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WASHINGTON, March 16, 2012 –Today, Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan released a new report on the distribution practices of eight producer networks and their partners distributing locally or regionally-grown food to retail and foodservice customers. The report, entitled Moving Food...

WASHINGTON, March 15, 2012 – In response to requests from school districts across the country, the USDA announced today that it will offer more choices to schools in the National School Lunch Program when it comes to purchases of ground beef products. USDA only purchases products for the school...

WASHINGTON, March 15, 2012–Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack made the following statement about the U.S-Korea Trade Agreement, also known as KORUS, which enters into force today. "Today is a monumental day for American farmers and ranchers. Under the new U.S.-Korea trade agreement, two-thirds of the...

WASHINGTON, March 14, 2012— Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced comprehensive outreach efforts are underway to assess damage and assist rural Midwest and Southern communities in the wake of recent deadly storms. "These storms struck the very heart of rural America," said Vilsack. "USDA...

WASHINGTON, March 9, 2012–President Obama announced today his intent to appoint Dr. Sonny Ramaswamy as Director of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). NIFA links USDA with the land-grant university community, including historically Black...

ANAHEIM, Calif., March 9, 2012- Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan today highlighted the Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food (KYF) Compass, an interactive web-based document and map highlighting USDA support for local and regional food projects and successful producer, business and...

WASHINGTON, March 8, 2012—Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today announced a new $33 million partnership with farmers, ranchers and forest landowners to use innovative approaches to restore and protect the habitats for wildlife, including seven at-risk...

WASHINGTON, March 8, 2012—The Obama Administration today announced a $15 million multi-agency Rural Jobs and Innovation Accelerator challenge to spur job creation and economic growth in distressed rural communities. This competition, which is being funded by the U.S. Department of Commerce's...

SAN DIEGO, Calif., March 7, 2012 — Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that rural electric cooperative utilities in eight states will receive funding to install smart grid technologies and make improvements to generation and transmission facilities. The announcement was made on the...

WASHINGTON, March 7, 2012 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced new steps to enhance the delivery of USDA services while creating greater efficiencies to make the most of taxpayer dollars. USDA's Food and Nutrition Service is collaborating with six states on new demonstration projects...