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How do you garner valuable feedback from key partners and stakeholders from around your state? Just ask and let them speak, which is what USDA Rural Development leadership did in Washington State when they convened a stakeholder outreach meeting in Olympia on July 29 to discuss Rural Development...

SAN FRANCISCO, March 6, 2023 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced the Biden-Harris Administration is investing $89 million across the country (PDF, 160 KB) to finance the startup and expansion of independent meat processors. USDA also announced initial steps...

(Washington, D.C., January 23, 2020) – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today praised the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for defining the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule with the Navigable Waters Protection Rule: “President Trump is restoring the rule of law and empowering...

WASHINGTON, Oct. 20, 2016 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced the availability of a streamlined version of USDA guaranteed loans, which are tailored for smaller scale farms and urban producers. The program, called EZ Guarantee Loans, uses a simplified application process to...

WASHINGTON, August 23, 2022 – Today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the 12 members of the newly established Equity Commission Subcommittee on Rural Community Economic Development (RCED). On April 7, 2022, USDA announced the call for nominations, and applications for membership...

With the thoughts of spring planting on their minds, over 200 farm producers and local agricultural staff discussed the many ways USDA can strengthen the partnership between small farmers and the USDA agencies that serve them. Eleven different USDA agencies converged earlier this month at the...

WASHINGTON, July 30, 2015 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced the availability of loans to build broadband in rural areas, along with changes to the program required by the 2014 Farm Bill. "USDA is committed to providing broadband to rural areas," Vilsack said. "Broadband is as vital...

WASHINGTON, Feb. 3, 2023 – Today, at the USDA Conversation on Healthy School Meals Roundtable, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced major initiatives at the U.S. Department of Agriculture that will support and enhance the health of America's children through nutritious school meals. “Our...

WASHINGTON, October 27, 2014 ─ As part of the continued rapid implementation of the 2014 Farm Bill, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced proposed new actions to include new forest products in the BioPreferred® program. The proposal also includes other traditional biobased products and...

The St. Peter Food Co-op has been a valuable asset to the south central region of Minnesota for over 31 years. I realized just how valuable as I sat down to eat lunch at the co-op recently. General manager Margo O’Brien had just given us a tour and hosted an event to publicly recognize the USDA’s...