Agricultural Law

Overview

President Abraham Lincoln founded the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) in 1862. Lincoln called it "The People's Department" because at that time 58% of Americans were farmers in need of worthy seeds and information on how to nurture their crops.

Over the years, the percentage of farmers in the United States has dwindled but the USDA's responsibilities have expanded. The USDA now encompasses a number of agencies and offices, and runs a plethora of programs. For instance, the USDA is responsible for the safety of poultry, egg products and meat. Further, the Department is the steward for the national rangelands and forests. Moreover, the Department runs the Food Stamps, School lunch, School Breakfast and Wic Programs in addition to conducting research on agricultural topics such as new crop technologies and human nutrition.

There are Under Secretaries for the following areas reporting to the Deputy Secretary of Agriculture: Natural Resources and Environment; Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services; Rural Development; Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services; Food Safety; Research, Education and Economics; and Marketing and Regulatory Programs.

Within the topic of Agricultural Law exist several subtopics, including Administrative Law, Commercial Law, Environmental Law, International Law, International Trade, Labor Law and Taxation.