NIFA is one of four agencies that make up the USDA’s Research, Education, and Economics (REE) mission area. The USDA-REE agencies provide federal leadership in creating and disseminating knowledge spanning the biological, physical, and social sciences related to agricultural research, economic analysis, statistics, extension, and higher education. Below are all the agencies within the USDA, organized by category with brief descriptions.
USDA Mission Area: Farm Production and Conservation (FPAC)
- The Business Center handles a variety of functions, from human resources to financial management, enabling FSA, NRCS, and RMA to focus on serving farmers and ranchers.
- Farm Service Agency is equitably serving all farmers, ranchers, and agricultural partners through the delivery of effective, efficient agricultural programs for all Americans.
- NRCS provides America's farmers and ranchers with financial and technical assistance to voluntarily put conservation on the ground, not only helping the environment but agricultural operations, too.
- The Risk Management Agency serves America’s agricultural producers through effective, market-based risk management tools to strengthen the economic stability of agricultural producers and rural communities.
USDA Mission Area: Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services
- FNS mission is to increase food security and reduce hunger by providing children and low-income people access to food, a healthful diet and nutrition education in a way that supports American agriculture and inspires public confidence.
USDA Mission Area: Food Safety
- FSIS mission is protecting the public’s health by ensuring the safety of meat, poultry, and egg products.
USDA Mission Area: Marketing and Regulatory Programs
- The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) administers programs that create domestic and international marketing opportunities for U.S. producers of food, fiber, and specialty crops.
- For nearly 50 years, APHIS has been protecting the health and value of America’s agricultural and natural resources.
USDA Mission Area: Natural Resources and Environment
- The Forest Service mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the Nation’s forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations.
USDA Mission Area: Rural Development
- USDA’s Rural Business-Cooperative Service offers programs to help businesses grow as well as job training for people living in rural areas.
- RHS provides leadership on food, agriculture, natural resources, rural development, nutrition, and related issues based on public policy, the best available science, and effective management.
- Committed to helping improve the economy and quality of life in rural America, RUS offers loans, grants and loan guarantees to help create jobs and support economic development and essential services.
USDA Mission Area: Research, Education and Economics (REE)
- The Agricultural Research Service (ARS) is the U.S. Department of Agriculture's chief scientific in-house research agency. Our job is finding solutions to agricultural problems that affect Americans every day from field to table.
- ERS' mission is to anticipate trends and emerging issues in agriculture, food, the environment, and rural America and to conduct high-quality, objective economic research to inform and enhance public and private decision making.
- NASS conducts hundreds of surveys every year and prepares reports covering virtually every aspect of U.S. agriculture. This includes production and supplies of food and fiber, farm labor and wages, and changes in the demographics of U.S. producers.
- NIFA provides leadership and funding for programs that advance agriculture-related sciences. We invest in and support initiatives that ensure the long-term viability of agriculture.
- Established in accordance with the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 to provide strategic coordination of the science that informs the Department's and the Federal government's decisions, policies and regulations.
USDA Mission Area: Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs (TFAA)
- The U.S. Codex Office coordinates U.S. participation in the Codex Alimentarius Commission, a United Nations body that sets international food standards while protecting consumer health and ensuring fair trade practices.
- The Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) links U.S. agriculture to the world to enhance export opportunities and global food security.
Page last updated: April 7, 2025