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U.S. Department of Agriculture
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The official seal of the United States Department of Agriculture features a shield with a sheaf of wheat and a plow, surrounded by a ring of stars and a rope border. The outer ring displays the department name and two banners with the years 1862 and 1889, along with the motto agriculture is the foundation of manufacture and commerce. certified organic USDA poster from the Dust Bowl era USDA MyPlate dietary guidelines Map of the National Mall area in Washington, D.C., highlighting major streets, metro stations, parks, government buildings, and prominent points of interest such as museums, memorials, and federal offices. Key landmarks include the Capitol, White House, Lincoln Memorial, Smithsonian museums, and the Washington Monument, with a numbered legend identifying each site. USDA MyPyramid dietary guidelines USDA Food Guide Pyramid
Quick Facts
Date:
1862 - present
Areas Of Involvement:
Origins of agriculture
national forest
Related People:
Ezra Taft Benson
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The official seal of the United States Department of Agriculture features a shield with a sheaf of wheat and a plow, surrounded by a ring of stars and a rope border. The outer ring displays the department name and two banners with the years 1862 and 1889, along with the motto agriculture is the foundation of manufacture and commerce.
The Department of Agriculture

U.S. Department of Agriculture

United States government
Also known as: USDA
Written and fact-checked by
Britannica Editors
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....
Britannica Editors
Last updated
•History

News •

New World screwworm spreads in New Mexico amid warm, wet fall • Nov. 10, 2026, 8:00 PM ET (Sante Fe New Mexican)
USDA warns: Don't eat these frozen meat products • Nov. 10, 2026, 8:30 AM ET (USA Today)
USDA mass reorganization plan remains on hold • Nov. 9, 2026, 2:07 PM ET (Federal News Network)
The debate over USDA mass reorganization plans intensifies • Nov. 5, 2026, 2:15 PM ET (Federal News Network)
Bird flu outbreak at Utah mink farm sparks concerns about government response • Oct. 26, 2026, 10:52 AM ET (The Guardian)

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), executive division of the U.S. federal government in charge of programs and policies relating to the farming industry and the use of national forests and grasslands. Formed in 1862, the USDA works to stabilize or improve domestic farm income, develop foreign markets, curb poverty and hunger, protect soil and water resources, make credit available for rural development, and ensure the quality of food supplies.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia BritannicaThis article was most recently revised and updated by Tracy Grant.