USDA Farm Service Agency Strategic Plan FY 2012-2016

The USDA Farm Service Agency Strategic Plan FY 2012-2016 is a national sectoral strategic plan of the United States of America. Its main mission is to deliver timely, effective programs and services to America’s farmers and ranchers to support them in sustaining our Nation’s vibrant agricultural economy, as well as to provide first-rate support for domestic and international food aid efforts.
More specifically, the strategic plan aims to provide a financial safety net for America’s farmers and ranchers to sustain economically viable agricultural production; provide access to capital; increase lending to beginning farmers and socially disadvantaged farmers; support economic viability; increase awareness of risk management programs; maximize participation in commodity and price support programs; protect the interests of commodity owners; ensure the integrity of approved and licensed agricultural warehouses; develop opportunities for non-traditional income streams; enhance development of an economically and environmentally viable biomass production sector; increase development of infrastructure to support renewable energy; increase biomass supply by supporting production and utilization of sustainable biomass; increase stewardship of America’s natural resources while enhancing the environment; increase resource stewardship opportunities on private lands; increase the amount of acreage of wetlands restored, constructed, protected, and created; prevent and reduce soil erosion; combat invasive species; increase acreage of riparian buffers and filterstrips; partner with state and tribal governments to promote conservation reserve enhancement program (CREP) and other resource stewardship opportunities; increase the amount of acres of grassland protected; target natural resource needs to maximize benefits; develop and implement measures to conserve surface and ground water supplies; develop and implement measures to enhance water quality; implement measures to develop and enhance wildlife habitat; support timely restoration of habitats impacted by natural disasters; support opportunities for outdoor recreation; lead efforts to mitigate and adapt to climate change; implement measures to increase the sequestration of greenhouse gases; adjust planting specifications to respond to climate change; ensure commodities are procured and distributed effectively and efficiently to increase food security; modernize procurement practices for commodity purchases and deliveries; improve procurement processes; promote competition for domestic and international food aid contracts; maintain capability to complete independent government estimates (IGES); improve the quality and security of commodities purchased for food assistance programs; and improve food quality and security procedures; transform and modernize the Farm Service Agency.