name: USDA API Rate Limits
description: Rate limit policies across USDA public APIs. Most APIs are managed through api.data.gov which enforces per-key and per-IP limits. Individual agencies may apply additional record-level restrictions per query.
url: https://api.data.gov/docs/developer-manual/
created: '2026-06-13'
modified: '2026-06-13'
rateLimits:
  - api: USDA FoodData Central API
    url: https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/api-guide/
    platform: api.data.gov
    tiers:
      - name: DEMO_KEY (unregistered)
        requests: 30
        period: hour
        scope: per IP address
        notes: Also limited to 50 requests per day per IP address
      - name: Registered API Key
        requests: 1000
        period: hour
        scope: per IP address
        notes: Temporary 1-hour block applied if limit is exceeded. Higher limits available upon request.
    errorResponse:
      httpStatus: 429
      behavior: Key temporarily blocked for 1 hour
    headers:
      - X-RateLimit-Limit
      - X-RateLimit-Remaining
  - api: USDA NASS Quick Stats API
    url: https://quickstats.nass.usda.gov/api
    platform: NASS self-hosted
    tiers:
      - name: Registered API Key
        records: 50000
        period: request
        scope: per query
        notes: Requests exceeding 50,000 records receive an error response. Filter parameters should be used to narrow result sets below this limit.
    errorResponse:
      message: "exceeds limit = 50000"
  - api: USDA AMS MyMarketNews MARS API
    url: https://mymarketnews.ams.usda.gov/mymarketnews-api
    platform: AMS self-hosted
    tiers:
      - name: Unregistered
        records: 5000
        period: request
        scope: per query
      - name: Registered Account
        records: 100000
        period: request
        scope: per query
    notes: Registration is free. The API does not support open web browser calls; programmatic access only.
  - api: USDA ERS ARMS Data API
    url: https://www.ers.usda.gov/developer/data-apis/arms-data-api
    platform: api.data.gov
    tiers:
      - name: Registered API Key
        notes: Follows api.data.gov standard rate limits. Specific numeric limits not published; contact ERS for details.
    contact: https://www.ers.usda.gov/contact-ers/
  - api: USDA NASS CroplandCROS API
    url: https://www.nass.usda.gov/developer/index.php
    platform: NASS self-hosted
    tiers:
      - name: Public Access
        notes: No published rate limits. Geospatial tile service; usage should follow reasonable access patterns.
  - api: USDA Forest Service Geospatial REST API
    url: https://apps.fs.usda.gov/arcx/rest/services
    platform: ArcGIS Server (Esri)
    tiers:
      - name: Public Access
        notes: ArcGIS REST API standard access. No published per-key rate limits; follows ArcGIS Server default throttling.
  - api: USDA FSIS MPI Directory API
    url: https://www.fsis.usda.gov/science-data/developer-resources/mpi-api
    platform: FSIS self-hosted
    tiers:
      - name: Public Access
        notes: No published rate limits. Contact FSIS developer resources for guidance.
generalNotes:
  - api.data.gov rate limits apply globally across all APIs using the shared service.
  - Rate limit headers (X-RateLimit-Limit, X-RateLimit-Remaining) are returned on FoodData Central API responses.
  - Higher rate limits for api.data.gov-managed APIs can be requested by contacting the specific USDA agency.
  - Record-level limits (NASS, MyMarketNews) are enforced per query response, not per time window.