USDA Blog

If the land floods more often than growing a crop, why not let it go back to what it wants to be – a wetland. That’s what happened on the Hoppe Heritage Farmstead in 2011. The Hoppe sisters owned cropland along the southern branch of the Kishwaukee River in DeKalb County, Ill. About half of the land...

This post is part of the Science Tuesday feature series on the USDA blog. Check back each week as we showcase stories and news from the USDA’s rich science and research portfolio. What’s in the food we eat? Have you ever wondered if the foods past generations ate as children were more nutritious...

This post is part of the Science Tuesday feature series on the USDA blog. Check back each week as we showcase stories and news from the USDA’s rich science and research portfolio. Clean drinking water for the world is a pretty tall order, considering that the United Nations says nearly a billion...

A 53-acre conservation easement is an ideal environmental learning lab for students at Francis Hugh Wardlaw Academy in Johnston, South Carolina. The land was once pastures for cattle, but now it’s a vibrant wetland just across the street from the high school. The contractor hired to install the...

‘Tis the season for migratory birds to make their journey north. Forests along the Pacific Flyway, which stretches from Alaska to Central and South America, recently celebrated International Migratory Bird Day with educational activities, conservation efforts and birdwatching trips. Staff from the...

As we celebrate Memorial Day this weekend, those of us at USDA Rural Development would like to take a moment to remember the fallen. We also thank the veterans who served alongside them and who are helping keep their memories alive today. Leon Kauzlarich from rural Appanoose County, Iowa, is one...

The longleaf pine ecosystem is one of the most diverse in the world. It provides habitat to nearly 900 plant species and 29 federally-listed threatened or endangered species. It’s prized for its valuable timber and its strength against disease, pests and damaging storms. But longleaf pine forests...

Over the past several years, we have seen the spread and occurrence of wildfires increase significantly. Deadly wildfires threaten our homes and communities and turn lives upside down. USDA continues to do all that we can to protect people, homes and our forests in the face of fire. Just this week...

Those of you who follow the news have probably seen the recall this week of ground beef that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7. Understandably, this causes concern among consumers. However, this does not mean you can’t enjoy a hamburger off the grill or that you need to cancel your backyard...

The Google+ Hangout with D/S Harden today has been temporarily postponed -- stay tuned. In February 2014, President Obama signed the new Farm Bill into law. But what does that mean for you as a new farmer or rancher? What’s new about this Farm Bill and what programs can you use? What questions...