Here are some common acronyms and terms used at USDA. While not complete or comprehensive, we will be adding more items periodically.
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z
504: Rural Housing Repair and Rehabilitation Program
2501: Outreach and Technical Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged and Veteran Farmers and Ranchers Program
9003: Biorefinery Assistance Program
9004: Repowering Assistance Program
9005: Advanced Biofuel Payment Program
1862s: Land-Grant Institutions Established by the Passage of the First Morrill Act (1862)
1890s - 1890: Land-Grant Colleges and Universities, and Tuskegee University
1994s - 1994: Land-Grant Colleges and Universities (also referred to as Tribal Colleges)
A
ACA: Accredited certifying agent
ACEP: Agricultural Conservation Easement Program
ACRE: Average Crop Revenue Election
ADA: Americans with Disabilities Act
ADAAA: Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act
AES: Agricultural Experiment Station
AGM: Asian Gypsy moth
AGR: Adjusted Gross Revenue Pilot
AGR-L: Adjusted Gross Revenue-Lite
AHPA: Animal Health Protection Act
AI/AN: American Indian / Alaska Native
AIIS: Automated Import Inspection System
ALB: Asian long-horned beetle
AMA: Agricultural Management Assistance Program
AMS: Agricultural Marketing Service
ANCSA: Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act
ANPR: Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
ANREP: Association of Natural Resources Extension Professionals
AO: Administrative Officer
APHIS: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
AQI: Agricultural Quarantine and Inspection
ARC: Agricultural Risk Coverage
ARC-CO: County Agricultural Risk Coverage
ARC-IC: Individual Agricultural Risk Coverage
AREERA: Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998
ARH: Actual Revenue History
ARIS: Agricultural Research Information System
ARMS: Agricultural Resource Management Survey
ARRA: American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
ARS: Agricultural Research Service
ATRA: The American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012
AWA: Animal Welfare Act
AWEP: Agricultural Water Enhancement Program
B
B&I: Business and Industry Program
BARC: Beltsville Agricultural Research Center
BCAP: Biomass Crop Assistance Program
BFRDP: Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program
BSE: Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
Bt: Bacillus thuringiensis (bacterium)
C
CAA: Clean Air Act
CAC: Codex Alimentarius Commission
CAPS: Cooperative Agricultural Pest Survey
CARET: Council for Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching
CAT: Catastrophic level of coverage
CCC: Commodity Credit Corporation
CCEP: Commodity Exchange Price Provisions
CCPs: Counter-Cyclical Payments
CDSI: Conservation Delivery Streamlining Initiative
CED: County Executive Director
CEP: Community Eligibility Provisions
CES: Cooperative Extension System
CF: Community Facilities
CFC: Combined Federal Campaign
CFR: Code of Federal Regulations
CID: Commercial Item Description
CIG: Conservation Innovation Grants
CITES: Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species
CNA: Child Nutrition Act
CNAFR: Council for Native American Farming and Ranching
CNP: Child Nutrition Programs
CNPP: Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion
COB: Close of Business
CONUS: Continental United States
COOL: Country of Origin Labeling program
COOP: Continuity of Operations Plan
CP: Commodity Procurement
CPHST: Center for Plant Health Science and Technology
CPI: Consumer Price Index
CR: Civil Rights
CREP: Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program
CRIS: Current Research Information System
CRP: Conservation Reserve Program
CRP: Conservation Reserve Program
CSA: Community-supported agriculture
CSFP: Commodity Supplemental Food Program
CSP: Conservation Stewardship Program
CSRA: Civil Service Reform Act
CSREES: Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service
CVB: Center for Veterinary Biologics
CWA: Clean Water Act
CY: Calendar Year
CYFAR: Children, Youth, and Families at Risk
D
DCP: Direct and Counter-cyclical Payment Program
DGA: Dietary Guidelines for Americans
DGAC: Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee
DM: Department of Management
DPs: Direct payments
DSNAP: Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
DVMS: District Veterinary Medical Specialist
E
EA: Environmental Assessment
eAuth: eAuthentication
EBT: Electronic Benefits Transfer
eCFR: Electronic Code of Federal Regulations
ECP: Emergency Conservation Program
EDEN: Extension Disaster Education Network
e-Docs: Electronic Document Creation System
EEO: Equal Employment Opportunity
EFRP: Emergency Forest Restoration Program
EII: Rural Economic Impact Initiative
EIS: Environmental Impact Statement
ELAP: Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-Raised Fish
EMP: Emerging Markets Program
EO: Executive Order
EPCRA: Emergency Planning and Community Right-To-Know Act
EPIA: Egg Products Inspection Act
EQIP: Environmental Quality Incentives Program
ERS: Economic Research Service
ES: Extension Service
eSFSP: Enhanced Summer Food Service Program
e-TDE: Electronic Trade Document Exchange
EWP : Emergency Watershed Protection Program
F
F&V: Fruit and Vegetable Program
F2S: Farm to School
FACA: Federal Advisory Committee Act
FAO: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (USDA affiliate)
FAS: Foreign Agricultural Service
FCA: Farm Credit Administration
FCIC: Federal Crop Insurance Corporation
FDAMA: Food and Drug Administration Modernization Act
FDPIR: Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations
FERN: Federal Emergency Response Network
FFAS: Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services
FFVP: Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program
FGIS: Federal Grain Inspection Service
FL: Farm Loans
FLS: Frontline Supervisor
FLSA: Fair Labor Standards Act
FMD: Financial Management Division
FMD: Foreign Market Development Program
FMFIA: Federal Managers' Financial Integrity Act
FMIA: Federal Meat Inspection Act
FMLA: Family and Medial Leave Act
FMLFPP: Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion Program
FMMI: Federal Management Modernization Initiative
FMMO: Federal Milk Marketing Orders
FMNP: Farmers Market Nutrition Program
FMPP: Farmers’ Market Promotion Program
FNCS: Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services
FNDDS: Food and Nutrient Database for Dietary Studies
FNS: Food and Nutrition Service
FOB: Free On Board
FOIA: Freedom of Information Act
FONSI: Finding of No Significant Impact
FP: Farm Programs
FR: Federal Register
FRPP: Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program
FS: Forest Service
FSA: Farm Service Agency
FSES: Food Safety Education Staff
FSIS: Food Safety and Inspection Service
FSMIP: Federal State Marketing Improvement Program
FSRG: Food Surveys Research Group
FSWG: President's Food Safety Working Group
FTCA: Federal Tort Claims Act
FTE: Full Time Equivalent
FTTA: Federal Technology Transfer Act
FWP: Farmable Wetlands Program
FY: Fiscal Year
G
GAP: Good Agricultural Practices
GATS: Global Agricultural Trade System
GHP: Good Handling Practices
GIPSA: Grain Inspection, Packers, and Stockyards Administration
GPRA: Government Performance and Results Act
GRP: Grassland Reserve Program
GS: General Schedule
GSM-I02 program: Export credit guarantee
H
HACCP: Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point
HECG: High Energy Cost Grant Program
HEI: Healthy Eating Index
HELC: Highly Erodible Lands Conservation
HFRP: Healthy Forests Reserve Program
HHFKA: Healthy Hunger Free Kids Act
HMSA: Humane Methods of Slaughter Act
HPA: Horse Protection Act
HQ: Headquarters
HR-ACE: High-Risk Alternate Coverage Endorsement
HT: Herbicide-tolerant
I
IEG: Income Eligibility Guidelines
IIC: Inspector-in-Charge
IMS: Interstate Milk Shippers
IPM: Integrated Pest Management
K
KYF: Know Your Farmer
L
LDPs: Loan deficiency payments
LEP: Limited English Proficiency
LFP: Livestock Forage Program
LFPP: Local Food Promotion Program
LGM: Livestock Gross Margin
LIP: Livestock Indemnity Program
LMIC: Let's Move! In Indian Country
LPS: Livestock, Poultry, and Seed Program
LRP: Livestock Risk Protection
LRP: Local and Regional Procurement
LRPA: Livestock Price Reinsurance Agreement
M
MAP: Market Access Program
MFH: Multi-family Housing Program
MILC: Milk Income Loss Contract program
MLGs: Marketing loan gains
MOA: Memorandum of Agreement
MOAD: Marketing Order and Agreement Division
MOI: Memorandum of Interview
MOU: Memorandum of Understanding
MPI: Meat and Poultry Inspection
MPP: Margin Protection Program
MRP: Marketing and Regulatory Programs
MYA: Market year average
N
NABG: Nutrition Assistance Block Grants
NACMCF: National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods
NACMPI: National Advisory Committee on Meat and Poultry Inspection
NAD: National Appeals Division
NAFTA: North American Free Trade Agreement
NAIS: National Animal Identification System
NAL: National Agricultural Library
NAP: Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program
NAREEE Board: The National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, and Economics Advisory Board
NASS: National Agricultural Statistics Service
NDS: Nondiscrimination Statement
NEL: Nutrition Evidence Library
NEPA: National Environmental Policy Act
NFC: National Finance Center
NHPA: National Historic Preservation Act
NIFA: National Institute of Food and Agriculture
NIMS: National Information Management System
NLEA: Nutrition Labeling and Education Act
NNMRRA: National Nutrition Monitoring and Related Research Act
NOCCSP: National Organic Certification Cost Share Program
NOP: National Organic Program
NOSB: National Organic Standards Board
NPL: National Program Leader
NRCS: Natural Resources Conservation Service
NRE: Natural Resources and Environment
NRF: National Response Framework
NSIP: Nutrition Services Incentive Program
NSLA: National School Lunch Act
NSLP: National School Lunch Program
NTE: Not to Exceed
NTIS: National Technology Information Service
NTTC: National Technology Transfer Coordinator
NVSL: National Veterinary Services Laboratories
O
OA: Office of the Administrator
OAA: Office of the Associate Administrator
OAE: Office of Advocacy and Enterprise
OALJ: Office of Administrative Law Judges
OAO: Office of Advocacy and Outreach
OASA: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration
OASCR: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
OBPA: Office of Budget and Program Analysis
OC: Office of Communications
OCA: Office of the Consumer Advisor
OCCSP: Organic Certification Cost Share Programs
OCE: Office of Community Engagement
OCE: Office of the Chief Economist
OCFO: Office of Chief Financial Officer
OCHRO: Office of the Chief Human Resources Officer
OCIO: Office Chief Information Officer
OCONUS: Outside Continental United States
OCR: Office of Congressional Relations
OCS: Office of the Chief Scientist
OCT: Office of Cultural Transformation
OES: Office of the Executive Secretariat
OGC: Office of the General Counsel
OGE: Office of Government Ethics
OHR: Office of Human Resources
OHSE: Office of Homeland Security and Emergency
OIE: World Organization for Animal Health
OIG: Office of Inspector General
OMB: Office of Management and Budget
OSDBU: Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization
OSEC: Office of Secretary
OTR: Office of Tribal Relations
P
PA: Privacy Act
PACA: Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act of 1930
PBIS: Performance Based Inspection System
PD: Position Description
PFGE: Pulse-Field Gel Electrophoresis
PHHRS: Public Health Human Resources System Demonstration Project
PHIS: Public Health Information System
PHV: Public Health Veterinarian
Phyto: Phytosanitary Certificate (also called PC)
PIA: Privacy Impact Assessment
PII: Personally Identifiable Information
PIQ: Partners in Quality
PL: Public Law
PLC: Price Loss Coverage
PPA: Plant Protection Act
PPI: Producer Price Index
PPIA: Poultry Products Inspection Act
PPQ: Plant Protection and Quarantine (APHIS)
PSA: Packers and Stockyards Administration
PVPA: Plant Variety Protection Act
PVPC: Plant Variety Protection Certificate
Q
QAD: Quality Assessment Division
QAR: Quality Assurance Review
QSP: Quality Samples Program
QTV: Qualified Through Verification Program
R
R&P: Research and Promotion Program
RBEG: Rural Business Enterprise Program Grants
RBIP: Rural Business Investment Program
RBOG: Rural Business Opportunity Program Grants
RBS: Rural Business-Cooperative Service
RCDG: Rural Cooperative Development Grants
RCPP: Regional Conservation Partnership Program
RCRA: Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
RD: Rural Development
REA: Rural Electrification Administration
REAP (9007): Rural Energy for America Program
REAP Zone: Rural Economic Area Partnership Program
REDLG: Rural Economic Development Loans and Grants
REE: Research, Education and Economics
RHS: Rural Housing Service
RIF: Reduction in Force
RMA: Risk Management Agency
RMAP: Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program
RMD: Recall Management Division
RUS: Rural Utilities Service
S
S&T: Science and Technology Program
S2F: Start To Farm
SARA: Superfund Amendments and Re-authorization Act
SARE: Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program
SBP: School Breakfast Program
SCBG: Specialty Crop Block Grant Program
SCI: Specialty Crops Inspection Division
SCO: Supplemental Coverage Option
SCS: Soil Conservation Service
SED: State Executive Director
SES: Senior Executive Service
SF: Standard Form
SFH: Single Family Housing Direct Loan Program
SFH-G: Single Family Housing Guaranteed Loan Program
SFMNP: Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program
SFSP: Summer Food Service Program
SMP: Special Milk Program
SNAP: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
SOD: Sudden Oak Death/Phytopthora ramorum
SOP: Standard Operating Procedure
SPS: Sanitary and Phytosanitary, usually “SPS Agreement”
SRA: Standard Reinsurance Agreement
SS: Sacred Site
SSA: Social Security Act
SSDPG: Small Socially Disadvantaged Producer Program Grants
SSI: Supplemental Security Income
SSOP: Sanitation Standard Operating Procedure
STEC: Shiga-toxin Producing Escherichia coli
SURE: Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payments Program
SWPP: Source Water Protection Program
SY: Scientist Year (Category 1 or 4 positions)
T
T&M: Transportation and Marketing Program
TA: Talmadge-Aiken
TANF: Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
TAP: Tree Assistance Program
TASC: Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops
TEFAP: The Emergency Food Assistance Program
TFP: Thrifty Food Plan
TRQ: Tariff-rate quota
TSCA: Toxic Substance Control Act
TSE: Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy
U
U.S.C.: United States Code
USDA: United States Department of Agriculture
V
VAPG: Value-Added Producer Grants
VMO: Veterinary Medical Officer
VRA: Veterans Readjustments Act
VRA: Veterans Recruitment Appointment
VS: Veterinary Services
W
WAOB: World Agricultural Outlook Board
WASDE: World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report
WBSCM: Web Based Supply Chain Management
WC: Wetland Conservation
WIC: Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children
WRP: Wetlands Reserve Program
WS: Wildlife Services