Environmental Law and Government Agencies: Agriculture

The USDA works to enhance the environment and to maintain production capacity by helping landowners protect the soil, water, forests, and other natural resources. Rural development, credit, and conservation programs are key resources for carrying out national growth policies. The Department, through inspection and grading services, safeguards and ensures standards of quality in the daily food supply.

Selected subagencies:

• United States Forest Service
  Manages public lands in national forests and grasslands, which encompass 193 million acres.
• Natural Resources Conservation Service
  Helps America's private land owners and managers conserve their soil, water, and other natural resources.

Databases:

• Treesearch
  Indexes research publications and conference proceedings from the National Forest Service

Selected Programs:

• National Organic Program
  • Organic Food Standards and Labels This is a pamphlet answering FAQs about organic products.
• Pesticide Recordkeeping Program
• Plant Variety Protection Office

National Forest System This website lists United States federally owned territories.

Forest Research
This website contains links to finding US Forest Service patents, research programs, experimental forests, ranges, and other information.

Natural Resources Conservation Service

• NRCS Conservation Programs
• Conservation Technical Assistance
• Emergency Watershed Program
• Environmental Quality Incentive Program
• National Cooperative Soil Survey
• Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention
• Snow Survey and Water Supply Forecasting Program
• Wetlands Reserve Program