USDA Finalizes Changes to the WIC Program, Expanding Access to Healthy...
Washington, D.C., Feb. 28, 2014 – The U. S. Department of Agriculture today finalized changes to the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) to further improve the nutrition and health of the nation’s low-income pregnant women, new mothers, infants and young children. The changes – which increase access to fruit...
USDA Awards Grants to Support Research, Teaching and Extension Programs at...
WASHINGTON, February 26, 2014—Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced 76 grants totaling more than $35 million to support research, teaching and Extension activities at 1890 Historically Black Land-Grant Colleges and Universities through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). Today’s annou...
The White House and USDA Announce School Wellness Standards
WASHINGTON, Feb. 25, 2014 – Today, First Lady Michelle Obama joins U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to announce proposed guidelines for local school wellness policies....
Agriculture Secretary Announces $3 Million for a New Program to Improve...
WASHINGTON, Feb. 25, 2014 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will provide close to $3 million in technical and financial assistance for interested farmers and ranchers to help improve the health of bees, which play an important role in crop production. The funding is a focused investment to i...
USDA Announces New Grants to Help Communities Meet Water Challenges in...
WASHINGTON, Feb. 24, 2014 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today that USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) will make $6 million in grants available this year, and up to $30 million total over the next five years as part of a new initiative to provide solutions to agricultural water challenges. The grants will be use...
USDA Partners With United States Special Operations Command to Support Military...
WASHINGTON, February 21, 2014- Today, Agriculture Deputy Secretary Krysta Harden and Admiral William H. McRaven signed a Memo of Understanding between the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) to increase support services for military families. The MOU allows the USDA supported Cooperative Extension...
Statement from Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on the 2012 Census of...
WASHINGTON, Feb. 20, 2014—Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today made the following statement on the 2012 Census of Agriculture preliminary results:...
USDA Announces Fiscal Year 2015 Farm to School Grants to Continue...
WASHINGTON, D.C., Feb. 19, 2014 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced the release of a request for applications for the third round of USDA's Farm to School grants, including the addition of a new funding track. These grants help eligible schools improve the health and wellbeing of their students and connect with local a...
Obama Administration Announces Additional Assistance to Californians Impacted by Drought
FRESNO, Calif., Feb. 14, 2014 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack joined President Barack Obama in Fresno, Calif., today to announce that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will provide additional assistance to help farmers, ranchers and residents affected by severe drought in California. At President Obama’s direction, USDA has made imp...
USDA to Invest in Prairie Pothole Landscape Effort
WASHINGTON, Feb. 14, 2014 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that up to $35 million will be provided during the next three years to help landowners conserve grasslands and wetlands in the Prairie Pothole region. The announcement was made on the Secretary's behalf by Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment Robert...
