WEST HARTFORD, Conn., April 5, 2013 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today discussed USDA efforts to improve school meals and outlined the need for a renewed commitment to improve childhood nutrition, which will lead to a healthier generation of Americans.

WASHINGTON, April 4, 2013 - Today, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the award of $5.3 million in Conservation Innovation Grants to develop approaches and technology that will help producers adapt to extreme climate changes that cause drought. These grants will fund projects benefiting several states that were significantly impacted by last year's drought. 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, April 3, 2013 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) today announced recent results of the Agency’s efforts to support exports of U.S. agricultural products. APHIS’ recent efforts are expected to help increase exports of U.S. cattle, poultry products, and pears by over $85 million a year.

WASHINGTON, April 3, 2013 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), in collaboration with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), has developed a program to certify processed eggs and egg products for export, providing new opportunities for U.S. food exporters.

WASHINGTON, April 3, 2013 – Agriculture Undersecretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services Kevin Concannon today announced Washington and Ohio have joined a new federal-state partnership targeting recipient fraud in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) as part of its SNAP Stewardship Solutions Project. Under the partnership, USDA shares its experience in monitoring retailer fraud with states to help them more aggressively target suspicious activity and improve tactics to catch recipients that attempt to commit SNAP fraud.