Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
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The USDA-Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is in charge of pro-
grams that help Americans efficiently market their agricultural products
(http://www.ams.usda.gov). It claims to “promote a strategic marketing
perspective that adapts product and marketing practices and technologies
to the issues of today and the challenges of tomorrow.”
The USDA-AMS oversees the National Organic Program (http://www.ams.us
da.gov/nop). This Web site lists certifying agents, consumer information,
NOP regulations and policies, information for producers, processors, and
handlers. In addition, the NOP provides a good overview of the current
regulatory issues related to organic agriculture in their Today's News
and the News Room. Its link to the National Organic Standard's Board
(http://www.ams.usda.gov/nosb) describes this group and its delicate advi-
sory status. It voluntarily advises the NOP, but the NOP is not mandated to
take NOSB's advice!
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USDA-AMS Farmers' Market Web site at http://www.ams.usda.gov/farmers
markets provides facts about farmers'markets, including theNational Farm-
ers' Market Directory, which lists them by state.
The Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas (ATTRA) is a “national
sustainable agriculture information service”managed by the National Cen-
ter for Appropriate Technology and funded by the USDA Rural Business-
Cooperative Service. Since 1987, ATTRA has sought to provide assistance to
farmers, ranchers, extension agents, educators, and others interested in U.S.
agriculture. Its Web site is http://attra.ncat.org.
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The USDA-Economic Research Service (ERS) claims to promote the follow-
ing components of American agriculture: competitiveness, food safety,
human health, the environment, and rural quality of life. Given our
current problems within each of these categories, the ERS has its work
cut out. They have recently accepted the presence of organic agricul-
ture and published several good reports that detail current trends in
organic consumption and production. See the Organic Briefing Room at
http://www.ers.usda.gov/briefing/Organic for links to data and information
on organic agriculture.
Within the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is the Office
of Policy, Program Development and Evaluation, Labeling and Consumer
