USDA Press Releases

WASHINGTON, March 6, 2015 – As part of the Obama Administration's commitment to making government information more readily available and useful, and in an effort to help more people discover public lands and waterways near their own communities, the U.S. Department of the Interior, in cooperation...

WASHINGTON, March 6, 2015 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will be awarding over $30 million in grants to help schools prepare healthy meals for their children. Twenty-five million dollars in grants will help schools purchase needed...

WASHINGTON, March 5, 2015 - Agriculture Secretary Vilsack today made the following statement on the departure of Director of Communications Matt Paul: "Matt Paul has been a close friend and advisor to me for nearly 20 years. Since he joined my team as Governor of Iowa in 1998 and throughout our work...

WASHINGTON, March 4, 2015 – Leaders from six state agriculture departments and 21 U.S. agribusinesses and organizations will accompany U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Under Secretary Michael Scuse on a trade mission to Southeast Asia from March 9 to March 13 to expand export opportunities for...

WASHINGTON, March 4, 2015 – A new study from the Rudd Center for Food Policy & Obesity at the University of Connecticut shows that children are eating healthier food at school and discarding less food since updated healthy school meal standards took effect in 2012. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack...

WASHINGTON, March 2, 2015 – The Partnership for the 21st Century Conservation Service Corps recently recognized a Forest Service employee as a 2015 "21CSC Champion of the Year" for her outstanding contributions in connecting people to the land. Michelle Mitchell, a regional program leader for...

WASHINGTON, March 2, 2015 – In a speech at the 2015 National Anti-Hunger Policy Conference today about the extent of childhood hunger in America and the impact of USDA programs on reducing food insecurity, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced more than $27 million in grants to fund innovative...

WASHINGTON, Feb. 27, 2015 — Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today that a one-time extension will be provided to producers for the new safety-net programs established by the 2014 Farm Bill, known as Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC). The final day to update...

WASHINGTON, Feb. 27, 2015 – A bipartisan group of former U.S. Agriculture Secretaries, representing all past Administrations from those of President Jimmy Carter to President George W. Bush, today issued the following open letter urging Congress to pass Trade Promotion Authority. The former...

Phoenix, Ariz., Feb. 26, 2015 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced the availability of up to $8.7 million in funding for bioenergy research and education efforts as well as publishing the final rule for a program that provides incentives for farmers and forest landowners interested in...