Department of Agriculture
Established: May 15, 1862
Mission: To support agricultural growth and development as a central element of the nation’s economy.
Reason for creation: The roots of the USDA date back to 1839 with the establishment of the Agricultural Division of the U.S. Patent Office. The division’s formation was in large part a response to widespread agricultural problems brought about by standard farming practices. Note that through much of the nation’s early history, the health of the American economy was directly tied to the productivity, development, and profitability of the country’s agriculture. In 1820, for example, 72% of American workers labored on farms and over 75% of American exports were agricultural products.
By the late 1830s, large swaths of American farmland had been left unsuitable for growing crops and both farmers and government officials recognized the need to investigate and solve the problem. The Patent Office’s Agricultural Division began researching and producing seeds that were more resilient and easier to grow in harsh conditions—natural or anthropogenic. By the 1860s, the division was producing over 2.4 million seed packages. In 1862, the government established the United States Department of Agriculture.
Initially, the USDA was not a Cabinet level department. Farmers’ interest groups lobbied for decades for Cabinet representation, particularly as new industries gained political influence. Finally in 1889, after a failed attempt to create a Department of Agriculture and Labor to satisfy both organized labor and farmers, the Department of Agriculture was granted Cabinet status.
Impacts: The USDA has frequently adapted to and helped shape changes in the economy, agricultural practices, and human welfare. Its constituency was decentralized and scattered on farms across the country; reaching them with new research into agricultural science and best practices was a significant challenge. The Smith-Lever Act of 1914 established a cooperative program between the USDA and land-grant universities to educate people across the country on agriculture-related topics. This program contributed greatly to the development and implementations of agricultural innovations. During periods of difficulty for farmers, from the Great Depression to the 2019 trade war with China, the USDA has provided essential resources to struggling farmers allowing them to stay solvent.
Learn more
USDA: About the USDA
AllGov: USDA Profile
USPTO: Putting Down Roots at the Patent Office
NCSU: Smith-Lever Act
