USDA Latest News

WASHINGTON, June 19, 2013 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced funding for 15 businesses in 10 states to create or retain jobs and expand economic activity. USDA remains focused on carrying out its mission, despite a time of significant budget uncertainty. Today’s announcement is one part of the Department’s efforts to strengthen the rural economy.

WASHINGTON, June 17, 2013 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today kicked off National Small Business Week by highlighting USDA’s actions to help rural small businesses create jobs, get access to capital and spur economic growth. He also announced the selection of recipients for USDA’s Rural Business Enterprise Grants. USDA remains focused on carrying out its mission, despite a time of significant budget uncertainty.

WASHINGTON, June 14, 2013 - Today, USDA Office of Communications Director Matt Paul gave the following update on the detection of genetically engineered wheat in Oregon:

LUBBOCK, TX, June 14, 2013 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today visited Texas Tech University, where he met with agriculture leaders about the need for Congressional action on a Food, Farm and Jobs Bill, as well as a solution to fix America's broken immigration system. Later in the day, he toured an area farm to view drought impacts and discuss the importance of a strong farm safety net.

WASHINGTON, June 12, 2013 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced funding for rural electric projects in 16 states to provide reliable, affordable electricity for rural residents, including improved service for Native Americans. USDA remains focused on carrying out its mission, despite a time of significant budget uncertainty. Today's announcement is one part of the Department's efforts to strengthen the rural economy.

WASHINGTON, June 12, 2013 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that USDA is seeking applications from cooperatives to provide technical assistance to small, socially disadvantaged agricultural producers in rural areas. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) remains focused on carrying out its mission, despite a time of significant budget uncertainty. Today's announcement is one part of the Department's efforts to strengthen the rural economy.

WASHINGTON, June 11, 2013 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced the availability of up to $98.6 million to support the production of advanced biofuels, and an opportunity for eligible producers to submit applications. USDA remains focused on carrying out its mission, despite a time of significant budget uncertainty. Today's announcement is one part of the Department's efforts to strengthen the rural economy.

WASHINGTON, June 11, 2013 - Today, Secretary Vilsack made the following statement on Senate passage of the Food, Farm and Jobs Bill:

WASHINGTON, June 11, 2013 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today kicked off the 5th annual Feds Feed Families Campaign at the Capital Area Food Bank. The food drive is an annual event in which Federal employees in the Washington metropolitan area and around the country collect food for distribution by food banks and shelters.

WASHINGTON, June 11, 2013 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today that applications are being accepted for grants to finance broadband deployment in remote, rural areas. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) remains focused on carrying out its mission, despite a time of significant budget uncertainty. Today's announcement is one part of the Department's efforts to strengthen the rural economy.

WASHINGTON, June 10, 2013 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today that USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service will send an additional $66.8 million in Emergency Watershed Protection Program funds to help disaster recovery efforts in 15 states.

WASHINGTON, June 10, 2013 – Today, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack kicked off National Summer Food Service Program Week by reiterating USDA's commitment to ensuring that no child goes hungry when school is out and highlighting progress towards USDA's goal of serving 5 million more meals to eligible kids across the country.

WASHINGTON, June 6, 2013 – Today, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack hosted a media conference call to discuss Obama administration efforts to bring broadband service and economic opportunity to schools and communities in rural America. Secretary Vilsack's call followed President Obama's announcement of a new initiative called ConnectED to connect 99 percent of America's students to the internet through high-speed broadband and high-speed wireless within 5 years, calling on the FCC to modernize and leverage its existing E-Rate program to meet that goal.

WASHINGTON, June 6, 2013—The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced that Acting Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Michael Scuse is leading a mission to promote U.S. agricultural exports to Turkey, this week. Representatives from Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, and Pennsylvania, as well as 20 U.S. companies are participating.

WASHINGTON, June 6, 2013 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture Acting Deputy Secretary Michael Scuse and Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) Administrator Anne Alonzo will ring the bell Friday, opening the USDA Farmers Market for its 18th season on the Washington Mall.

WASHINGTON, June 5, 2013-Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today said that the Federal government must increase collaboration with producers, researchers and industry to develop the next generation of solutions that will help agriculture mitigate and adapt to modern climate challenges.

WASHINGTON, June 4, 2013 – Today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), in collaboration with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) launched the U.S. Food Waste Challenge, calling on others across the food chain—including producer groups, processors, manufacturers, retailers, communities, and other government agencies − to join the effort to reduce, recover, and recycle food waste. Secretary Tom Vilsack and EPA Acting Administrator Bob Perciasepe were joined at the event by representatives from private-sector partners and supporters including Rio Farms, Unilever, General Mills, the Food Waste Reduction Alliance, Feeding America, and Rock and Wrap It Up!.

WASHINGTON, June 3, 2013 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced its plan to update regulatory processes for notices regarding public property, loans, grants, benefits and contracts by rescinding an outdated statement of policy that required USDA agencies to needlessly delay the delivery of these benefits to rural communities.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today the appointment of 15 nationally recognized experts to serve on the 2015 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee. The Committee’s recommendations and rationale will serve as a basis for the eighth edition of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

WASHINGTON, May 31, 2013 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today kicked off National Homeownership Month by highlighting programs to help rural residents buy, refinance and repair homes.