pure Food and Drug Act
• 1914 - Cotton Futures Act
• 1916 - Federal Farm Loan Act
• 1917 - Food Control and Production Acts
• 1921 - Packers and Stockyards Acts
• 1922 - Grain Futures Act
• 1922 - National Agricultural Conference
• 1923 - Agricultural Credits Act
• 1933 - Agricultural Adjustment Act (AAA)
• 1933 - Farm Credit Act
• 1935 - Resettlement Administration
• 1936 - Soil Conservation and Domestic Allotment Act
• 1937 - Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act
• 1941 - National Victory Garden Program
• 1941 - Steagall Amendment
• 1946 - Farmers Home Administration
• 1946 - National School Lunch Act PL 79-396
• 1946 - Research and Marketing Act
• 1948 - Hope-Aiken Agriculture Act PL 80-897
• 1956 - Soil Bank Program authorized
• 1957 - Poultry Inspection Act
• 1947 - Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act PL 80-104
• 1949 - Agricultural Act PL 81-439
• 1954 - Food for Peace Act PL 83-480
• 1954 - Agricultural Act PL 83-690
• 1956 - Mutual Security Act PL 84-726
• 1957 - Poultry Products Inspection Act PL 85-172
• 1958 - Food Additives Amendment PL 85-929
• 1958 - Humane Slaughter Act
• 1958 - Agricultural Act PL 85-835
• 1961 - Agricultural Act PL 87-128
• 1964 - Agricultural Act PL 88-297
• 1964 - Food Stamp Act PL 88-525
• 1964 - Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act Extension PL 88-305
• 1965 - Appalachian Regional Development Act
• 1965 - Food and Agriculture Act PL 89-321
• 1966 - Child Nutrition Act PL 89-642
• 1967 - Wholesome Meat Act PL 90-201
• 1968 - Wholesome Poultry Products Act PL 90-492
• 1970 - Agricultural Act PL 91-524
• 1972 - Federal Environmental Pesticide Control Act PL 92-516
• 1970 - Environmental Quality Improvement Act
• 1970 - Food Stamp Act PL 91-671
• 1972 - Rural Development Act
• 1972 - Rural Development Act Reform 3.31
• 1972 - National School Lunch Act Amendments (Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children) PL 92-433
• 1973 - Agriculture and Consumer Protection Act PL 93-86
• 1974 - Safe Drinking Water Act PL 93-523
• 1977 - Food and Agriculture Act PL 95-113
• 1996 - Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act PL 104-127
• 1996 - Food Quality Protection Act PL 104-170
• 2002 - Farm Security and Rural Investment Act PL 107-171