Secretary Vilsack Kicks off USDA Farmers Market for 20th Season
WASHINGTON, May 1, 2015 — Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack opened the 20th season of the USDA Farmers Market with a ribbon cutting ceremony this morning. USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) Administrator Anne Alonzo joined Secretary at the event and highlighted the expanded market, which now includes over 30 vendors....
Agriculture Secretary Vilsack Travels to Turkey for G20 Agriculture Ministers Meeting
WASHINGTON, April 30, 2015 – U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack will travel to Istanbul, Turkey, next week to meet his counterparts at the G20 Agriculture Ministers Meeting that will focus on food security....
Photo Hobbyist Wins Share the Experience 2014 Photo Contest
WASHINGTON, April 30, 2015 – The U.S. Department of the Interior and the U.S. Department of Agriculture today announced the winner of the 2014 “Share the Experience” photography contest and launched the 2015 contest, which gives amateur photographers the chance to showcase their skills by capturing the beauty of the nation’s public lands. The top-p...
Agriculture Secretary Vilsack Announces New Private Funds to Make Investments in...
WASHINGTON, April 29, 2015 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced the launch of two new private funds, known as Rural Business Investment Companies (RBICs), which make equity investments in rural businesses, helping them grow and create jobs....
U.S., Honduras Sign Agreement to Promote Agricultural Development and Trade
Tegucigalpa, HONDURAS, April 29, 2015 - Deputy Agriculture Secretary Krysta Harden and Honduras Secretary of Agriculture and Livestock Jacobo Paz today signed an agreement to support agricultural development and trade in Honduras....
Obama Administration Announces Eight Additional Promise Zones to Build Community Prosperity
WASHINGTON, April 28, 2015 – The Obama Administration announced today eight additional Promise Zones across the country, including six cities, one rural area, and one tribal community. Promise Zones are high poverty communities where the federal government partners with local leaders to increase economic activity, improve educational o...
Secretary Vilsack Announces Rural Schools Payments
WASHINGTON, April 27, 2015 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today that $285 million will go to 41 states and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico this year in support of local schools and roads as part of the Congressional two-year reauthorization of the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act....
USDA Awards $3.8 Million in Grants for Nanotechnology Research
WASHINGTON, April 27, 2015 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) today announced more than $3.8 million in funding to support grants focused on using nanotechnology to find solutions to societal challenges such as food security, nutrition, food safety, and environmental protection....
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Senior White House Advisor Brian Deese...
EAST LANSING, Mich. April 23, 2015 — In a speech today at Michigan State University, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack laid out a comprehensive approach to partner with agricultural producers to address the threat of climate change. Building on the creation of USDA’s Climate Hubs last year, the new initiatives will utilize voluntary, inc...
USDA Awards Almost $3 Million in Research Grants to Increase Food...
WASHINGTON, April 23, 2015 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) today announced three grants designed to boost food security by minimizing livestock losses to insects and diseases. The awards to support research, education, and Extension efforts were made through NIFA’s Agriculture and Food Resea...
