Radio Features

USDA is seeking to help rebuild the U.S. food system in a way that will help make it stronger and more equitable. In this week's Agriculture USA, Stephanie Ho takes a deeper dive.

PARTICIPANTS: Stephanie Ho. Deputy Undersecretary Mae Wu. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. Senior nutrition advisor, Kumar Chandran.

As the threat of wildfires worsens, the President calls for a whole of government effort to fight fires. Stephanie Ho has the story.

PARTICIPANTS: Stephanie Ho and President Joe Biden.

One USDA priority is to transform the nation's food system, to make it more resilient and able to withstand any future crisis. Stephanie Ho has the story.

PARTICIPANTS: Stephanie Ho. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. Deputy Undersecretary Mae Wu. Senior nutrition advisor, Kumar Chandran.

What were the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on global agricultural trade? Stephanie Ho has this report.

PARTICIPANTS: Stephanie Ho and senior USDA economist Shawn Arita.

Experts say we're making great progress in generating power from renewable sources, but the power grid needs help. Here's Gary Crawford.


PARTICIPANTS: Gary Crawford. Bill Cherrier, CEO of Central Iowa Power Cooperative. Katie Sieben, Chairwoman of Minnesota Public Utilities Commission.

A final rule in the Federal Register requires contingency plans for handling animals in regulated facilities in times of emergency, yet what might those plans consist of? Rod Bain reports.


PARTICIPANTS: Rod Bain and Jeanie Lin of USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Starting up a new small-scale meat processing plant is risky, but experts say it can be done under the right conditions. Gary Crawford has more.


PARTICIPANTS: Gary Crawford. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. Producers Justin Tupper and Mark Gardiner. Dr. Glyunn Tonsor with Kansas State University. Dr. Dustin Aherin with Rabobank. Dr. Mary Hindrickson, social scientist with University of Missouri.

Markets are calmer now after USDA's acreage report last week brought out the bulls in the corn and soybean markets. Gary Crawford has this report.


PARTICIPANTS: Gary Crawford. USDA Chief Economist Seth Meyer. Lance Honig, Chief of the Crops Branch of USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service.

Farmers have made some somewhat unusual increases in plantings of several crops. Gary Crawford has more.


PARTICIPANTS: Gary Crawford. USDA Chief Economist Seth Meyer. Lance Honig, Chief of the Crops Branch of USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service.

Producers in drought impacts areas continue to worry how their crops and livestock might fare as excessive dryness intensifies. Rod Bain reports.

PARTICIPANTS: Rod Bain and USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey

USDA is looking for partners to help conserve the nation's wetlands. Stephanie Ho reports.

PARTICIPANTS: Stephanie Ho and Carrie Lindig, NRCS Easement Programs Division Director