USDA Press Releases

WASHINGTON, Aug. 20, 2015 - U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack today made the following statement: "This year, we are experiencing yet another devastating wildfire season, particularly in the drought-ravaged West. Climate change, drought, fuel buildup, insects and disease are increasing the...

WASHINGTON, Aug. 20, 2015 – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack today made the following statement regarding the loss of three U.S. Forest Service firefighters near Twisp, Wash. An additional U.S. Forest Service firefighter and two Washington State Department of Natural Resources firefighters...

WASHINGTON, August 14, 2015— Today, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will invest an additional $5 million to help Ohio, Michigan and Indiana improve water quality in the western Lake Erie basin. These investments will enable the...

ASHLAND, Va., Aug. 13, 2015 – Today, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Under Secretary Lisa Mensah joined Under Secretary Kevin Concannon of the Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services, community members, and residents of the Laurel Woods Apartments in Ashland, Va., to celebrate...

WASHINGTON, August 13, 2015 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced the 2015 USDA Forest Service's National Urban and Community Forestry Challenge grant recipients. USDA is providing $795,447 in funding to support projects that will help enhance urban forest stewardship, support new...

WHITE HALL, Ala., Aug. 12, 2015 - U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack is in Alabama today to announce $4.9 million in new funding for projects that will protect public safety and health, improve water and wastewater infrastructure and create expanded economic opportunities in rural Alabama. "The...

WASHINGTON, Aug. 11, 2015 - The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization will host a conference on Thursday, Aug. 13th in Owasso, Oklahoma. This event will provide small business owners located in rural areas with opportunities to learn...

RWANDA, Aug. 10, 2015 – Agriculture Deputy Secretary Krysta Harden today announced that seven new school feeding projects could benefit more than 2.5 million children in Africa and Central America. The projects were awarded as part of the McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child...

WASHINGTON, Aug. 7, 2015 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced that the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma will become the 52nd government entity to operate the Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP). The program is part of USDA's efforts to improve the health and wellbeing...

WASHINGTON, August 7, 2015 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced $63 million in loans and grants for 264 renewable energy and energy efficiency projects nationwide that USDA is supporting through its Rural Energy for America Program (REAP). "This funding will have far-reaching economic...