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Stands forUnited States Department of Agriculture

initialismU S D A, letter by letter

What Does USDA Stand For?

GovernmentFoodUpdated Oct 30

What does USDA stand for? It is the United States Department of Agriculture, the federal department that oversees farming, food safety for meat and poultry, nutrition programs and national forests. Its seal shows up on steak packages, organic produce, school lunch menus and grant forms for rural towns.

The department dates to 1862, when Congress created it to help a country of farmers grow more and better crops. It later joined the president's Cabinet, and its head is the Secretary of Agriculture. Today its work reaches far beyond the farm, into grocery stores, cafeterias and public lands.

Quick facts

  • Stands for

    United States Department of Agriculture

  • Type

    Initialism, said U S D A

  • Created

    1862

  • Led by

    The Secretary of Agriculture, a Cabinet member

  • Seen on

    Meat labels, organic seals, grade shields, SNAP and WIC papers

  • Related agencies

    FDA, EPA, Forest Service

  • Not to be confused with

    FDA, which oversees most other foods and drugs

What does USDA stand for, and what does it do?

The letters break down simply: U for United, S for States, D for Department, A for Agriculture. The department is made up of many smaller agencies, each with its own job.

Major parts of the USDA and what they do
AgencyMain job
Food Safety and Inspection ServiceInspects meat, poultry and processed egg products
Food and Nutrition ServiceRuns SNAP, WIC and school meal programs
Forest ServiceManages national forests and grasslands
Agricultural Marketing ServiceRuns grading and the organic program
Farm Service AgencyOffers farm loans and disaster help
Rural DevelopmentFunds housing, water and broadband in rural areas

Because it touches so many areas, the USDA is one of the larger federal departments by budget.

What USDA means on a food label

The letters on a package can carry three very different messages:

  • Inspection mark: a round stamp reading "Inspected and passed by Department of Agriculture" means the meat or poultry came from a plant checked by federal inspectors.
  • Grade shield: words like Prime, Choice and Select on beef describe quality, such as marbling. Grading is voluntary, and the plant pays for it.
  • USDA Organic seal: the product was grown and handled under federal organic rules, which limit synthetic pesticides and do not allow GMO ingredients.

At the meat counter: a package reads "USDA Choice." That is a quality grade. The safety inspection is a separate check, shown by the round inspection mark.

Nutrition programs run by the USDA

Many families know the department through its food help programs. SNAP helps people with low incomes buy groceries, usually through an EBT card. WIC supports pregnant women, new mothers and young children. The National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program help schools serve meals at low or no cost to students.

States usually handle the applications and day to day work, using federal rules and funding.

This is general information. Eligibility rules and payment levels are updated over time, so check with your state agency or the USDA for your own situation.

USDA vs FDA: who checks which food?

People confuse these two agencies more than any other pair. The split is mostly by product type.

Which agency handles what
FoodMain federal agency
Beef, pork, lamb, chicken, turkeyUSDA
Liquid, frozen and dried egg productsUSDA
Shell eggs, seafood, produce, dairy, packaged foodsMostly FDA
Drugs, vaccines, cosmeticsFDA

So a frozen pepperoni pizza can involve both. The FDA covers many pizzas, but one with enough meat falls under the USDA. Pesticide limits on crops involve the EPA as well.

Saying USDA and using it in a sentence

Say each letter: "U S D A." Capitals only, no periods. Since U is said "you," use "a" before it: "a USDA inspector."

  • "The chicken has a USDA inspection stamp."
  • "These apples carry the USDA Organic seal."
  • "Our town got a USDA loan for a new water system."
  • "The USDA hardiness zone map says this plant can survive our winters."

That last one is a favorite of gardeners. The zone map, built from winter temperature data, splits the country into numbered zones. For more federal agency letters, browse the government acronyms section.

Questions people ask

What does USDA stand for on meat?

It stands for United States Department of Agriculture. On meat, it can mean the product passed federal inspection or that it received a quality grade such as Prime or Choice.

Is USDA Organic the same as natural?

No. USDA Organic follows detailed federal rules and requires certification. "Natural" on meat only means minimal processing and no artificial ingredients, and it does not mean organic.

Who runs the USDA?

The Secretary of Agriculture leads it and sits in the president's Cabinet. Many agencies within the department handle specific programs.

Does the USDA run SNAP?

Yes. Its Food and Nutrition Service oversees SNAP, while state agencies take applications and issue benefits.

How do you pronounce USDA?

Say the four letters: "U S D A." It is not said as one word.