[1][2] It was established in 1898, under the direction of David Fairchild and employed agricultural explorers to seek out economically useful plants to introduce to the United States from all over the world.
[3] It has introduced over 200,000 species and varieties of non-native plants to the United States including some of the most well-known and economically significant crops.
[2] Today, the branch of the USDA responsible for collecting and introducing new plant species is called the National Germplasm Resources Laboratory.
[1] In 1862, President Abraham Lincoln established the United States Department of Agriculture, and tasked its first Commissioner, Isaac Newton, to collect new plant species, test their economic value, and introduce them to American farmers.
[5] The duties of this office included world-wide plant expeditions, crop testing (to ensure no diseases or invasive pests were introduced), propagation, and distribution.