See also:

• Regional: North America: United States: Government: Legislative Branch: Senate: Committees: Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry  (7)
• Regional: North America: United States: Science and Environment: Agriculture  (10)

U.S. Department of Agriculture -  .

- Enhancing the quality of life for the American people by supporting production of agriculture.

Agricultural Marketing Service - - Includes six commodity divisions - Cotton, Dairy, Fruit and Vegetable, Livestock and Seed, Poultry, and Tobacco. The divisions employ specialists who provide standardization, grading and market news services for those commodities.

Agricultural Marketing Service Farmers Markets - - Links to resources and information, an interactive map by states to find local markets, and a kids coloring book.

Agricultural Research Service (ARS) - - The main in-house research arm of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Research news, find-a-researcher, consumer and educational information on a wide range of topics in food, agriculture, pest management, and related areas.

Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service - - advances knowledge for agriculture, the environment, human health and well-being, and communities through national program leadership and federal assistance, in partnership with the nation's Land Grant University system.

Economic Research Service - - Provides economic analysis on efficiency, efficacy, and equity issues relating to agriculture, food, the environment, and rural development to improve public and private decisionmaking.

Farm Service Agency - - Clearinghouse of information and services about farm programs for citizens and for FSA's current and potential business partners.

Grain Inspection, Packers, and Stockyards Administration - - Facilitates the marketing of livestock, poultry, meat, cereals, oilseeds, and related agricultural products, and promotes fair and competitive trading practices for the overall benefit of consumers and American agriculture.

National Agricultural Library - - Part of the Agricultural Research Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, NAL is one of four U.S. National Libraries, and a major international source for agriculture and related information.

National Finance Center - - Designs, develops, implements, and operates cost effective financial, administrative, and management information systems and services supporting the missions of USDA and its customers.

National Organic Program - - The Rules include livestock welfare. The Final Rule (National Standards on Organic Agricultural Production and Handling), The National List, background and history, upcoming events, training, fact sheets, application for accreditation and commercial availability.

National Organic Standards Board - - Assists in the development of standards for substances to be used in organic production. Site offers an overview on the board membership, recommendations, meeting calendar, and archives.

Recall Information Center - - Recalls are voluntary actions carried out by industry in cooperation with Federal and State agencies. Products are recalled when found to be contaminated, adulterated, or misbranded. Site lists active and archived cases from both Federal and state agencies.

Risk Management Agency (RMA) - - Links and information about the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC) that helps farmers survive a major crop loss. The RMA also provides training to farmers to help them acquire the risk management skills.

Rural Utilities Service - - Carries on the tradition of helping rural utilities expand and keep their technology up to date, helping establish new and vital services such as distance learning and telemedicine.

U.S. Agriculture Statutes - - Title 7 of the U.S. Code -- Agricultur.

USDA Farm Service Agency - - Site has information on and applications for FSA farm loan, conservation reserve, and commodity programs. Also news, a directory of state and county FSA offices, and statistics regarding agricultural commodities, prices, and production.

Water Management Research Laboratory - - Information on the laboratory, its staff and its research. Develops irrigation and drainage water management practices and methods that use water efficiently, improve agricultural productivity and sustainability, and reduce negative environmental impacts of irrigated agriculture in semi-arid and arid areas.