USDA Extends Dairy Margin Protection Program Deadline
WASHINGTON, Sept. 22, 2015 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that the deadline to enroll for the dairy Margin Protection Program for coverage in 2016 has been extended until Nov. 20, 2015. The voluntary program, established by the 2014 Farm Bill, provides financial assistance to participating farmers when the margin – the dif...
USDA Commits $2.5 Million to Expand New Farmer Education
PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 22, 2015 – Agriculture Deputy Secretary Krysta Harden today announced that $2.5 million in grants is now available for projects to educate new and underserved farmers about more than 20 U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency programs that can provide financial, disaster or technical assistance to the a...
Historic conservation campaign protects greater sage-grouse
DENVER, CO – An unprecedented, landscape-scale conservation effort across the western United States has significantly reduced threats to the greater sage-grouse across 90 percent of the species’ breeding habitat and enabled the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) to conclude that the charismatic rangeland bird does not warrant protection under the...
Deputy Secretary Harden to Lead Sub-Saharan Africa Trade Mission
WASHINGTON, Sept. 18, 2015 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced that Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Krysta Harden will lead a trade mission to Accra, Ghana, Nov. 17 to Nov. 20, to expand export opportunities for U.S. agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa....
Secretary Vilsack Announces Appointment of Karla Thieman as USDA Chief of...
WASHINGTON, Sept. 18, 2015 — Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today the appointment of Karla Thieman as Chief of Staff for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The position was recently vacated by Brian Baenig....
U.S. Tall Wood Building Prize Competition Winners Revealed
NEW YORK, Sept. 17, 2015 — Today, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, in partnership with the Softwood Lumber Board and the Binational Softwood Lumber Council, announced the winners of the U.S. Tall Wood Building Prize Competition. The two winning development teams were granted a combined $3 million in funding to support the development of t...
USDA Partners with EPA, Offers New Resources to Support Water Quality...
LINCOLN, Neb., Sept. 17, 2015 - This week, following the recent announcement of $2 million in Conservation Innovation Grants to support water quality trading markets, the Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) hosted a joint workshop to expand markets for water quality benefits generated on farms, ranches...
USDA Helps Reduce High Energy Costs in Remote Rural Areas
WASHINGTON, Sept. 16, 2015 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today awarded nine grants to help reduce energy costs for residents in remote rural areas where the cost of producing electricity is extremely high....
USDA and EPA Join with Private Sector, Charitable Organizations to Set...
NEW YORK, Sept. 16, 2015 – Today, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Environmental Protection Agency Deputy Administrator Stan Meiburg announced the United States’ first-ever national food waste reduction goal, calling for a 50-percent reduction by 2030. As part of the effort, the federal government will lead a new partnership with charitable or...
Food Retailers, Agriculture Industry, and Charitable Organizations Support First National Goal...
NEW YORK, Sept. 16, 2015 — Today, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Gina McCarthy announced the United States’ first-ever national food waste reduction goal, calling for a 50-percent reduction by 2030. As part of the effort, the federal government will lead a new partnership with charitable org...
