2025 TX FFA Farm Facts

U.S. Secretary of Ag

Brooke Rollins GOP

Chairman US Senate

Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee

John Boozman GOP

Chairman US House of Representatives

Agriculture Committee

Glenn “GT” Thompson GOP

Chairman Texas Senate

Committee on Water and Rural Affairs

Charles Perry GOP

TX Commissioner of Agriculture

Sid Miller GOP

Asst. Commissioner for Comm & Trade and Dev.

Dan Hunter GOP

Asst. Commissioner for Food & Nutrition

Lena Wilson GOP

Asst. Commissioner for Agriculture and Consumer Protection

Walt Roberts GOP

What number of job openings reflects a 2.6% improvement in open positions

59,400

Job growth between 2020-25

2.6%

Job growth between 2015-20

5%

Percent of job openings between 20-25 in Mgmt & Bus.

42%

Number of job openings between 20-25 in Mgmt. & Bus.

24,700

Percent of job openings between 20-25 in Science & Engineering

31%

Number of job openings between 20-25 in Science & Engineering

18,400

Percent of job openings between 20-25 in Food and Biomaterial

13%

Percent of job openings between 20-25 in Education, Comm & Gov.

14%

Number of job openings between 20-25 in Food and Biomaterial

7900

Number of job openings between 20-25 in Education, Comm & Gov.

8400

BLS predicted a growth of % between 2018-28

5.2%

Expected growth of AFNR employment opportunities between 2020-25

2.6%

Graduates with degrees in AFNR will compromise __% of new graduate pool

61%

How many agencies are in the USDA

29

USDA meaning

United States Department of Agriculture.

Number of Employees at USDA

100,000

FPAC meaning

Farm Production and Conservation

Goal of FPAC

Implement programs to mitigate risks with farming

FSA

Farm Service Agency

FSA goal

Implement Ag policy, administer credit and loans, and mangages conservation, commodity, disaster, and farm marketing program.

FPAC Business Center goal

Combine employees from all three FPAC divisions to serve customers and employees.

NRCS

Natural Resources Conservation Service

NRCS goal

Provide leadership and a partnership effort to help people conserve natural resources and the environment.

RMA

Risk Management Agency

RMA goals

Helps ensure farmers have financial tools to manage their agricultural risks.

Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services goal

Works to harness the nation’s agricultural abundance to reduce food insecurity and improve nutrition security.

FNS

Food and Nutrition Service

FSIS

Food Safety and Inspection Service

FSIS goal

Prevent foodborne illnesses in meat, poultry and egg products.

MRP

Marketing and Regulatory Programs

MRP goals

Facilitate marketing of U.S. Ag products, and protect U.S. plant and animal health.

AMS

Agricultural Marketing Service

AMS goals

Facilitates strategic marketing of agricultural products

APHIS

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

APHIS goal

Ensures the health and care of plants and animals and improves agricultural productivity

NRE

National Resources and Environment

Goal of NRE

Maintain health and diversity of the nation’s forests and grasslands.

FS

Forest Service

FS goals

Maintain Forests and Grasslands.

ARS

Agricultural Research Service

ARS goal

Better agriculture through research

ERS

Economic Research Service

ERS goal

The social science agency for the USDA and researches socioeconomic indicators.

NASS

National Agricultural Statistics Service

NASS goals

Provides statistical research on agricultural data.

NIFA

National Institute of Food and Agriculture

NIFA goal

Advance and invest in ag research

OCS

Office of the Chief Scientist

OCS goal

Coordinate science and research of ag for the government’s decisions

Rural Development goal

Fosters opportunity and economic security for people and communities in rural America by providing tools and resources such as loans, grants, and strong community partnerships.

RBS

Rural Business-Cooperative Service

RBS goal 

Offers programs to help businesses grow as well as job training for people living in rural areas.

Can provide the capital, training, education, and entrepreneurial skills.

RUS

Rural Utilities Service

RUS goal

Provides financing to build or improve infrastructure in rural communities. This includes water and waste treatment, electric power, and telecommunication services.

RHS

Rural Housing Service

RHS goals

Provides a variety of programs to build or improve housing and essential community facilities in rural areas. 

TFAA

Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs’

TFAA goals

Provide our farmers and ranchers with opportunities to compete in the global marketplace. TFAA is the Department’s lead on trade policy with the primary responsibility of ensuring USDA speaks with a unified voice on international agricultural issues domestically and abroad. 

FAS

Foreign Agricultural Service

FAS goals

Works to improve foreign market access for U.S. products. 

USCO

United States Codex Office

USCO goals

Conducts international outreach and provides education to promote and support the development of a sustainable global agricultural system and improved international nutrition efforts.

1793 ag event

Cotton gin invented

1802 ag event

George Washington Parke Custis instituted agricultural fair in Arlington, VA.

1810 ag event

First American agricultural periodical, the Agricultural Museum, began publication.

1825 ag event

Agriculture Committee U.S. Senate, established.

1850s ag event

Commercial corn and wheat belts began to develop

1862 ag event

USDA established

1874 ag event

Availability of barbed wire allowed fencing of rangeland, ending era of unrestricted, open range grazing.

1896 ag event

First Federal Meat Inspection Act

1933 ag event

Agricultural Adjustment Act (AAA) initiated crop and marketing controls.

1946 ag event

National School Lunch Act

1954 ag event

Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act (P.L. 480) facilitated agricultural exports and foreign aid.

1998 ag event

HACCP is implemented to target and reduce the presence of pathogens in meat and poultry.

1999 ag event

Drop in many commodities prices, combined with disastrous weather in many parts of the country, caused increased demand for USDA farm programs.

Total U.S. farm expenditures in 2023 and how much was it up from 2022

$481.8B; 6.5%

Total U.S. farm expenditures in 2022

$452.5B

Number of categories that accounted for 57% of 2023 farm expenditures

5

Number of categories that accounted for 90.9% of 2023 farm expenditures

12

2023 FE%-Feed

16.6%

2023 FE%-Livestock, poultry and related services

11.6%

2023 FE%-Farm Services

11.3%

2023 FE%-Labor

10.1%

2023 FE%-Fertilizer, lime, and soil conditioners

7.4%

2023 FE%-Rent

7.2%

2023 FE%-Seeds & plants

5.7%

2023 FE%-Farm supplies and repairs

5.0%

2023 FE%-Agricultural chemicals

4.5%

2023 FE%-Farm Improvements and construction

4.2%

2023 FE%-Tractors, Trucks, Machinery

6.9%

2023 FE%-Fuel

3.4%