Agriculture Fact Book 2001-2002

In this Agriculture Fact Book, you will find facts about American food consumption, the
agricultural sector, and rural America.You will also find descriptions of the U.S. Department
of Agriculture’s wide-ranging programs and services in such areas as farm
programs; exports; food safety; nutrition; management of land, water, and forests;
protecting our borders from pests and diseases; and research on all of these topics.
This Agriculture Fact Book is also a gateway to further information from USDA.
USDA is a good source for useful factual information across a variety of subjects—for
example, what people eat, how to grow a garden, how to apply for a farm loan, how
to maintain the soil and water resources on your farm or in your town, how to keep
your family’s food safe.
Not only are the USDA programs and missions wide-ranging, but USDA works every
day to meet the needs of very diverse constituents. The information we provide is
intended to be useful to diverse groups, including reporters, editors, researchers,
students, teachers, businesses, Government employees, and members of the general
public who are curious about the U.S. agricultural sector, food consumption, rural
America, or any of the wide-ranging programs that USDA offers.