United States. Department of Agriculture

Established in 1862, the United States Department of Agriculture began as a small federal department and became a cabinet-level agency in 1889. It was founded to support agriculture in a growing nation, and over time its responsibilities expanded far beyond farming alone.

Today, the department’s work spans food and nutrition programs, rural development, agricultural research, natural resource conservation, forestry, and oversight related to food safety. Through agencies such as the Forest Service and the Food Safety and Inspection Service, it plays a central role in everyday American life as well as in the long-term health of rural communities and natural landscapes.

The USDA is often called the “People’s Department,” a phrase tied to its early mission of serving the broad public in a country where many families were directly connected to agriculture. That mix of practical service, science, and public policy has made it one of the most wide-reaching departments in the U.S. government.