USDA Press Releases

WASHINGTON, Mar. 1, 2016 – The Obama Administration announced today that the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council chair position will rotate from U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, effective March 2016. This transition builds upon the...

WASHINGTON, Feb. 29, 2016 – Today, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced a major step to make it easier for participants in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) to access nutritious foods. The WIC Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) Final Rule will...

WASHINGTON, Feb. 29, 2016 - Agriculture Secretary Vilsack today announced $18 million in grants will be available to strengthen research and teaching at historically black land-grant universities during a meeting with the 1890's Council in Washington. The grants are available through the 1890...

WASHINGTON, Feb. 26, 2016 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced an investment of $25 million targeted to help agriculture producers improve water quality in high-priority streams and rivers across the country. Through the National Water Quality Initiative (NWQI), USDA's Natural...

Since 2009, USDA's partnership with America's rural communities has supported the emergence of a more vibrant, diverse rural economy led by makers, creators and innovators. Under the leadership of President Obama and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, USDA has made significant and transformative...

WASHINGTON, Feb. 23, 2016 – As part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) ongoing efforts to boost opportunity in rural communities, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today awarded six low-interest loans to local governments and community organizations that will spur rural economic...

Earlier today, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack issued a statement on the growth of USDA's BioPreferred Program, which has certified more than 2,500 products in 100 different product categories. The most recent product to be certified biobased by USDA's BioPreferred Program is Tide detergent from...

WASHINGTON, Feb. 18, 2016 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today issued the following statement on news that Procter & Gamble's Tide detergent will soon release Tide PurClean, a recently "certified biobased" product through USDA's BioPreferred Program: "Biobased products pump $369 billion into...

WASHINGTON, Feb. 18, 2016 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced a new step to support farmers transitioning to certified organic production, by expanding a crop insurance option to allow producers to purchase insurance coverage that better reflects their product's actual value. The...

WASHINGTON, Feb. 16, 2016 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services Kevin Concannon today announced a proposed rule designed to provide Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participants increased access to healthy foods by requiring...