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United States Department of Agriculture

Government Agency
Agency nameUnited States Department of Agriculture|logo=USDA_logo.svg
Agency overview
FormedMay 15, 1862
(Cabinet status February 15, 1889)
Preceding
agencies		Agricultural Division
Employees105,778 (June 2007)
JurisdictionFederal government of the United States
Annual budgetUS$109.3 billion (2009)
US$129.3 billion (est. 2010)
US$132.3 billion (est. 2011)
Headquarters1301 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C.
Operational structure
Agency executivesThomas J. Vilsack, Secretary of Agriculture
Kathleen Merrigan, Deputy Secretary of Agriculture
Child agencyClick here

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The United States Department of Agriculture (informally the Agriculture Department or USDA) is the United States federal executive department responsible for developing and executing U.S. federal government policy on farming, agriculture, and food. It aims to meet the needs of farmers and ranchers, promote agricultural trade and production, work to assure food safety, protect natural resources, foster rural communities and end hunger in the United States and abroad.

The head of the department is the Secretary of Agriculture, who is a member of the Cabinet. The current Secretary is Tom Vilsack.


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