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WASHINGTON, June 1, 2012 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today kicked off National Homeownership Month and reminded rural residents of opportunities to purchase or refinance homes in rural areas. "This is a great time to buy a home," Vilsack said. "Interest rates are at or near record lows, and...

WASHINGTON, May 31, 2012 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) next week will begin instituting a zero-tolerance policy for six additional strains of E. coli that are responsible for human illness. Beginning Monday, FSIS will routinely test raw beef...

WASHINGTON, May 31, 2012 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today released a report highlighting the ways in which infrastructure investments in rural communities help create jobs and boost economic development, and he announced additional investments that will create jobs and promote economic...

WASHINGTON, May 31, 2012 –Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack made the following statement regarding USDA's third-quarter forecast released today showing U.S. farm exports reaching the second-highest level on record at $134.5 billion in fiscal year 2012: "With the release of today's most recent export...

BOSTON, May 30, 2012 -- Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan today joined local officials, educators, and students to highlight the first anniversary of the MyPlate food icon and announced a month of nutrition events and promotions to mark the occasion. In June 2011, First Lady Michelle...

WASHINGTON, May 25, 2012–Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture will accept 3.9 million acres offered under the 43rd Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) general sign-up. During the extended five-week signup, the Department received nearly 48,000...

WASHINGTON, May 25, 2012—The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Chief Economist Joseph W. Glauber announced today that USDA is reviewing release times for several major statistical reports due to recent changes in market hours by major commodity exchanges. The National Agricultural Statistics Service...

WASHINGTON, May 24, 2012 - Agriculture Under Secretary Kevin Concannon today announced new measures to further reduce fraud in USDA's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) as part of the Obama administration's ongoing Campaign to Cut Waste. The new measures will help root out waste, fraud...

WASHINGTON, May 24, 2012—Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture will support 321 projects in all 50 states, plus American Samoa and Guam, that help to prevent the introduction or spread of plant pests and diseases threatening U.S. agriculture and...

WASHINGTON, May 24, 2012 — A top USDA Rural Development official this week met with local leaders and business owners in the Midwest to highlight rural small business accomplishments and observe " National Small Business Week". "We know that to build a strong foundation for our country, we must...