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How One School in Georgia Handles The Most Important Meal of the Day

December 19, 2011 Dr. Janey Thornton, Deputy Under Secretary USDA FNCS

Some say breakfast is the most important meal of the day. I have to agree especially when it comes to children. Starting the day with a healthy breakfast helps keep kids alert and focused on learning rather than lunch. But not every child eats a nutritious breakfast at home. In fact, even though 32...

Food and Nutrition

Giving Citrus this Holiday Season? Four Things You Need to Know

December 19, 2011 Lawrence Hawkins, APHIS Public Affairs Specialist, Sacramento, CA

If you are looking to give a thoughtful, healthy gift this holiday season, citrus is the way to go. But beware of infected citrus fruit and plants, especially if you plan to buy citrus online. Before you give citrus, here are four things you should know:

Animals Plants

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year: Our Favorite Social Media Moments from 2011

December 19, 2011 Amanda Eamich, Director of Web Communications and Rebecca Frank, New Media Content Specialist

As 2011 draws to an end, this is a time where we begin to look back on things we learned or achieved, and to make resolutions for the year ahead. We wanted to take the end of 2011 to look back on the wide range of social media activities that we had the pleasure of planning, executing and watching...

Technology

Rediscovering Our Roots in December

December 19, 2011 Bruce Summers, Associate Deputy Administrator, AMS Fruit & Vegetable Programs Fresh Products Division

During December, we often fill our plates with holiday treats. Traditional foods like ham, turkey, latkes or brisket are often the star of our meals, but there is still plenty of room on your plate to celebrate root vegetable month.

Food and Nutrition

Expanding Wildlife Habitat on Private Lands

December 14, 2011 Robert Purcell, NRCS Connecticut Earth Team Volunteer

Joe and Jon Higgins are brothers who are working with USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to improve the environmental quality of the 36 acres of land they share in Pomfret, Connecticut.

Conservation

Payroll Tax Cuts - Now is the Time for Congress to Act

December 14, 2011 Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack

We’re getting down to the wire. Congress has until December 31, to pass the Payroll Tax Cut or 160 million Americans will see their taxes go up on January 1 st and the typical middle class family will see a tax hike of about $1,000 in 2012. This isn’t a time for politics. This payroll tax cut is...

USDA Results

Renewable Energy: Creating Jobs In Rural Communities

December 14, 2011 David Glasgow, Communications Director, Tennessee Rural Development

Are there cost effective steps that rural communities can take to attract and grow competitive, sustainable energy-related businesses? That was the central question being examined by visiting members of the Organization for Economic and Community Development (OECD) during a series of meetings this...

Energy Rural

A New Hiring Guide for America's Agricultural Employers

December 14, 2011 Jane Oates, Assistant Secretary of Labor for the Employment & Training Administration.

Cross posted from the Department of Labor blog: Agricultural businesses large and small rely on seasonal workers. When U.S. workers are not available, employers can utilize the H-2A program to hire temporary foreign workers to perform certain types of agricultural work. Our Office of Foreign Labor...

USDA Results Trade

2012 Ag Outlook Forum: Food Price and Farm Income Outlooks

December 14, 2011 Brenda Chapin, OCE

USDA’s 2012 Agricultural Outlook Forum, Feb. 23-24, will present 25 breakout sessions, including the annual Food Price and Farm Income Outlooks. Economist Richard Volpe with the Economic Research Service (ERS) will discuss USDA’s forecast for food price inflation, including recent historical trends...

Food and Nutrition