ASSOCIATIONS / ORGANIZATIONS

Center for Rural Affairs - an unaffiliated non-profit organization which has been serving and advocating for America's family farms and rural communities for over 25 years.

Future Farmers of America - provides current news, resources and media information for students, teachers, advisors and partners.

National Catholic Rural Life Conference - founded in 1923 to respond to the needs of rural life.

National Farmers Organization - a not-for-profit paid membership general farm organization.

National Farmers Union - mission to protect and enhance the economic interests and quality of life of farmers and ranchers and rural communities.

National Grange - the nation's oldest general farm organization.

National Rural Electric Cooperative Association - represents the interests of cooperative electric utilities and the consumers they serve.

National Rural Health Association - a national membership organization whose mission is to improve the health and health care of rural Americans and to provide leadership on rural issues through advocacy, communications, education and research.

National Telephone Cooperative Association - a national association representing approximately 500 small and rural independent local exchange carriers providing telecommunications services to interexchange carriers and subscribers throughout rural America.

Rural Advancements Foundation International USA - dedicated to community, equity and diversity in agriculture.

FARM EMPLOYMENT / LABOR

Agricultural Labor Management - offers a number of resources to farm employers, academia, consultants and the press.

America's Farm Workers - provides a wide range of information dedicated to the workers who harvest America's crops.

Association of Farmworker Opportunity Programs - the member organization trains farmworkers for stable, year-round employment in or outside of agriculture.

Employment Standards Administration - the largest agency within the U.S. Department of Labor, which enforces and administers laws governing legally-mandated wages and working conditions.

Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) - agency of the U.S. Department of Labor whose mission is to save lives, prevent injuries and protect America's workers.

United Farm Workers

USDA Agricultural Labor Affairs Coordinator - responsible for coordinating USDA's policy and program objectives with respect to agricultural labor.

U.S. Department of Labor - the federal agency charge with preparing the American workforce for new and better jobs, and ensuring the adequacy of America's workforce.

Wage and Hour Division - established in 1938 to administer the landmark Fair Labor Standards Act, which includes minimum wage, overtime pay and child labor provisions.

RURAL DEVELOPMENT

Center for Agricultural and Rural Development - a public policy research center founded in 1958 at Iowa State University.

National Rural Development Partnership - brings together federal, state, local and tribal governments, as well as the private for-profit and non-profit sectors, to work in partnership for the improvement of rural America's communities.

Rural Information Center - provides information and referral services to those working with and for rural communities and rural community groups and individuals.

Small Farm Program - a program within USDA that is committed to meeting the needs of the small farm communities.

Tennessee Valley Authority - the nation's largest electric power producer.

USDA's Office of Community Development - provides support for the community development programs of the Rural Development mission area within USDA.

USDA's Rural Business Cooperative Service - goal to promote a dynamic business environment in rural America.

USDA's Rural Development - provides information about business and economic development, housing programs, community facilities programs, services to cooperatives, utility programs, community development, and related subjects.

USDA Rural Development Regulations - contains proposed rules and final regulations of USDA's Rural Development Department.

USDA's Rural Housing Service - has various housing programs available to aid in the development of rural America.

USDA's Rural Utilities Service - the federal "point" agency for rural infrastructure assistance in electricity, water and telecommunications.