What is the Department of Agriculture?

The Department of Agriculture is the federal department responsible for farming, forestry, food safety, rural development, and federal nutrition programs. Created by President Abraham Lincoln in 1862, the same year he signed the Homestead Act, the department was elevated to Cabinet status in 1889. Lincoln called it the people's department, reflecting the central role of agriculture in 19th-century American life.

The department's headquarters is the Whitten Building on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., across from the Smithsonian Institution. The Department of Agriculture employs about 100,000 people working in roles ranging from research to inspection to rural development.

The department operates a wide range of programs that touch most Americans in some way. The Forest Service, established in 1905, manages 193 million acres of national forests and grasslands, including iconic landscapes such as the Tongass in Alaska and the Pacific Crest Trail's national forests. The Food Safety and Inspection Service inspects meat, poultry, and processed egg products to ensure they are safe to eat. The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service protects against animal and plant diseases. The Natural Resources Conservation Service helps farmers and ranchers conserve soil, water, and wildlife habitat on private lands. The Rural Development mission area provides loans, grants, and other assistance to rural communities for housing, infrastructure, and economic development.

The Department of Agriculture also runs the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly food stamps), the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC), and the National School Lunch Program, which together serve tens of millions of Americans. These nutrition programs make up the majority of the department's annual budget.

The department supports agricultural research through the Agricultural Research Service and through partnerships with land-grant universities established under the Morrill Act of 1862. The Farm Service Agency administers federal farm subsidy and crop insurance programs. Recent Secretaries of Agriculture include Tom Vilsack, Sonny Perdue, and Brooke Rollins.