USDA – Latest News Releases

There are 34 posts tagged USDA – Latest News Releases (this is page 2 of 4).

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack Encourages Congress to Reauthorize Strong Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act during Remarks at Center for American Progress

WASHINGTON, Sept. 1, 2015—Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack delivered keynote remarks today at the Center for American Progress encouraging Congress to act quickly to reauthorize a strong Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act and support the ongoing success of the healthier meals now being served in schools across the country. Thanks to the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act and other strategies, the national childhood obesity trend is slowly reversing, and our children have more energy to learn and grow, greater opportunity to thrive, and better overall health.

Source: The USDA.

Fact Sheet: Schools Serving, Kids Eating Healthier School Meals Thanks to Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act

For the past three years, kids have eaten healthier breakfasts, lunches and snacks at school thanks to the bipartisan Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, which made the first meaningful improvements to the nutrition of foods and beverages served in cafeterias and sold in vending machines in 30 years. Thanks to the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act and other strategies, the national obesity trend is slowly reversing, and our children have more energy to learn and grow, greater opportunity to thrive, and better overall health.

Source: The USDA.

USDA Expands Farm Safety Net, Offers Greater Flexibility for Beginning, Organic and Fruit and Vegetable Growers

WASHINGTON, Aug. 27, 2015 – Agriculture Deputy Secretary Krysta Harden today announced that Whole-Farm Revenue Protection insurance will be available in every county in the nation in 2016. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is also making changes to the policy to help farmers and ranchers with diversified crops including beginning, organic, and fruit and vegetable growers, better access Whole-Farm Revenue Protection.

Source: The USDA.

Statement from Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on the Passing of Amelia Boynton Robinson

WASHINGTON, Aug. 27, 2015 — Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today released the following statement on the passing of Amelia Boynton Robinson, a key civil rights leader and former employee of the Department of Agriculture, where she worked to ensure that rural African Americans across the South had access to resources and information about food production and processing, nutrition and healthcare:

Source: The USDA.

USDA Unveils New Strategy to Conserve Sage Grouse Habitat on Private Lands

PORTLAND, Ore., August 27, 2015 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced a four-year strategy that will invest approximately $211 million through 2018 in conservation efforts to benefit the greater sage grouse. The strategy, known as Sage Grouse Initiative 2.0, will build on successful public and private conservation efforts made since 2010 to improve sage grouse habitat. The new plan will provide additional assistance for ranchers to make conservation improvements to their land, which mutually benefits the iconic bird and agricultural operations in 11 Western states.

Source: The USDA.

Statement from Secretary Tom Vilsack on the Loss and Injury of U.S. Forest Service Firefighters in Washington State

WASHINGTON, Aug. 20, 2015 – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack today made the following statement regarding the loss of three U.S. Forest Service firefighters near Twisp, Wash. An additional U.S. Forest Service firefighter and two Washington State Department of Natural Resources firefighters also sustained life threatening injuries.

Source: The USDA.

USDA to Expand Investment in Water Quality within Western Lake Erie Basin

WASHINGTON, August 14, 2015 — Today, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will invest an additional $5 million to help Ohio, Michigan and Indiana improve water quality in the western Lake Erie basin. These investments will enable the region’s farmers to reduce the amount of nutrients entering the watershed, one of the sources of disruptive algae blooms.

Source: The USDA.