To Share Best Practices for Rural Economic Development Assistant to the Secretary for Rural Development Anne Hazlett today unveiled a new interactive webpage to identify best practices for building rural prosperity. “Rural communities need forward-thinking strategies to build strong, resilient futures,” Hazlett said. “USDA’s Rural Development Innovation Center is focused on identifying unique opportunities, pioneering new, creative solutions to tough challenges, …
Secretary Perdue Commemorates First Year at USDA
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue commemorated his first year at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) by releasing a new interactive website and USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue: Year One video(below). In his first year, Secretary Perdue and the USDA team made breakthroughs in agricultural trade, moved to reduce burdensome regulations, responded to natural disasters, and battled through the worst fire season on …
USDA Aims to Rectify Its Shortage of Veterinarians
USDA is having a hard time finding veterinarians who specialize in animal husbandry, mainly because many go into the field to work with smaller animals, like cats and dogs. But according to a story from Stephanie Ho, this week USDA is seeking veterinarians to join its food safety and inspection team. USDA Aims to Rectify Its Shortage of Veterinarians FSIS …
U.S. Cattle on Feed Up Seven Percent
USDA’s latest Cattle on Feed report indicates the number of cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in the U.S. totaled 11.7 million head on April 1, 2018, seven percent above April 1, 2017. This is the second highest April 1 inventory since the series began in 1996. U.S. Cattle on Feed Up Seven Percent Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle …
Perdue Announces New Senior Leaders at USDA
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced the selection of senior leaders in several U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) agencies. Perdue appointed Ken Isley as Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) Administrator, Joel Baxley as Rural Housing Service (RHS) Administrator, and Martin Barbre as Risk Management Agency (RMA) Administrator. In addition, Perdue announced the appointment of Tommie Williams as Minister-Counselor for Agriculture …
New USDA Website for Farmers
USDA has started a new website, farmers.gov. As Tryon Spearman reports, it is a point of access to agricultural programs and information, tools and personal advice for America’s farmers, ranchers and private foresters. New USDA Website for Farmers Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Supports Beef Education and Promotion ProgramsJanuary 23, 2026Florida Cattle Producers Proactive In Research Efforts Funded by the …
USDA Looking for Administrative Ways to Help Farmers Get Workers
While Congress continues the struggle to pass immigration reform legislation, work is being done in the meantime on administrative actions that might make it a little easier to hire farm workers. Gary Crawford has the story. USDA Looking for Administrative Ways to Help Farmers Get Workers Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Supports Beef Education and Promotion ProgramsJanuary 23, 2026Florida Cattle …
USDA and SBA Join Forces to Help Rural American Businesses
Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue and Small Business Administration chief Linda McMahon signed a Memorandum of Understanding on strengthening small businesses and the agricultural economies in rural America. They signed the MOU during a stop on Perdue’s “Back to Our Roots” tour in Ohio. The collaboration is designed to do several things, including enhancing investment opportunities in rural America. The organizations …
USDA Reopens Enrollment for Improved Dairy Safety Net Tool
Bipartisan Budget Act Makes Substantial Program Changes U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue is encouraging dairy producers to consider enrolling in the new and improved Margin Protection Program for Dairy (MPP-Dairy), which will provide better protections for dairy producers from shifting milk and feed prices. With changes authorized under the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farm …
USDA Prospective Plantings Report Not the Last Word
The USDA planting intentions numbers may have shocked a lot of people, but according to a story from Gary Crawford, much can happen between the time weeks ago when farmers were surveyed and actual planting time. USDA Prospective Plantings Report Not the Last Word Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Supports Beef Education and Promotion ProgramsJanuary 23, 2026Florida Cattle Producers Proactive …