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The department is comprised of 29 agencies and offices containing significant resources, such as the Centre for Nutrition Policy and Promotion, the Forest Service, and the National Library of Agriculture. <\/b><\/p>
Some important services provided by the department are water and other natural resources for land owners; disaster relief for farmers, protection of land, agricultural research and statistics, forest fire prevention; livestock households and villagers; broadband access in rural areas, etc.<\/b><\/p>\n
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The department is also responsible for several social assistance programs, including the food stamp program (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP); nutrition education; food assistance for women, infants, and children (WIC); and school meal nutrition.<\/b><\/p>\n
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The department also plays an important role in keeping U.S. farmers and ranchers in business and ensuring that the domestic supply of egg, poultry, and meat products is safe, healthy, and appropriately labeled. <\/b><\/p>
It also helps to maintain and ensure the health and care of plants and animals, as well as the health of agricultural lands.<\/b><\/p>\n
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The department is headed by the Secretary of Agriculture. The second in command is the Deputy Secretary of Agriculture, who oversees the daily operations and budget of the department. <\/b><\/p>
There are multiple secretaries under the Deputy Secretary that oversee rural development, food safety, and other departments, which employ about 100,000 employees that work at more than 4,500 locations nationally and internationally.<\/b><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t