Search

WASHINGTON, June 6, 2012 — Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced funding for 52 distance learning and telemedicine projects that will increase access to health care and enhance educational opportunities in 29 states. "Our rural communities need access to the latest educational and health...

WASHINGTON, June 5, 2012 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced the proposed addition of 12 biobased product categories to become eligible for Federal procurement preference. Once the proposed rule is finalized, more than 2,300 additional biobased products will be offered for preferred...

WASHINGTON, June 5, 2012—The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is announcing the eradication of European grapevine moth (EGVM) from Fresno, Mendocino, Merced, and San Joaquin counties in California and the removal of restrictions on exports of EGVM...

WASHINGTON, June 5, 2012–Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today named the members of an advisory committee charged with providing guidance and recommendations on the implementation of the new U.S. Forest Service Planning Rule. "Members of this federal advisory committee will give unique...

WASHINGTON, June 5, 2012— The U.S. Department of Agriculture has amended regulations to require horse industry organizations that license certain people to assess minimum penalties for violations of the Horse Protection Act. The move by USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)...

WASHINGTON, Jun. 4, 2012—The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced today that organic products certified in the United States or European Union may now be sold as organic in either market, as trade opened up on Friday, June 1, under a new U.S.-EU equivalency partnership. Agriculture Deputy...

"I send my deepest condolences to the family and friends of the two brave pilots who lost their lives Sunday protecting Americans from an extremely dangerous forest fire. As we pay tribute to the memory of these two firefighters, USDA will continue to support the brave men and women fighting forest...

WASHINGTON, June 4, 2012—Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today that he intends to appoint voting members from socially disadvantaged (SDA) communities to serve on county committees in county jurisdictions that lack fair SDA representation. USDA's Farm Service Agency (FSA), which works...

WASHINGTON, June 1, 2012—The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania recently finalized changes to the provisions of the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) that will increase the acreage ceiling by nearly 20,000 acres and make all Pennsylvania CREP...

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...