Specialty Crop

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) provides leadership on food, agriculture, natural resources, rural development, nutrition, and related issues based on public policy, the best available science, and effective management.

Its vision is to provide economic opportunity through innovation, helping rural America to thrive; promote agriculture production that better nourishes Americans, while also helping feed others throughout the world; and preserve our nation’s natural resources through conservation, restored forests, improved watersheds, and healthy private working lands.

Agencies within USDA include Agricultural Marketing Service (see listings below), Agricultural Research Service (see High Plains Grasslands Research Station listing below), Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Economic Research Service, Farm Service Agency (see listing below), Food and Nutrition Service (see listing below), Food Safety and Inspection Service, Foreign Agricultural Service, Forest Service, FPAC Business Center, National Agricultural Statistics Service, National Institute of Food and Agriculture (see listing below), Natural Resources Conservation Service (see listing below), Risk Management Agency, Rural Development (see listing below), Rural Utilities Service, Rural Housing Service, and Rural Business-Cooperative Service.