Department of Agriculture
| Pages | 103-126 |
Departments
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
1400 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250
Phone, 202-720-4623. Internet, www.usda.gov.
SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE Tom Vilsack
Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan
Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign James Miller
Agricultural Services
Administrator, Farm Service Agency Jonathan Coppess
Administrator, Foreign Agricultural Service Michael Michner
Administrator, Risk Management Agency William Murphy, Acting
Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition, and Kevin Concannon
Consumer Services
Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service Julie Paradis
Director, Center for Nutrition Policy and Robert Post, Acting
Promotion
Under Secretary for Food Safety (vacancy)
Administrator, Food Safety and Inspection Alfred V. Almanza
Service
Under Secretary for Natural Resources and (vacancy)
Environment
Chief, Forest Service Abigail Kimbell
Chief, Natural Resources Conservation Service David White, Acting
Under Secretary for Research, Education, and (vacancy)
Economics
Administrator, Agricultural Research Service Edward B. Knipling
Administrator, Cooperative State Research, Colien Hefferan
Education, and Extension Service
Administrator, Economic Research Service John Kort
Administrator, National Agricultural Statistics Cynthia Clark
Service
Under Secretary for Rural Development (vacancy)
Administrator, Rural Business and Cooperative Judy Canales
Programs
Administrator, Rural Housing and Community (vacancy)
Facilities Programs
Administrator, Rural Utilities Programs (vacancy)
Assistant Secretary for Congressional Relations (vacancy)
Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory (vacancy)
Programs
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service Rayne Pegg
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Kevin Shea, Acting
Inspection Service
Administrator, Grain Inspection, Packers, and J. Dudley Butler
Stockyards Administration
Assistant Secretary for Administration Pearlie Reed
Judicial Officer William G. Jenson
Chief Judge, Administrative Law Judges Marc Hillson
Director, Office of Ethics Raymond Sheehan
Director, Office of Human Capital Management Jill M. Crumpacker
Director, Office of Management Services Jeannette Chiari
Director, Office of Operations John Crew
Director, Office of Procurement and Property Denise Hayes, Acting
Management
Director, Office of Security Services Mary Bale, Acting
Director, Office of Small and Disadvantaged (vacancy)
Business Utilization
Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Joe Leonard
Director, Conflict Resolution and Prevention Sheila Walcott, Acting
Center
Director, Office of Adjudication and Compliance Michael G. Watts
Director, Office of Outreach and Diversity Carl-Martin Ruiz
Chief Information Officer Chris Smith, Acting
Chief Financial Officer Jon Holladay, Acting
General Counsel J. Michael Kelly, Acting
Inspector General Phyllis K. Fong
Director, Office of Communications Chris Mather
Chief Economist Joseph Glauber
Director, Office of Risk Assessment and Cost- James Schaub
Benefit Analysis
Chairman, World Agricultural Outlook Board Gerald Bange
Director, Global Change Program Office William Hohenstein
Director, Office of Energy Policy and New Uses Roger Conway
Director, National Appeals Division Roger J. Klurfeld
Director, Office of Budget and Program Analysis Scott Steele
Director, Office of the Executive Secretariat Bruce Bundick
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The Department of Agriculture works to improve and maintain farm income and to develop and expand markets abroad for agricultural products. The Department helps to curb and cure poverty, hunger, and malnutrition. It works to enhance the environment and to maintain production capacity by helping landowners protect the soil, water, forests, and other natural resources. The Department, through inspection and grading services, safeguards and ensures standards of quality in the daily food supply.
The Department of Agriculture (USDA) was created by act of May 15, 1862
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.
T217558.012
Rural Development
USDA's rural development mission is to assist rural Americans to increase their economic opportunities 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.
Rural Business-Cooperative Programs
To meet business credit needs in underserved areas, USDA rural development business programs are usually leveraged with commercial, cooperative, or other private sector lenders. USDA's business programs are as follows:
Business and Industry Guaranteed Loans This program helps create jobs and stimulates rural economies by providing financial backing for rural businesses. Loan proceeds may be used for working capital, machinery and equipment, buildings and real estate, and certain types of debt refinancing.
Business Enterprise These grants help public bodies, nonprofit corporations, and federally recognized Indian tribal groups finance and facilitate development of small and emerging private business enterprises located in rural areas. Grant funds can pay for the acquisition and development of land and the construction of buildings, plants, equipment, access streets and roads, parking areas, utility and service extensions, refinancing, and fees for professional services, as well as technical assistance and related training,startup costs and working capital, financial assistance to a third party, production of television programs targeted to rural residents, and rural distance learning networks.
Business Opportunities This program promotes sustainable economic development in rural communities with exceptional needs. Funds are provided for technical assistance, training, and planning activities that improve economic conditions. Applicants must be located in rural areas.
Renewable Energy and Efficiency Loans and Grants This program encourages agricultural producers and small rural businesses to create renewable and energy-efficient systems.
Cooperative Development These grants finance the establishment and operation of centers for cooperative development. The primary purpose of this program is to enhance the economic condition of rural areas through the development of new cooperatives and improving operations of existing cooperatives, and encourage the development of value-added ventures.
Cooperative Opportunities and Problems Research This program encourages research, funded through cooperative agreements, on critical issues vital to the development and sustainability of agricultural and other rural cooperatives as a means of improving the quality of life in America's rural communities.
Cooperative Program This program helps farmers and rural communities become self-reliant through the use of cooperative organizations. Studies are conducted to 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 is provided to improve cooperative
performance in organizing new cooperatives, merging existing cooperatives, changing business structures, and developing strategies for growth. Applied research is conducted to give farmers and rural communities expert assistance pertaining to their cooperatives. The program also collects and publishes statistics regarding the role and scope of cooperative activity in U.S. agriculture. A bimonthly magazine, Rural Cooperatives, reports current developments and research for cooperative management leadership.
Economic Development These loans and grants finance economic development and job creation projects based on sound economic plans in rural areas. Loans and grants are available to any eligible USDA electric or telecommunications borrower to assist in developing rural areas from an economic standpoint, to create new job opportunities, and to help retain existing employment. Loans at zero interest are made primarily to finance business startup ventures and business expansion projects. Grants are made to eligible telephone and electric utilities to establish revolving loan programs operated at the local level. The revolving loan program provides capital to nonprofit entities and municipal organizations to finance business or community facilities which promote job creation in rural areas, for facilities which extend or improve medical care to rural residents, and for facilities which promote education and training to enhance marketable job skills for rural residents.
Intermediary Relending These loans finance business facilities and community development projects in rural areas. The Service lends these funds to intermediaries, which in turn provide loans to recipients who are developing business facilities or community development projects.
Sheep Industry The National Sheep Industry Improvement Center promotes strategic development activities to strengthen and enhance the production and marketing of sheep and goat products in the United States. It works to improve infrastructure and business development, market and...
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