United States Department of Agriculture

The United States Department of Agriculture, or USDA for short, is like a big helper for farmers and everyone who eats food! It's a special part of the U.S. government that makes sure we have yummy and safe food to eat. They also help farmers grow lots of food, like fruits, vegetables, and even the food for farm animals. Think of them as the ultimate food guardians, working hard every day!

Did you know the USDA also takes care of amazing places like national forests and grasslands? These are huge areas, like having a giant playground that's about a quarter of all the land owned by the government! The U.S.

Forest Service, which is part of the USDA, makes sure these beautiful natural places stay healthy for animals and for us to visit. It’s like having millions of acres of parks to explore and protect!

A super important job of the USDA is to make sure nobody goes hungry. They have programs that help families get the food they need, like a special grocery card. A HUGE part of their money, about 71%, goes to these food help programs. This means they are working hard to make sure everyone in the United States has enough to eat. They even help people in other countries get food when they need it!

The boss of the USDA is called the Secretary of Agriculture. This person is super important and talks directly to the President of the United States! They are part of the President's team, helping to make big decisions about farming, food, and nature. Right now, Brooke Rollins is the Secretary. She helps lead all the amazing work the USDA does to help us all.