Farmers

This post is part of the Science Tuesday feature series on the USDA blog. Check back each week as we showcase stories and news from the USDA's rich science and research portfolio. Earlier this month, the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), released the latest count of farms in the...

Today’s reality is that Federal budgets are declining and agencies must address the change without sacrificing quality service to the American people. USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), as part of USDA’s Blueprint for Stronger Service, is committed to making the best use of...

USDA works everyday to help create jobs in rural America – without waiting for others in Washington to act. Last week, as a part of President Obama’s White House Rural Council, we announced efforts to spur economic growth by helping businesses take advantage of the productivity of America’s farmers...

A blueprint guides the decisions of an entire team of craftspeople toward a common goal of creating something that serves a purpose and withstands time and the elements. Over several decades now, U.S. agriculture has become the second most-productive sector of our economy. Today, net farm income is...

As America works towards an economy that’s built to last, we must make sure to provide American workers with the skills they need to compete. If we want to build an economy that makes, creates and innovates; if we want to usher in a new era for American manufacturing and American-produced energy...

This week reminded us that American agriculture continues to be a bright spot in our nation's economy. Following strong numbers last year, we learned that farm income is up again in 2011 – with a 28 percent increase in net income. Our farm exports this year hit a new record high of $137 billion...

The economy its affect on agriculture was a common theme among leaders of the (former) Future Farmers of America who met with Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack as part of the National FFA State President’s Conference.

The people of Winston County, Mississippi faced many of the same problems as other rural communities across the nation: declining population, rising prices, and family farmers in need of capital, business tools, and new markets for their products. But they were determined to overcome these...

Donn Teske, farmer and President of the Kansas Farmers’ Union, is optimistic. He believes that small and mid-sized farms are making successful inroads to improve their market power and these efforts have great potential. Donn himself operates a fifth generation, 2,000 acre organic farm and ranch in...

We’re just finishing a trio of new videos introducing programs within the Rural Development mission area that can be used to support local and regional food systems. Prairieland Dairy of Hallam, Nebraska had a vision: they wanted to expand their operation to meet growing demand for sustainable...