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Program Areas

Agricultural Law Information Partnership

Supports the dissemination of agricultural and food law information to consumers, researchers and legal professionals. Partners include:

  • Center for Agriculture and Food Systems
  • National Agricultural Law Center

Alternative Farming Systems Information Center (AFSIC)

Provides research-based resources for nontraditional food-production and crop-management practices supporting the USDA's mission to promote a sustainable future and agricultural economic viability for farmers worldwide.

Animal Welfare Information Center (AWIC)

Provides information and training for improved animal care and use in research, testing, teaching, and exhibition.

Food and Nutrition Information Center (FNIC)

Delivers credible, accurate, and practical resources for nutrition and health professionals, educators, government personnel, and consumers. Includes the following specialized offerings:

Food Safety Research Information Office (FSRIO)

Collects, organizes, and makes available information about food safety research activities.

National Invasive Species Information Center (NISIC)

Serves as a gateway to invasive species information drawn from federal, state, local, and international sources.

Rural information Center (RIC)

Provides information and referral services to funding sources and relevant programs for those working to maintain the vitality of America's rural areas.

Water and Agriculture Information Center (WAIC)

Curates research-based scientific materials and tools describing the relationship between agricultural management systems and natural resource quality and quantity in support of the USDA's commitment to protecting the Nation’s water resources.

Reference and Research

Our experts answer most questions within five (5) business days of receipt.

We can help you: Select and search relevant databases; Set up search alerts; Conduct literature reviews; Find data; Locate hard-to-find items, such as historical documents and conference proceedings.

Special Collections

Special Collections houses rare books, manuscript collections, nursery and seed trade catalogs, photographs, and posters from the 1500s to the present. Materials cover a variety of agricultural subjects including horticulture, entomology, poultry sciences, natural history, and are not limited to domestic publications. 

Image
Photo of the library, a tall fourteen story brick building. In front of the building is a body of water with a reflection of the building. There are also lily flowers in the foreground that are yellow and pink. The image is sepia colored as if a vintage image.

Scientific Data Services (Knowledge Services)

NAL offers data management policy and planning, repository management, data and metadata curation and consultation, and preservation.