United States Secretary of Agriculture

Infobox US Cabinet
post = United States
Secretary of Agriculture
insignia = US-DeptOfAgriculture-Seal2.svg
insigniasize = 140px
insigniacaption = Official Seal

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incumbent = Edward T. Schafer
incumbentsince = January 28, 2008
first = Norman Jay Colman
formation = February 15, 1889
succession = Ninth
website = [http://www.usda.gov www.usda.gov]

The United States Secretary of Agriculture is the head of the United States Department of Agriculture. The current secretary is Edward T. Schafer, who was confirmed by the U.S. Senate to become Secretary of Agriculture on January 28, 2008cite news | first=Mary Clare |last= Jalonick |title=Senate Confirms Secretary of Agriculture | publisher=AP |date= 2008-01-28 |url=http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iV1IiNGrgUJu0ySqikhuYGjDF4LgD8UF4AVO0 |format= |language= | accessdate=2008-01-28 ] . The position carries similar responsibilities to agriculture ministers of other governments.

The department includes several organizations. The 297,000 mi² (770,000 km²) of national forests and grasslands are managed by the United States Forest Service. [cite web | title=USDA Forest Service - Caring for the land and serving people. | url=http://www.fs.fed.us/ | accessdate=2005-09-24] The safety of food produced that are produced in the United States and sold here is ensured by the United States Food Safety and Inspection Service. [cite web | title=Home | url=http://www.fsis.usda.gov/ | accessdate=2005-09-24] The Food Stamp Program works with the states to provide food to low-income people. [cite web | title=FNS Food Stamp Program Home Page | url=http://www.fns.usda.gov/fsp/ | accessdate=2005-09-24] Advice for farmers and gardeners is provided by the United States Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service. [cite web | title=Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES) | url=http://www.csrees.usda.gov/ | accessdate=2005-09-24]

The line of succession for the Secretary of Agriculture is as follows: [cite web | title=Executive Order on Succession at Department of Agriculture | url=http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2001/12/20011229-2.html | accessdate=2005-09-24]

#Deputy Secretary of Agriculture
#Under Secretary of Agriculture for Farm and Foreign Agriculture Services
#Under Secretary of Agriculture for Marketing and Regulatory Programs
#Under Secretary of Agriculture for Rural Development
#Under Secretary of Agriculture for Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services
#Under Secretary of Agriculture for Natural Resources and Environment
#Under Secretary of Agriculture for Research, Education, and Economics
#Under Secretary of Agriculture for Food Safety
#General Counsel of the Department of Agriculture
#Assistant Secretary of Agriculture for Administration
#Assistant Secretary of Agriculture for Congressional Relations

=Secretaries of Agriculture [cite web | title=Former Secretaries | publisher=United States Department of Agriculture | url=http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/!ut/p/_s.7_0_A/7_0_1OB/.cmd/ad/.ar/sa.retrievecontent/.c/6_2_1UH/.ce/7_2_5JN/.p/5_2_4TR/.d/1/_th/J_2_9D/_s.7_0_A/7_0_1OB?PC_7_2_5JN_navid=FORMER_SECRETARIES&PC_7_2_5JN_navtype=RT&PC_7_2_5JN_parentnav=ABOUT_USDA#7_2_5JN | accessdate=2007-09-24] =

References