Agriculture Secretary Vilsack Outlines USDA Efforts to Raise a Healthier Generation...
PORTLAND, Maine, March 14, 2013 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today outlined the need for a generational commitment to improve childhood nutrition, which will lead to a healthier generation of Americans. While health and nutrition are complex topics, Vilsack noted USDA has made significant focus on improving consumers’ access to information a...
Statement from Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on Personnel Announcements
"I am pleased to announce today the appointment of Anne MacMillan and Oscar Gonzales, Jr. as USDA Deputy Chiefs of Staff. Anne and Oscar will jointly take on the responsibilities of a number of staff members from the Office of the Secretary who have moved on to new roles at USDA and elsewhere. Anne MacMillan, who currently serves as a Senior...
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to lead U.S. Delegation at the G-8...
WASHINGTON, March 11, 2013 — Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack will lead the U.S. delegation at the G-8 International Conference on Open Data for Agriculture on April 29-30, 2013 in Washington, D.C. Open access to publicly funded agriculturally-relevant data is critical to increasing global food security....
Statement from USDA Spokesperson on Conference Spending in a Letter from...
Washington, March 7, 2013 – USDA today released the following statement on conference spending highlighted in a letter from Senator Coburn:...
Statement from USDA Spokesperson Correcting Inaccurate Reporting on Sequester Related Emails
Washington, March 5, 2013 – USDA today released the following statement correcting inaccurate reporting on sequester related emails regarding the Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS):...
Federal Agencies Announce Action Plan to Guide Protection of Indian Sacred...
WASHINGTON – As part of President Obama's commitment to honoring a nation-to-nation relationship with Indian Country, four cabinet-level departments today joined the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation in releasing an action plan to strengthen the protection of Indian sacred sites and provide greater tribal access to these heritage a...
USDA Kicks Off National Nutrition Month by Highlighting Breakfast
WASHINGTON, March 4, 2013 — Today, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack kicked off an exciting National Nutrition Month by marking the start of National School Breakfast Week (March 4-8), a time that highlights the importance of promoting healthy choices for our nation's children throughout the school day....
USDA to Simplify Guaranteed Farm Loans by Setting Thresholds on Interest...
WASHINTON, March 1, 2013— The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced an interim rule that sets thresholds on the interest rates charged by lenders on guaranteed farm ownership and operating loans. The changes will amend guidelines for interest rates and establish new policies that clearly set the maximum interest rate lenders may c...
Deputy Secretary Meets Tribal Leaders, Hears From Stakeholders in South Dakota
Brookings, S.D., February 28, 2013 –Deputy Agriculture Secretary Kathleen Merrigan hosted two roundtable meetings in South Dakota this week to further USDA tribal consultation efforts and to obtain input from stakeholders on education and extension issues. During the meetings, Merrigan said USDA is moving aggressively to promote business d...
USDA Invests in Research to End Hunger and Address Food Security...
BROOKINGS, S.D., Feb. 27, 2013—Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan visited South Dakota State University today to announce more than $75 million in grants for research, education and extension activities to ensure greater food security in the United States and around the world. The awards were made to teams at 21 U.S. universities to c...
