Blog Archives

In Scanning the Conservation Horizon, a report published by the National Wildlife Federation, with support from the U.S. Forest Service and other partners, scientists describe climate change as an increasing threat to species and ecosystems.

Some people dream about visiting the sandy beaches of Hawaii. But New Jersey native Ruth D’Amico always dreamed of exploring the mountains and oceans of Alaska.

The U.S. Forest Service fisheries biologist was always curious about nature and hoped to one day feed this love for wonder in Alaska. Hailing from a small town, D’Amico lived nowhere near a national forest and yearned to be around Alaska’s mountains that she read about as a child. Little did she know that she would one day call those Alaskan mountains home.

During tough times families can find it increasingly difficult to prepare cost-friendly meals. The SNAP-Ed Connection provides tools and resources to health educators that help dispel low income families make healthy eating an attainable goal. One of those tools is the recipe finder, an online tool that allows you to quickly locate pre-analyzed and budget-friendly recipes that may support your nutrition education goals or lesson plans. Over 600 healthy recipes are right at your fingertips!

Tough economic conditions can make it difficult to access healthy, fresh, and affordable produce. That's why USDA is pleased to announce this year’s grants recipients of the Farmers Market Promotion Program. This important program provides grants to local farmers and producers so they can grow their income while making make fresh, healthy food available to more families across the country – particularly in low income and underserved communities.

Like many national forests, Washington’s Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest is home to visiting hikers, nature and recreation enthusiasts, fishers, and bird watchers.

Yesterday Isabella Pellet held the grand opening for its new facility in Weidman, just a few minutes outside of Mount Pleasant.

The Request for Application for the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP) is now available, and applications are due by November 22, 2011.  Projects will be awarded in 2012 and performed between October 2012 and September 2013.  Approximately $19 million is expected to be available.

The program is now entering its fourth year, and has already funded over a hundred projects and provided training, education, outreach, and technical assistance to more than 5,000 beginning farmers or ranchers.   Each year there are many more applicants than awards, so if you are interested in applying be sure to read all of the application criteria carefully and submit a proposal that addresses all of the requirements.  Examples of past successful applications can be found here, and a full list of current projects can be found here.

We know that a healthy nation starts with healthy people.  A good diet helps kids stay active and focused at school.  And staying healthy can increase your productivity on the job.

But sometimes families who want to make healthier eating choices are confused by conflicting messages, or don't have time to do the research.

That’s why, earlier this year, I launched a new, easy to understand food icon, called MyPlate.  It’s a clear and simple visual showing what a healthy meal looks like on your plate.

Urban agriculture and gardening can be an important tool in confronting several key challenges that Americans face: from supporting farm viability in and around urban areas to improving access to healthful, affordable food to realizing the potential of rural-urban linkages.

El rostro de Estados Unidos - y de la agricultura estadounidense - está cambiando. El número de granjas en los Estados Unidos ha crecido un 4 por ciento y según los resultados del censo más reciente del Departamento de Agricultura (“U.S. Department of Agriculture” o USDA por sus siglas en inglés) en los últimos cinco años ha aumentado la diversidad de los operadores de las granjas. El Censo de 2007 registró un aumento de casi 30 por ciento en mujeres identificadas como operadoras principales de granjas. El número de los operadores agrícolas hispanos aumentó en un 10 por ciento, y los recuentos de indígenas de Estados Unidos, asiáticos y los operadores de raza negra aumentaron también. Además, la Oficina del Censo de EE.UU. informa que el número de negocios de propiedad de minorías aumentó un 45 por ciento entre 2002 y 2007.

Para reflejar la diversidad de nuestro sector agropecuario y la comunidad empresarial, el USDA está intensificando sus esfuerzos para complementar continuamente sus siete Comisiones de Asesoramiento Comercial Agrícola (“Agricultural Trade Advisory Committees” o ATACs) con nuevos miembros, especialmente aquellos que representan a minorías, mujeres o personas con discapacidad. Consideramos que las personas con antecedentes y puntos de vista diversos harán el trabajo de estos comités, y por lo tanto el de USDA, más eficaz.