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Agriculture Department

Secretary of Agriculture

Why It Matters

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) became a government organization nearly 150 years ago, when then-President Abraham Lincoln established it in 1862 to serve the country's booming farming industry.

As railroads grew in the late 1800s, more tracks and trains were able to reach more land and carry supplies to new frontiers. As a result, the government needed to address safety in the nation's food supply. This remains one of the USDA's largest responsibilities.

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At a Glance

 

History

In its early years, the USDA's focus was on regulating meat produce. More sophisticated railroad systems that included refrigerated cars meant the meat-packing industry could not only easily transport animals across state lines, but that it could also be a year-round operation. The department also focused on international transports of animals, which sometimes carried infectious diseases.

Out of these quality and safety concerns came numerous sub-agencies within the department, such as the Bureau of Animal Industry and the Bureau of Chemistry. The safety issues also prompted congressional action, such as the 1890 Meat Inspection Act (to monitor exported salted pork and bacon) and 1906 Food and Drug Act (enforced by the Bureau of Chemistry, which later become the Food and Drug Administration).

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Offices

    • Office of the Secretary
      • Deputy Secretary
        • Office of the Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services
          • Farm Service Agency
          • Foreign Agricultural Service
          • Risk Management Agency
        • Office of the Under Secretary for Food Safety
          • Food Safety and Inspection Service
        • Office of the Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services
          • Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion
          • Food and Nutrition Services
        • Office of the Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs
          • Agricultural Marketing Service
          • Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
          • Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyard Administration
        • Office of the Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment
          • Forest Service
          • Natural Resources Conservation Service
        • Office of the Under Secretary for Research, Education and Economics
          • Agricultural Research Service
          • Economic Research Service
          • National Agricultural Library
          • National Agricultural Statistics Service
          • National Institute of Food and Agriculture
        • Office of the Under Secretary for Rural Development