Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services (FFAS)
Mission Area
The Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services
mission area, comprised of the FarmService Agency, the Foreign Agricultural
Service, and the Risk Management Agency, helps keep America's farmers and
ranchers in business as they face the uncertainties of weather and markets.
They deliver commodity, credit, conservation, disaster, and emergency
assistance programs that help improve the stability and strength of the
agricultural economy. FFAS contributes to the vitality of the farm sector with
programs that encourage the expansion of export markets for U.S. agriculture.
In cooperation with the private sector, this mission area offers broad-based
crop insurance programs and other risk management tools.
- Farm Service Agency
(FSA) helps ensure the well-being of U.S. agriculture through
efficient and equitable administration of farm commodity programs; farm
operating, ownership, and emergency loans; conservation and environmental
programs; emergency and disaster assistance; domestic and international food
assistance; and international export credit programs. These programs are major
components of USDA's farm safety net, which helps producers maintain viable
operations, compete for export sales of commodities, and contribute to the
year-round availability of low-cost, safe, and nutritious foods.
Authorizing Legislation: FSA was
established when USDA was reorganized under the Federal Crop Insurance Reform
and Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994, P. L.
103-354.
Home Page Address:
http://www.fsa.usda.gov
- Foreign Agricultural
Service (FAS) opens, expands, and maintains global market
opportunities through international trade, cooperation, and sustainable
development activities, which secure the long-term economic vitality and global
competitiveness of American agriculture. FAS monitors and assesses global food
aid needs and promotes international agricultural trade policies that provide
market access for U.S. agricultural commodities. FAS maintains an international
field structure which includes Agricultural Counselors, Attaché and
Affiliate Foreign National Offices, Agricultural Trade Offices, and a number of
agricultural advisors covering several countries around the world. FAS also
administers a variety of export promotion, technical, and food assistance
programs in cooperation with other government agencies, the private sector, and
international organizations.
Authorizing Legislation: FAS was created
in 1953, by Secretary's Memorandum No. 1320, Supplement 1. P. L. 83-690,
approved in 1954, transferred the agricultural attachés from the State
Department to USDA. These memoranda were consolidated in Title 5 of the
Agricultural Trade Act of 1978.
Home Page Address:
http://www.fas.usda.gov
- Risk Management Agency
(RMA) provides agricultural producers with the opportunity to achieve
financial stability through effective risk management tools. The primary goal
of RMA is to foster, at reasonable cost, an environment of financial stability,
safety, and confidence, enabling the American agricultural producer to manage
the perils associated with nature and markets. The private sector crop
insurance industry markets, delivers, and services many USDA risk management
products. RMA also provides educational opportunities to help producers choose
appropriate risk management tools. RMA works with the Farm Service Agency,
Commodity Futures Trading Commission, and other private and public
organizations to provide producers with an effective farm safety net.
Authorizing Legislation: The Federal
Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996, P.L. 104-127, signed in 1996;
the Federal Crop Insurance Act, 7 U.S.C. 1501 et seq. of 1938; the Agriculture
Risk Protection Act of 2000 (P.L. 106-224).
Home Page Address:
http://www.rma.usda.gov
