U.S. Government Resources: Agriculture

See more about this topic in the Dickinson Legal Research Resources:
DSL LegalLinks: Agricultural Law

Agricultural OnLine Access (AGRICOLA)
http://agricola.nal.usda.gov/

AGRICOLA is a bibliographic database of citations to the agricultural literature created by the National Agricultural Library and its cooperators. Production of these records in electronic form began in 1970, but the database covers materials in all formats, including printed works from the 15th century.

Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/index.html

The Animal and Plant Health inspection Service (APHIS) is responsible for protecting and promoting U.S. agricultural health, administering the Animal Welfare Act, and carrying out wildlife damage management activities.

Bad Bug Book
http://vm.cfsan.fda.gov/~mow/intro.html

This handbook, based on information from the Food & Drug Administration, the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, the USDA Food Safety Inspection Service, and the National Institutes of Health, provides basic facts regarding foodborne pathogenic microorganisms and natural toxins.

ComBase
http://wyndmoor.arserrc.gov/combase/

The Common Database of Predictive Microbiology Information, or ComBase, provides data on the growth and survival of foodborne pathogens under various conditions. Searches may be performed by temperature, Ph, water activity, organism, or environment.

Department of Agriculture
http://www.usda.gov/

The Department of Agriculture (USDA) was created by act of May 15, 1862. Its mission is to enhance the quality of life for the American people by supporting the production of agriculture, including areas of food supply, economic opportunities, and community and rural development.

Economic Research Service (ERS)
http://www.ers.usda.gov/

ERS is the main source of economic information and research from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. This site provides data related to agriculture, food, natural resources, and rural development.

Farm Service Agency Online
http://www.fsa.usda.gov/pas/default.asp

The Farm Service Agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture ensures the well-being of American agriculture and the environment through its many services and programs, which include farm loans, disaster assistance, price supports, conservation and environmental programs, and more.

Farm Service Agency Online: Conservation Reserve Program
http://www.fsa.usda.gov/FSA/webapp?area=home&subject=copr&topic=crp

The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) is a voluntary program available to agricultural producers to help them safeguard environmentally sensitive land.

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
http://www.fao.org/

FAO is responsible for international efforts to defeat hunger by helping developing countries and countries in transition modernize and improve agriculture, forestry and fisheries practices and by promoting good nutrition.

Food and Nutrition Information Center
http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/index.html

The Food and Nutrition Information Center (FNIC) is located at the National Agricultural Library (NAL), part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Agricultural Research Service (ARS). FNIC's mission, since 1971, has been to collect and disseminate information about food and human nutrition.

Food Recalls
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Fsis_Recalls/index.asp

Consumer information about food recalls at both the federal and state levels is provided at this web site.

FoodSafety.gov
http://www.foodsafety.gov/

This web site, part of the National Food Safety Information Network, is maintained by FDA's Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition. It provides access to government food safety information, including safety alerts, consumer advice, information on foodborne pathogens, and a link to reporting illnesses and product complaints.

Food Safety Research Information Office
http://foodsafety.nal.usda.gov/nal_display/index.php?info_center=16&tax_level=1

Provides information to the research community and to the general public on publicly funded and some privately funded food safety research programs.

Foreign Agricultural Service - FAS Online
http://www.fas.usda.gov/

The Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) works to improve foreign market access for U.S. products. FAS operates programs designed to build new markets and improve the competitive position of U.S. agriculture in the global marketplace.

Forest Service
http://www.fs.fed.us/aboutus/

Established in 1905, the Forest Service is an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The Forest Service manages public lands in national forests and grasslands.

Green Book Online
http://www.fda.gov/cvm/Green_Book/elecgbook.html

The Generic Animal Drug and Patent Restoration Act requires certain information regarding patents held for the animal drugs and their methods of use to be reported to the FDA. The Act also requires that this information be made available to the public and updated monthly. The list, known as the "Green Book," was first published in January 1989.

House Committee on Agriculture
http://agriculture.house.gov/

The Committee on Agriculture was established on May 3, 1820. Improvements to the quality of rural life, the advancement of agricultural research and use of technology are part of this committee's mission.

Integrated Taxonomic Information System
http://www.itis.gov/

The Integrated Taxonomic Information System provides authoritative taxonomic information on plants, animals, fungi, and microbes of North America and the world.

National Agricultural Library
http://www.nalusda.gov/

The NAL provides access to agricultural information, services, and programs.

National Agriculture Safety Database
http://www.cdc.gov/nasd/

The National Agriculture Safety Database is a national central repository of agricultural health, safety, and injury prevention materials for the agricultural community and especially for agricultural safety specialists.

National Agriculture Statistics Service
http://www.nass.usda.gov/index.asp

The National Agriculture Statistics Service, an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, conducts hundreds of surveys each year in order to prepare reports covering virtually every facet of U.S. agriculture -- from production and supplies of food and fiber, to farm labor and wages.

National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service
http://attra.ncat.org/

Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas, funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, is a national sustainable agriculture information service managed by the National Center for Appropriate Technology. It provides information and other technical assistance to farmers, ranchers, Extension agents, educators, and others involved in sustainable agriculture in the United States.

Natural Resources Conservation Service: Program Summaries
http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/

This web page provides summaries of all programs offered through NCRS, as well as additional information links.

Natural Resource Conservation Service: Watersheds
http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/watershed/index.html

The Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act authorizes the NRCS to cooperate with States and local agencies to carry out works of improvement for soil conservation and other purposes including flood prevention; conservation, development, utilization and disposal of water; and conservation and proper utilization of land.

Natural Resource Conservation Service: Wetlands
http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/wrp/

The Wetlands Reserve Program is a voluntary program offering landowners the opportunity to protect, restore, and enhance wetlands on their property. The NRCS goal is to achieve the greatest wetland functions and values, along with optimum wildlife habitat, on every acre enrolled in the program.

Plants Database
http://plants.usda.gov/

The PLANTS Database provides standardized information about the vascular plants, mosses, liverworts, hornworts, and lichens of the U.S. and its territories.

Recalls.gov
http://www.recalls.gov/

Recalls.gov was created by six government agencies such as the FDA, USDA, EPA, and several others. The site is a "one stop shop" for information on U.S. Government recalls of unsafe, hazardous, or defective products. Information is arranged by categories such as consumer products, motor vehicles, boats, food, medicine, cosmetics, and environmental products. Features include the ability to receive newsletters from the various agencies.

Risk Management Agency - RMA Online
http://www.rma.usda.gov/

The Risk Management Agency (RMA) is part of USDA. This agency's role is to help farm producers manage their business risks through effective, market-based risk management solutions. RMA's mission is to promote, support, and regulate sound risk management solutions to preserve and strengthen the economic stability of the nation's agricultural producers.

Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
http://agriculture.senate.gov/

The Committee on Agriculture was created on Decemer 9, 1925, after debate about dividing the Committee on Commerce and Manufactures.

U.S. Export Sales Reports
http://www.fas.usda.gov/export-sales/esrd1.html

Weekly export sales reports serve as a timely early warning system on the possible impact of agricultural obligations on U.S. supplies and prices. The data can be used, for example, to assess the level of export demand, to determine where markets exist, and to assess the relative position of different commodities in those markets.

Water Quality Information Center
http://www.nal.usda.gov/wqic/

The Water Quality Information Center at the National Agricultural Library (NAL) is part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Agricultural Research Service. The center was established in 1990 to support USDA's coordinated plan to address water quality concerns. As the focal point of NAL's water quality efforts, the center collects, organizes, and communicates the scientific findings, educational methodologies, and public policy issues related to water quality and agriculture.