Radio Features

It was the most devastating December tornado outbreak on record, hitting Kentucky especially hard. Although it's been two months since the storms hit, recovery is just in the early stages. Farmers were hit particularly hard by the storms. On this edition of Agriculture USA Gary Crawford talks with Agriculture Department officials and others about some of the USDA programs that can help when disaster strikes.

PARTICIPANTS: Gary Crawford. Dean Schamore, Executive Director of USDA's Farm Service Agency in Kentucky. Greg Stone, State Conservationist in Kentucky for USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service. Dr. Katie VanValiin, University of Kentucky beef specialist.

USDA recently announced its latest round of funding for two programs focused on preventing plant pests and disease from entering in our country and impacting important crops. Rod Bain reports.


PARTICIPANTS: Rod Bain and Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Jenny Moffitt.

Have you already broken your New Year's resolution to start an exercise program and stick with it? Maybe you started wrong. Gary Crawford has more.


PARTICIPANTS: Gary Crawford and Rutgers University Extension Health and Nutrition expert, Karen Ensle.

The recently formed Secretarial Advisory Committee on Urban Agriculture will provide input on USDA urban ag policies and programs. Rod Bain reports.


PARTICIPANTS: Rod Bain and Natural Resources Conservation Service Chief Terry Cosby

How have recent drought totals, mountain snowpack accumulations, and warmer seasonal weather raised concerns about water availability out West this year? Rod Bain reports.


PARTICIPANTS: Rod Bain and USDA meteorologist, Brad Rippey

The USDA is launching a program to find the best ways to produce foods in a climate-friendly way--foods more consumers want. Gary Crawford reports.


PARTICIPANTS: Gary Crawford. Former President John F. Kennedy. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack. Under Secretary of Agriculture Robert Bonnie. Apollo 11 astronaut, Neil Armstrong.

Recent cases of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in wild birds and commercial flocks has prompted reminders of boosted biosecurity efforts for poultry owners and operations. Rod Bain reports.


PARTICIPANTS: Rod Bain. USDA Chief Veterinarian Rosemary Sifford. Koren Custer of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service - Wildlife Services.

The USDA's Equity Commission now has its full cadre of members and is about to start work. Gary Crawford has this report.


PARTICIPANTS: Gary Crawford. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Deputy Secretary Jewel Bronaugh.

USDA's program that rewards use of cover crops by discounting crop insurance premiums is back for another year. Gary Crawford has more.


PARTICIPANTS: Gary Crawford. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. Marcia Bunger, Administrator of USDA's Risk Management Agency. Steve Peterson, Associate Administrator of USDA's Farm Service Agency.

There's a new USDA effort to find ways to help farmers produce climate-smart products and make more money, too. Gary Crawford has more.


PARTICIPANTS: Gary Crawford. Former President John F. Kennedy. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. Under Secretary Robert Bonnie. Apollo 11 astronaut, Neil Armstrong.

An inaugural webinar series focuses on several aspects of industrial hemp research and development. Rod Bain reports.


PARTICIPANTS: Rod Bain and Zachary Stansell of USDA's Agricultural Research Service