Keywords: US-DeptOfAgriculture-Seal2.svg Seal of the United States Department of Agriculture The USDA seal was created in 1895 It was adapted for use as a general identifier in 1980 but those usages were replaced with the USDA Logo in 1996 The seal has been withdrawn from use as a departmental identifier though it is still used on legal materials and other internal uses The seal is defined as <blockquote>Two and three-eights inches in diameter azure a shock of corn or upon a base vert an American plough proper All within a double annulet argent outer roped inner beaded charged with the inscription UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE and at the base a scroll bearing the legend 1862 AGRICULTURE IS THE FOUNDATION OF MANUFACTURE AND COMMERCE 1889 or A diapered background of 44 stars argent for the States of the Union </blockquote> The dates on the scroll represent the year the Department was founded by act of Congress 1862 and the year the Department was made an Executive Office headed by a Secretary of cabinet rank 1889 The 44 stars represent the states in the Union in 1889 See http //www nal usda gov/speccoll/collect/history/seal htm here and http //www ocio usda gov/directives/doc/DR5160-001 htm here for more information Extracted from a PDF version of the http //www climatescience gov/infosheets/factsheet3/ Overview of the CCSP Strategic Plan direct PDF URL http //www climatescience gov/infosheets/factsheet3/CCSP-3-StratPlanOverview14jan2006 pdf The seal was originally unveiled on June 21 1895 U S Government The original seal was designed by A H Baldwin a USDA artist Public domain though other legal restrictions apply USDA Symbols or logos are intended for the official use of the United States Department of Agriculture only They are expressly excluded from use to imply endorsement of a commercial product or service The symbol or logo may not be used by anyone outside of USDA without permission http //www usda gov/agency/oc/design/resources html <gallery> Image US-DeptOfAgriculture-Seal png Bitmap version Image US-DeptOfAgriculture-Seal svg Alternate colors version Image USDA logo svg USDA Logo </gallery> PD-USGov-USDA PD-US PD-old insignia 1895 works in the United States SVG logos of governments and government agencies of the United States Seals of the United States Department of Agriculture Plows in heraldry Ropes in heraldry Maize in heraldry |