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<GovernmentManual>
  <accessId>GOVMAN-2014-10-06-322</accessId>
  <Entity EntityId="322" ParentId="0" SortOrder="17">
    <EntityType>Parent</EntityType>
    <Category>Executive Branch: Departments</Category>
    <IntroductoryHeader/>
    <IntroductoryParagraph/>
    <AgencyName>Department of Agriculture</AgencyName>
    <Addresses>
      <Address EntityAddressId="268" SortOrder="1">
        <FooterDetails>
          <Email/>
          <WebAddress>http://www.usda.gov</WebAddress>
        </FooterDetails>
        <Address>1400 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250</Address>
        <Phone>202-720-4623</Phone>
        <Phone2/>
        <Fax/>
      </Address>
    </Addresses>
    <LeaderShipTables>
      <LeaderShipTable EntityLeaderShipTableId="269" SortOrder="1">
        <FooterDetails>
          <Email/>
          <Footer>[For the Department of Agriculture statement of organization, see the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 7, Part 2]</Footer>
          <WebAddress/>
        </FooterDetails>
        <Header/>
        <HeaderParagraph/>
        <NameColumnHeader/>
        <ShowFootNote>Yes</ShowFootNote>
        <ShowHeader>Yes</ShowHeader>
        <ShowHeaderParagraph>Yes</ShowHeaderParagraph>
        <ShowNameColumnHeader>Yes</ShowNameColumnHeader>
        <ShowTitleColumnHeader>Yes</ShowTitleColumnHeader>
        <TitleColumnHeader/>
        <LeaderShipTableValues>
          <Values EntityLeadershipTableValuesId="3599" SortOrder="1">
            <NameColumnValue>Thomas J. Vilsack</NameColumnValue>
            <TitleColumnValue>Secretary of Agriculture</TitleColumnValue>
          </Values>
          <Values EntityLeadershipTableValuesId="3600" SortOrder="2">
            <NameColumnValue>Krysta L. Harden</NameColumnValue>
            <TitleColumnValue>Deputy Secretary</TitleColumnValue>
          </Values>
          <Values EntityLeadershipTableValuesId="3601" SortOrder="3">
            <NameColumnValue>Matt Paul</NameColumnValue>
            <TitleColumnValue>Director, Office of Communications</TitleColumnValue>
          </Values>
          <Values EntityLeadershipTableValuesId="3602" SortOrder="4">
            <NameColumnValue>Phyllis K. Fong</NameColumnValue>
            <TitleColumnValue>Inspector General</TitleColumnValue>
          </Values>
          <Values EntityLeadershipTableValuesId="3603" SortOrder="5">
            <NameColumnValue>Ramona Romero</NameColumnValue>
            <TitleColumnValue>General Counsel</TitleColumnValue>
          </Values>
          <Values EntityLeadershipTableValuesId="3604" SortOrder="6">
            <NameColumnValue>Todd A. Batta</NameColumnValue>
            <TitleColumnValue>Assistant Secretary for Congressional Relations</TitleColumnValue>
          </Values>
          <Values EntityLeadershipTableValuesId="3605" SortOrder="7">
            <NameColumnValue>Gregory Parham</NameColumnValue>
            <TitleColumnValue>Assistant Secretary for Administration</TitleColumnValue>
          </Values>
          <Values EntityLeadershipTableValuesId="3606" SortOrder="8">
            <NameColumnValue>Joe Leonard</NameColumnValue>
            <TitleColumnValue>Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights</TitleColumnValue>
          </Values>
          <Values EntityLeadershipTableValuesId="3607" SortOrder="9">
            <NameColumnValue>Cheryl Cook</NameColumnValue>
            <TitleColumnValue>Chief Information Officer</TitleColumnValue>
          </Values>
          <Values EntityLeadershipTableValuesId="3608" SortOrder="10">
            <NameColumnValue>Jon Holladay, Acting</NameColumnValue>
            <TitleColumnValue>Chief Financial Officer</TitleColumnValue>
          </Values>
          <Values EntityLeadershipTableValuesId="3609" SortOrder="11">
            <NameColumnValue>Joseph Glauber</NameColumnValue>
            <TitleColumnValue>Chief Economist</TitleColumnValue>
          </Values>
          <Values EntityLeadershipTableValuesId="3782" SortOrder="12">
            <NameColumnValue>Mike Young</NameColumnValue>
            <TitleColumnValue>Director, Office of Budget and Program Analysis</TitleColumnValue>
          </Values>
          <Values EntityLeadershipTableValuesId="3610" SortOrder="13">
            <NameColumnValue>Robert Bonnie</NameColumnValue>
            <TitleColumnValue>Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment</TitleColumnValue>
          </Values>
          <Values EntityLeadershipTableValuesId="3611" SortOrder="14">
            <NameColumnValue>Thomas Tidwell</NameColumnValue>
            <TitleColumnValue>Chief, Forest Service</TitleColumnValue>
          </Values>
          <Values EntityLeadershipTableValuesId="3612" SortOrder="15">
            <NameColumnValue>Jason Weller</NameColumnValue>
            <TitleColumnValue>Chief, Natural Resources Conservation Service</TitleColumnValue>
          </Values>
          <Values EntityLeadershipTableValuesId="3613" SortOrder="16">
            <NameColumnValue>Michael Scuse</NameColumnValue>
            <TitleColumnValue>Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services</TitleColumnValue>
          </Values>
          <Values EntityLeadershipTableValuesId="3614" SortOrder="17">
            <NameColumnValue>Juan Garcia</NameColumnValue>
            <TitleColumnValue>Administrator, Farm Service Agency</TitleColumnValue>
          </Values>
          <Values EntityLeadershipTableValuesId="3615" SortOrder="18">
            <NameColumnValue>Phil Karsting</NameColumnValue>
            <TitleColumnValue>Administrator, Foreign Agricultural Service</TitleColumnValue>
          </Values>
          <Values EntityLeadershipTableValuesId="3616" SortOrder="19">
            <NameColumnValue>Brandon Willis</NameColumnValue>
            <TitleColumnValue>Administrator, Risk Management Agency</TitleColumnValue>
          </Values>
          <Values EntityLeadershipTableValuesId="3617" SortOrder="20">
            <NameColumnValue>Doug O'Brien, Acting</NameColumnValue>
            <TitleColumnValue>Under Secretary for Rural Development</TitleColumnValue>
          </Values>
          <Values EntityLeadershipTableValuesId="3618" SortOrder="21">
            <NameColumnValue>Lillian Salerno</NameColumnValue>
            <TitleColumnValue>Administrator, Rural Business-Cooperative Service</TitleColumnValue>
          </Values>
          <Values EntityLeadershipTableValuesId="3619" SortOrder="22">
            <NameColumnValue>Tony Hernandez</NameColumnValue>
            <TitleColumnValue>Administrator, Rural Housing Service</TitleColumnValue>
          </Values>
          <Values EntityLeadershipTableValuesId="3620" SortOrder="23">
            <NameColumnValue>John C. Padalino</NameColumnValue>
            <TitleColumnValue>Administrator, Rural Utilities Service</TitleColumnValue>
          </Values>
          <Values EntityLeadershipTableValuesId="3621" SortOrder="24">
            <NameColumnValue>Kevin Concannon</NameColumnValue>
            <TitleColumnValue>Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services</TitleColumnValue>
          </Values>
          <Values EntityLeadershipTableValuesId="3622" SortOrder="25">
            <NameColumnValue>Audrey Rowe</NameColumnValue>
            <TitleColumnValue>Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service</TitleColumnValue>
          </Values>
          <Values EntityLeadershipTableValuesId="3623" SortOrder="26">
            <NameColumnValue>Jackie Haven</NameColumnValue>
            <TitleColumnValue>Director, Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion</TitleColumnValue>
          </Values>
          <Values EntityLeadershipTableValuesId="3624" SortOrder="27">
            <NameColumnValue>Brian Ronholm, Acting</NameColumnValue>
            <TitleColumnValue>Under Secretary for Food Safety</TitleColumnValue>
          </Values>
          <Values EntityLeadershipTableValuesId="3625" SortOrder="28">
            <NameColumnValue>Alfred V. Almanza</NameColumnValue>
            <TitleColumnValue>Administrator, Food Safety and Inspection Service</TitleColumnValue>
          </Values>
          <Values EntityLeadershipTableValuesId="3626" SortOrder="29">
            <NameColumnValue>Catherine Woteki</NameColumnValue>
            <TitleColumnValue>Under Secretary for Research, Education, and Economics</TitleColumnValue>
          </Values>
          <Values EntityLeadershipTableValuesId="3627" SortOrder="30">
            <NameColumnValue>Chavonda Jacobs-Young</NameColumnValue>
            <TitleColumnValue>Administrator, Agricultural Research Service</TitleColumnValue>
          </Values>
          <Values EntityLeadershipTableValuesId="3628" SortOrder="31">
            <NameColumnValue>Sonny Ramaswamy</NameColumnValue>
            <TitleColumnValue>Director, National Institute of Food and Agriculture</TitleColumnValue>
          </Values>
          <Values EntityLeadershipTableValuesId="3629" SortOrder="32">
            <NameColumnValue>Mary Bohman</NameColumnValue>
            <TitleColumnValue>Administrator, Economic Research Service</TitleColumnValue>
          </Values>
          <Values EntityLeadershipTableValuesId="3630" SortOrder="33">
            <NameColumnValue>Simon Y. Liu</NameColumnValue>
            <TitleColumnValue>Director, National Agricultural Library</TitleColumnValue>
          </Values>
          <Values EntityLeadershipTableValuesId="3631" SortOrder="34">
            <NameColumnValue>Joe Reilly</NameColumnValue>
            <TitleColumnValue>Administrator, National Agricultural Statistics Service</TitleColumnValue>
          </Values>
          <Values EntityLeadershipTableValuesId="3632" SortOrder="35">
            <NameColumnValue>Edward M. Avalos</NameColumnValue>
            <TitleColumnValue>Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs</TitleColumnValue>
          </Values>
          <Values EntityLeadershipTableValuesId="3633" SortOrder="36">
            <NameColumnValue>Anne Alonzo</NameColumnValue>
            <TitleColumnValue>Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service</TitleColumnValue>
          </Values>
          <Values EntityLeadershipTableValuesId="3634" SortOrder="37">
            <NameColumnValue>Kevin Shea</NameColumnValue>
            <TitleColumnValue>Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service</TitleColumnValue>
          </Values>
          <Values EntityLeadershipTableValuesId="3635" SortOrder="38">
            <NameColumnValue>Larry Mitchell</NameColumnValue>
            <TitleColumnValue>Administrator, Grain Inspection, Packers, and Stockyards Administration</TitleColumnValue>
          </Values>
          <Values EntityLeadershipTableValuesId="3636" SortOrder="39">
            <NameColumnValue>Peter Davenport</NameColumnValue>
            <TitleColumnValue>Chief Judge, Administrative Law Judges</TitleColumnValue>
          </Values>
        </LeaderShipTableValues>
      </LeaderShipTable>
    </LeaderShipTables>
    <MissionStatement>
      <Heading/>
      <Record>
        <Paragraph MissionStatmentId="135" SortOrder="1">The Department of Agriculture develops agricultural markets, fights hunger and malnutrition, conserves natural resources, and ensures standards of food quality through safeguards and inspections.</Paragraph>
        <FooterDetails>
          <Footer/>
        </FooterDetails>
      </Record>
    </MissionStatement>
    <OrganizationChart>graphics/GOVMAN-2014-10-06-322.jpg</OrganizationChart>
    <LegalAuthority>
      <Heading/>
    </LegalAuthority>
    <OrganizationStatement>
      <Heading/>
    </OrganizationStatement>
    <ProgramAndActivities>
      <ProgramAndActivity ProgramAndActivitiesId="491" SortOrder="1">
        <FooterDetails>
          <Email/>
          <Footer/>
          <WebAddress/>
        </FooterDetails>
        <MainParagraph/>
        <PointOfContact/>
        <ProgramName/>
        <Activity ProgramAndActivitiesId="1206" SortOrder="1">
          <Heading/>
          <Details>
            <Detail SortOrder="1" TypeOfProgramAndActivitiesDetailsId="2217">
              <FooterDetails>
                <Email/>
                <Footer/>
                <WebAddress/>
              </FooterDetails>
              <Heading/>
              <Paragraph>The Department of Agriculture (USDA) was created by an act of Congress on May 15, 1862 (7 U.S.C. 2201). In carrying out its work in the program mission areas, USDA relies on the support of departmental administration staff, as well as the Office of the Chief Financial Officer, Office of the Chief Information Officer, Office of Communications, Office of Congressional and Intergovernmental Relations, Office of the Inspector General, and the Office of the General Counsel.</Paragraph>
            </Detail>
          </Details>
        </Activity>
      </ProgramAndActivity>
      <ProgramAndActivity ProgramAndActivitiesId="492" SortOrder="2">
        <FooterDetails>
          <Email/>
          <Footer/>
          <WebAddress/>
        </FooterDetails>
        <MainParagraph/>
        <PointOfContact/>
        <ProgramName>Rural Development</ProgramName>
        <Activity ProgramAndActivitiesId="1207" SortOrder="1">
          <Heading/>
          <Details>
            <Detail SortOrder="1" TypeOfProgramAndActivitiesDetailsId="2218">
              <FooterDetails>
                <Email/>
                <Footer/>
                <WebAddress/>
              </FooterDetails>
              <Heading/>
              <Paragraph>USDA's rural development mission is to increase the economic opportunities of rural Americans and improve their quality of life. To accomplish this, USDA works to foster new cooperative relationships among Government, industry, and communities. As a capital investment bank, USDA provides financing for rural housing and community facilities, business and cooperative development, telephone and high-speed Internet access, electric, water, and sewer infrastructure. Approximately 800 Rural Development field offices, staffed by 7,000 employees, provide frontline delivery of rural development loan and grant programs at the local level.</Paragraph>
            </Detail>
            <Detail SortOrder="2" TypeOfProgramAndActivitiesDetailsId="2219">
              <FooterDetails>
                <Email/>
                <Footer/>
                <WebAddress/>
              </FooterDetails>
              <Heading>Rural Business-Cooperative Service</Heading>
              <Paragraph>To meet business credit needs in underserved rural areas, USDA’s Rural Business-Cooperative Service provides loan guarantees, direct loans, and grants to rural businesses, cooperatives, farmers, and ranchers, often in partnership with private sector lenders. The following is a list and description of USDA's Rural Development business and cooperative programs.</Paragraph>
            </Detail>
            <Detail SortOrder="3" TypeOfProgramAndActivitiesDetailsId="2220">
              <FooterDetails>
                <Email/>
                <Footer/>
                <WebAddress/>
              </FooterDetails>
              <Heading>Business and Industry Guaranteed Loan Program</Heading>
              <Paragraph>This program creates jobs and stimulates the rural economy by providing financial backing to rural businesses. Borrowers use loan proceeds for working capital, machinery and equipment, buildings, real estate, and certain types of debt refinancing. A borrower may be a cooperative organization, corporation, partnership, nonprofit corporation, Native American tribe, federally recognized tribal group, public body, or individual.</Paragraph>
            </Detail>
            <Detail SortOrder="4" TypeOfProgramAndActivitiesDetailsId="2221">
              <FooterDetails>
                <Email/>
                <Footer/>
                <WebAddress/>
              </FooterDetails>
              <Heading>Intermediary Relending Program</Heading>
              <Paragraph>This program provides capital to rural areas through low-interest and direct loans made to nonprofit corporations, public agencies, Native American groups, and certain corporations (intermediaries). These intermediaries establish revolving loan funds so they can relend the money to businesses in economically and socially disadvantaged rural communities. The process creates a source of capital that promotes job growth and economic development.</Paragraph>
            </Detail>
            <Detail SortOrder="5" TypeOfProgramAndActivitiesDetailsId="2222">
              <FooterDetails>
                <Email/>
                <Footer/>
                <WebAddress/>
              </FooterDetails>
              <Heading>Rural Business Enterprise Grant Program</Heading>
              <Paragraph>The Rural Business Enterprise Grant Program (RBEG) provides grants for rural projects that fund and facilitate the development of small and emerging businesses, business incubators, employment, and related adult education programs. Eligible organizations include rural public entities (towns, communities, State agencies, and authorities), Native American tribes, and nonprofit corporations.</Paragraph>
            </Detail>
            <Detail SortOrder="6" TypeOfProgramAndActivitiesDetailsId="2223">
              <FooterDetails>
                <Email/>
                <Footer/>
                <WebAddress/>
              </FooterDetails>
              <Heading>Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant Program</Heading>
              <Paragraph>The REDLoan program provides zero-interest loans to local utilities, which the utilities provide to local businesses (ultimate recipients) for projects that will create and retain employment in rural areas. The ultimate recipients repay the lending utility directly, and the utility repays the loan to the agency.</Paragraph>
            </Detail>
            <Detail SortOrder="7" TypeOfProgramAndActivitiesDetailsId="2224">
              <FooterDetails>
                <Email/>
                <Footer/>
                <WebAddress/>
              </FooterDetails>
              <Heading/>
              <Paragraph>The REDGrant program provides grant funds to local utility organizations, which they use to establish revolving loan funds. Each utility provides loans through a revolving loan fund for projects that will create or retain rural jobs.</Paragraph>
            </Detail>
            <Detail SortOrder="8" TypeOfProgramAndActivitiesDetailsId="2225">
              <FooterDetails>
                <Email/>
                <Footer/>
                <WebAddress/>
              </FooterDetails>
              <Heading>Rural Microenterprise Assistance Program</Heading>
              <Paragraph>This program supports the development and ongoing success of rural microentrepreneurs and microenterprises by providing loans and grants to Micro Development Organizations (MDOs). MDOs use the loan funds to establish or recapitalize a Rural Microloan Revolving Fund and grants funds to provide training and technical assistance to support the development of new microenterprises and successful continuing operation and growth of rural microenterprises.</Paragraph>
            </Detail>
            <Detail SortOrder="9" TypeOfProgramAndActivitiesDetailsId="2226">
              <FooterDetails>
                <Email/>
                <Footer/>
                <WebAddress/>
              </FooterDetails>
              <Heading/>
              <Paragraph>Organizations eligible to become MDOs are nonprofit entities, Native American tribes, and public institutions of higher education that have a record of successfully delivering such services or that have a credible plan to develop an effective program to deliver them.</Paragraph>
            </Detail>
            <Detail SortOrder="10" TypeOfProgramAndActivitiesDetailsId="2227">
              <FooterDetails>
                <Email/>
                <Footer/>
                <WebAddress>http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/BCP_Biorefinery.html</WebAddress>
              </FooterDetails>
              <Heading>Biorefinery Assistance Program</Heading>
              <Paragraph>This program provides loan guarantees for the development, construction, and retrofitting of new and emerging technologies for the development of advanced biofuels.</Paragraph>
            </Detail>
            <Detail SortOrder="11" TypeOfProgramAndActivitiesDetailsId="2228">
              <FooterDetails>
                <Email/>
                <Footer/>
                <WebAddress/>
              </FooterDetails>
              <Heading>Repowering Assistance Program</Heading>
              <Paragraph>This program provides payments to biorefineries in existence as of June 18, 2008. These biorefineries use renewable biomass to replace the fossil fuel used to produce heat or power biorefineries.</Paragraph>
            </Detail>
            <Detail SortOrder="12" TypeOfProgramAndActivitiesDetailsId="2229">
              <FooterDetails>
                <Email/>
                <Footer/>
                <WebAddress/>
              </FooterDetails>
              <Heading>Advanced Biofuel Repayment Program</Heading>
              <Paragraph>The program provides payments to producers to support and expand production of advanced biofuels refined from sources other than corn kernel starch.</Paragraph>
            </Detail>
            <Detail SortOrder="13" TypeOfProgramAndActivitiesDetailsId="2230">
              <FooterDetails>
                <Email/>
                <Footer/>
                <WebAddress/>
              </FooterDetails>
              <Heading>Rural Energy for America Program</Heading>
              <Paragraph>The Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) provides loan guarantees and grants to agricultural producers and rural small businesses so they can install renewable energy systems, make energy efficiency improvements, conduct energy audits, provide renewable energy development assistance, and conduct feasibility studies for renewable energy systems.</Paragraph>
            </Detail>
            <Detail SortOrder="14" TypeOfProgramAndActivitiesDetailsId="2231">
              <FooterDetails>
                <Email/>
                <Footer/>
                <WebAddress>http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/BCP_DeltaHealthCare.html</WebAddress>
              </FooterDetails>
              <Heading>Delta Health Care Services Grant Program</Heading>
              <Paragraph>This program provides financial assistance to address the continued unmet health needs in 252 counties and parishes in parts of 8 States through cooperation among health care professionals, institutions of higher education, research institutions, and other entities in the Delta Region.</Paragraph>
            </Detail>
            <Detail SortOrder="15" TypeOfProgramAndActivitiesDetailsId="2232">
              <FooterDetails>
                <Email/>
                <Footer/>
                <WebAddress/>
              </FooterDetails>
              <Heading>Rural Business Opportunity Grant Program</Heading>
              <Paragraph>This program promotes sustainable economic development in rural communities with exceptional needs. Recipients use the grants to fund community- and technology-based economic development projects, feasibility studies, leadership and entrepreneur training, rural business incubators, and long-term business strategic planning.</Paragraph>
            </Detail>
            <Detail SortOrder="16" TypeOfProgramAndActivitiesDetailsId="2233">
              <FooterDetails>
                <Email/>
                <Footer/>
                <WebAddress/>
              </FooterDetails>
              <Heading>Rural Cooperative Development Grant Program</Heading>
              <Paragraph>This program provides grants to public, nonprofit organizations and institutions of higher learning so they can establish and operate centers for cooperative development.</Paragraph>
            </Detail>
            <Detail SortOrder="17" TypeOfProgramAndActivitiesDetailsId="2234">
              <FooterDetails>
                <Email/>
                <Footer/>
                <WebAddress/>
              </FooterDetails>
              <Heading>Small Socially-Disadvantaged Producer Grant Program</Heading>
              <Paragraph>This program provides technical assistance to small socially-disadvantaged agricultural producers in rural areas.</Paragraph>
            </Detail>
            <Detail SortOrder="18" TypeOfProgramAndActivitiesDetailsId="2235">
              <FooterDetails>
                <Email/>
                <Footer/>
                <WebAddress/>
              </FooterDetails>
              <Heading>Value-Added Producer Grant Program</Heading>
              <Paragraph>The Value-Added Producer Grant program encourages independent agricultural producers to refine or enhance their raw products into marketable goods, which increases the value of the product and the returns to producers.</Paragraph>
            </Detail>
            <Detail SortOrder="19" TypeOfProgramAndActivitiesDetailsId="2236">
              <FooterDetails>
                <Email/>
                <Footer/>
                <WebAddress/>
              </FooterDetails>
              <Heading>Cooperative Programs</Heading>
              <Paragraph>Cooperative Programs research helps farmers and rural communities become self-reliant through the use of cooperative organizations. Studies support cooperatives that market farm products, purchase production supplies, and perform related business services. These studies concentrate on the financial, organizational, legal, social, and economic aspects of cooperative activity. Technical assistance and research help businesses effectively improve cooperative performance by organizing new cooperatives, merging existing cooperatives, changing business structures, and developing strategies for growth. Applied research gives farmers and rural communities expert assistance pertaining to their cooperatives.</Paragraph>
            </Detail>
            <Detail SortOrder="20" TypeOfProgramAndActivitiesDetailsId="2237">
              <FooterDetails>
                <Email/>
                <Footer/>
                <WebAddress/>
              </FooterDetails>
              <Heading/>
              <Paragraph>The Cooperative Programs research staff collects and publishes statistics on cooperative activity in U.S. agriculture and provides research for USDA/Rural Development’s "Rural Cooperatives," a bimonthly magazine on developments and research in the field of cooperative management.</Paragraph>
            </Detail>
            <Detail SortOrder="21" TypeOfProgramAndActivitiesDetailsId="2238">
              <FooterDetails>
                <Email/>
                <Footer/>
                <WebAddress>http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/LP_Subject_HousingAndCommunityAssistance.html</WebAddress>
              </FooterDetails>
              <Heading>Rural Housing Programs</Heading>
              <Paragraph>Rural Development provides affordable rental housing, homeownership opportunities, and essential community facilities to rural Americans through a broad array of direct loan, guarantee, and grant programs. Rural residents and communities may inquire about any of these programs through local and State rural development offices. It provides assistance that enables low- and very low-income rural Americans to live in safe and decent rental housing. It also provides financial and management assistance through the following services:  guaranteed single-family housing (SFH) loans that guarantee loans made by commercial lenders to moderate-income rural residents with sufficient income and acceptable credit, who may lack the down payment to secure a loan without assistance; direct SFH loans made available to people with incomes less than 80 percent of area median, to build, purchase, and repair rural homes; home improvement and repair loans and grants for owner-occupants to remove health and safety hazards from a home; mutual self-help housing technical assistance grants for nonprofit organizations and public bodies to help groups of six to eight lower income families to build their own homes by providing "sweat equity," which reduces the families' mortgages; rural housing site loans for private or public nonprofit organizations to purchase sites for the development of housing for lower income families; direct and guaranteed multifamily housing loans for private nonprofit corporations, consumer cooperatives, State or local public agencies, and individuals or organizations operating on a nonprofit or limited profit basis to provide rental or cooperative housing in rural areas for persons of very low, low, and moderate income; farm labor housing loans and grants enabling farmers, public or private nonprofit organizations, or units of local government to build, buy, or rehabilitate farm labor housing; housing preservation grants made to a public body or public or private nonprofit organization to provide assistance to homeowners and landlords to repair and rehabilitate housing for lower income families in rural areas; housing for the homeless, SFH real estate-owned (REO) property to nonprofit organizations or public bodies for transitional housing for the homeless and to the Federal Emergency Management Agency to house families affected by natural disasters; and community program loans, direct and guaranteed loans, and grants for public and quasi-public bodies, nonprofit associations, and Indian tribes for essential community facilities such as health care centers, public safety buildings and vehicles, and childcare centers.</Paragraph>
            </Detail>
            <Detail SortOrder="22" TypeOfProgramAndActivitiesDetailsId="2239">
              <FooterDetails>
                <Email/>
                <Footer>For further information, contact the Rural Development Legislative and Public Affairs Staff, Department of Agriculture, Stop 0705, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC  20250-0320. Phone, 202-720-4323.</Footer>
                <WebAddress>http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/Utilities_Assistance.html</WebAddress>
              </FooterDetails>
              <Heading>Rural Utilities Programs</Heading>
              <Paragraph>Rural Development helps rural electric and telecommunications utilities in obtaining financing and administers a nationwide water and waste loan and grant program to improve the quality of life and promote economic development in rural America. A total of 890 rural electric and 800 rural telecommunications utilities in 47 States, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Federated States of Micronesia have received financial assistance. It also provides assistance through the programs that are mentioned here. The electric program provides loans for furnishing and improving electric service to persons in rural areas, including construction of electric generating plants, transmission and distribution lines, on- and off-grid renewable energy systems, and conservation and energy efficiency improvements to provide reliable electric service. The telecommunications program provides loans and grants to improve telecommunications service and high-speed Internet access in rural areas. The water and waste direct and guaranteed loan program provides assistance to develop water and wastewater systems, including solid waste disposal and storm drainage in rural areas, cities, and towns. Water and waste disposal grants assist in reducing water and waste disposal costs to a reasonable level for users of the system. Emergency community water assistance grants provide assistance to rural communities experiencing a significant decline in quantity or quality of drinking water. Technical assistance and training grants are available to nonprofit organizations to provide rural water and waste system officials with technical assistance and training on a wide range of issues relating to the delivery of water and waste service to rural residents. Solid waste management grants are available for nonprofit organizations and public bodies to provide technical assistance and training to rural areas and towns to reduce or eliminate pollution of water resources and improve planning and management of solid waste facilities. The rural water circuit rider technical assistance program provides technical assistance to rural water systems to solve operational, financial, and management challenges. The distance learning and telemedicine program provides financing to help rural schools and health care providers purchase or improve telecommunications facilities and equipment to bring educational and medical resources to rural areas that otherwise might be unavailable. Rural Development also guarantees loans from the Department of the Treasury's Federal Financing Bank (FFB), which lends to borrowers, primarily for large-scale electric and telecommunication facilities. It may also guarantee electric and telecommunications loans from private sources.</Paragraph>
            </Detail>
          </Details>
        </Activity>
      </ProgramAndActivity>
      <ProgramAndActivity ProgramAndActivitiesId="493" SortOrder="3">
        <FooterDetails>
          <Email/>
          <Footer/>
          <WebAddress/>
        </FooterDetails>
        <MainParagraph/>
        <PointOfContact/>
        <ProgramName>Marketing and Regulatory Programs</ProgramName>
        <Activity ProgramAndActivitiesId="1208" SortOrder="1">
          <Heading/>
          <Details>
            <Detail SortOrder="1" TypeOfProgramAndActivitiesDetailsId="2240">
              <FooterDetails>
                <Email/>
                <Footer/>
                <WebAddress/>
              </FooterDetails>
              <Heading/>
              <Paragraph>This mission area includes marketing and regulatory programs other than those concerned with food safety.</Paragraph>
            </Detail>
            <Detail SortOrder="2" TypeOfProgramAndActivitiesDetailsId="2241">
              <FooterDetails>
                <Email/>
                <Footer/>
                <WebAddress/>
              </FooterDetails>
              <Heading>Agricultural Marketing Service</Heading>
              <Paragraph>The Agricultural Marketing Service was established by the Secretary of Agriculture on April 2, 1972, under the authority of Reorganization Plan No. 2 of 1953 (5 U.S.C. app.) and other authorities. The Service administers standardization, auditing, grading, certification, market news, marketing orders, research and promotion, and regulatory programs.</Paragraph>
            </Detail>
            <Detail SortOrder="3" TypeOfProgramAndActivitiesDetailsId="2242">
              <FooterDetails>
                <Email/>
                <Footer/>
                <WebAddress/>
              </FooterDetails>
              <Heading>Audit Services</Heading>
              <Paragraph>The Service provides a wide range of voluntary, user-fee audit-based programs that facilitate the global marketing of agricultural products. The Service develops and maintains audit programs, conducts direct and indirect audits, and serves as third-party unbiased contract auditors to verify specified product, process, or system requirements, such as production, processing, and handling requirements for the agricultural industry.</Paragraph>
            </Detail>
            <Detail SortOrder="4" TypeOfProgramAndActivitiesDetailsId="2243">
              <FooterDetails>
                <Email/>
                <Footer/>
                <WebAddress/>
              </FooterDetails>
              <Heading>Market News</Heading>
              <Paragraph>The Service provides current, unbiased information to producers, processors, distributors, and others to assist them in the orderly marketing and distribution of farm commodities. Information is collected on supplies, shipments, prices, location, quality, condition, and other market data on farm products in specific markets and marketing areas. The data is disseminated globally via the Internet and other electronic means. The Service also assists other countries in developing their own marketing information systems.</Paragraph>
            </Detail>
            <Detail SortOrder="5" TypeOfProgramAndActivitiesDetailsId="2244">
              <FooterDetails>
                <Email/>
                <Footer/>
                <WebAddress/>
              </FooterDetails>
              <Heading>Standardization, Grading, and Classing</Heading>
              <Paragraph>Nearly 600 grade standards have been established for some 230 agricultural commodities to help buyers and sellers trade on agreed-upon quality levels. Standards are developed with assistance from individuals outside the Department, particularly from those involved with the industries directly affected. The Service also participates in developing international commodity standards to facilitate trade. Grading and classing services are provided to certify the grade and quality of products. These grading services are provided to buyers and sellers of live cattle, swine, sheep, meat, poultry, eggs, rabbits, fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, peanuts, dairy products, tobacco, and other miscellaneous food products. Classing services are provided to buyers and sellers of cotton and cotton products. These services are mainly voluntary and are provided upon request and for a fee. The Service is also responsible for testing seed.</Paragraph>
            </Detail>
            <Detail SortOrder="6" TypeOfProgramAndActivitiesDetailsId="2245">
              <FooterDetails>
                <Email/>
                <Footer/>
                <WebAddress/>
              </FooterDetails>
              <Heading>Laboratory Testing and Laboratory Approval Services</Heading>
              <Paragraph>The Service provides microbiological, chemical, and other scientific laboratory support to its commodity and food procurement programs, testing peanuts for aflatoxin and seeds for germination and purity. The Service also carries out quality assurance and safety oversight activities for its milk market laboratories, resident grading programs, and State and private laboratory programs. The Service also develops and establishes specific laboratory approval programs for private laboratories that test for a specific analyte in agriculture commodities for various industries or stakeholders.</Paragraph>
            </Detail>
            <Detail SortOrder="7" TypeOfProgramAndActivitiesDetailsId="2246">
              <FooterDetails>
                <Email/>
                <Footer/>
                <WebAddress>http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/standards</WebAddress>
              </FooterDetails>
              <Heading>Food Quality Assurance</Heading>
              <Paragraph>Under a Governmentwide quality assurance program, the Service is responsible for the development and revision of specifications used by Federal agencies in procuring food for military and civilian uses. The Service coordinates and approves certification programs designed to ensure that purchased products conform to the specification requirements.</Paragraph>
            </Detail>
            <Detail SortOrder="8" TypeOfProgramAndActivitiesDetailsId="2247">
              <FooterDetails>
                <Email/>
                <Footer/>
                <WebAddress/>
              </FooterDetails>
              <Heading>Regulatory Programs</Heading>
              <Paragraph>The Service administers several regulatory programs designed collectively to protect producers, handlers, and consumers of agricultural commodities from financial loss or personal injury resulting from careless, deceptive, or fraudulent marketing practices. Such regulatory programs encourage fair trading practices in the marketing of fruits and vegetables and require truth in seed labeling and in advertising. The Service also monitors the disposition of restricted shell eggs.</Paragraph>
            </Detail>
            <Detail SortOrder="9" TypeOfProgramAndActivitiesDetailsId="2248">
              <FooterDetails>
                <Email/>
                <Footer/>
                <WebAddress/>
              </FooterDetails>
              <Heading>Marketing Agreements and Orders</Heading>
              <Paragraph>The Service administers marketing agreements and orders to establish and maintain orderly marketing conditions for certain commodities. Milk marketing orders establish minimum prices that handlers or distributors are required to pay producers. Programs for fruits, vegetables, and related specialty crops like nuts and spearmint oil promote product quality control and help stabilize supplies and market prices. In some cases, they also authorize research and market development activities, including advertising supported by assessments that handlers pay. Through the orderly marketing of commodities facilitated by these programs, the interests of both producers and consumers are protected.</Paragraph>
            </Detail>
            <Detail SortOrder="10" TypeOfProgramAndActivitiesDetailsId="2249">
              <FooterDetails>
                <Email/>
                <Footer/>
                <WebAddress/>
              </FooterDetails>
              <Heading>Plant Variety Protection Program</Heading>
              <Paragraph>The Service administers a program that provides for the issuance of certificates of plant variety protection. These certificates afford developers of novel varieties of sexually reproduced plants exclusive rights to sell, reproduce, import, or export such varieties, or use them in the production of hybrids or different varieties for a period of 20 years for nonwoody plants and 25 years for woody plants.</Paragraph>
            </Detail>
            <Detail SortOrder="11" TypeOfProgramAndActivitiesDetailsId="2250">
              <FooterDetails>
                <Email/>
                <Footer/>
                <WebAddress/>
              </FooterDetails>
              <Heading>Research and Promotion Programs</Heading>
              <Paragraph>The Service monitors certain industry-sponsored research, promotion, and information programs authorized by Federal laws. These programs provide farmers and processors with a means to finance and operate various research, promotion, and information activities for agricultural products, including cotton, potatoes, soybeans, sorghum, peanuts, popcorn, mushrooms, blueberries, processed raspberries, avocados, mangoes, watermelon, honey, eggs, milk and dairy products, beef, pork, lamb, and softwood lumber.</Paragraph>
            </Detail>
            <Detail SortOrder="12" TypeOfProgramAndActivitiesDetailsId="2251">
              <FooterDetails>
                <Email/>
                <Footer/>
                <WebAddress/>
              </FooterDetails>
              <Heading>Transportation Programs</Heading>
              <Paragraph>The Service provides insightful information and analysis on the transportation of agricultural products. Work products are used by agricultural shippers to make better decisions and thereby improve farm income, expand exports, and better utilize the transportation system to meet the growing needs of rural America. Analysis is provided to Federal, State, and local decisionmakers and to agricultural shippers on policy matters related to agricultural and rural transportation. The program also provides technical assistance and information on agricultural and food transportation for producers, shippers, rural communities, carriers, Government agencies, and universities.</Paragraph>
            </Detail>
            <Detail SortOrder="13" TypeOfProgramAndActivitiesDetailsId="2252">
              <FooterDetails>
                <Email/>
                <Footer/>
                <WebAddress>http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/NOP</WebAddress>
              </FooterDetails>
              <Heading>National Organic Program</Heading>
              <Paragraph>Through the National Organic Program, the Service develops, implements, and administers national production, handling, and labeling standards for organic food production. Organic production integrates cultural, biological, and mechanical practices to foster cycling of resources, promote ecological balance, and conserve biodiversity.</Paragraph>
            </Detail>
            <Detail SortOrder="14" TypeOfProgramAndActivitiesDetailsId="2253">
              <FooterDetails>
                <Email/>
                <Footer/>
                <WebAddress/>
              </FooterDetails>
              <Heading>Farmers Markets and Local Food Marketing</Heading>
              <Paragraph>The Service helps improve marketing and distribution opportunities for U.S. agricultural products through a combination of applied research, marketing grants, and technical services, such as designing marketing facilities, conducting infrastructure assessments, feasibility studies, and providing information to States, municipalities, and others regarding funding and business resources for strengthening local and regional food enterprises.</Paragraph>
            </Detail>
            <Detail SortOrder="15" TypeOfProgramAndActivitiesDetailsId="2254">
              <FooterDetails>
                <Email/>
                <Footer/>
                <WebAddress/>
              </FooterDetails>
              <Heading>Pesticide Data Program</Heading>
              <Paragraph>The Service also administers the Pesticide Data Program, which, in cooperation with States, samples and analyzes over 30 agricultural commodities in the U.S. food supply for pesticide residue. It shares residue test results with the Environmental Protection Agency and other public agencies.</Paragraph>
            </Detail>
            <Detail SortOrder="16" TypeOfProgramAndActivitiesDetailsId="2255">
              <FooterDetails>
                <Email/>
                <Footer>For further information, contact the Public Affairs Staff, Agricultural Marketing Service, Department of Agriculture, Room 2532, South Agriculture Building, Stop 0273, 1400 Independence Ave, SW.,  Washington, DC 20250. Phone, 202-720-8998.</Footer>
                <WebAddress/>
              </FooterDetails>
              <Heading>Pesticide Recordkeeping Program</Heading>
              <Paragraph>The Service manages the Pesticide Recordkeeping Program in coordination with State agencies and the Environmental Protection Agency. The Service has developed educational programs and works with State agencies in inspecting applicator records.</Paragraph>
            </Detail>
            <Detail SortOrder="17" TypeOfProgramAndActivitiesDetailsId="2256">
              <FooterDetails>
                <Email/>
                <Footer/>
                <WebAddress/>
              </FooterDetails>
              <Heading>Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service</Heading>
              <Paragraph>[For the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service statement of organization, see the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 7, Part 371]</Paragraph>
            </Detail>
            <Detail SortOrder="18" TypeOfProgramAndActivitiesDetailsId="2257">
              <FooterDetails>
                <Email/>
                <Footer/>
                <WebAddress/>
              </FooterDetails>
              <Heading/>
              <Paragraph>The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) was reestablished by the Secretary of Agriculture on March 14, 1977, pursuant to authority contained in 5 U.S.C. 301 and Reorganization Plan No. 2 of 1953 (5 U.S.C. app.). APHIS was established to conduct regulatory and control programs to protect and improve animal and plant health for the benefit of agriculture and the environment. In cooperation with State governments, industry stakeholders, and other Federal agencies, APHIS works to prevent the entry and establishment of foreign animal and plant pests. APHIS also regulates certain genetically engineered organisms and works to support healthy international agricultural trade and exports of U.S. agricultural products. In addition, the Agency enforces regulations to ensure the humane treatment of certain animals and carries out research and operational activities to reduce crop and livestock depredation caused by birds, rodents, and predators.</Paragraph>
            </Detail>
            <Detail SortOrder="19" TypeOfProgramAndActivitiesDetailsId="2258">
              <FooterDetails>
                <Email/>
                <Footer/>
                <WebAddress/>
              </FooterDetails>
              <Heading>Biotechnology Regulatory Services</Heading>
              <Paragraph>Biotechnology regulatory officials are responsible for regulating the importation, movement, and field release of genetically engineered plants and certain other genetically engineered organisms that may pose a risk to plant health.</Paragraph>
            </Detail>
            <Detail SortOrder="20" TypeOfProgramAndActivitiesDetailsId="2259">
              <FooterDetails>
                <Email/>
                <Footer/>
                <WebAddress/>
              </FooterDetails>
              <Heading/>
              <Paragraph>Biotechnology regulations are designed to ensure that genetically engineered organisms, such as herbicide-tolerant or drought-resistant crops, are as safe for agriculture and the environment as traditionally bred crop varieties. In regulating biotechnology, APHIS works in concert with the Environmental Protection Agency and the Food and Drug Administration, agencies that also play important roles in protecting agriculture, a safe food supply, and the environment. APHIS’s involvement begins when a person or organization wishes to import, move across a State line, or field-test a genetically engineered plant. These activities are subject to the Agency’s permitting and notification system.</Paragraph>
            </Detail>
            <Detail SortOrder="21" TypeOfProgramAndActivitiesDetailsId="2260">
              <FooterDetails>
                <Email/>
                <Footer/>
                <WebAddress/>
              </FooterDetails>
              <Heading>Plant Protection and Quarantine</Heading>
              <Paragraph>Plant protection officials are responsible for programs to control or eradicate damaging foreign plant pests and diseases. These programs are carried out in cooperation with the States involved, other Federal agencies, farmers, and private organizations. Pest control programs use a single tool or a combination of pest control techniques, both chemical and nonchemical, which are both effective and safe. Plant protection officials develop Federal regulations and policies that prohibit or restrict the entry into the United States of foreign pests and plants, plant products, and other materials that may harbor pests, diseases, or noxious weeds. They also manage programs for overseas preclearance—agricultural inspection—of commodities, passengers, and U.S. military activities. These efforts help protect the health and value of U.S. agricultural production and natural resources.</Paragraph>
            </Detail>
            <Detail SortOrder="22" TypeOfProgramAndActivitiesDetailsId="2261">
              <FooterDetails>
                <Email/>
                <Footer/>
                <WebAddress/>
              </FooterDetails>
              <Heading>Veterinary Services</Heading>
              <Paragraph>Animal health officials are responsible for programs to protect and improve the health, quality, and marketability of U.S. animals and animal products. The programs are carried out through cooperative links with States, foreign governments, livestock producers, and other Federal agencies.</Paragraph>
            </Detail>
            <Detail SortOrder="23" TypeOfProgramAndActivitiesDetailsId="2262">
              <FooterDetails>
                <Email/>
                <Footer/>
                <WebAddress/>
              </FooterDetails>
              <Heading/>
              <Paragraph>APHIS officials conduct exclusion and quarantine activities for animal pests and diseases, carry out eradication and control programs for certain diseases, provide laboratory diagnostic services, and conduct animal health monitoring and surveillance. They also certify as to the health status of animals and animal products being exported to other countries and respond to animal disease incursions or epidemics that threaten the health status of U.S. livestock and poultry. Because human health is closely linked to veterinary health, APHIS animal health officials cooperate with other agencies and organizations to manage effectively the intersection between wildlife, veterinary, and human health issues. APHIS also administers a Federal law intended to ensure that all veterinary biological products used in the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of animal disease are safe, pure, potent, and effective.</Paragraph>
            </Detail>
            <Detail SortOrder="24" TypeOfProgramAndActivitiesDetailsId="2263">
              <FooterDetails>
                <Email/>
                <Footer/>
                <WebAddress/>
              </FooterDetails>
              <Heading>Animal Care</Heading>
              <Paragraph>APHIS administers the Animal Welfare Act, which establishes standards for the humane care and handling of certain warmblooded animals bought, sold, and transported in commerce and used or intended for use as pets at the wholesale level or used or intended for use in exhibitions or for research purposes. The Agency also enforces the Horse Protection Act of 1970, which prohibits the soring of horses at shows and sales.</Paragraph>
            </Detail>
            <Detail SortOrder="25" TypeOfProgramAndActivitiesDetailsId="2264">
              <FooterDetails>
                <Email/>
                <Footer/>
                <WebAddress/>
              </FooterDetails>
              <Heading>International Services</Heading>
              <Paragraph>APHIS activities in the international arena include conducting cooperative plant and animal pest and disease control, eradication, and surveillance programs in foreign countries. These programs provide a first line of defense for the United States against threats such as screwworm, Mediterranean fruit fly, and other exotic pests and diseases. APHIS also provides international representation concerning sanitary and phytosanitary technical trade issues and conducts capacity building activities to help develop the animal and plant health competencies and infrastructure of international counterparts.</Paragraph>
            </Detail>
            <Detail SortOrder="26" TypeOfProgramAndActivitiesDetailsId="2265">
              <FooterDetails>
                <Email/>
                <Footer>For further information, contact Legislative and Public Affairs, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250. Phone, 202-799-7030.</Footer>
                <WebAddress>http://www.aphis.usda.gov</WebAddress>
              </FooterDetails>
              <Heading>Wildlife Services</Heading>
              <Paragraph>Wildlife Services officials provide assistance, upon request, to States, counties, local communities, and agricultural producer groups to reduce crop and livestock depredations caused by birds, rodents, and predators. Using methods and techniques that are biologically sound, environmentally acceptable, and economically feasible, they educate and advise farmers and ranchers on proper uses of control methods and techniques; suppress serious nuisances and threats to public health and safety caused by birds, rodents, and other wildlife in urban and rural communities; and work with airport managers to reduce risks of bird strikes. Wildlife Services officials also assist in the recovery of endangered and threatened species and monitor wildlife across the country for diseases to help protect animal and human health. In addition, they conduct research into predator-prey relationships, new control methods such as wildlife contraception, and more efficient and safe uses of existing methods such as toxicants, repellants and attractants, biological controls, scare devices, and habitat alteration.</Paragraph>
            </Detail>
            <Detail SortOrder="27" TypeOfProgramAndActivitiesDetailsId="2266">
              <FooterDetails>
                <Email/>
                <Footer/>
                <WebAddress>http://www.gipsa.usda.gov/</WebAddress>
              </FooterDetails>
              <Heading>Grain Inspection, Packers, and Stockyards Administration</Heading>
              <Paragraph>The Grain Inspection, Packers, and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) was established in 1994, to facilitate the marketing of livestock, poultry, meat, cereals, oilseeds, and related agricultural products, and to promote fair and competitive trading practices for the overall benefit of consumers and American agriculture. GIPSA’s Packers and Stockyards Program protects fair trade practices, financial integrity, and competitive markets for livestock, meat, and poultry. GIPSA’s Federal Grain Inspection Service facilitates the marketing of U.S. grains, oilseeds, and related agricultural products through its world-renowned grain inspection and weighing system, and it maintains the integrity of the grain marketing system by developing unbiased grading standards and methods for assessing grain quality.</Paragraph>
            </Detail>
            <Detail SortOrder="28" TypeOfProgramAndActivitiesDetailsId="2267">
              <FooterDetails>
                <Email/>
                <Footer/>
                <WebAddress/>
              </FooterDetails>
              <Heading>Inspection</Heading>
              <Paragraph>The United States Grain Standards Act requires most U.S. export grain to be officially inspected. At export port locations, inspection is performed by GIPSA or by State agencies that have been delegated export inspection authority by the Administrator. For domestic grain marketed at inland locations, the Administrator designates private and State agencies to provide official inspection services upon request. Both export and domestic services are provided on a fee-for-service basis.</Paragraph>
            </Detail>
            <Detail SortOrder="29" TypeOfProgramAndActivitiesDetailsId="2268">
              <FooterDetails>
                <Email/>
                <Footer/>
                <WebAddress/>
              </FooterDetails>
              <Heading>Weighing</Heading>
              <Paragraph>Official weighing of U.S. export grain is performed at port locations by GIPSA or by State agencies that have been delegated export weighing authority by the Administrator. For domestic grain marketed at inland locations, the weighing services may be provided by GIPSA or by designated private or State agencies. Upon request, weighing services are provided on a fee-for-service basis.</Paragraph>
            </Detail>
            <Detail SortOrder="30" TypeOfProgramAndActivitiesDetailsId="2269">
              <FooterDetails>
                <Email/>
                <Footer/>
                <WebAddress/>
              </FooterDetails>
              <Heading>Standardization</Heading>
              <Paragraph>GIPSA is responsible for establishing, maintaining, and revising official U.S. standards for corn, wheat, rye, oats, barley, flaxseed, sorghum, soybeans, triticale, sunflower seed, canola, and mixed grain. It is authorized to perform applied research to develop methods to improve accuracy and uniformity in grading grain. It is also responsible for standardization and inspection activities for rice, dry beans, peas, lentils, hay, straw, hops, and related processed grain commodities. Although standards no longer exist for hay, straw, and hops, GIPSA maintains inspection procedures for, and retains authority to inspect, these commodities.</Paragraph>
            </Detail>
            <Detail SortOrder="31" TypeOfProgramAndActivitiesDetailsId="2270">
              <FooterDetails>
                <Email/>
                <Footer/>
                <WebAddress/>
              </FooterDetails>
              <Heading>Methods Development</Heading>
              <Paragraph>GIPSA’s methods development activities include applied research or tests to produce new or improved techniques for measuring grain quality. Examples include knowledge gained through the study of how to establish real-time grain inspection, develop reference methods in order to maintain consistency and standardization in the grain inspection system, as well as the comparison of different techniques for evaluation of end-use quality in wheat.</Paragraph>
            </Detail>
            <Detail SortOrder="32" TypeOfProgramAndActivitiesDetailsId="2271">
              <FooterDetails>
                <Email/>
                <Footer/>
                <WebAddress/>
              </FooterDetails>
              <Heading>Packers and Stockyards Activities</Heading>
              <Paragraph>Through the administration of the Packers and Stockyards Act, GIPSA prohibits unfair, deceptive, and unjust discriminatory practices by market agencies, dealers, stockyards, packers, swine contractors, and live poultry dealers in the livestock, meat packing, and poultry industries. GIPSA fosters fair competition and ensures payment protection for growers and farmers. To this end, GIPSA performs various regulatory functions, including investigating alleged violations of the Act, auditing regulated entities, verifying the accuracy of scales, and monitoring industry trends to protect consumers and members of the livestock, meat, and poultry industries.</Paragraph>
            </Detail>
            <Detail SortOrder="33" TypeOfProgramAndActivitiesDetailsId="2272">
              <FooterDetails>
                <Email/>
                <Footer>For further information, contact the Grain Inspection, Packers, and Stockyards Administration, Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250. Phone, 202-720-0219.</Footer>
                <WebAddress>http://www.gipsa.usda.gov/psp.html</WebAddress>
              </FooterDetails>
              <Heading/>
              <Paragraph>GIPSA is also responsible for the Truth-in-Lending Act and the Fair Credit Reporting Act as each relates to persons and firms subject to the Act. GIPSA carries out the Secretary's responsibilities under section 1324 of the Food Security Act of 1985 pertaining to State-established central filing systems to prenotify buyers, commission merchants, and selling agents of security interests against farm products. GIPSA administers the section of the statute commonly referred to as the "Clear Title" provision and certifies qualifying State systems.</Paragraph>
            </Detail>
          </Details>
        </Activity>
      </ProgramAndActivity>
      <ProgramAndActivity ProgramAndActivitiesId="494" SortOrder="4">
        <FooterDetails>
          <Email/>
          <Footer/>
          <WebAddress/>
        </FooterDetails>
        <MainParagraph/>
        <PointOfContact/>
        <ProgramName>Food Safety</ProgramName>
        <Activity ProgramAndActivitiesId="1209" SortOrder="1">
          <Heading/>
          <Details>
            <Detail SortOrder="1" TypeOfProgramAndActivitiesDetailsId="2273">
              <FooterDetails>
                <Email/>
                <Footer/>
                <WebAddress/>
              </FooterDetails>
              <Heading>Food Safety and Inspection Service</Heading>
              <Paragraph>The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) was established by the Secretary of Agriculture on June 17, 1981, pursuant to authority contained in 5 U.S.C. 301 and Reorganization Plan No. 2 of 1953 (5 U.S.C. app.). FSIS is responsible for monitoring the Nation's commercial supply of meat, poultry, and processed egg products.</Paragraph>
            </Detail>
            <Detail SortOrder="2" TypeOfProgramAndActivitiesDetailsId="2274">
              <FooterDetails>
                <Email/>
                <Footer/>
                <WebAddress/>
              </FooterDetails>
              <Heading>Meat, Poultry, and Processed Egg Products Inspection</Heading>
              <Paragraph>FSIS is the public health regulatory agency in the U.S. Department of Agriculture that ensures meat, poultry, and processed egg products are safe, wholesome, accurately labeled, and properly packaged. FSIS enforces the Federal Meat Inspection Act (FMIA), the Poultry Products Inspection Act (PPIA), and the Egg Products Inspection Act (EPIA), which require Federal inspection and regulation of meat, poultry, and processed egg products prepared for distribution in commerce for use as human food. FSIS is also responsible for administering the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act, which requires that livestock are handled and slaughtered humanely at the FSIS-inspected establishment.</Paragraph>
            </Detail>
            <Detail SortOrder="3" TypeOfProgramAndActivitiesDetailsId="2275">
              <FooterDetails>
                <Email/>
                <Footer/>
                <WebAddress/>
              </FooterDetails>
              <Heading/>
              <Paragraph>FSIS administers FMIA, PPIA, and EPIA by developing and implementing data-driven regulations, including inspection, testing, and enforcement activities for the products under FSIS’s jurisdiction. In addition to mandatory inspection of meat, poultry, and processed egg products, FSIS tests samples of these products for microbial and chemical residues to monitor trends for enforcement purposes and to understand, predict, and prevent contamination. FSIS also ensures that only meat, poultry, and processed egg products that meet U.S. requirements are imported into the United States, and it certifies meat, poultry, and processed egg products for export.</Paragraph>
            </Detail>
            <Detail SortOrder="4" TypeOfProgramAndActivitiesDetailsId="2276">
              <FooterDetails>
                <Email/>
                <Footer/>
                <WebAddress/>
              </FooterDetails>
              <Heading/>
              <Paragraph>FSIS also monitors meat, poultry, and processed egg products throughout storage, distribution, and retail channels, and it ensures regulatory compliance to protect the public, including detention of products, voluntary product recalls, court-ordered seizures of products, administrative suspension and withdrawal of inspection, and referral of violations for criminal and civil prosecution. To protect against intentional contamination, the Agency conducts food defense activities, as well.</Paragraph>
            </Detail>
            <Detail SortOrder="5" TypeOfProgramAndActivitiesDetailsId="2277">
              <FooterDetails>
                <Email/>
                <Footer/>
                <WebAddress/>
              </FooterDetails>
              <Heading/>
              <Paragraph>FSIS maintains a toll-free Meat and Poultry Hotline (phone, 888-674-6854; TTY, 800-256-7072) and chat feature to answer questions in English and Spanish about the safe handling of meat, poultry, and egg products. The Hotline's hours are weekdays, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., EST, year round. An extensive selection of food safety messages in English and Spanish is available at the same number at all hours of the day. Questions can also be submitted anytime to MPHotline.fsis@usda.gov.</Paragraph>
            </Detail>
            <Detail SortOrder="6" TypeOfProgramAndActivitiesDetailsId="2278">
              <FooterDetails>
                <Email/>
                <Footer>For further information, contact the Assistant Administrator, Office of Public Affairs and Consumer Education, Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250. Phone, 202-720-3884.</Footer>
                <WebAddress>http://www.fsis.usda.gov</WebAddress>
              </FooterDetails>
              <Heading/>
              <Paragraph>"Ask Karen," an online virtual representative, provides answers to consumer questions on preventing foodborne illness, safe food handling and storage, and safe preparation of meat, poultry, and egg products (http://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/informational/askkaren).</Paragraph>
            </Detail>
          </Details>
        </Activity>
      </ProgramAndActivity>
      <ProgramAndActivity ProgramAndActivitiesId="495" SortOrder="5">
        <FooterDetails>
          <Email/>
          <Footer/>
          <WebAddress/>
        </FooterDetails>
        <MainParagraph/>
        <PointOfContact/>
        <ProgramName>Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services</ProgramName>
        <Activity ProgramAndActivitiesId="1210" SortOrder="1">
          <Heading/>
          <Details>
            <Detail SortOrder="1" TypeOfProgramAndActivitiesDetailsId="2279">
              <FooterDetails>
                <Email/>
                <Footer/>
                <WebAddress/>
              </FooterDetails>
              <Heading/>
              <Paragraph>The mission of Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services is to reduce hunger and food insecurity, in partnership with cooperating organizations, by providing access to food, a healthful diet, and nutrition education to children and needy people in a manner that supports American agriculture.</Paragraph>
            </Detail>
            <Detail SortOrder="2" TypeOfProgramAndActivitiesDetailsId="2280">
              <FooterDetails>
                <Email/>
                <Footer/>
                <WebAddress/>
              </FooterDetails>
              <Heading>Food and Nutrition Service</Heading>
              <Paragraph>The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) administers the USDA domestic food assistance programs. These programs, which serve one in four Americans in the course of a year, represent our Nation's commitment to the principle that no one in this country should fear hunger. They provide a Federal safety net to people in need. The goals of the programs are to provide low-income families and individuals with access to a more nutritious diet, to improve the eating habits of the Nation's children, and to help provide America's farmers with an expanded customer base.</Paragraph>
            </Detail>
            <Detail SortOrder="3" TypeOfProgramAndActivitiesDetailsId="2281">
              <FooterDetails>
                <Email/>
                <Footer/>
                <WebAddress/>
              </FooterDetails>
              <Heading/>
              <Paragraph>FNS works in partnership with the States in all its programs. State and local agencies determine most administrative details regarding distribution of nutrition benefits and eligibility of participants, and FNS provides commodities and funding for additional food and to cover administrative costs. FNS administers the following nutrition assistance programs:</Paragraph>
            </Detail>
            <Detail SortOrder="4" TypeOfProgramAndActivitiesDetailsId="2282">
              <FooterDetails>
                <Email/>
                <Footer/>
                <WebAddress/>
              </FooterDetails>
              <Heading/>
              <Paragraph>The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) provides nutrition benefits through State and local agencies to low-income families and individuals to increase their food purchasing power. The benefits are used by program participants to buy food in retail stores approved by the FNS to accept and redeem the benefits.</Paragraph>
            </Detail>
            <Detail SortOrder="5" TypeOfProgramAndActivitiesDetailsId="2283">
              <FooterDetails>
                <Email/>
                <Footer/>
                <WebAddress/>
              </FooterDetails>
              <Heading/>
              <Paragraph>The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) improves the health of low-income pregnant and postpartum women, infants and children up to 5 years of age by providing them with specific nutritious foods, nutrition education, and health care referrals. The WIC and Seniors’ Farmers' Market Nutrition Programs (FMNP and SFMNP) provide WIC participants and senior citizens with increased access to fresh produce. WIC participants receive coupons to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables from authorized farmers.</Paragraph>
            </Detail>
            <Detail SortOrder="6" TypeOfProgramAndActivitiesDetailsId="2284">
              <FooterDetails>
                <Email/>
                <Footer/>
                <WebAddress/>
              </FooterDetails>
              <Heading/>
              <Paragraph>The Commodity Supplemental Food Program provides a package of foods monthly to low-income pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding women, their children under age 6, and the elderly. Nutrition education is also provided through this program.</Paragraph>
            </Detail>
            <Detail SortOrder="7" TypeOfProgramAndActivitiesDetailsId="2285">
              <FooterDetails>
                <Email/>
                <Footer/>
                <WebAddress/>
              </FooterDetails>
              <Heading/>
              <Paragraph>The National School Lunch Program supports nonprofit food services in elementary and secondary schools and in residential childcare institutions. Almost 70 percent of the meals served through these institutions are free or at reduced cost.</Paragraph>
            </Detail>
            <Detail SortOrder="8" TypeOfProgramAndActivitiesDetailsId="2286">
              <FooterDetails>
                <Email/>
                <Footer/>
                <WebAddress/>
              </FooterDetails>
              <Heading/>
              <Paragraph>The School Breakfast Program provides needy children with free or low-cost breakfasts that meet established nutritional standards.</Paragraph>
            </Detail>
            <Detail SortOrder="9" TypeOfProgramAndActivitiesDetailsId="2287">
              <FooterDetails>
                <Email/>
                <Footer/>
                <WebAddress/>
              </FooterDetails>
              <Heading/>
              <Paragraph>The Special Milk Program for Children provides milk for children in those schools, summer camps, and childcare institutions that have no federally supported meal programs.</Paragraph>
            </Detail>
            <Detail SortOrder="10" TypeOfProgramAndActivitiesDetailsId="2288">
              <FooterDetails>
                <Email/>
                <Footer/>
                <WebAddress/>
              </FooterDetails>
              <Heading/>
              <Paragraph>The Child and Adult Care Food Program provides cash and commodities for meals for preschool- and school-age children in childcare facilities and for functionally impaired adults in facilities that provide nonresidential care for such individuals.</Paragraph>
            </Detail>
            <Detail SortOrder="11" TypeOfProgramAndActivitiesDetailsId="2289">
              <FooterDetails>
                <Email/>
                <Footer/>
                <WebAddress/>
              </FooterDetails>
              <Heading/>
              <Paragraph>The Summer Food Service Program helps various organizations get nutritious meals to needy preschool- and school-age children during the summer months.</Paragraph>
            </Detail>
            <Detail SortOrder="12" TypeOfProgramAndActivitiesDetailsId="2290">
              <FooterDetails>
                <Email/>
                <Footer/>
                <WebAddress/>
              </FooterDetails>
              <Heading/>
              <Paragraph>The Emergency Food Assistance Program provides State agencies with commodities for distribution to food banks, food pantries, soup kitchens, and other charitable institutions throughout the country, with administrative funds to assist in distribution.</Paragraph>
            </Detail>
            <Detail SortOrder="13" TypeOfProgramAndActivitiesDetailsId="2291">
              <FooterDetails>
                <Email/>
                <Footer/>
                <WebAddress/>
              </FooterDetails>
              <Heading/>
              <Paragraph>The Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations and the Trust Territories provides an extensive package of commodities monthly to low-income households on or near Indian reservations in lieu of SNAP benefits. This program is administered at the local level by Indian tribal organizations.</Paragraph>
            </Detail>
            <Detail SortOrder="14" TypeOfProgramAndActivitiesDetailsId="2292">
              <FooterDetails>
                <Email/>
                <Footer>For further information, contact the Public Information Officer, Food and Nutrition Service, Department of Agriculture, 3101 Park Center Drive, Alexandria, VA 22302. Phone, 703-305-2286.</Footer>
                <WebAddress>http://www.usda.gov</WebAddress>
              </FooterDetails>
              <Heading/>
              <Paragraph>The Nutrition Assistance Programs for Puerto Rico and the Northern Marianas are block grant programs that replace the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program in these two territories and provide food coupons to resident participants.</Paragraph>
            </Detail>
            <Detail SortOrder="15" TypeOfProgramAndActivitiesDetailsId="2293">
              <FooterDetails>
                <Email/>
                <Footer>For further information, contact the Office of Public Information, Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion, Suite 200, 1120 20th Street NW., Washington, DC 20036-3406. Phone, 202-418-2312.</Footer>
                <WebAddress>http://www.cnpp.usda.gov</WebAddress>
              </FooterDetails>
              <Heading>Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion</Heading>
              <Paragraph>The Center coordinates nutrition policy in USDA and provides overall leadership in nutrition education for the American public. It also coordinates with the Department of Health and Human Services in the review, revision, and dissemination of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, the Federal Government's statement of nutrition policy formed by a consensus of scientific and medical professionals.</Paragraph>
            </Detail>
          </Details>
        </Activity>
      </ProgramAndActivity>
      <ProgramAndActivity ProgramAndActivitiesId="496" SortOrder="6">
        <FooterDetails>
          <Email/>
          <Footer/>
          <WebAddress/>
        </FooterDetails>
        <MainParagraph/>
        <PointOfContact/>
        <ProgramName>Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services</ProgramName>
        <Activity ProgramAndActivitiesId="1211" SortOrder="1">
          <Heading/>
          <Details>
            <Detail SortOrder="1" TypeOfProgramAndActivitiesDetailsId="2294">
              <FooterDetails>
                <Email/>
                <Footer/>
                <WebAddress/>
              </FooterDetails>
              <Heading>Farm Service Agency</Heading>
              <Paragraph>The Farm Service Agency (FSA) administers farm commodity, disaster, and conservation programs for farmers and ranchers, and makes and guarantees farm emergency, ownership, and operating loans through a network of State and county offices.</Paragraph>
            </Detail>
            <Detail SortOrder="2" TypeOfProgramAndActivitiesDetailsId="2295">
              <FooterDetails>
                <Email/>
                <Footer/>
                <WebAddress/>
              </FooterDetails>
              <Heading>Farm Commodity Programs</Heading>
              <Paragraph>FSA manages commodity programs such as the direct and countercyclical program, commodity and livestock disaster programs, marketing assistance loan programs, noninsured crop disaster assistance programs, and the tobacco transition payment program. It administers commodity loan programs for wheat, rice, corn, grain sorghum, barley, oats, oilseeds, peanuts, upland and extra-long-staple cotton, and sugar. FSA provides operating personnel for the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC), a Government-owned and -operated organization. CCC provides short-term loans using the commodity as collateral. These loans provide farmers with interim financing and facilitate orderly marketing of farm commodities throughout the year.</Paragraph>
            </Detail>
            <Detail SortOrder="3" TypeOfProgramAndActivitiesDetailsId="2296">
              <FooterDetails>
                <Email/>
                <Footer/>
                <WebAddress/>
              </FooterDetails>
              <Heading>Farm Loan Programs</Heading>
              <Paragraph>FSA makes and guarantees loans to family farmers and ranchers to purchase farmland and finance agricultural production. These programs help farmers who are temporarily unable to obtain private commercial credit. These may be beginning farmers who have insufficient net worth to qualify for commercial credit, who have suffered financial setbacks from natural disasters, or who have limited resources with which to establish and maintain profitable farming operations.</Paragraph>
            </Detail>
            <Detail SortOrder="4" TypeOfProgramAndActivitiesDetailsId="2297">
              <FooterDetails>
                <Email/>
                <Footer/>
                <WebAddress/>
              </FooterDetails>
              <Heading>Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP)</Heading>
              <Paragraph>NAP provides catastrophic crop loss protection for crops not covered by Federal crop insurance. Crops that are eligible include commercial crops grown for food and fiber, floriculture, ornamental nursery products, Christmas tree crops, turfgrass sod, seed crops, aquaculture (including ornamental fish such as goldfish), and industrial crops. Losses resulting from natural disasters not covered by the crop insurance policy may also be eligible for NAP assistance. NAP does not include trees grown for wood, paper, or pulp products.</Paragraph>
            </Detail>
            <Detail SortOrder="5" TypeOfProgramAndActivitiesDetailsId="2298">
              <FooterDetails>
                <Email/>
                <Footer/>
                <WebAddress/>
              </FooterDetails>
              <Heading>Other Emergency Assistance</Heading>
              <Paragraph>There are FSA programs to assist farmers who encounter natural disasters from drought, flood, freeze, tornadoes, and other calamities. Eligible producers can be compensated for crop losses, livestock feed losses, and tree damage and for the cost of rehabilitating eligible farmlands damaged by natural disaster. Low-interest loans for eligible farmers can help cover production and physical losses in counties declared disaster areas.</Paragraph>
            </Detail>
            <Detail SortOrder="6" TypeOfProgramAndActivitiesDetailsId="2299">
              <FooterDetails>
                <Email/>
                <Footer/>
                <WebAddress/>
              </FooterDetails>
              <Heading/>
              <Paragraph>The largest component of USDA disaster assistance is the Crop Disaster Program (CDP), which has provided more than $3 billion in financial relief to farmers, ranchers, foresters, and other agricultural producers who incurred losses because of recent adverse weather conditions.</Paragraph>
            </Detail>
            <Detail SortOrder="7" TypeOfProgramAndActivitiesDetailsId="2300">
              <FooterDetails>
                <Email/>
                <Footer/>
                <WebAddress>http://www.fsa.usda.gov/FSA/webapp?area=home&amp;subject=copr&amp;topic=landing</WebAddress>
              </FooterDetails>
              <Heading>Conservation Programs</Heading>
              <Paragraph>FSA's conservation programs include enhancement of wildlife habitat and water and air quality. The Conservation Reserve Program is the Federal Government's single-largest environmental improvement program on private lands. It safeguards millions of acres of topsoil from erosion, improves air quality, increases wildlife habitat, and protects ground and surface water by reducing water runoff and sedimentation. In return for planting a protective cover of grass or trees on vulnerable property, the owner receives a rental payment each year of a multiyear contract. Cost-share payments are also available to help establish permanent areas of grass, legumes, trees, windbreaks, or plants that improve water quality and give shelter and food to wildlife.</Paragraph>
            </Detail>
            <Detail SortOrder="8" TypeOfProgramAndActivitiesDetailsId="2301">
              <FooterDetails>
                <Email/>
                <Footer>For further information, contact the Public Affairs Branch, Farm Service Agency, Department of Agriculture, Stop 0506, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250. Phone, 202-720-5237.</Footer>
                <WebAddress>http://www.fsa.usda.gov/FSA/webapp?area=home&amp;subject=coop&amp;topic=landing</WebAddress>
              </FooterDetails>
              <Heading>Commodity Operations</Heading>
              <Paragraph>FSA's commodity operations system facilitates the storage, management, and disposition of commodities used to meet humanitarian needs abroad. It administers the United States Warehouse Act (USWA), which authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to license warehouse operators who store agricultural products. Warehouse operators that apply must meet the USDA standards established within the USWA and its regulations. Under the milk price support program, the Commodity Credit Corporation buys surplus butter, cheese, and nonfat dry milk from processors at announced prices to support the price of milk. These purchases help maintain market prices at the legislated support level, and the surplus commodities are used for hunger relief both domestically and internationally. FSA's commodity operations system also coordinates with other Government agencies to provide surplus commodities for various programs and also purchases commodities for the National School Lunch Program and other domestic feeding programs.</Paragraph>
            </Detail>
            <Detail SortOrder="9" TypeOfProgramAndActivitiesDetailsId="2302">
              <FooterDetails>
                <Email/>
                <Footer/>
                <WebAddress/>
              </FooterDetails>
              <Heading>Commodity Credit Corporation</Heading>
              <Paragraph>The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) stabilizes, supports, and protects farm income and prices, assists in maintaining balanced and adequate supplies of agricultural commodities and their products, and facilitates the orderly distribution of commodities.</Paragraph>
            </Detail>
            <Detail SortOrder="10" TypeOfProgramAndActivitiesDetailsId="2303">
              <FooterDetails>
                <Email/>
                <Footer>For further information, contact the Information Division, Foreign Agricultural Service, Department of Agriculture, Stop 1004, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250. Phone, 202-720-7115. Fax, 202-720-1727.</Footer>
                <WebAddress>http://www.fsa.usda.gov/FSA/webapp?area=about&amp;subject=landing&amp;topic=sao-cc</WebAddress>
              </FooterDetails>
              <Heading/>
              <Paragraph>CCC carries out assigned foreign assistance activities, such as guaranteeing the credit sale of U.S. agricultural commodities abroad. Major emphasis is also being directed toward meeting the needs of developing nations. Agricultural commodities are supplied and exported to combat hunger and malnutrition and to encourage economic development in developing countries. In addition, under the Food for Progress Program, CCC supplies commodities to provide assistance to developing democracies.</Paragraph>
            </Detail>
            <Detail SortOrder="11" TypeOfProgramAndActivitiesDetailsId="2304">
              <FooterDetails>
                <Email/>
                <Footer/>
                <WebAddress/>
              </FooterDetails>
              <Heading>Risk Management Agency</Heading>
              <Paragraph>The Risk Management Agency (RMA), via the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC), oversees and administers the Federal crop insurance program under the Federal Crop Insurance Act.</Paragraph>
            </Detail>
            <Detail SortOrder="12" TypeOfProgramAndActivitiesDetailsId="2305">
              <FooterDetails>
                <Email/>
                <Footer/>
                <WebAddress/>
              </FooterDetails>
              <Heading/>
              <Paragraph>Federal crop insurance is offered to qualifying producers through 18 private sector crop insurance companies. Under the Standard Reinsurance Agreement (SRA), RMA provides reinsurance, pays premium subsidies, reimburses insurers for administrative and operating expenses, and oversees the financial integrity and operational performance of the delivery system. RMA bears much of the noncommercial insurance risk under the SRA, allowing insurers to retain commercial insurance risks or reinsure those risks in the private market.</Paragraph>
            </Detail>
            <Detail SortOrder="13" TypeOfProgramAndActivitiesDetailsId="2306">
              <FooterDetails>
                <Email/>
                <Footer/>
                <WebAddress/>
              </FooterDetails>
              <Heading/>
              <Paragraph>In 2006, the Federal crop insurance program provided producers with more than $44 billion in protection on approximately 246 million acres through about 1.2 million policies. There were 22 insurance plans available and 26 active pilot programs in various stages of development. Today, there are 350 plans of insurance, 1.2 million premium earning policies covering approximately 282 million acres of land, and 23 pilot programs in various stages of development.</Paragraph>
            </Detail>
            <Detail SortOrder="14" TypeOfProgramAndActivitiesDetailsId="2307">
              <FooterDetails>
                <Email/>
                <Footer/>
                <WebAddress/>
              </FooterDetails>
              <Heading/>
              <Paragraph>RMA also works closely with the private sector to find new and innovative ways to provide expanded coverage. This includes risk protection for specialty crops, livestock and forage, and rangeland and pasture. Thus, RMA is able to reduce the need for ad hoc disaster assistance while providing valuable coverage for production declines that result from extended drought in many areas.</Paragraph>
            </Detail>
            <Detail SortOrder="15" TypeOfProgramAndActivitiesDetailsId="2308">
              <FooterDetails>
                <Email/>
                <Footer>For further information, contact the Office of the Administrator, Risk Management Agency, Department of Agriculture, Stop 0801, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250. Phone, 202-690-2803.</Footer>
                <WebAddress>http://www.rma.usda.gov</WebAddress>
              </FooterDetails>
              <Heading/>
              <Paragraph>Additional information about RMA can be found on its Web site, www.rma.usda.gov. The Web site features agency news, State profiles, publications, and announcements on current issues. It also features summaries of insurance sales, pilot programs, downloadable crop policies, and agency-sponsored events. Online tools, calculators, and applications are also available on the Web site.</Paragraph>
            </Detail>
            <Detail SortOrder="16" TypeOfProgramAndActivitiesDetailsId="2309">
              <FooterDetails>
                <Email/>
                <Footer/>
                <WebAddress/>
              </FooterDetails>
              <Heading>Foreign Agricultural Service</Heading>
              <Paragraph>The Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) works to improve foreign market access for U.S. products, to build new markets, to improve the competitive position of U.S. agriculture in the global marketplace, and to provide food aid and technical assistance to foreign countries.</Paragraph>
            </Detail>
            <Detail SortOrder="17" TypeOfProgramAndActivitiesDetailsId="2310">
              <FooterDetails>
                <Email/>
                <Footer/>
                <WebAddress/>
              </FooterDetails>
              <Heading/>
              <Paragraph>FAS has the primary responsibility for USDA's activities in the areas of international marketing, trade agreements and negotiations, and the collection and analysis of international statistics and market information. It also administers the USDA's export credit guarantee and food aid programs. FAS helps increase income and food availability in developing nations by mobilizing expertise for agriculturally led economic growth.</Paragraph>
            </Detail>
            <Detail SortOrder="18" TypeOfProgramAndActivitiesDetailsId="2311">
              <FooterDetails>
                <Email/>
                <Footer/>
                <WebAddress/>
              </FooterDetails>
              <Heading/>
              <Paragraph>FAS also enhances U.S. agricultural competitiveness through a global network of agricultural economists, marketing experts, negotiators, and other specialists. FAS agricultural counselors, attaches, trade officers, and locally employed staff are stationed in over 90 countries to support U.S. agricultural interests and cover 140 countries.</Paragraph>
            </Detail>
            <Detail SortOrder="19" TypeOfProgramAndActivitiesDetailsId="2312">
              <FooterDetails>
                <Email/>
                <Footer/>
                <WebAddress/>
              </FooterDetails>
              <Heading/>
              <Paragraph>In addition to agricultural affairs offices in U.S. embassies, agricultural trade offices also have been established in a number of key foreign markets and function as service centers for U.S. exporters and foreign buyers seeking market information.</Paragraph>
            </Detail>
            <Detail SortOrder="20" TypeOfProgramAndActivitiesDetailsId="2313">
              <FooterDetails>
                <Email/>
                <Footer/>
                <WebAddress/>
              </FooterDetails>
              <Heading/>
              <Paragraph>Reports prepared by our overseas offices cover changes in policies and other developments that could affect U.S. agricultural exports. FAS staff in U.S. Embassies around the world assess U.S. export marketing opportunities and respond to the daily informational needs of those who develop, initiate, monitor, and evaluate U.S. food and agricultural policies and programs.</Paragraph>
            </Detail>
            <Detail SortOrder="21" TypeOfProgramAndActivitiesDetailsId="2314">
              <FooterDetails>
                <Email/>
                <Footer/>
                <WebAddress/>
              </FooterDetails>
              <Heading/>
              <Paragraph>In addition to data collection, FAS also maintains a worldwide agricultural reporting system based on information from U.S. agricultural traders, remote sensing systems, and other sources. Analysts in Washington, DC, prepare production forecasts, assess export marketing opportunities, and track changes in policies affecting U.S. agricultural exports and imports.</Paragraph>
            </Detail>
            <Detail SortOrder="22" TypeOfProgramAndActivitiesDetailsId="2315">
              <FooterDetails>
                <Email/>
                <Footer>For further information, contact the Public Affairs Division, Foreign Agricultural Service, Stop 1004, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC 20250-1004. Phone, 202-720-7115. Fax, 202-720-1727.</Footer>
                <WebAddress>http://www.fas.usda.gov</WebAddress>
              </FooterDetails>
              <Heading/>
              <Paragraph>FAS programs help U.S. exporters develop and maintain markets for hundreds of food and agricultural products, from bulk commodities to brand-name items. Formal market promotion activities are carried out chiefly in cooperation with agricultural trade associations, State-regional trade groups, small businesses, and cooperatives that plan, manage, and contribute staff resources and funds to support these efforts. FAS also provides guidance to help exporters locate buyers and provides assistance through a variety of other methods. This includes supporting U.S. participation in several major trade shows and a number of single-industry exhibitions each year.</Paragraph>
            </Detail>
          </Details>
        </Activity>
      </ProgramAndActivity>
      <ProgramAndActivity ProgramAndActivitiesId="497" SortOrder="7">
        <FooterDetails>
          <Email/>
          <Footer/>
          <WebAddress/>
        </FooterDetails>
        <MainParagraph/>
        <PointOfContact/>
        <ProgramName>Research, Education, and Economics</ProgramName>
        <Activity ProgramAndActivitiesId="1212" SortOrder="1">
          <Heading/>
          <Details>
            <Detail SortOrder="1" TypeOfProgramAndActivitiesDetailsId="2316">
              <FooterDetails>
                <Email/>
                <Footer/>
                <WebAddress/>
              </FooterDetails>
              <Heading/>
              <Paragraph>This mission area's main focus is to create, apply, and transfer knowledge and technology to provide affordable food and fiber, ensure food safety and nutrition, and support rural development and natural resource needs of people by conducting integrated national and international research, information, education, and statistical programs and services that are in the national interest.</Paragraph>
            </Detail>
            <Detail SortOrder="2" TypeOfProgramAndActivitiesDetailsId="2317">
              <FooterDetails>
                <Email/>
                <Footer/>
                <WebAddress/>
              </FooterDetails>
              <Heading>Agricultural Research Service</Heading>
              <Paragraph>The Agricultural Research Service (ARS) conducts research to develop and transfer solutions to agricultural problems of high national priority. It provides information access and dissemination to ensure high-quality safe food and other agricultural products; assess the nutritional needs of Americans; sustain a competitive agricultural economy; enhance the natural resource base and the environment; and provide economic opportunities for rural citizens, communities, and society as a whole.</Paragraph>
            </Detail>
            <Detail SortOrder="3" TypeOfProgramAndActivitiesDetailsId="2318">
              <FooterDetails>
                <Email/>
                <Footer/>
                <WebAddress/>
              </FooterDetails>
              <Heading/>
              <Paragraph>Research activities are carried out at 103 domestic locations (including Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands) and 5 overseas locations. Much of this research is conducted in cooperation with partners in State universities and experiment stations, other Federal agencies, and private organizations. National Programs, headquartered in Beltsville, MD, is the focal point in the overall planning and coordination of ARS's research programs. Day-to-day management of the respective programs for specific field locations is assigned to eight area offices.</Paragraph>
            </Detail>
            <Detail SortOrder="4" TypeOfProgramAndActivitiesDetailsId="2319">
              <FooterDetails>
                <Email/>
                <Footer>For further information, contact the Agricultural Research Service, Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250. Phone, 202-720-3656. Fax, 202-720-5427.</Footer>
                <WebAddress>http://www.ars.usda.gov</WebAddress>
              </FooterDetails>
              <Heading/>
              <Paragraph>ARS also includes the National Agricultural Library (NAL), which is the primary resource in the United States for information about food, agriculture, and natural resources and serves as an electronic gateway to a widening array of scientific literature, printed text, and agricultural images. NAL serves USDA and a broad customer base including policymakers, agricultural specialists, research scientists, and the general public. NAL works with other agricultural libraries and institutions to advance open and democratic access to information about agriculture and the Nation's agricultural knowledge.</Paragraph>
            </Detail>
            <Detail SortOrder="5" TypeOfProgramAndActivitiesDetailsId="2320">
              <FooterDetails>
                <Email/>
                <Footer/>
                <WebAddress/>
              </FooterDetails>
              <Heading>The National Institute of Food and Agriculture</Heading>
              <Paragraph>The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) links the research and education resources and activities of USDA and works with academic and land-grant institutions throughout the Nation. In cooperation with its partners and customers, NIFA advances a global system of research, extension, and higher education in the food and agricultural sciences and related environmental and human sciences to benefit people, communities, and the Nation.</Paragraph>
            </Detail>
            <Detail SortOrder="6" TypeOfProgramAndActivitiesDetailsId="2321">
              <FooterDetails>
                <Email/>
                <Footer/>
                <WebAddress/>
              </FooterDetails>
              <Heading/>
              <Paragraph>NIFA’s programs increase and provide access to scientific knowledge; strengthen the capabilities of land-grant and other institutions in research, extension, and higher education; increase access to and use of improved communication and network systems; and promote informed decisionmaking by producers, consumers, families, and community leaders to improve social conditions in the United States and around the world. These conditions include improved agricultural and other economic enterprises; safer and cleaner water, food, and air; enhanced stewardship and management of natural resources; more responsible, productive, and healthy individuals, families, and communities; and a stable, secure, diverse, and affordable national food supply.</Paragraph>
            </Detail>
            <Detail SortOrder="7" TypeOfProgramAndActivitiesDetailsId="2322">
              <FooterDetails>
                <Email/>
                <Footer/>
                <WebAddress/>
              </FooterDetails>
              <Heading/>
              <Paragraph>NIFA provides research, extension, and education leadership through programs in plant and animal systems; natural resources and environment; economic and community systems; families, 4–H, and nutrition; competitive research and integrated research, education, and extension programs and awards management; science and education resources development; and information systems and technology management.</Paragraph>
            </Detail>
            <Detail SortOrder="8" TypeOfProgramAndActivitiesDetailsId="2323">
              <FooterDetails>
                <Email/>
                <Footer>For further information, contact the Communications Staff, The National Institute of Food and Agriculture , Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250-2207. Phone, 202-720-4651. Fax, 202-690-0289.</Footer>
                <WebAddress>http://www.csrees.usda.gov/index.html</WebAddress>
              </FooterDetails>
              <Heading/>
              <Paragraph>NIFA’s partnership with the land-grant universities is critical to the effective shared planning, delivery, and accountability for research, higher education, and extension programs to support a growing and thriving American economy.</Paragraph>
            </Detail>
            <Detail SortOrder="9" TypeOfProgramAndActivitiesDetailsId="2324">
              <FooterDetails>
                <Email/>
                <Footer/>
                <WebAddress/>
              </FooterDetails>
              <Heading>Economic Research Service</Heading>
              <Paragraph>The mission of the Economic Research Service (ERS) is to inform and enhance public and private decisionmaking on economic and policy issues related to agriculture, food, the environment, and rural development.</Paragraph>
            </Detail>
            <Detail SortOrder="10" TypeOfProgramAndActivitiesDetailsId="2325">
              <FooterDetails>
                <Email/>
                <Footer/>
                <WebAddress/>
              </FooterDetails>
              <Heading/>
              <Paragraph>Activities to support this mission and the following goals involve research and development of economic and statistical indicators on a broad range of topics including, but not limited to, global agricultural market conditions, trade restrictions, agribusiness concentration, farm and retail food prices, foodborne illnesses, food labeling, nutrition, food assistance programs, worker safety, agrichemical usage, livestock waste management, conservation, sustainability, genetic diversity, technology transfer, rural infrastructure, and rural employment.</Paragraph>
            </Detail>
            <Detail SortOrder="11" TypeOfProgramAndActivitiesDetailsId="2326">
              <FooterDetails>
                <Email/>
                <Footer>For further information, contact the Information Services Division, Economic Research Service, Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250. Phone, 202-694-5100. Fax, 202-245-4781.</Footer>
                <WebAddress>http://www.ers.usda.gov</WebAddress>
              </FooterDetails>
              <Heading/>
              <Paragraph>Research results and economic indicators on such important agricultural, food, natural resource, and rural issues are fully disseminated to public and private decisionmakers through published and electronic reports and articles; special staff analyses, briefings, presentations, and papers; databases; and individual contacts. Through such activities, ERS provides public and private decisionmakers with economic and related social science information and analysis in support of the Department's goals of enhancing economic opportunities for agricultural producers; supporting economic opportunities and quality of life in rural America; enhancing the protection and safety of U.S. agriculture and food; improving U.S. nutrition and health; and enhancing the natural resource base and environment. More information on ERS's program is available online.</Paragraph>
            </Detail>
            <Detail SortOrder="12" TypeOfProgramAndActivitiesDetailsId="2327">
              <FooterDetails>
                <Email/>
                <Footer/>
                <WebAddress/>
              </FooterDetails>
              <Heading>National Agricultural Statistics Service</Heading>
              <Paragraph>The National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) prepares estimates and reports on production, supply, price, chemical use, and other items necessary for the orderly operation of the U.S. agricultural economy.</Paragraph>
            </Detail>
            <Detail SortOrder="13" TypeOfProgramAndActivitiesDetailsId="2328">
              <FooterDetails>
                <Email/>
                <Footer/>
                <WebAddress/>
              </FooterDetails>
              <Heading/>
              <Paragraph>The reports include statistics on field crops, fruits and vegetables, dairy, cattle, hogs, sheep, poultry, aquaculture, and related commodities or processed products. Other estimates concern farm numbers, farm production expenditures, agricultural chemical use, prices received by farmers for products sold, prices paid for commodities and services, indexes of prices received and paid, parity prices, farm employment, and farm wage rates.</Paragraph>
            </Detail>
            <Detail SortOrder="14" TypeOfProgramAndActivitiesDetailsId="2329">
              <FooterDetails>
                <Email/>
                <Footer/>
                <WebAddress/>
              </FooterDetails>
              <Heading/>
              <Paragraph>NASS prepares these estimates through a complex system of sample surveys of producers, processors, buyers, and others associated with agriculture. Information is gathered by mail, electronic data reporting, telephone, and personal interviews.</Paragraph>
            </Detail>
            <Detail SortOrder="15" TypeOfProgramAndActivitiesDetailsId="2330">
              <FooterDetails>
                <Email/>
                <Footer/>
                <WebAddress/>
              </FooterDetails>
              <Heading/>
              <Paragraph>NASS is responsible for conducting the Census of Agriculture. The Census of Agriculture is taken every 5 years and provides comprehensive data on the agricultural economy down to the county level. Follow-on studies are also conducted on aquaculture, irrigation, horticultural energy, and organic agriculture.</Paragraph>
            </Detail>
            <Detail SortOrder="16" TypeOfProgramAndActivitiesDetailsId="2331">
              <FooterDetails>
                <Email/>
                <Footer>For further information, contact the Executive Assistant to the Administrator, National Agricultural Statistics Service, Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250-2000. Phone, 202-720-2707. Fax, 202-720-9013.</Footer>
                <WebAddress>http://www.nass.usda.gov/</WebAddress>
              </FooterDetails>
              <Heading/>
              <Paragraph>NASS also performs reimbursable survey work and statistical consulting services for other Federal and State agencies and provides technical assistance for developing agricultural data systems in other countries.</Paragraph>
            </Detail>
          </Details>
        </Activity>
      </ProgramAndActivity>
      <ProgramAndActivity ProgramAndActivitiesId="498" SortOrder="8">
        <FooterDetails>
          <Email/>
          <Footer/>
          <WebAddress/>
        </FooterDetails>
        <MainParagraph/>
        <PointOfContact/>
        <ProgramName>Natural Resources and Environment</ProgramName>
        <Activity ProgramAndActivitiesId="1213" SortOrder="1">
          <Heading/>
          <Details>
            <Detail SortOrder="1" TypeOfProgramAndActivitiesDetailsId="2332">
              <FooterDetails>
                <Email/>
                <Footer/>
                <WebAddress/>
              </FooterDetails>
              <Heading/>
              <Paragraph>This mission area is responsible for fostering sound stewardship of 75 percent of the Nation's total land area. Ecosystems are the underpinning for the Department's operating philosophy in this area in order to maximize stewardship of our natural resources. This approach ensures that products, values, services, and uses desired by people are produced in ways that sustain healthy, productive ecosystems.</Paragraph>
            </Detail>
            <Detail SortOrder="2" TypeOfProgramAndActivitiesDetailsId="2333">
              <FooterDetails>
                <Email/>
                <Footer/>
                <WebAddress/>
              </FooterDetails>
              <Heading>Forest Service</Heading>
              <Paragraph>[For the Forest Service statement of organization, see the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 36, Part 200.1]</Paragraph>
            </Detail>
            <Detail SortOrder="3" TypeOfProgramAndActivitiesDetailsId="2334">
              <FooterDetails>
                <Email/>
                <Footer/>
                <WebAddress>http://www.fs.fed.us/</WebAddress>
              </FooterDetails>
              <Heading/>
              <Paragraph>The Forest Service was created by the Transfer Act of February 1, 1905 (16 U.S.C. 472), which transferred the Federal forest reserves and the responsibility for their management from the Department of the Interior to the Department of Agriculture. The mission of the Forest Service is to achieve quality land management under the sustainable, multiple-use management concept to meet the diverse needs of people. Its objectives include the following: advocating a conservation ethic in promoting the health, productivity, diversity, and beauty of forests and associated lands; listening to people and responding to their diverse needs in making decisions; protecting and managing the National Forests and Grasslands to best demonstrate the sustainable, multiple-use management concept; providing technical and financial assistance to State and private forest landowners, encouraging them toward active stewardship and quality land management in meeting their specific objectives; providing technical and financial assistance to cities and communities to improve their natural environment by planting trees and caring for their forests; providing international technical assistance and scientific exchanges to sustain and enhance global resources and to encourage quality land management; assisting States and communities in using the forests wisely to promote rural economic development and a quality rural environment; developing and providing scientific and technical knowledge, improving our capability to protect, manage, and use forests and rangelands; and providing work, training, and education to the unemployed, underemployed, elderly, youth, and the disadvantaged.</Paragraph>
            </Detail>
            <Detail SortOrder="4" TypeOfProgramAndActivitiesDetailsId="2335">
              <FooterDetails>
                <Email/>
                <Footer/>
                <WebAddress/>
              </FooterDetails>
              <Heading>National Forest System</Heading>
              <Paragraph>The Service manages 155 National Forests, 20 National Grasslands, 1 tall grass prairie, and 5 land utilization projects on over 193 million acres in 44 States, the Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico under the principles of multiple-use and sustained yield. The Nation's tremendous need for wood and paper products is balanced with the other vital, renewable resources or benefits that the National Forests and Grasslands provide: recreation and natural beauty, wildlife habitat, livestock forage, and water supplies. The guiding principle is the greatest good to the greatest number in the long run.</Paragraph>
            </Detail>
            <Detail SortOrder="5" TypeOfProgramAndActivitiesDetailsId="2336">
              <FooterDetails>
                <Email/>
                <Footer/>
                <WebAddress>http://www.fs.fed.us/managing-land/national-forests-grasslands</WebAddress>
              </FooterDetails>
              <Heading/>
              <Paragraph>These lands are protected as much as possible from wildfire, epidemics of disease and insect pests, erosion, floods, and water and air pollution. Burned areas get emergency seeding treatment to prevent massive erosion and stream siltation. Roads and trails are built where needed to give the public access to outdoor recreation areas and provide scenic drives and hikes. Picnic, camping, water sports, skiing, and other areas are provided with facilities for public convenience and enjoyment. Vegetative management methods are used to protect the land and streams, ensure rapid renewal of the forest, provide food and cover for wildlife and fish, and have minimum impact on scenic and recreation values. Local communities benefit from activities that occur on National Forest lands. These lands also provide needed oil, gas, and minerals. Rangelands are improved for millions of livestock and game animals. The National Forests provide a refuge for many species of endangered birds, animals, and fish. Some 34.6 million acres are set aside as wilderness and 175,000 acres as primitive areas where timber will not be harvested.</Paragraph>
            </Detail>
            <Detail SortOrder="6" TypeOfProgramAndActivitiesDetailsId="2337">
              <FooterDetails>
                <Email/>
                <Footer>For further information on the Forest Service or State and private forestry areas, visit the Forest Service's Web site.</Footer>
                <WebAddress>http://www.fs.fed.us/research/research-topics/</WebAddress>
              </FooterDetails>
              <Heading>Forest Research</Heading>
              <Paragraph>The Forest Service performs basic and applied research to develop the scientific information and technology needed to protect, manage, use, and sustain the natural resources of the Nation's forests and rangelands. The Forest Service's forest research strategy focuses on three major program components: understanding the structure and functions of forest and range ecosystems; understanding how people perceive and value the protection, management, and use of natural resources; and determining which protection, management, and utilization practices are most suitable for sustainable production and use of the world's natural resources.</Paragraph>
            </Detail>
            <Detail SortOrder="7" TypeOfProgramAndActivitiesDetailsId="2338">
              <FooterDetails>
                <Email/>
                <Footer/>
                <WebAddress>http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/site/national/home/</WebAddress>
              </FooterDetails>
              <Heading>Natural Resources Conservation Service</Heading>
              <Paragraph>[For the Natural Resources Conservation Service statement of organization, see the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 7, Parts 600 and 601]</Paragraph>
            </Detail>
            <Detail SortOrder="8" TypeOfProgramAndActivitiesDetailsId="2339">
              <FooterDetails>
                <Email/>
                <Footer/>
                <WebAddress/>
              </FooterDetails>
              <Heading/>
              <Paragraph>The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), formerly the Soil Conservation Service, has national responsibility for helping America's farmers, ranchers, and other private landowners develop and carry out voluntary efforts to conserve and protect our natural resources.</Paragraph>
            </Detail>
            <Detail SortOrder="9" TypeOfProgramAndActivitiesDetailsId="2340">
              <FooterDetails>
                <Email/>
                <Footer/>
                <WebAddress>http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/national/programs/technical/</WebAddress>
              </FooterDetails>
              <Heading>Conservation Technical Assistance</Heading>
              <Paragraph>This is the foundation program of NRCS. Under this program, NRCS provides technical assistance to land users and units of government for the purpose of sustaining agricultural productivity and protecting and enhancing the natural resource base. This assistance is based on the voluntary cooperation of private landowners and involves comprehensive approaches to reduce soil erosion; improve soil and water quantity and quality; improve and conserve wetlands; enhance fish and wildlife habitat; improve air quality; improve pasture and range condition; reduce upstream flooding; and improve woodlands.</Paragraph>
            </Detail>
            <Detail SortOrder="10" TypeOfProgramAndActivitiesDetailsId="2341">
              <FooterDetails>
                <Email/>
                <Footer/>
                <WebAddress>http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/national/programs/landscape/ewpp/?cid=nrcs143_008263</WebAddress>
              </FooterDetails>
              <Heading>Emergency Watershed Protection Program</Heading>
              <Paragraph>This program provides emergency assistance to safeguard lives and property in jeopardy due to sudden watershed impairment by natural disasters. Emergency work includes quickly establishing a protective plant cover on denuded land and stream banks; opening dangerously restricted channels; and repairing diversions and levees. An emergency area need not be declared a national disaster area to be eligible for help under this program.</Paragraph>
            </Detail>
            <Detail SortOrder="11" TypeOfProgramAndActivitiesDetailsId="2342">
              <FooterDetails>
                <Email/>
                <Footer/>
                <WebAddress>http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/national/programs/financial/eqip/</WebAddress>
              </FooterDetails>
              <Heading>Environmental Quality Incentive Program</Heading>
              <Paragraph>This program assists producers with environmental and natural resource conservation improvements on their agricultural lands. Half of the available funds are for conservation activities related to livestock production. Technical assistance, cost-share payments, incentive payments, and education focus on priority areas and natural resource concerns identified in cooperation with State technical committees, including such areas as nutrient management, pest management, and grazing land management.</Paragraph>
            </Detail>
            <Detail SortOrder="12" TypeOfProgramAndActivitiesDetailsId="2344">
              <FooterDetails>
                <Email/>
                <Footer/>
                <WebAddress>http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/national/programs/easements/forests/</WebAddress>
              </FooterDetails>
              <Heading>Forestry Incentives Program</Heading>
              <Paragraph>This program helps to increase the Nation's supply of products from nonindustrial private forest lands. This also ensures more effective use of existing forest lands and, over time, helps to prevent shortages and price increases for forest products. The program shares the cost incurred by landowners for tree planting and timberstand improvement.</Paragraph>
            </Detail>
            <Detail SortOrder="13" TypeOfProgramAndActivitiesDetailsId="2345">
              <FooterDetails>
                <Email/>
                <Footer/>
                <WebAddress>http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/site/soils/home/</WebAddress>
              </FooterDetails>
              <Heading>National Cooperative Soil Survey</Heading>
              <Paragraph>The National Cooperative Soil Survey provides the public with local information on the uses and capabilities of their soils. The published soil survey for a county or other designated area includes maps and interpretations that are the foundation for farm planning and other private land use decisions as well as for resource planning and policy by Federal, State, and local governments. The surveys are conducted cooperatively with other Federal, State, and local agencies and land-grant universities. The Service is the national and world leader in soil classification and soil mapping, and is now expanding its work in soil quality.</Paragraph>
            </Detail>
            <Detail SortOrder="14" TypeOfProgramAndActivitiesDetailsId="2346">
              <FooterDetails>
                <Email/>
                <Footer/>
                <WebAddress>http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/plantmaterials/pmc/</WebAddress>
              </FooterDetails>
              <Heading>Plant Materials Program</Heading>
              <Paragraph>At 26 plant materials centers across the country, NRCS tests, selects, and ensures the commercial availability of new and improved conservation plants for erosion reduction, wetland restoration, water quality improvement, streambank and riparian area protection, coastal dune stabilization, biomass production, carbon sequestration, and other needs. The Plant Materials Program is a cooperative effort with conservation districts, other Federal and State agencies, commercial businesses, and seed and nursery associations.</Paragraph>
            </Detail>
            <Detail SortOrder="15" TypeOfProgramAndActivitiesDetailsId="2347">
              <FooterDetails>
                <Email/>
                <Footer/>
                <WebAddress/>
              </FooterDetails>
              <Heading>Resource Conservation and Development Program</Heading>
              <Paragraph>This is a locally driven program, an opportunity for civic-oriented groups to work together sharing knowledge and resources in solving common problems facing their region. The program offers aid in balancing the environmental, economic, and social needs of an area. USDA coordinators help resource conservation and development councils plan, develop, and carry out programs for resource conservation, water management, community development, and environmental enhancement.</Paragraph>
            </Detail>
            <Detail SortOrder="16" TypeOfProgramAndActivitiesDetailsId="2348">
              <FooterDetails>
                <Email/>
                <Footer/>
                <WebAddress/>
              </FooterDetails>
              <Heading>Rural Abandoned Mine Program</Heading>
              <Paragraph>This program helps protect people and the environment from the adverse effects of past coal mining practices and promotes the development of soil and water resources on unreclaimed mine land. It provides technical and financial assistance to land users who voluntarily enter into 5- to 10-year contracts for the reclamation of eligible land and water.</Paragraph>
            </Detail>
            <Detail SortOrder="17" TypeOfProgramAndActivitiesDetailsId="2349">
              <FooterDetails>
                <Email/>
                <Footer/>
                <WebAddress/>
              </FooterDetails>
              <Heading>Small Watersheds Program</Heading>
              <Paragraph>The program helps local sponsoring groups to voluntarily plan and install watershed protection projects on private lands. These projects include flood prevention, water quality improvement, soil erosion and sediment reduction, rural and municipal water supply, irrigation water management, fish and wildlife habitat enhancement, and wetlands restoration. The Service helps local community groups, government entities, and private landowners working together using an integrated, comprehensive watershed approach to natural resource planning.</Paragraph>
            </Detail>
            <Detail SortOrder="18" TypeOfProgramAndActivitiesDetailsId="2350">
              <FooterDetails>
                <Email/>
                <Footer/>
                <WebAddress>http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/national/programs/alphabetical/?cid=stelprdb1044181</WebAddress>
              </FooterDetails>
              <Heading>Snow Survey and Water Supply Forecasting Program</Heading>
              <Paragraph>This program collects snowpack moisture data and forecasts seasonal water supplies for streams that derive most of their water from snowmelt. It helps farm operators, rural communities, and municipalities manage water resources through water supply forecasts. It also provides hydrometeorological data for regulating reservoir storage and managing streamflow. The Snow Supply Program is conducted in the Western States and Alaska.</Paragraph>
            </Detail>
            <Detail SortOrder="19" TypeOfProgramAndActivitiesDetailsId="2351">
              <FooterDetails>
                <Email/>
                <Footer/>
                <WebAddress>http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/national/programs/landscape/wsp/</WebAddress>
              </FooterDetails>
              <Heading>Watershed Surveys and Planning</Heading>
              <Paragraph>This program assists Federal, State, and local agencies and tribal governments in protecting watersheds from damage caused by erosion, floodwater, and sediment, and it conserves and develops water and land resources. Resource concerns addressed by the program include water quality, water conservation, wetland and water storage capacity, agricultural drought problems, rural development, municipal and industrial water needs, upstream flood damages, and water needs for fish, wildlife, and forest-based industries. Types of surveys and plans include watershed plans, river basin surveys and studies, flood hazard analysis, and flood plain management assistance. The focus of these plans is to identify solutions that use land treatment and nonstructural measures to solve resource problems.</Paragraph>
            </Detail>
          </Details>
        </Activity>
      </ProgramAndActivity>
    </ProgramAndActivities>
    <SourceOfInformationDetails>
      <EntitySourceOfInformation EntitySourceOfInformationId="807" SortOrder="1">
        <FooterDetails>
          <Email/>
          <Footer/>
          <WebAddress/>
        </FooterDetails>
        <Header>Consumer Activities</Header>
        <Paragraph>Educational, organizational, and financial assistance is offered to consumers and their families in such areas as rural housing and farm operating programs, as well as improved nutrition, family living and recreation, food stamp, school lunch, donated foods, and other food programs.</Paragraph>
      </EntitySourceOfInformation>
      <EntitySourceOfInformation EntitySourceOfInformationId="808" SortOrder="2">
        <FooterDetails>
          <Email/>
          <Footer/>
          <WebAddress>http://www.dm.usda.gov/osdbu/index.php</WebAddress>
        </FooterDetails>
        <Header>Contracts and Small-Business Activities</Header>
        <Paragraph>To obtain information about contracting or subcontracting opportunities, attending small-business outreach activities, or how to do business with USDA, contact the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization. Phone, 202-720-7117.</Paragraph>
      </EntitySourceOfInformation>
      <EntitySourceOfInformation EntitySourceOfInformationId="809" SortOrder="3">
        <FooterDetails>
          <Email/>
          <Footer/>
          <WebAddress>http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?navid=CAREERS</WebAddress>
        </FooterDetails>
        <Header>Employment</Header>
        <Paragraph>Most jobs in the Department are in the competitive service and are filled by applicants who have established eligibility under an appropriate examination administered by the Office of Personnel Management or Department Special Examining Units. General employment information is available online at USAJOBS.</Paragraph>
      </EntitySourceOfInformation>
      <EntitySourceOfInformation EntitySourceOfInformationId="810" SortOrder="4">
        <FooterDetails>
          <Email/>
          <Footer/>
          <WebAddress>http://www.usda.gov/oig/hotline.htm</WebAddress>
        </FooterDetails>
        <Header>Whistleblower Hotline</Header>
        <Paragraph>Persons wishing to register complaints of alleged improprieties concerning the Department should contact one of the regional offices or the Inspector General's whistleblower hotline. Phone, 800-424-9121 (toll free, outside Washington, DC); 202-690-1622 (within the Washington, DC, metropolitan area); or 202-690-1202 (TDD). Fax, 202-690-2474.</Paragraph>
      </EntitySourceOfInformation>
      <EntitySourceOfInformation EntitySourceOfInformationId="811" SortOrder="5">
        <FooterDetails>
          <Email/>
          <Footer/>
          <WebAddress/>
        </FooterDetails>
        <Header>Reading Rooms</Header>
        <Paragraph>Reading Rooms are located at the headquarters of each USDA agency. Use the contact information provided in the "For further information" sections in the program description text above to inquire about locations, hours, and availability.</Paragraph>
      </EntitySourceOfInformation>
      <EntitySourceOfInformation EntitySourceOfInformationId="812" SortOrder="6">
        <FooterDetails>
          <Email/>
          <Footer/>
          <WebAddress/>
        </FooterDetails>
        <Header>Speakers</Header>
        <Paragraph>Contact the nearest Department of Agriculture office or county extension agent. In the District of Columbia, contact the Office of Public Liaison, Office of Communications, Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250. Phone, 202-720-2798.</Paragraph>
      </EntitySourceOfInformation>
    </SourceOfInformationDetails>
    <FooterDetails>
      <Footer>For further information concerning the Department of Agriculture, contact the Office of Communications, Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250. Phone, 202-720-4623.</Footer>
      <Email/>
      <WebAddress>http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?contentid=OC_Splash.xml&amp;contentidonly=true</WebAddress>
    </FooterDetails>
  </Entity>
</GovernmentManual>
