The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is a cabinet-level agency that oversees the American farming industry (Allgove.com). Farm and foreign agricultural services, rural development, food nutrition, and consumer services, food safety, natural resources and environment, marketing and regulatory programs, research, education and economics are all areas specialized by the USDA (FY 2015). Arising from Abraham Lincoln’s desire to revive farmers from the outbreak of ravages from the Civil War in 1862, the ultimate mission of the USDA was to develop and execute federal policies on farming, agriculture trade and food with the best interest of the producer and consumer in mind (Ag Minute: USDA History). The mission statement of the USDA
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The 1887 Hatch Act was the culmination of the extramural research activities of the Department of Agriculture. The Act established state-owned agriculture research stations in each state with the stations receiving support from the Department of Agriculture. The system allowed the Department of Agriculture to conduct research in all states and, with the addition of county agents, gave the Department a solid foundation with political contacts (Kulakowski & Chronister). The Hatch Act authorized federal funds for the development of agricultural research at land grant colleges (FA/RM). In 1887 it transformed the Bureau of Agriculture, which was established in 1862 by Lincoln, into the Department of Agriculture. Originally an organization devoted to research, the USDA now governs the way in which our American community consumes food on day to day basis, controls the types of food are sold to consumers what, and decides what crops receive federal funding (FA/RM). In present day the USDA delegate programs to assist American farmers. USDA aid includes distributing price supports and other subsidies to farmers, inspecting food processed at agricultural facilities, working to expand overseas markets for U.S. agricultural products, providing financing to expand job opportunities and improve housing, utilities, and infrastructure in rural America, and providing food assistance and nutrition education
The 1887 Hatch Act was the culmination of the extramural research activities of the Department of Agriculture. The Act established state-owned agriculture research stations in each state with the stations receiving support from the Department of Agriculture. The system allowed the Department of Agriculture to conduct research in all states and, with the addition of county agents, gave the Department a solid foundation with political contacts (Kulakowski & Chronister). The Hatch Act authorized federal funds for the development of agricultural research at land grant colleges (FA/RM). In 1887 it transformed the Bureau of Agriculture, which was established in 1862 by Lincoln, into the Department of Agriculture. Originally an organization devoted to research, the USDA now governs the way in which our American community consumes food on day to day basis, controls the types of food are sold to consumers what, and decides what crops receive federal funding (FA/RM). In present day the USDA delegate programs to assist American farmers. USDA aid includes distributing price supports and other subsidies to farmers, inspecting food processed at agricultural facilities, working to expand overseas markets for U.S. agricultural products, providing financing to expand job opportunities and improve housing, utilities, and infrastructure in rural America, and providing food assistance and nutrition education