Search

PINE RIDGE INDIAN RESERVATION, S.D., Sept. 29, 2015 - Today, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack awarded $2.6 million in grants for seven projects to support economic development and improve the economy on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. "Investing in and rebuilding hard-hit communities are...

PINE RIDGE, S.D., Sept. 29, 2015 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today awarded nearly $20 million through 385 grants to help support the start-up or expansion of rural small businesses. "These grants will strengthen the economic fabric of our rural small towns and communities by providing...

WASHINGTON, September 28, 2015 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced $8.4 million to support the work of 54 partner organizations in 35 states to provide training, outreach and technical assistance for socially disadvantaged, tribal and veteran farmers and ranchers. An...

Over six million Americans in rural areas live in poverty, including about 1.5 million children. And in many of these communities, high rates of poverty have persisted for generations: over 300 rural counties have had poverty rates of over 20 percent in every Census since 1980. As President Obama...

Washington, Sept. 23, 2015 - USDA Chief Economist Robert Johansson has announced William (Bill) Chambers has been appointed to USDA's World Agricultural Outlook Board and will serve as chair of the Interagency Commodity Estimates Committee (ICEC) for wheat. Mr. Chambers has been a commodity analyst...

WASHINGTON, Sept. 22, 2015 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that the deadline to enroll for the dairy Margin Protection Program for coverage in 2016 has been extended until Nov. 20, 2015. The voluntary program, established by the 2014 Farm Bill, provides financial assistance to...

PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 22, 2015 – Agriculture Deputy Secretary Krysta Harden today announced that $2.5 million in grants is now available for projects to educate new and underserved farmers about more than 20 U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency programs that can provide financial...

DENVER, CO – An unprecedented, landscape-scale conservation effort across the western United States has significantly reduced threats to the greater sage-grouse across 90 percent of the species' breeding habitat and enabled the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) to conclude that the charismatic...

WASHINGTON, Sept. 18, 2015 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced that Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Krysta Harden will lead a trade mission to Accra, Ghana, Nov. 17 to Nov. 20, to expand export opportunities for U.S. agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa. "Two years ago, I led a...

WASHINGTON, Sept. 18, 2015 — Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today the appointment of Karla Thieman as Chief of Staff for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The position was recently vacated by Brian Baenig. "Karla brings to this position strong leadership, sound judgement, and a...