Summary of

Performance and Financial Information 2016

Creating prosperity for self-sustaining, repopulating 

and economically thriving communities.

 
USDA 2016 SUMMARY OF PERFORMANCE AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION 1 

About This Summary 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Summary of Performance and Financial 

Information for Fiscal Year (FY) 2016 includes the most relevant performance and financial 

information in a brief, user-friendly format that is easily understood by a reader with little 

technical background in these areas. The goal of this summary is to increase accountability of 

agency heads and program managers by making the financial and performance information more 

transparent and accessible to Congress, the public, and other key constituencies. USDA’s plans 

and reports are available at www.performance.gov and www.usda.gov/performance. 

Who We Are and What We Do

President Abraham Lincoln founded the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in 1862 with 

the goal of providing effective leadership to the Nation on food, agriculture, natural resources, 

and related issues. Since 1862, the dedicated public servants at USDA help millions of 

Americans every day. As Americans, you are part of the USDA story that has had a tradition of 

excellence in public service for over 150 years.

We would like you to learn more about USDA and the Agencies and Offices that touch every 

American, every day. More information about the Department, our history, and our leaders can 

be found at www.usda.gov. 
2 USDA 2016 SUMMARY OF PERFORMANCE AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Strategic Plan and 

Program Performance

USDA Performance, Goals, and Results 

FY 2016 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) mission is to provide leadership on food, 

agriculture, natural resources, rural development, nutrition, and related issues based on sound 

public policy, the best available science, and efficient management. Through implementing our 

mission, the Department aspires to achieve five strategic goals as reflected in USDA’s 

2014--2018 Strategic Plan: 

• Assist rural communities to create prosperity so they are self-sustaining, re-populating, 

and economically thriving; 

• Ensure our national forests and private working lands are conserved, restored, and made 

more resilient to climate change, while enhancing our water resources; 

• Help America promote agricultural production and biotechnology exports as America 

works to increase food security; 

• Ensure that all of America’s children have access to safe, nutritious, and balanced meals; 

and 

• Create a USDA for the 21st century that is high-performing, efficient, and adaptable. 

USDA has also established five Agency Priority Goals (APGs) for fiscal years (FY) 2016 and 

2017 that identify near-term goals to help USDA progress toward meeting our longer term 

strategic goals and objectives. USDA’s APGs are as follows:

• Access and Opportunity for Beginning Farmers and Ranchers; 

• Soil Health and Sustainability;
USDA 2016 SUMMARY OF PERFORMANCE AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION 3 

• Increasing assistance for rural, persistent poverty communities;

• Pollinator Habitat Health; and

• Increased food security and diet quality.

More information and reports on the APGs and quarterly progress can be found at 

https://www.performance.gov/agency/department-agriculture?view=public#apg. 

For purposes of the Agency Financial Report (AFR), a performance summary is provided using 

the Department’s key performance indicators as a mechanism to gauge progress in achieving

priorities, goals, and strategic objectives. In FY 2016, USDA had 38 key performance indicators, 

as reflected in the Department’s FY 2016 Annual Performance Plan 

(https://www.obpa.usda.gov/budsum/fy16budsum.pdf). 

The following tables and discussion provide a high-level description of key focus areas for the 

Department that are being tracked and managed through USDA’s performance management 

process, in alignment with the Department’s strategic goals and objectives. The tables provide 

key performance indicator historical results, and includes target and actual results for the year.

Performance information and a detailed discussion of results for the Department’s FY 2016 

performance goals, assessment methodologies, metrics, external reviews, and documentation of 

performance data will be presented in the FY 2016 USDA Annual Performance Report. 

The report is planned to be released with the President’s 2018 budget in February and will be 

available on the USDA Performance Improvement and Accountability website.

The data used by the Department to measure performance is collected using a standardized 

methodology. This methodology has been vetted by federally employed scientists and 

policymakers, and, ultimately, the leadership and Under Secretaries of each respective mission

area. All attest to the completeness, reliability, and quality of the data.
4 USDA 2016 SUMMARY OF PERFORMANCE AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Goal #1: Rural Prosperity

A vibrant American economy depends on a prosperous rural America. Our four primary pillars 

of economic opportunity in agriculture are: 1) exports, 2) local food systems, 3) conservation 

and outdoor recreation, and 4) enhancing the bio-based economy. USDA is making an impact on 

persistent poverty, out-migration, and rural income through increases in the number of 

homeownership opportunities provided in rural communities and the percentage of direct and 

guaranteed lending to beginning farmers. 

Exhibit 1: USDA Strategic Plan Goal #1 – Rural Prosperity Key Performance Indicators

Fiscal Year 2012

Actual

2013

Actual

2014

Actual

2015 

Actual

2016

Target

2016 

Actual

Number of jobs created 

or saved through USDA 

financing of businesses

52,468 44,419 41,202 52,697 40,877 51,286

Homeownership 

opportunities provided 153,027 170,055 146,388 141,314 173,150 123,8171

Health Facilities: 

Percentage of customers 

who are provided access 

to new and/or improved 

essential community 

facilities 

7.3% 5.4% 6.8% 12.0% 4.5% 11.65%

 

1 Homeownership opportunities are evaluated against a target range based upon the “Target” 

which represents full utilization of all funds. Since the depletion of all Guaranteed funds would 

disrupt that program’s operations, the FY 2016 target range with a lower bound of 129,862 

(or 25% below the target) is a more useful performance indicator. The Single Family Housing 

programs did not meet target range expectations because the Guaranteed program fell short of 

early year projections. Multiple factors contributed to the Guaranteed program shortfall, 

including continuing weakness in the refinance market; lenders' adjustment to new Truth in 

Lending Act and Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act Integrated Disclosure (TRID) rules; the 

reduction in program-eligible areas caused by the recent Farm Bill adjustment to the rural 

definition population limit; and most importantly, limited inventory in the lower-priced end of 

the housing market. The program expects increased demand in FY 2017 with the introduction of 

lower origination fees, a new construction loan product, and increased outreach in underserved 

areas. The Direct program performed as expected, utilizing all of its original allocation. 

The program is projected to perform well again in FY 2017. 
USDA 2016 SUMMARY OF PERFORMANCE AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION 5 

Fiscal Year 2012

Actual

2013

Actual

2014

Actual

2015 

Actual

2016

Target

2016 

Actual

Safety Facilities: 

Percentage of customers 

who are provided access 

to new and/or improved 

essential community 

facilities 

3.7% 3.4% 3.7% 7.2% 2.7% 5.02%

Educational Facilities: 

Percentage of customers 

who are provided access 

to new and/or improved 

essential community 

facilities 

6.4% 9.3% 6.2% 7.9% 4.5% 14.97%

Number of borrowers/

subscribers receiving new 

and/or improved electric 

facilities (millions)

8.3 8.7 4.6 5.5 5.1 5.5

Number of borrowers/

subscribers receiving 

new or improved 

telecommunications 

services (millions)

.06 .12 .084 .095 .120 .0792

 

2 In March 2016, The Federal Communications Commission released a Report and Order, Order 

and Order on Reconsideration, and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, reforming the 

universal service program for rate-of-return carriers. The Order made a number of changes to 

the mechanisms that provide substantial revenue to rate-of-return carriers. All existing loan 

applications had to be held until applicants provided information that took into consideration 

the impact of the Order on the feasibility of the loan request. This added about 2 to 3 months to 

the loan processing time, thereby having to carry over some loans to complete in FY 2017. Of the 

22 loans processed, 8 applications were not feasible thereby reducing the number of new 

subscribers. Loan demand is trending higher, however, since as many as 15 applications were 

received towards the end of the fiscal year the processing will be completed in FY 2017 and if 

approved, the associated subscribers will be counted in FY 2017. 
6 USDA 2016 SUMMARY OF PERFORMANCE AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Fiscal Year 2012

Actual

2013

Actual

2014

Actual

2015 

Actual

2016

Target

2016 

Actual

Number of population 

receiving new or 

improved service from 

agency funded water 

facilities (millions)

2.5 1.8 2.2 2.4 2.2 2.24

Value of agricultural 

exports resulting from 

participation in foreign 

food and agricultural 

trade shows ($ In Billions) 

$1.46 $1.48 $1.50 $1.523 $1.55 $1.1944

Percentage of Direct and 

Guaranteed lending to 

Socially Disadvantaged 

Farmers (SDA)

13.30% 13.60% 14.20% 15.00% 14.00% 15.90%

Percentage of Direct and 

Guaranteed lending to 

Beginning Farmers (BF)

68.80% 70% 79.2% 85.6% 76.5% 95.5%

Normalized value of risk 

protection provided to 

agricultural producers 

through the Federal Crop 

Insurance Program 

($ In Billions)

$62.10 $66.00 $67.90 $68.7 $63.3 $74.00

 

3 The FY 2015 actual result shown on the FY 2015 Agency Financial Report was reported 

incorrectly, this report reflects the corrected 2015 actual results. 

4 The FY 2016 actual result is due to the considerably lower sales from the Brussels Seafood 

Show, due to the terrorist event that took place in Brussels about a month prior to the show that 

reduced show participation
USDA 2016 SUMMARY OF PERFORMANCE AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION 7 

Fiscal Year 2012

Actual

2013

Actual

2014

Actual

2015 

Actual

2016

Target

2016 

Actual

Value of trade preserved 

annually through USDA 

staff intervention leading 

to resolution of foreign 

market access issues such 

as U.S. export

detainment, restrictive 

Sanitary/Phytosanitary or 

Technical Barrier to Trade 

issues and trade 

regulations ($ In Billions)

$3.70 $3.80 $6.40 $3.6 $4.1 $5.0
8 USDA 2016 SUMMARY OF PERFORMANCE AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Goal #2: Resource Conservation, Restoration, and Resiliency

A healthy and prosperous America relies on the health of our natural resources, and particularly 

our forests and agricultural working lands. Forests and other lands absorb approximately 

14 percent of U.S. carbon dioxide emissions. To help improve the health of our natural 

resources, USDA has worked to increase the annual acres of public and private forest lands 

which are being restored or enhanced and to increase the percentage of national forests and 

grasslands in compliance with a climate change adaption and mitigation strategy.

Exhibit 2: USDA Strategic Plan Goal #2 – Resource Conservations, Restoration, and Resiliency Key 

Performance Indicators

Fiscal Year 2012 

Actual

2013

Actual

2014

Actual

2015

Actual

2016

Target

2016 

Actual

Conservation Reserve Program 

(CRP) restored wetland acreage 

(millions of acres)

2.29 2.09 2.00 1.93 1.9 2.09

Conservation Technical 

Assistance (CTA) land with 

conservation applied to 

improve water quality 

(millions of acres)

N/A N/A 18.2 18.1 17.9 15.85

CTA cropland with conservation 

applied to improve soil quality 

(millions of acres)

N/A N/A 6.2 6.0 5.9 6.0

CTA grazing and forest land 

with conservation applied to 

protect and improve the 

resource base 

(millions of acres)

N/A N/A 13.1 13.1 13.0 11.16

 

5 The minor shortfall was due primarily to the fact that new hiring has only recently caught up 

with attrition. New hires take some time to be productive. Only in FY 2016 did hiring finally 

exceed attrition.

6 The minor shortfall was due primarily to the fact that new hiring has only recently caught up 

with attrition. New hires take some time to be productive. Only in FY 2016 did hiring finally 

exceed attrition.
USDA 2016 SUMMARY OF PERFORMANCE AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION 9 

Fiscal Year 2012 

Actual

2013

Actual

2014

Actual

2015

Actual

2016

Target

2016 

Actual

Environmental Quality 

Incentives Program (EQIP) land 

with conservation applied to 

improve water quality 

(millions of acres)

N/A N/A 12.3 12.7 12.0 10.57

EQIP cropland with 

conservation applied to 

improve soil quality 

(millions of acres)

N/A N/A 3.1 3.0 3.0 2.88

EQIP grazing land and forest 

land with conservation applied 

to protect and improve the 

resource base 

(millions of acres)

N/A N/A 14.8 13.9 13.9 12.69

EQIP non-Federal land with 

conservation applied to 

improve fish and wildlife 

habitat quality 

(millions of acres)

N/A N/A 1.4 1.4 1.1 1.010

Annual acres of public and 

private forest lands restored or 

enhanced (millions of acres)

2.57 2.533 2.91 3.10 2.9 3.215

Volume of timber sold 

(billion board feet) 2.644 2.610 2.831 2.867 3.2 2.94211

 

7 The minor shortfall was due primarily to various factors that contributed to a delay in 

conservation implementation of some very large tracts of land initially planned for application in 

FY 2016. These acres are now scheduled for FY 2017 and FY 2018.

8 Allowable Data Range for Met: The tolerance range for the measure to be met is +/- 10%.

9 Allowable Data Range for Met: The tolerance range for the measure to be met is +/- 10%.

10 Allowable Data Range for Met: The tolerance range for the measure to be met is +/- 10%.

11 Allowable Data Range for Met: The tolerance range for the measure to be met is +/- 10%.
1 0 USDA 2016 SUMMARY OF PERFORMANCE AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Fiscal Year 2012 

Actual

2013

Actual

2014

Actual

2015

Actual

2016

Target

2016 

Actual

Percentage of National Forests 

and Grasslands in compliance 

with a climate change 

adaptation and mitigation 

strategy

36% 49% 64% 89% 100% 100%

Percentage of National Forests 

and Grassland watersheds in 

properly (class 1 watersheds) 

functioning condition

52% 52% 52% 52% 52% 53%

Acres of Wildland Urban 

Interface hazardous fuels 

treated to reduce the risk of 

catastrophic wildfire 

(millions of acres)

1.867 1.737 1.725 1.577 1.800 2.016

Goal #3: Increased Exports and Global Food Security

Working with other Federal partners, USDA is working toward reducing global food insecurity 

and increasing agriculture-led economic growth in developing countries. The Department 

continues to seek new trade opportunities for American agricultural producers and is also 

striving to bring products with new and emerging technologies to the worldwide marketplace. 

In addition, USDA is focused on improving efforts to reduce food insecurity across the world by 

providing technical assistance to people in food-insecure countries.

Exhibit 3: USDA Strategic Plan Goal #3 – Increased Exports and Global Food Security

Fiscal Year 2012 

Actual

2013

Actual

2014 

Actual

2015

Actual

2016

Target 2016 Actual

Cumulative number of 

biotechnology products 

deregulated by USDA 

based on scientific 

determinations that they

do not pose a plant pest 

risk to agriculture

93 102 109 117 122 124
USDA 2016 SUMMARY OF PERFORMANCE AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION 1 1 

Goal #4: Safe and Nutritious Food

A plentiful supply of safe and nutritious food is essential to the healthy development of every 

child in America and to the well-being and productivity of every family. Over the past 4 years, 

USDA’s food assistance programs have contributed to a steady decrease in the prevalence of 

food insecurity in households with children. Regarding USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection 

Service (FSIS)-regulated meat, poultry, and processed egg products, USDA also saw that the 

estimated illnesses attributed to the FSIS regulated products decreased by 12 percent from 

FY 2009 to FY 2015. 

Exhibit 4: USDA Strategic Plan Goal #4 – Safe and Nutritious Food

Fiscal Year 2012 

Actual

2013 

Actual

2014

Actual

2015

Actual

2016

Target

2016 

Actual

Prevalence of food 

insecurity in households 

with children 

20% 19.5% 19.2% 16.6% 18.8% Deferred12

Annual percentage of 

eligible people participating 

in SNAP

83% 85% 85% N/A 85.0% Deferred13

SNAP payment accuracy 

rate 96.6% 96.8% 96.3% N/A 96.3% Deferred14

SNAP benefits redeemed at 

farmers markets and direct 

marketing farmers annually 

(millions)

$16.60 $ 17.5 $ 18.8 $19.4 $ 20.00 $20.24

 

12 The actual measure for 2016 will be released in September 2017.

13 FY 2016 data will be available in 2018.

14 FY 2016 data will be available in 2018.
1 2 USDA 2016 SUMMARY OF PERFORMANCE AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Fiscal Year 2012 

Actual

2013 

Actual

2014

Actual

2015

Actual

2016

Target

2016 

Actual

Annual percentage of 

eligible people participating 

in the National School Lunch 

Program

57.6% 55.7% 54.8% 55.4% 56.8% 54.7%15

Annual percentage of 

children participating in the 

free/reduced price school 

lunch program that 

participate in summer 

feeding programs 

15.5% 16.3% 17.5% 17.1% 17.2% 16.716

Percentage of broiler plants 

passing the carcass 

Salmonella Verification 

Testing Standard 

90% 90% 92% 96% 95% 93.96%17

 

15 Rationale for Met Range: Thresholds reflect the margin of error in forecasts of future 

participation, estimated at 5 percent for school meals programs. This reflects the pattern of 

variance between actual and target performance for both programs during the past 5 years. For 

FY 2016, this percentage range allows for actual performance that meets the targets in the range 

of 54.0 – 59.6 percent.

16 Rationale for Met Range: Thresholds reflect the margin of error in forecasts of future 

participation, estimated at 5 percent for school meals programs. This reflects the pattern of 

variance between actual and target performance for both programs during the past 5 years. 

For FY 2016, this percentage range allows for actual performance that meets the targets in the 

range of 16.8 – 18.1 percent. 

17 While FSIS did not meet the FY 2016 target for the percent of broiler establishments passing 

the carcass Salmonella verification testing standard, the overall percent of establishments

passing the standard has risen consistently over the past 5 years, and in the fourth quarter, FSIS 

failed to meet the target as a result of just 2 establishments not passing the standard.
USDA 2016 SUMMARY OF PERFORMANCE AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION 1 3 

Fiscal Year 2012 

Actual

2013 

Actual

2014

Actual

2015

Actual

2016

Target

2016 

Actual

Percentage of 

establishments with a 

functional food defense 

plan (annual measure)

77% 83% 84% 85% 90% 85%18

Total illnesses from all FSIS 

products 479,621 427,171 386,265 382,123 363,547 658,40519

 

18 While FSIS did not meet the FY 2016 target for voluntary adoption of functional food defense 

plans, the percentage increased from 34 percent in 2006 to 85 percent in 2016. FSIS will 

continue to focus on small and very small establishments, which represent a majority of those 

that have not adopted a plan, and will also focus on assessing to what extent establishments are 

implementing and maintaining food defense practices. 

19 FSIS set illness reduction targets with the goal of achieving ambitious Healthy People 2020 

targets. FSIS did not achieve the FY 2016 All Illness or Salmonella targets; however, FSIS did meet 

its E. coli O157:H7 and Listeria monocytogenes targets. The FY 2016 targets were not met, in 

part, because the methodology utilized included only 3 years of data, so large outbreaks coming 

into the dataset (FSIS-regulated chicken products) or falling out of the dataset (very large 

outbreak in FDA-regulated shell eggs) highly influenced the attribution estimates. FSIS adopted 

in FY 2017 a new, harmonized attribution methodology and fractions, developed by the 

Interagency Food Safety Analytics Collaboration (IFSAC), to annually estimate and monitor 

illnesses associated with FSIS-regulated products.
1 4 USDA 2016 SUMMARY OF PERFORMANCE AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Goal #5: Departmental Modernization

USDA is building and implementing a modern workforce, and exercising good stewardship of 

the resources entrusted to the Department. During FY 2016, USDA implemented policies to 

achieve a more efficient use of funds through decreases in the amount of leased office and 

warehouse space controlled by USDA and to build a more effective workforce through process 

improvements and increased use of telework. 

Exhibit 5: USDA Strategic Plan Goal #5 – Departmental Modernization

Fiscal Year 2012

Actual

2013 

Actual

2014

Actual

2015 

Actual

2016

Target

2016 

Actual

Number of employees 

participating in core 

telework

7,926 9,723 10,455 11,798 12,000 12,342

Amount of leased 

office and warehouse 

space controlled by 

USDA (millions of 

square feet) 

26 25.6 24.9 23.9 23.7 23.2
USDA 2016 SUMMARY OF PERFORMANCE AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION 1 5 

Financial Information

The following table presents a snapshot of USDA’s results of operations and financial position. 

This information is based on the same underlying data as the financial statements presented in 

the AFR (https://www.ocfo.usda.gov/docs/FY2016Agency_Financial_Report.pdf).

Exhibit 6: A Snapshot of USDA’s Results of Operations and Financial Position (In Millions)

Line Item FY 2016 

Gross Costs $147,302

Less: Earned Revenue 9,957

Net Cost of Operations $137,345 

Assets: 

 Fund Balance with Treasury $124,725

 Direct Loan and Loan Guarantees, Net 98,813

 Other 4,436

Total Assets $227,974 

Liabilities: 

 Debt $121,603

 Other 52,447

Total Liabilities $174,050 

Net Position (Assets Minus Liabilities) $53,924 

Total Budgetary Resources $272,267 

Outlays, Net $136,799 
1 6 USDA 2016 SUMMARY OF PERFORMANCE AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Significant Management Challenges

The Reports Consolidation Act of 2000 requires the USDA Office of Inspector General (OIG) to 

report annually on the most serious management challenges facing the Department.

On August 26, 2016, the OIG reported the following major management challenges. A detailed 

description of the challenges and assessment of the Department’s progress in addressing these 

challenges may be found in the FY 2016 AFR. 

• USDA Needs to Improve Oversight and Accountability for its Programs. 

• Information Technology Security Needs Continuing Improvement.

• USDA Needs to Strengthen Program Performance and Performance Measures.

• USDA Needs to Strengthen Controls Over Improper Payments and Financial 

Management.

• USDA Needs to Improve Outreach Efforts. 

• Food Safety Inspections Need Improved Controls.

• Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) Needs to Strengthen Supplemental Nutrition 

Assistance Program (SNAP) Management Controls.