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Showing: 3901 - 3910 of 8106 Results

Report: Cultivated Fruit, Nut and Flower Acres on the Rise

January 23, 2014 Justin Fritscher, Natural Resources Conservation Service

Known to her neighbors in Clarke County, Miss. as the blueberry lady, Barbara Robinson has a vibrant 20-acre farm packed with blueberries, muscadines and other produce. Robinson is one of the nation’s many fruit growers, and a recent USDA report shows the land dedicated to growing cultivated fruits...

Conservation Food and Nutrition Farming

Beginning Farmer Seeks Greener Pastures, Sustainable Future

January 22, 2014 Diane Petit, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Massachusetts

When Sean Stanton started improving the pastures surrounding his small farm in Great Barrington, Mass., his efforts not only benefited the natural resources of this scenic southwest corner of Berkshire County but also diners at a Manhattan restaurant. That’s because he supplies the Blue Hill...

Conservation Food and Nutrition Farming

New Mobile App Eases Nutrient Application Recordkeeping Requirements

January 22, 2014 Tanisha Greene, National Institute of Food and Agriculture

Balance sheet, database, ledger, fertilizer. Which of these does not belong? Trick question – they all belong and all are important to a farmer, but sometimes even farmers don’t realize just how important. Farmers face a multitude of challenges every day, but record keeping is usually not the first...

Research and Science

Cooking Up Change Competition Kicks Off in Chicago

January 22, 2014 Tim English, Regional Administrator, USDA Food and Nutrition Service, Midwest Region

This November I served as a judge in the 2013-14 kick off Cooking Up Change competition here in Chicago. What is “Cooking Up Change”? It’s a culinary competition sponsored by the Healthy Schools Campaign that challenges Chicago Public Schools (CPS) students and others across the U.S to create and...

Food and Nutrition

The Domino Effect of One Purchase

January 22, 2014 Anne L. Alonzo, Agricultural Marketing Service Administrator

Sometimes one action can have a ripple effect—an impact that spreads outward, touching much more than just the immediate surroundings. We see it all the time in the process of agriculture. Weather changes crop yields, then ripples through the supply chain, impacting everything from the local economy...

USDA Results Food and Nutrition

Joint Statement from Secretaries Vilsack, Jewell, and Pritzker on the Drought Declaration in California

January 17, 2014 Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, Interior Secretary Sally Jewell and Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker

Governor Brown’s declaration today underscores the gravity of the historic drought conditions facing California – conditions that are likely to have significant impacts on the state’s communities, economy and environment in the coming months. We are keenly aware of the need to act quickly and...

Conservation

Let's Carry the Values of Tu B'Shevat with Us Every Day

January 17, 2014 U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell

Dignitaries from the White House and USDA held a tree planting ceremony Thursday beside the National Mall to commemorate Tu B’Shevat, the Jewish New Year of the Tree. Thinking about the people planting that young Redbud tree to honor the conservation ethic of the Jewish community, I was reminded of...

Conservation Forestry

National FFA Officers Meet with Secretary Vilsack

January 17, 2014 Wayne Maloney, USDA Office of Communications

“We are excited by the challenges you presented to us,” said FFA National Secretary Mitch Bayer at the conclusion of a half-hour meeting of National FFA officers with Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack at the USDA Whitten Building earlier this week. In his meeting with the officers, the Secretary...

USDA Results Conservation Food and Nutrition

Clearer Air Awaits You in Wilderness Areas Across the Country

January 17, 2014 Scott Copeland, Shoshone National Forest, U.S. Forest Service

Visitors to wilderness areas treasure the stunning vistas and pristine scenery. Now there is good news for the millions of people who recreate in these special places: less haze exists in most wilderness areas allowing them to see farther and enjoy more color and texture in the scenery. “We have...

Forestry

The Kindergarten Initiative: Connecting Students and their Families to the Worcester Food Environment

January 17, 2014 Penny Weaver, Campaign and Partnership Coordinator, Northeast Regional Office, Food and Nutrition Service, Boston, MA

Massachusetts Farm to School Project and the Worcester Public Schools are helping kindergarteners understand how and where food is grown. They are teaching children about nutrition through local food tastings, farm and farmer visits, cooking demonstrations and take home produce. The Worcester...

Food and Nutrition Farming

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