USDA

WASHINGTON, March 18, 2010 - The U. S. Department of Agriculture and the Department of Navy are co-hosting an all day forum in Hawaii on April 6, 2010, to share information about a recently announced collaborative energy opportunity. Among those providing remarks are Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen A. Merrigan and Jackalyne Pfannenstiel, assistant secretary of the Navy for installations and environment. The program is taking place on the Marine Corps Base-Hawaii in the Kaneohe Bay Officers Club.    » read more »

March 17, 2009 -- Washington -- The U.S. Departments of Agriculture, Education and Health and Human Services are asking the public for ideas to help the Task Force on Childhood Obesity come up with recommendations for public and private sector actions to solve the problem of childhood obesity.

The work of the Task Force will complement the efforts of First Lady Michelle Obama as she leads a national public awareness effort to tackle this critical public health issue.    » read more »

March 16, 2010 -- WASHINGTON - Today four U.S. Senators urged Tom Vilsack, Secretary of Agriculture, to extend the time period in which Chilean table grapes may be imported to the United States. In a letter to the Secretary, Senators Tom Carper (D-Del.), Ted Kaufman (D-Del.), Arlen Specter (D-Pa.), and Bob Casey (D-Pa.), along with Congressman Bob Brady (D-Pa.-1st), noted that one of unfortunate effects of the devastating earthquake that struck Chile on Feb. 27 was substantial delay in the importation of grapes which typically enter U.S. markets through the Philadelphia, Delaware and New Jersey ports.    » read more »

WASHINGTON, March 12, 2010 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that Fiscal Year (FY) 2009 funding is available again through three USDA programs to promote increased production of biofuel and bioenergy. The programs are authorized under the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 (The Farm Bill).

* Applications for remaining FY 2009 funding under the Biorefinery Assistance Program (Section 9003), which uses loan guarantees to develop, construct, and retrofit commercial-scale biorefineries, must be received by June 1, 2010.    » read more »

Says Designation Makes Emergency Loans Available to Farmers to Cover Losses Due to 2009 Weather Disasters

Washington, D.C. -- Mar 11, 2010 -- U.S. Senator Al Franken (D-Minn.) announced today that farmers in 16 Minnesota counties are now eligible for emergency loans and other assistance to cover losses suffered last fall due to multiple weather disasters.

Sen. Franken said U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has designated the counties U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) disaster areas because they had sufficient losses last year due to excessive rain, flooding, frost, and freezing temperatures.    » read more »

Direct Certification Breaks down barriers and streamlines access for Children in Need

WASHINGTON, March 9, 2010 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced approximately $1.9 million in grants to five State agencies to increase enrollment in school meal programs through direct certification and verification processes.

Direct certification allows States and local educational agencies to automatically certify children enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families Program (TANF) for free school meals without the need for household applications. Medicaid records also can be matched to simplify verification of eligibility for school meals programs.    » read more »

WASHINGTON, March 8, 2010 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today that utilities in seven states have been selected to receive funds that will create jobs and new business opportunities in rural America.

"Providing community development assistance, education, training and technical support to the residents of rural communities is critical to the Obama Administration's effort to build a strong and sustainable economy," said Vilsack. "This funding will create good jobs and new business development opportunities."    » read more »

WASHINGTON, March 08, 2010 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that rural communities will receive support through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) to plan for new water and waste disposal projects. Funding will be made available to the communities through a grant provided to the Virginia-based Rural Community Assistance Partnership, Inc.

"The Obama Administration supports the construction of new sanitation infrastructure that safeguards the health of rural residents," said Vilsack. "These funds will help ensure that operators of rural utility systems receive the training needed to plan new, safe reliable water systems."    » read more »

WASHINGTON, March 5, 2010 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today discussed USDA's work to strengthen the American agriculture economy and revitalize rural communities in the keynote speech at the 2010 Commodity Classic in Anaheim, Calif. Vilsack focused on the USDA's efforts to increase exports of agricultural products to help American farmers, ranchers, and workers.

"USDA's continued work to expand trade opportunities for America's hard-working farmers and ranchers will play an important role in our effort to rebuild rural communities across the country," said Vilsack. "Increased trade will not only create important income opportunities for producers, but also the off-farm jobs that are so critical for revitalizing rural America."    » read more »

USDA Forest Service Training Underserved Youth for Today's Green Jobs

NAMPA, Idaho, March 5, 2010- Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today unveiled a new direction for the USDA Forest Service Job Corps Civilian Conservation Centers (CCCs) that will train underserved youth for jobs in the emerging green economy. The green curriculum announced today will expand opportunities and pathways out of poverty through the promotion of public service, sustainable lifestyles, and vocational skills that will enable young people to compete for green jobs.    » read more »

FRESNO, Calif., March 4, 2010 -- Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today pledged additional funding to assist California agricultural producers struggling to cope with drought-related water cutoffs. Dave White, Chief of USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), made the announcement on Vilsack's behalf during a visit to California to meet with and listen to the needs of farmers.

"With the challenges to California farmers caused by three years of drought, we are making available much-needed assistance to some of the hardest hit producers," said White. "This funding will help farmers deal with the current conditions, such as preventing dust and wind erosion in fallowed areas and keeping trees and vines alive."    » read more »

Remarks As Prepared For Delivery At The National Press Club - February 23, 2010

WASHINGTON, Feb. 23, 2010 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today spoke at a National Press Club luncheon to highlight the Obama Administration's priorities for the reauthorization of the Child Nutrition Act and to advocate for the rapid passage of a strong reauthorization bill to improve the health and nutrition of our nation's children.

Below are Secretary Vilsack's remarks as prepared for delivery:    » read more »

WASHINGTON, Feb. 24, 2010 - USDA officials today highlighted one of its newest web-based mapping tool, Your Food Environment Atlas, which will enable researchers, policy makers, and the public to find information on a range of factors that affect access to healthy, affordable food, and will allow users to map the data by county. The map will provide highly detailed information on local food environments and health outcomes, including grocery store access and disease and obesity prevalence.    » read more »

FY2011 Request: $26 billion; FY2010 Enacted: $27 billion

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) provides leadership on issues related to food, agriculture, rural development, and natural resources based on sound public policy, the best available science, and efficient management.

USDA focuses on further developing alternative markets for agricultural products and activities, and providing financing needed to help expand job opportunities and improve housing, utilities, and infrastructure in rural America.    » read more »

WASHINGTON, Feb. 1, 2010 – Below is a statement from Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on the proposed FY2011 budget:

"I don't need to tell the American people that in 2009, America struggled through the most serious economic recession since the Great Depression. Families were forced to make difficult decisions. And more and more Americans had to rely on USDA to help put food on the table.    » read more »