USDA Press Releases

WASHINGTON, May 20, 2016 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today celebrated the 80th anniversary of the Rural Electrification Act (REA) and announced funding to build and upgrade rural electric infrastructure in five states. "Eighty years ago today, President Roosevelt signed the law which charged...

WASHINGTON, May 19, 2016 - U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today released a statement on the Organic Trade Association's report that the organic sector posted its largest-ever dollar gain in 2015, with total organic product sales growing by $4.2 billion, reaching $43.3 billion. "America's...

WASHINGTON, May 19, 2016 — Six universities have been awarded nearly $4 million in funding by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to help fight obesity and improve the health of our nation's children, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today. Secretary Vilsack also announced that USDA...

WASHINGTON, May 18, 2016 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack issued the following statement today in response to a study by the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) that found the U.S. agriculture sector will increase output if the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) is passed. "Today's ITC report...

WASHINGTON, May 18, 2016 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced the availability of $21 million to support the development of regional systems in sustainable bioenergy and biobased products, as well as education and training for the next generation of scientists that will expand...

WASHINGTON, May 17, 2016 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced an increase to the fiscal year 2016 Overall Allotment Quantity (OAQ) for domestic sugar, reassigned some of the projected surplus sugar marketing allotments among processors, and reassigned part of the surplus cane...

WASHINGTON, May 17, 2016 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell met today with Forest Service Regional Foresters to discuss preparations for anticipated significant wildland fire potential in 2016. The briefing comes as the 2016 fire season has begun with five times...

WASHINGTON, May 17, 2016 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced the availability of $10.7 million in funding for research that could solve critical water problems in rural and agricultural watersheds across the United States. This funding is available through the Agriculture and...

WASHINGTON, May 16, 2016 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today confirmed that the first shipment of U.S. beef recently arrived in South Africa following the reopening of the South African market earlier this year. "The arrival of U.S. beef in South Africa represents another important...

WASHINGTON, May 16, 2016 – USDA Rural Housing Service Administrator Tony Hernandez today announced a series of changes that will make it faster and cheaper for homeowners to refinance USDA mortgages. "These changes reaffirm the Obama Administration's commitment to middle-class Americans, and I am...