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We also released a new 2015 progress report detailing the impact of USDA investments in rural America over the past year. The report provides an overview of wide-ranging activities that resulted in nearly $30 billion in investments in rural America that helped to strengthen local economies for the families who call rural America home. The report also features success stories from each state. Among the more than 170,000 USDA Rural Development projects funded in 2015 was a loan to the Valley Telephone Cooperative in Raymondville, Texas, enabling residents to access fast Internet at the local library that helps them apply for jobs, file their taxes and take advantage of web-based education programs. You can find more highlights or read the full report on our website. Throughout 2016, we’ll be taking a look back at how eight years of historic investments from the Obama Administration and USDA have supported our nation’s producers, yielding positive #USDAResults for the American people. Tune in each month for a new chapter, beginning this month with a celebration of the American farmers and ranchers who work tirelessly to ensure our food supply is safe, plentiful and nutritious: medium.com/usda-results.
Secretary Vilsack and Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus flew out to the guided-missile destroyer USS William P. Lawrence to witness it replenishing its tanks with alternative fuel as part of the Department of the Navy’s Great Green Fleet initiative.
Shiitake Mushrooms: A Commercial Forest Farming Enterprise Helping landowners care for their forests and strengthen local economies is an important goal of the U.S. Forest Service, USDA National Agroforestry Center and their partnering organizations. According to Ken Mudge of Cornell University, any farmer with a woodlot and the drive to diversify should consider forest-cultivated shiitake mushrooms. They are well suited to the increasing demand for locally produced, healthy foods.
The face of agriculture is changing. At USDA, we want you to know that whether you come from a farming background or not, grew up in a rural, suburban or urban area, that there are opportunities for you to get involved in agriculture. It is my highest priority as Deputy Secretary to ensure that beginning farmers and the growing ranks of agriculture – women, young people, immigrants, minorities, socially disadvantaged producers, returning veterans and retirees – have access to the programs and support they need.
Last week, USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) announced that effective January 12, 2016, the agency withdrew two voluntary marketing claim standards – the Grass (Forage) Fed Marketing Claim Standard and the Naturally Raised Marketing Claim Standard. The Naturally Raised Marketing Claim Standard has never been used by anyone. What does the announcement really mean to grass-fed beef producers and consumers? The honest answer is nothing.
The lack of women and minority representation in the professional agricultural workforce has become so pronounced that in STEM Stratplan 2013 President Obama called for an “all-hands-on-deck approach to science, technology, engineering, and math” (STEM) education.
The 2017 Census of Agriculture is still two years away but, at the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), we work hard to continually improve the data we collect. The agriculture census conducted every five years is the one time we collect demographic information on today’s farmers and ranchers.
New Efforts To Address America’s Growing Addiction Crisis (NPR)[AUDIO] In 2014 more than 47,000 Americans died from a drug overdose. The CDC reports that drug-related death rates in Appalachia and the Southwest were especially high, but in almost every county in the country, the numbers are rising.
Several members of the U.S. Navy's top brass were in San Diego Wednesday to celebrate "The Great Green Fleet", one of its first to be powered by a blend of traditional fuels and biofuels. Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus was on hand at NAS North Island in Coronado Wednesday, congratulating crews as they sail from San Diego.
U.S. Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack — the former Iowa governor — is in California today to observe a special Naval operation. It’s called the “Great Green Fleet” initiative. “Our U.S. Navy has set a goal of establishing half of their fuel needs being met through biofuel, domestically produced,” Vilsack says. 'Great Green Fleet’ leaves on 7-month deployment [VIDEO] (Fox5 San Diego) Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus came to San Diego Wednesday to send off three “green” San Diego-based warships on a seven-month deployment. The cruiser USS Mobile Bay, and destroyers Stockdale and William P. Lawrence are sailing as part of a carrier strike group led by the aircraft carrier John C. Stennis, which is based in Bremerton, Washington.
With Navy Secretary Ray Mabus on hand for the occasion, the biofuel-powered ships of the new “Great Green Fleet” left San Diego Bay on Wednesday for a Pacific Ocean deployment.
The Navy is launching a carrier strike group to be powered partly by biofuel, calling it a milestone toward easing the military's reliance on foreign oil. The maritime branch is touting the warships as the centerpiece of its "Great Green Fleet." The U.S. Department of Agriculture is bringing a new program to Ohio that hopes to combat rural poverty by boosting local economies. The government’s StrikeForce program has helped poor communities gain access to $23.5 billion in investment for hundreds of thousands of projects since its founding in 2010.
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack helped students package thousands of meals as part of a service project at Central College. The former Iowa Governor spoke to a crowd as part of Martin Luther King, Jr Day activities in the Maytag Student Center.
High Level Attention to Mounting Drug Abuse Problems in Rural Areas Broadcast Date: Thu, January 21, 2016 The mounting problems resulting from substance abuse in rural areas are getting some high level attention. (Gary Crawford, President Barack Obama and Ag. Sec'y Tom Vilsack)
Broadcast Date: Thu, January 21, 2016 The progress made in improvements to rural America last year is highlighted in a new USDA report. (Rod Bain and Rural Development Deputy Under Secretary Lillian Salerno)
Broadcast Date: Thu, January 21, 2016 USDA Deputy Under Secretary Lillian Salerno shares some examples of projects and programs that Rural Development invests in to build up rural communities and economies.
Broadcast Date: Thu, January 21, 2016 USDA Rural Development Deputy Under Secretary Lillian Salerno discusses some of the numbers associated with investments in rural America last year. Broadcast Date: Wed, January 20, 2016 The Agriculture and Navy Secretaries witnessed the deployment of the first fleet of Naval vessels using biofuels in their regular operations. (Rod Bain. Secretary Tom Vilsack. Navy Secretary Ray Mabus)
Broadcast Date: Tue, January 19, 2016 A USDA microloan program now allows beginning and small farmers and ranchers to use that loan money for property purchases. (Rod Bain and Farm Service Agency Administrator Val Dolcini)
Broadcast Date: Tue, January 19, 2016 Farm Service Agency Administrator Val Dolcini explains a new USDA microloan offering tailored to beginning and smaller farmers and ranchers.
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