Food & Economic Assistance Specialists Job Description

Agricultural Accounting Skills

The field of agribusiness offers a number of rewarding career options, including farm and livestock management, commodity marketing, agricultural and rural policy, foreign trade, and economic development. There are a number of careers that are of interest to people who want to make a living doing farming and commercial activities. Agricultural Managers are the ones who make sure the world's food supply is running smoothly, whether they are self-employed or working in a larger industrial setup.

A bachelor's degree in economics is enough for dairy economists to move on to graduate and postgraduate degrees in economics or agribusiness, with others benefiting from having experience working on a dairy farm or sales. Agricultural accountants have a strong background in mathematics, accounting, economics, and agricultural operation, and can help farms with their tax liability, as well as provide recommendations for improving and updating systems. When it comes to tax compliance, VAT administration, and funding documentation, agricultural accountants are needed.

The Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion

Some of the earliest food policy initiatives may have been motivated by food safety concerns, but other forms of consumer protections, such as food labeling and guidance, were developed during the last half of the 20th century. The debate about food policy in the United States has been influenced by the role of poverty in food security. Policy makers think that the diet of lower income families in developing countries needs to contain more vitamins and minerals in order to get more energy from it.

Food policies for developed countries should encourage lower consumption of energy-dense foods such as those high in fat and sugars, while promoting higher intakes of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains for improving health. The USDA has taken steps to reduce food waste in the US. The USDA, EPA, and FDA signed an agreement in the year of 2018 to work together to educate consumers, engage partner and stakeholders, and design and monitor solutions to reduce food loss and waste.

The farm bill was signed into law on December 20th, and will be in effect for five years. A large amount of U.S. spending supports food security, support food, fiber, and energy production, and an ample human food supply chain through twelve titles. The farm bill is appropriated every five years.

The farm bill allows activities through two spending approaches. When a bill is enacted, mandatory spending programs are paid for using multiple year budget estimates, whereas discretionary programs need to be approved by congress. Policy makers have come under increased pressure to balance the interests of traditional farming in the United States and issues around organic farming, regenerative agriculture, the environmental impact of agriculture, food vs. fuel, and international food security concerns.

The USDA has a variety of programs, policies, and activities that impact and relate to sustainable agriculture, natural resources, and community development. The National School Lunch Act was enacted in 1946 to ensure that low-income children received a full or partial subsidized meal in the middle of their school day. The Child Nutrition Act was enacted by President Lyndon B. Johnson and integrated the school lunch program with the Special Milk Program.