Most Agriculture secretaries grew up on a farm or worked in agribusiness. Vilsack, 58, instead got his farming credentials by serving as governor of Iowa ...
Merrigan, 49, is known as an advocate for organic and local foodstuffs. She was a science and technology adviser to Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., when ...
Miller's appointment is a reminder that the modern U.S. farm program started during the Democratic administration of Franklin Roosevelt. Miller, 60, graduated from Washington State ...
Concannon, if his nomination is approved, will head the division of the Agriculture Department that spends nearly 70 percent of the department's budget. Food, Nutrition, ...
Avalos has been nominated for a job that involves encouraging Americans and foreigners to buy U.S. agricultural products, while also managing regulatory programs that promote ...
Shah, 36, is an unusual choice to manage agricultural research agencies and to send federal money to land-grant colleges and other research universities. He was ...
Tonsager, 55, co-chaired the Obama campaign's private-sector advisory group and has taken on a tough job: trying to improve the quality of life in rural ...
A Federal Communications Commission regulator since 2002, Adelstein has been nominated to head Agriculture's Rural Utilities Service, which funds projects that promote improved telecommunications, clean ...
Michener, 45, was a surprise choice to head the FAS, the agency that analyzes agricultural production in other countries, promotes the sale of U.S. agricultural ...
Reed had a distinguished career at USDA before retiring in 2003. Born in Arkansas, he graduated from the University of Arkansas and earned a master's ...
Established: 1862
Address: 1400 Independence Ave. SW, Washington, DC 20250
Phone: 202-720-2791
2009 Budget: $124.4 billion
Employment: 96,013
Web Site: www.usda.gov
Functions: USDA oversees federal programs related to food production and rural life. The department administers commodity, credit, conservation, disaster, and emergency assistance programs to farmers and ranchers; rural development programs; food stamps and nutrition programs; agricultural research; grading of food; animal and plant inspection programs; national forests; soil conservation programs; and foreign food aid.
