The **United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)** is a key executive department of the U.S. federal government, established in 1862 by President Abraham Lincoln to support farmers through research and resource distribution. Over time, it has evolved into a vast agency managing a broad portfolio including agricultural production, food safety, rural development, natural resource conservation, and nutrition assistance[1][2][5]. Headed by the Secretary of Agriculture, a Cabinet member, its mission is to foster innovation, promote sustainable agricultural production, ensure food security, conserve natural resources, and support rural economies[1][4]. Today, the USDA operates through 29 agencies organized into eight mission areas: Farm Production and Conservation, Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services, Food Safety, Marketing and Regulatory Programs, Natural Resources and Environment, Research, Education, and Economics, Rural Development, and Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs[1]. It administers critical programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the National School Lunch Program, farm loans, disaster assistance, and conservation initiatives[2][3][5]. The Forest Service, the department’s largest agency, manages about 25% of federal lands, emphasizing sustainable forestry and climate resilience[5]. With a fiscal year 2024 budget of approximately $467 billion and a workforce of around 100,000 across 4,500 locations, USDA is one of the largest federal departments[1]. It integrates advanced technology and science-based policy, including economic forecasting, pest management, and environmental market assessments, to adapt to modern agricultural challenges and climate change[6]. Notable achievements include the creation of the Cooperative Extension Service (1914) that revolutionized farming education, New Deal-era support programs stabilizing agriculture during the Great Depression, and ongoing leadership in nutrition and food safety that impacts millions of Americans daily[1][2]. As rural America diversifies with emerging sectors like renewable energy and broadband, USDA remains instrumental in steering economic growth, innovation, and sustainability i