Department of Agriculture

The Department of Agriculture oversees the nation’s food supply, farm economy, and rural communities. It sets rules for farm subsidies and crop insurance, inspects meat and produce, manages national forests and conservation programs, and runs the country’s major food assistance programs for low-income households.

Food assistance: A large share of the department’s budget and daily work goes toward helping Americans afford food. The Food and Nutrition Service administers the programs that provide food benefits, school meals, and nutrition support to families across the country, and understanding how these programs relate to each other is often the first question people have when they need help.

Land and water stewardship: The department also supports farmers and landowners who want to protect natural resources while keeping their land productive. Programs that reward existing conservation work, such as the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP): Get Rewarded for Your Existing Conservation Efforts, and resources aimed at efficient irrigation and drought planning, covered in Water Management on the Farm: USDA Tools and Resources, reflect the department’s role in balancing farm output with long-term land health.

Getting help directly: Because the department touches so many parts of daily life, from grocery store labeling to rural housing loans, many people simply need to know where to turn. A practical starting point is How to Contact the USDA, which points readers toward the right office for their particular concern.