Farm Service AgencyFarm Service Agency The Farm Service Agency (FSA) administers and The Farm Service Agency (FSA) administers and

manages farm commodity, credit, conservation, manages farm commodity, credit, conservation, disaster and loan programs as laid out by disaster and loan programs as laid out by Congress through a network of federal, state and Congress through a network of federal, state and county offices. county offices.

These programs are designed to improve the These programs are designed to improve the economic stability of the agricultural industry and economic stability of the agricultural industry and to help farmers adjust production to meet to help farmers adjust production to meet demand. Economically, the desired result of these demand. Economically, the desired result of these programs is a steady price range for agricultural programs is a steady price range for agricultural commodities for both farmers and consumers. commodities for both farmers and consumers.

Farm Service AgencyFarm Service Agency In the Eisenhower administration, the In the Eisenhower administration, the

Congress split the functions of the Triple A Congress split the functions of the Triple A committees, creating the state and county committees, creating the state and county office system to take care of administrative office system to take care of administrative functions and kept the farmer county functions and kept the farmer county committee to oversee implementation of committee to oversee implementation of federal programs in their county.federal programs in their county.

State and county offices directly administer State and county offices directly administer FSA programs. These offices certify farmers FSA programs. These offices certify farmers for farm programs and pay out farm for farm programs and pay out farm subsidies and disaster payments. Currently, subsidies and disaster payments. Currently, there are 2,346 FSA county offices in the there are 2,346 FSA county offices in the continental states. FSA also has offices in continental states. FSA also has offices in Hawaii, and a few American territories. Hawaii, and a few American territories.

Program AreasProgram Areas

Income Support and Disaster Income Support and Disaster Assistance Assistance Counter cyclical PaymentsCounter cyclical Payments Direct PaymentsDirect Payments Non-insured crop disaster paymentsNon-insured crop disaster payments Facility loansFacility loans Lamb programLamb program Dairy programDairy program Loan Deficiency Payments and Marketing Loan Deficiency Payments and Marketing

AssistanceAssistance Other programsOther programs

Commodity OperationsCommodity Operations

Bio-energy programBio-energy program Commodity credit corporationCommodity credit corporation Milk price support purchase programMilk price support purchase program Food assistance programFood assistance program Commodity distributionCommodity distribution U S Warehouse ActU S Warehouse Act

ConservationConservation

Conservation Reserve ProgramConservation Reserve Program Wetlands programWetlands program Grassland programGrassland program Conservation complianceConservation compliance

Farm LoansFarm Loans

Beginning Farmer LoansBeginning Farmer Loans Land Accusation LoansLand Accusation Loans Operating loansOperating loans Guaranteed loan programGuaranteed loan program Interest assistance loan programInterest assistance loan program Youth loan programYouth loan program

Conservation Reserve ProgramConservation Reserve Program The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP)

provides technical and financial assistance to provides technical and financial assistance to eligible farmers and ranchers to address soil, eligible farmers and ranchers to address soil, water, and related natural resource concerns water, and related natural resource concerns on their lands in an environmentally on their lands in an environmentally beneficial and cost-effective manner. beneficial and cost-effective manner.

The program provides assistance to farmers The program provides assistance to farmers and ranchers in complying with Federal, and ranchers in complying with Federal, State, and tribal environmental laws, and State, and tribal environmental laws, and encourages environmental enhancement. encourages environmental enhancement. The program is funded through the The program is funded through the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC). Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC).

CRP is administered by the Farm Service CRP is administered by the Farm Service Agency, with NRCS providing technical land Agency, with NRCS providing technical land eligibility determinations, conservation eligibility determinations, conservation planning and practice implementation.planning and practice implementation.

Conservation Reserve Program Conservation Reserve Program (Cont.)(Cont.)

The Conservation Reserve Program reduces The Conservation Reserve Program reduces soil erosion, protects the Nation's ability to soil erosion, protects the Nation's ability to produce food and fiber, reduces produce food and fiber, reduces sedimentation in streams and lakes, improves sedimentation in streams and lakes, improves water quality, establishes wildlife habitat, water quality, establishes wildlife habitat, and enhances forest and wetland resources. and enhances forest and wetland resources.

It encourages farmers to convert highly It encourages farmers to convert highly erodible cropland or other environmentally erodible cropland or other environmentally sensitive acreage to vegetative cover, such as sensitive acreage to vegetative cover, such as tame or native grasses, wildlife plantings, tame or native grasses, wildlife plantings, trees, filter strips, or riparian buffers. trees, filter strips, or riparian buffers. Farmers receive an annual rental payment for Farmers receive an annual rental payment for the term of the multi-year contract. Cost the term of the multi-year contract. Cost sharing is provided to establish the sharing is provided to establish the vegetative cover practices.vegetative cover practices.

Farm Service AgencyFarm Service Agency More than 8,000 farmer county committee members serve More than 8,000 farmer county committee members serve

in FSA county offices nationwide. Committee members are in FSA county offices nationwide. Committee members are the local authorities responsible for fairly and equitably the local authorities responsible for fairly and equitably resolving local issues while remaining dually and directly resolving local issues while remaining dually and directly accountable to the Secretary of Agriculture and local accountable to the Secretary of Agriculture and local producers though the elective process. They operate within producers though the elective process. They operate within official regulations designed to carry out Federal laws and official regulations designed to carry out Federal laws and provide a necessary and important voice in Federal provide a necessary and important voice in Federal decisions affecting their counties and communities. decisions affecting their counties and communities.

Committee members make decisions affecting which FSA Committee members make decisions affecting which FSA programs are implemented county-wide, the establishment programs are implemented county-wide, the establishment of allotment and yields, commodity price support loans and of allotment and yields, commodity price support loans and payments, conservation programs, incentive, indemnity, payments, conservation programs, incentive, indemnity, and disaster payments for commodities, and other farm and disaster payments for commodities, and other farm disaster assistance.disaster assistance.

AcronymsAcronyms Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS)Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS)

AMS facilitates the strategic marketing of AMS facilitates the strategic marketing of agricultural products in domestic and agricultural products in domestic and international markets while ensuring fair trading international markets while ensuring fair trading practices and promoting a competitive and practices and promoting a competitive and efficient marketplace. AMS constantly works to efficient marketplace. AMS constantly works to develop new marketing services to increase develop new marketing services to increase customer satisfaction. customer satisfaction.

Agricultural Research Service (ARS)Agricultural Research Service (ARS) ARS is USDA's principal in-house research agency. ARS is USDA's principal in-house research agency.

ARS leads America towards a better future ARS leads America towards a better future through agricultural research and information. through agricultural research and information.

AcronymsAcronyms

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIAnimal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)S)

APHIS provides leadership in ensuring the health APHIS provides leadership in ensuring the health and care of animals and plants. The agency and care of animals and plants. The agency improves agricultural productivity and improves agricultural productivity and competitiveness and contributes to the national competitiveness and contributes to the national economy and the public health. economy and the public health.

Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion (CNPP)Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion (CNPP) CNPP works to improve the health and well-being of CNPP works to improve the health and well-being of

Americans by developing and promoting dietary Americans by developing and promoting dietary guidance that links scientific research to the guidance that links scientific research to the nutrition needs of consumers. nutrition needs of consumers.

Acronyms Acronyms

Cooperative State Research, Education and ExtenCooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service (CSREES)sion Service (CSREES) In partnership with land-grant universities, and In partnership with land-grant universities, and other public and private organizations, CREES other public and private organizations, CREES provides the focus to advance a global system of provides the focus to advance a global system of extramural research, extension, and higher extramural research, extension, and higher education in the food and agricultural sciences. education in the food and agricultural sciences.

Economic Research Service (ERS)Economic Research Service (ERS) ERS is USDA's principal social science research ERS is USDA's principal social science research

agency. Each year, ERS communicates research agency. Each year, ERS communicates research results and socioeconomic indicators via results and socioeconomic indicators via briefings, analyses for policymakers and their briefings, analyses for policymakers and their staffs, market analysis updates, and major staffs, market analysis updates, and major reports. reports.

Acronyms Acronyms Farm Service Agency (FSA)Farm Service Agency (FSA) The Farm Service Agency implements agricultural The Farm Service Agency implements agricultural

policy, administers credit and loan programs, and policy, administers credit and loan programs, and manages conservation, commodity, disaster and manages conservation, commodity, disaster and farm marketing programs through a national farm marketing programs through a national network of offices. network of offices.

Food and Nutrition Service (FNS)Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) FNS increases food security and reduces hunger FNS increases food security and reduces hunger

in partnership with cooperating organizations by in partnership with cooperating organizations by providing children and low-income people access providing children and low-income people access to food, a healthy diet, and nutrition education in to food, a healthy diet, and nutrition education in a manner that supports American agriculture and a manner that supports American agriculture and inspires public confidence. inspires public confidence.

AcronymsAcronyms Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS)Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS)FSIS enhances public health and well-being by protecting FSIS enhances public health and well-being by protecting

the public from food borne illness and ensuring that the public from food borne illness and ensuring that the nation's meat, poultry and egg products are safe, the nation's meat, poultry and egg products are safe, wholesome, and correctly packaged. wholesome, and correctly packaged.

Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS)Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) FAS works to improve foreign market access for U.S. FAS works to improve foreign market access for U.S.

products. This USDA agency operates programs products. This USDA agency operates programs designed to build new markets and improve the designed to build new markets and improve the competitive position of U.S. agriculture in the global competitive position of U.S. agriculture in the global marketplace. marketplace.

Forest Service (FS)Forest Service (FS) FS sustains the health, diversity and productivity of the FS sustains the health, diversity and productivity of the

Nation's forests and grasslands to meet the needs of Nation's forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations. present and future generations.

AcronymsAcronyms Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards AdminisGrain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Adminis

tration (GIPSA)tration (GIPSA)

GIPSA facilitates the marketing of livestock, poultry, GIPSA facilitates the marketing of livestock, poultry, meat, cereals, oilseeds, and related agricultural meat, cereals, oilseeds, and related agricultural products. It also promotes fair and competitive products. It also promotes fair and competitive trading practices for the overall benefit of trading practices for the overall benefit of consumers and American agriculture. GIPSA consumers and American agriculture. GIPSA ensures open and competitive markets for ensures open and competitive markets for livestock, poultry, and meat by investigating and livestock, poultry, and meat by investigating and monitoring industry trade practices. monitoring industry trade practices.

National Agricultural Library (NAL)National Agricultural Library (NAL) NAL ensures and enhances access to agricultural NAL ensures and enhances access to agricultural information for a better quality of life. information for a better quality of life.

AcronymsAcronyms National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS)National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS)

NASS serves the basic agricultural and rural data NASS serves the basic agricultural and rural data needs of the country by providing objective, needs of the country by providing objective, important and accurate statistical information important and accurate statistical information and services to farmers, ranchers, agribusinesses and services to farmers, ranchers, agribusinesses and public officials. This data is vital to and public officials. This data is vital to monitoring the ever-changing agricultural sector monitoring the ever-changing agricultural sector and carrying out farm policy. and carrying out farm policy.

Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) NRCS provides leadership in a partnership effort to NRCS provides leadership in a partnership effort to

help people conserve, maintain and improve our help people conserve, maintain and improve our natural resources and environment. natural resources and environment.

AcronymsAcronyms Risk Management Agency (RMA)Risk Management Agency (RMA)

RMA helps to ensure that farmers have the RMA helps to ensure that farmers have the financial tools necessary to manage their financial tools necessary to manage their agricultural risks. RMA provides coverage through agricultural risks. RMA provides coverage through the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation, which the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation, which promotes national welfare by improving the promotes national welfare by improving the economic stability of agriculture. economic stability of agriculture.

Rural Development (RD)Rural Development (RD) RD helps rural areas to develop and grow by RD helps rural areas to develop and grow by offering Federal assistance that improves quality offering Federal assistance that improves quality of life. RD targets communities in need and then of life. RD targets communities in need and then empowers them with financial and technicalempowers them with financial and technical

AcronymsAcronyms

Departmental Administration (DA)Departmental Administration (DA)

DA provides central administrative management DA provides central administrative management support to Department officials and coordinates support to Department officials and coordinates administrative programs and services. administrative programs and services.

National Appeals Division (NAD)National Appeals Division (NAD)

NAD conducts impartial administrative appeal NAD conducts impartial administrative appeal hearings of adverse program decisions made by hearings of adverse program decisions made by USDA and reviews of determinations issued by USDA and reviews of determinations issued by NAD hearing officers when requested by a party NAD hearing officers when requested by a party to the appeal. to the appeal.

Acronyms Acronyms Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (OASCR)Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (OASCR)

OASCR's mission is to facilitate the fair and equitable OASCR's mission is to facilitate the fair and equitable treatment of USDA customers and employees, while treatment of USDA customers and employees, while ensuring the delivery and enforcement of civil rights ensuring the delivery and enforcement of civil rights programs and activities. ASCR ensures compliance with programs and activities. ASCR ensures compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and policies for USDA applicable laws, regulations, and policies for USDA customers and employees regardless of race, color, customers and employees regardless of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, sexual national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, sexual orientation, marital or familial status, political beliefs, orientation, marital or familial status, political beliefs, parental status, protected genetic information, or because parental status, protected genetic information, or because all or part of an individual's income is derived from any all or part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all bases apply to all public assistance program. (Not all bases apply to all programs.) programs.)

AcronymsAcronyms

Office of Budget and Program Analysis (OBOffice of Budget and Program Analysis (OBPA)PA)

OBPA provides centralized coordination OBPA provides centralized coordination and direction for the Department's budget, and direction for the Department's budget, legislative and regulatory functions. It also legislative and regulatory functions. It also provides analysis and evaluation to provides analysis and evaluation to support the implementation of critical support the implementation of critical policies. OBPA administers the policies. OBPA administers the Department's budgetary functions and Department's budgetary functions and develops and presents budget-related develops and presents budget-related matters to Congress, the news media, and matters to Congress, the news media, and the public. the public.

AcronymsAcronyms Office of the Chief Economist (OCE)Office of the Chief Economist (OCE) OCE advises the Secretary on the economic situation in OCE advises the Secretary on the economic situation in

agricultural markets and the economic implications of agricultural markets and the economic implications of policies and programs affecting American agriculture and policies and programs affecting American agriculture and rural communities. OCE serves as the focal point for rural communities. OCE serves as the focal point for economic intelligence and analysis related to agricultural economic intelligence and analysis related to agricultural markets and for risk assessment and cost-benefit analysis markets and for risk assessment and cost-benefit analysis related to Departmental regulations affecting food and related to Departmental regulations affecting food and agriculture. agriculture.

Office of the Chief Financial Officer (OCFO)Office of the Chief Financial Officer (OCFO) OCFO shapes an environment for USDA officials eliciting the OCFO shapes an environment for USDA officials eliciting the

high-quality financial performance needed to make and high-quality financial performance needed to make and implement effective policy, management, stewardship, and implement effective policy, management, stewardship, and program decisions. program decisions.

Acronyms Acronyms Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO)Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO) OCIO has the primary responsibility for the supervision and OCIO has the primary responsibility for the supervision and

coordination of the design, acquisition, maintenance, use, coordination of the design, acquisition, maintenance, use, and disposal of information technology by USDA agencies. and disposal of information technology by USDA agencies. OCIO's strategically acquires and uses information OCIO's strategically acquires and uses information technology resources to improve the quality, timeliness and technology resources to improve the quality, timeliness and cost-effectiveness of USDA services. cost-effectiveness of USDA services.

Office of Communications (OC)Office of Communications (OC) OC is USDA's central source of public information. The office OC is USDA's central source of public information. The office

provides centralized information services using the latest, provides centralized information services using the latest, most effective and efficient technology and standards for most effective and efficient technology and standards for communication. It also provides the leadership, communication. It also provides the leadership, coordination, expertise, and counsel needed to develop the coordination, expertise, and counsel needed to develop the strategies, products, and services that are used to describe strategies, products, and services that are used to describe USDA initiatives, programs, and functions to the public. USDA initiatives, programs, and functions to the public.

AcronymsAcronyms

Office of the Chief Financial Officer (OCFO)Office of the Chief Financial Officer (OCFO) OCFO shapes an environment for USDA officials OCFO shapes an environment for USDA officials

eliciting the high-quality financial performance needed eliciting the high-quality financial performance needed to make and implement effective policy, management, to make and implement effective policy, management, stewardship, and program decisions. stewardship, and program decisions.

Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO)Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO) OCIO has the primary responsibility for the supervision OCIO has the primary responsibility for the supervision

and coordination of the design, acquisition, and coordination of the design, acquisition, maintenance, use, and disposal of information maintenance, use, and disposal of information technology by USDA agencies. OCIO's strategically technology by USDA agencies. OCIO's strategically acquires and uses information technology resources to acquires and uses information technology resources to improve the quality, timeliness and cost-effectiveness improve the quality, timeliness and cost-effectiveness of USDA services. of USDA services.

Acronyms Acronyms Office of Communications (OC)Office of Communications (OC) OC is USDA's central source of public OC is USDA's central source of public

information. The office provides information. The office provides centralized information services using the centralized information services using the latest, most effective and efficient latest, most effective and efficient technology and standards for technology and standards for communication. It also provides the communication. It also provides the leadership, coordination, expertise, and leadership, coordination, expertise, and counsel needed to develop the strategies, counsel needed to develop the strategies, products, and services that are used to products, and services that are used to describe USDA initiatives, programs, and describe USDA initiatives, programs, and functions to the public. 3functions to the public. 3

AcronymsAcronyms Office of Congressional Relations (OCR)Office of Congressional Relations (OCR) OCR serves as the USDA's liaison with Congress. OCR serves as the USDA's liaison with Congress.

OCR works closely with members and staffs of OCR works closely with members and staffs of various House and Senate Committees to various House and Senate Committees to communicate the USDA's legislative agenda and communicate the USDA's legislative agenda and budget proposals. budget proposals.

Office of the Executive Secretariat (OES)Office of the Executive Secretariat (OES) OES ensures that all Department officials are OES ensures that all Department officials are

included in the correspondence drafting and policy-included in the correspondence drafting and policy-making process through a managed clearance and making process through a managed clearance and control system. Keeping policy officials informed of control system. Keeping policy officials informed of executive documents enhances the Secretary's executive documents enhances the Secretary's ability to review sound and thought out policy ability to review sound and thought out policy recommendations before making final decisions. recommendations before making final decisions.

Acronyms Acronyms Office of the Inspector General (OIG)Office of the Inspector General (OIG) OIG investigates allegations of crime against the OIG investigates allegations of crime against the

Department's program, and promotes the Department's program, and promotes the economy and efficiency of its operations.economy and efficiency of its operations.

Office of the General Counsel (OGC)Office of the General Counsel (OGC) The Office of the General Counsel (OGC) is an The Office of the General Counsel (OGC) is an

independent legal agency that provides legal independent legal agency that provides legal advice and services to the Secretary of advice and services to the Secretary of Agriculture and to all other officials and agencies Agriculture and to all other officials and agencies of the Department with respect to all USDA of the Department with respect to all USDA programs and activities. programs and activities.