The U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Foreign Agricultural Services (FAS), will support placement of eligible graduate students with USDA offices overseas, to assist with representing U. S. agricultural interests and increasing trade abroad.BACKGROUNDThe Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) is the

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foreign affairs arm of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

FAS links U. S. agriculture to the world to enhance export opportunities and global food security for the expansion and growth of U. S. farmers and ranchers.

In addition to its Washington, D.C.

staff, FAS has a global network of 92 offices covering approximately 175 countries.

These offices are staffed by agricultural attachés and locally hired agricultural experts who are the eyes, ears, and voices for U. S. agriculture around the world.

FAS staff identify problems, provide practical solutions, and work to advance opportunities for U. S. agriculture and support U. S. foreign policy around the globe.SCOPEIn support of teaching and research in the agricultural sciences, FAS seeks to support the placement of graduate students in USDA offices overseas, to work on assignments related to agricultural analysis, and to enhance trade linkages between eligible countries and agricultural interests in the United States.

USDA anticipates an eight (8) week assignment for participants to gain knowledge, skills and abilities at assigned overseas offices, during the summer timeframe.The recipient will manage the IIP for eligible participants, i.e.

graduate students or recent graduates with studies in economics, analytics, or related fields.

A complete set of expectations for such management is described in Section F, and should be reviewed carefully.