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MEDIA RELEASE The U.S. Department of Agriculture has designated 31 counties in Missouri as primary natural disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by the recent drought. The counties are Hawaii and Maui. “Our hearts go out to those Hawaii farmers and ranchers affected by recent natural disasters,” Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said. “President […]

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MEDIA RELEASE Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced Hispanic and women farmers and ranchers who allege discrimination by the USDA in past decades can file claims until March 25, 2013. “Hispanic and women farmers who believe they have faced discriminatory practices from the USDA must file a claim by March 25, 2013 in order to […]

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MEDIA RELEASE As part of the Obama Administration’s all-of-the-above strategy to enhance U.S. energy security, reduce America’s reliance on imported oil and leverage our domestic energy supply, while also supporting rural economies, the U.S. Departments of Agriculture (USDA) and Energy on Wednesday announced a $41 million investment in 13 projects that will drive more efficient […]

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MEDIA RELEASE Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan have unveiled the Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food (KYF) Compass, an interactive web-based document and map highlighting USDA support for local and regional food projects and successful producer, business and community case studies. While hosting a live webinar to highlight USDA’s work […]

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MEDIA RELEASE The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) must be built to meet the evolving needs of a 21st century agricultural economy, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said Monday in presenting USDA’s Blueprint for Stronger Service, a plan that helps producers continue to drive America’s economy by streamlining operations and cutting costs. “The USDA, like families […]

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MEDIA RELEASE The number of solar panels, wind turbines and methane digesters on America’s farms and ranches has increased significantly over the past decade and there are now 8,569 operations producing their own renewable energy, according to the results of the 2009 On-Farm Renewable Energy Production Survey. Conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National […]

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MEDIA RELEASE Mayor Billy Kenoi and Kauai Mayor Bernard Carvalho met with Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack last week to discuss strategy for diversifying agriculture. Kenoi discussed farming on the Big Island, which is home to more than 4,600 farm and livestock operations, representing 62 percent of the state’s total. Kenoi and Vilsack also discussed […]

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MEDIA RELEASE Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced USDA is seeking applications to support the development and ongoing success of rural microentrepreneurs and microenterprises. Funding is available from USDA Rural Development’s Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program, which is authorized by the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (Farm Bill). The Rural Summit is an opportunity […]

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MEDIA RELEASE Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced the USDA is seeking applications to increase the production and use of renewable energy sources. Funding is available from four USDA Rural Development renewable energy programs authorized by the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (Farm Bill). “This funding will help spur investments in technologies that […]

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MEDIA RELEASE USDA will begin conducting the first national On-Farm Energy Production Survey this week. The most recent agriculture census counted more than 20,000 farms and ranches that were producing renewable energy via solar panels, wind turbines and methane digesters. This spring’s survey will further explore how this energy is generated and used. “This survey […]

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MEDIA RELEASE Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced the USDA is conducting the USDA Fruit Chemical Use Survey.  This survey, last conducted in 2007, provides data about agricultural chemical use on fruit crops in the United States.    “The Fruit Chemical Use Survey gives producers the opportunity to explain how they use agricultural chemicals responsibly […]

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MEDIA RELEASE This spring, USDA is conducting the first-ever, wide-scale survey of organic farming in the United States, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said, to find out how the growth of organic farming is changing the face of U.S. agriculture.  “The Organic Production Survey is a direct response to the growing interest in organics among consumers, […]

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