The Department of Agriculture is responsible for all the laws and regulations related to food and farming in the United States. While working to ensure the safety of the food we eat and beverages we drink, the Department of Agriculture also does all it can to promote the work of the country's ranchers and farmers, control trade, and protect our nation's natural resources. Every day, you're interacting with the work of the Department of Agriculture. Each time you have a snack or sit down to a meal, wear a cotton shirt, or admire the flowers planted in your garden, you're seeing the work of the Department of Agriculture. Readers will learn more about what this department does, and how its work impacts our lives in big and small ways.