Radio Page

National Cooperative Month this October provides recognition for the importance of rural utility services such as electricity and telecommunications. (Rod Bain and Rural Utilities Service Administrator Andrew Berke)

Rural Utilities Service Administrator Andrew Berke explains how the cooperative business model works.

Rural Utilities Service Administrator Andrew Berke talks about the history and theme of National Cooperative Month.

The Chief of USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service says recent increases in funding and outreach are behind new applicants of various conservation programs. (Rod Bain and Chief Terry Cosby)

One of the many regions of the world suffering a reduction in agricultural productivity is Sub-Saharan Africa. (Gary Crawford. Dr. Tom Thompson with Virginia Tech University. Ruramiso Mashumba, Zimbabwean farmer)

Zimbabwean farmer, Ruramiso Mashumba, telling a Washington, D.C. panel discussion on agricultural productivity that sometimes the programs to help small farmers in developing countries are the programs that are keeping them from access to modern farm technology.

Zimbabwean farmer, Ruramiso Mashumba, telling a Washington, D.C. panel discussion on agricultural productivity that productivity is falling in her country partially due to the lack of new crop varieties.

Here are some highlights from USDA's Prospective Plantings Report. (Gary Crawford)

Applications are now being accepted for the latest round of Rural Energy for America Program project funding - with some new elements included. (Rod Bain and Secretary Tom Vilsack)

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack explains the two categories of funding under USDA's Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) as well as possible uses for funding.