Rural Development

On April 10, 2024, I received a call from my dad asking me to come help him at our family farm there had been an accident. The front axle of my dad’s tractor had broken in half, and he had jumped off the tractor before it tipped over. When I arrived at the farm, my dad couldn’t walk. I called a...

October is National Cooperative Month, and the theme, "The Future is Cooperative," anticipates the increasingly vital role cooperatives play in enhancing the quality of life in rural areas. At USDA Rural Development, we recognize the significance of these businesses in fostering economic growth...

When Congress enacted the Cooperative Marketing Act of 1926, it directed the USDA to create a range of federal services in support of producer-owned cooperatives. For nearly 100 years, USDA has gathered statistics, conducted research, provided education, and offered cooperative development to...

To mark Co-op month, we honor James Wadsworth, the USDA Cooperative Services Branch Chief. Jim has been the caretaker of the Agricultural Cooperative Statistics program, which provides aggregated data on and to the agricultural co-op community. This time series is 100 years old and allows...

How can the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) build on innovation to better support sustainable American agriculture? Tackling that complex question was the driving force behind our inaugural USDA Innovation Symposium. USDA’s diverse mission requirements in technology and tools make creativity...

“It’s been great to have a team that’s not afraid to let me share my opinion, share my identity. I feel like in this space, I’ve been proud of who I am.”

Today, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack kicked off National Homeownership Month. Each year, as part of this nationwide celebration, USDA highlights programs that help people in rural and Tribal areas buy, build and repair affordable homes.

For the people living on Smith Island, the water matters. But it’s about more than the beautiful views of the Chesapeake Bay from the picturesque island ten miles from the mainland. The multi-generational residents depend on the surrounding Chesapeake Bay for their livelihoods. For many, crabbing...

On March 26, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) held the first Regional Equity Convening at Carhartt Headquarters in Dearborn, Michigan in partnership with Carhartt and the State of Michigan. Regional leaders and local stakeholders from across the Midwest were invited to learn about the...

When Green Technologies, LLC began operations in 1999, sustainability was an early concept in the agricultural industry. Still, the company remained dedicated to growing as a market leader in sustainability and innovation. Now, as the company celebrates 25 years, there is a push from all sides of...