USDA

NEW ORLEANS, May 1, 2013 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today highlighted improvements to school meals, a cornerstone of USDA’s efforts to create a generational change to improve childhood nutrition. The Secretary also discussed efforts to create new partnerships with chefs around the country to positively impact the eating habits of children.

WASHINGTON, May 1, 2013 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that the Natural Resources Conservation Service’s Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) will provide nearly $175 million in funding for up to 12.6 million additional acres of enrollment this year.

WASHINGTON, May 1, 2013 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced the selection of 110 grants to agricultural producers and rural businesses that will help create jobs and develop new products. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) remains focused on carrying out its mission, despite a time of significant budget uncertainty.

WASHINGTON, April 29, 2013 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced funding for four rural electric projects in eight states to provide reliable, affordable electricity for rural residents. USDA remains focused on carrying out its mission, despite a time of significant budget uncertainty.

WASHINGTON, April 29, 2013 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, along with Bill Gates, and U.S. Chief Technology Officer Todd Park, today kicked off a two-day international open data conference, saying that data “is among the most important commodities in agriculture” and sharing it openly increases its value. conference in Washington on Monday. G-8 leaders will meet to discuss the challenges and develop policies for online global platforms to share data from publicly funded agricultural research. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack will head the United States government delegation and USDA’s Chief Scientist, Dr. Catherine Woteki, will act as alternate head of delegation and provide scientific guidance.

WASHINGTON, April 25, 2013 -- With a goal of uniting scientific activities across borders to feed the world, agricultural leaders from the G-8 countries will begin a two-day conference in Washington on Monday. G-8 leaders will meet to discuss the challenges and develop policies for online global platforms to share data from publicly funded agricultural research. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack will head the United States government delegation and USDA’s Chief Scientist, Dr. Catherine Woteki, will act as alternate head of delegation and provide scientific guidance.

WASHINGTON, April 24, 2013 – Agriculture Secretary Vilsack today renewed a historic agreement with U.S. dairy producers to accelerate the adoption of innovative waste-to-energy projects and energy efficiency improvements on U.S. dairy farms, both of which help producers diversify revenues and reduce utility expenses on their operations.. The pact extends a Memorandum of Understanding signed in Copenhagen, Denmark, in 2009.

WASHINGTON, April 22, 2013—Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced an important package of disaster assistance valued at $209 million to help farmers, land owners and communities recover from the effects of Superstorm Sandy.

WASHINGTON, April 22, 2013 – As part of USDA’s Earth Day celebration, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced support for projects that will improve water and wastewater services for rural Americans and benefit the environment across the country. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) remains focused on carrying out its mission, despite a time of significant budget uncertainty. Today’s announcement is one part of the Department’s efforts to strengthen the rural economy.

SAN DIEGO, April 18, 2013 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today highlighted the problem of increased childhood hunger during months when school is not in session. At an event at Colina Del Sol Recreation Center, he called on communities across the country to partner with USDA’s Summer Food Service Program to ensure that no child goes hungry when school is out. Vilsack reiterated the vital role of partners in reaching eligible children and their families and challenged them to help USDA serve 5 million more meals this summer.

LOS ANGELES, April 17, 2013 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack joined Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa today at an event celebrating the leadership and contributions of key partners in the mayor’s “Million Trees L.A.” initiative. Since Villaraigosa launched the initiative in 2006, more than 400,000 trees have been planted throughout Los Angeles.

WASHINGTON, April 17, 2013 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced the re-establishment of the Forestry Research Advisory Council and is seeking nominations for new members.

WASHINGTON, April 15, 2013 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today that USDA is extending for five years its agreement to work with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and other partners to help develop a viable biofuel for the aviation industry.

WASHINGTON, April 15, 2013 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture has proposed a series of changes to make it easier for agricultural producers and rural small businesses to apply for renewable energy and energy efficiency funding.

WASHINGTON, April 12, 2013 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today called on communities across the country to partner with USDA’s summer meals program to ensure that no child goes hungry when school is out. During a roundtable with Josh Wachs, Chief Strategy Officer for Share Our Strength, Kathy Underhill, Executive Director of Hunger Free Colorado, and Harriett Phillips, Liaison to the Arkansas No Kid Hungry Campaign for Governor Mike Beebe. Vilsack reiterated the vital role of partners in reaching eligible children and their families and challenged them to help USDA serve 5 million more meals this summer.

WASHINGTON, April 10, 2013 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced funding for projects to improve electric service in rural areas across 13 states. USDA remains focused on carrying out its mission, despite a time of significant budget uncertainty. Today’s announcement is one part of the Department’s efforts to strengthen the rural economy. USDA Rural Development Deputy Under Secretary Doug O’Brien made today’s announcement on Vilsack’s behalf.

WASHINGTON, April 9, 2013--Agriculture Under Secretary for Rural Development Dallas Tonsager announced today that U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Indian Health Service (IHS) and the Department of Interior (DOI), to continue to work together to reduce by 50 percent the number of tribal homes lacking access to safe water and basic sanitation by 2015. The announcement was made during the 2013 Tribal Utility Summit in Nashville, Tenn. The United South & Eastern Tribes, EPA, IHS, and USDA are co-hosting a workshop titled “The Sustainable Management of Rural and Small Water/Wastewater Systems” during the summit.

WASHINGTON, April 8, 2013 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Agriculture Under Secretary Harris Sherman today made the following statements on Under Secretary Sherman’s departure from USDA:

WASHINGTON, April 8, 2013 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today that applications are being accepted from qualified non-profit and public organizations (intermediaries) to provide loans to support rural businesses and community development groups. Funding, which is intended to spark business expansion and create jobs will be made available through USDA’s Intermediary Relending Program (IRP). The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) remains focused on carrying out its mission, despite a time of significant budget uncertainty. Today's announcement is one part of the Department's efforts to strengthen the rural economy.

WEST HARTFORD, Conn., April 5, 2013 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today discussed USDA efforts to improve school meals and outlined the need for a renewed commitment to improve childhood nutrition, which will lead to a healthier generation of Americans.