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Forests a Fascination Since High School for Legislative Affairs Specialist

October 28, 2014 Robert Westover, Office of Communication, U.S. Forest Service

When Katie Armstrong read “So You Want to be a Forester,” like many high school students she wasn’t sure what career path she wanted to follow. So she decided to attend a summer forestry camp offered by Michigan Tech. After the camp she was hooked. Then she set her goal on attending Michigan State...

Forestry

The Real Story Behind Bats

October 27, 2014 Cynthia M. Sandeno, Eastern Region, U.S. Forest Service

As Halloween approaches, it is easy to get caught up in the mystery and fear that surround bats, but the truth about bats is that they are fascinating animals vital for a healthy environment and economy. As we celebrate National Bat Week, set your concerns aside. We need bats, and bats need us – now...

Forestry

Co-op Month: Much to Celebrate, But Much More to Do!

October 24, 2014 Doug O'Brien, Acting Under Secretary, USDA Rural Development

There is so much to celebrate during National Cooperative Month in October, as the U.S. co-op business sector is generating about $650 billion in annual sales and accounts for more than 2 million jobs. But the cooperative business model remains a “best-kept secret” for far too many people who could...

Rural

Federal Employees Help to Knock Out Hunger

October 15, 2014 Karen T. Comfort, Feds Feed Families National Program Manager, Agricultural Marketing Service Deputy Associate Administrator/Chief Operating Officer

When I became National Program Manager for the 2014 Feds Feeds Families campaign—the sixth annual, nationwide food drive of Federal employees—I challenged Federal employees nationwide to help knock out hunger by supporting this year’s initiative. I had every confidence that our Nation’s civil...

Food and Nutrition

Variety and Consistency are the Pillars to CentroNia's "Eat Healthy, Live Healthy" Program

October 15, 2014 Brooke Hardison, USDA Office of Communications

The following guest blog is part of our Cafeteria Stories series, highlighting the efforts of hard working school nutrition professionals who are dedicated to making the healthy choice the easy choice at schools across the country. We thank them for sharing their stories! By Bea Zuluaga, Food and...

Food and Nutrition Initiatives

Wisconsin Welcomes the World

October 10, 2014 Phil Karsting, Foreign Agricultural Service Administrator

Wisconsin is known worldwide for its cheese, but what about its cranberries, ginseng, urban agriculture or innovative biofuels research? Last week, I had the opportunity to help expand the global reputation of Wisconsin beyond dairy. I shared the diversity of American agriculture with...

USDA Results

Harvest Time in the People's Garden: A Labor of Love

October 09, 2014 Wayne Maloney, USDA Office of Communications

All summer, visitors to the National Capitol Region have been seeing monuments, public buildings, works of art and experiencing music and theater; however, many were unexpectedly surprised by the brilliant hues of purple, red and green emanating from USDA’s People’s Garden. But those colors didn’t...

Initiatives

Raising the Bar: From Healthy Schools to Healthy Districts

October 09, 2014 Kevin Concannon, Under Secretary, Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services

Recently, I had the pleasure of participating in the Alliance for a Healthier Generation’s Leaders Summit, where I met several inspiring school wellness champions who were eager to share their stories of success. In today’s installment in our Cafeteria Stories series, Kimberly Norton, a principal of...

Food and Nutrition

E. Kika De La Garza Science Fellow Uses Fresh Way to Find Body Fat

October 07, 2014 Dr. Annie Donoghue, Research Leader Poultry Production and Product Safety Research Unit, ARS

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 USDA’s rich science and research portfolio. To celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month, USDA’s Research, Education, and Economics mission area will highlight those...

Research and Science

Secretary's Column: Farm to School Programs Create New Opportunities for Farmers

October 02, 2014 Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack

This October, just like every other month during the school year, school menus will feature an array of products from local and regional farmers, ranchers, and fishermen. Kids of all ages will dig up lessons in school gardens, visit farms, harvest pumpkins, and don hair nets for tours of processing...

Food and Nutrition Farming
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