Vilsack on New Initiative Helping Small Meat Processing Facilities

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced plans to invest more than $4 billion to strengthen critical supply chains through their Build Back Better initiative. The new effort will strengthen the food system, create new market opportunities, tackle the climate crisis, help communities that have been left behind, and support good-paying jobs throughout the supply chain. During a call …

Vilsack Discusses History of Discrimination by the USDA

During that hearing, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack told lawmakers, “We will over the next four years do everything we can to root out whatever systemic racism and barriers that may exist at the Department of Agriculture.” In a recent interview with Southeast AgNet, Vilsack explained what they are looking at. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) wants producers to know …

Vilsack Discusses Possible Creation of a Carbon Bank

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) is a Government-owned and operated entity that was created to stabilize, support, and protect farm income and prices. CCC also helps maintain balanced and adequate supplies of agricultural commodities and aids in their orderly distribution. During an interview with farm broadcasters last week, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack was asked if the CCC …

House Hearing will be Foundation for Anti-Discrimination Legislation

Last week, the U.S. House Agriculture Committee held a hearing to review the state of U.S. black farmers. Committee Chairman David Scott from Georgia said the hearing will lead to future anti-discrimination legislation. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack says American agriculture needs much more diversity. The new American Rescue Plan introduced by the Biden administration does include steps to help address discrimination …

Vilsack Discusses New Assistance for Cattle Producers

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced an expansion of the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP). This is part of a larger effort to reach a greater share of farming operations and improve USDA pandemic assistance. Talking to farm broadcasters Wednesday afternoon, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack outlined the overall goal of the new USDA Pandemic Assistance for Producers package. He …

Vilsack Provides an Update on CFAP

While no specific dates have been released yet, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack did give an indication this week of when some of the details involving the latest round of the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) may be available. Rod Bain has the story. Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Provides Funding For Quicker Response to Research QuestionsApril 10, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement …

Vilsack: Delay of Ag Secretary Pick Shows Lack of Appreciation for USDA

“Why is that the last one?” Those words from outgoing Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack regarding his post being the last yet to be filled by the incoming Donald Trump administration. Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Provides Funding For Quicker Response to Research QuestionsApril 10, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Provides Opportunities That Spark Research ProjectsApril 3, 2026United Dairy Farmers of Florida …

USDA to Purchase Surplus Cheese, Continue to Assist Dairy Producers

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Vilsack talks with AgNet Media on cheese purchase, extension of dairy MPP As the U.S. Department of Agriculture announces plans to purchase approximately 11 million pounds of cheese from private inventories and to extend the deadline for enrollment in the dairy Margin Protection Program, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack talks with AgNet Media News Director Sabrina Hill to explain …