U.S. Department of Agriculture
Recent News About U.S. Department of Agriculture
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USDA awards $19.2M scholarships to boost careers at land-grant universities
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced a significant investment of $19.2 million in undergraduate scholarships for students at 1890 Land-grant Universities. This initiative aims to foster interest in food and agricultural careers among young individuals.
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USDA provides disaster relief resources after Hurricane Helene
In response to the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene across parts of the Southeast, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has mobilized resources and staff to assist with recovery efforts. The USDA is implementing contingency plans and program flexibilities to support farmers, foresters, and communities affected by the storm.
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USDA invests over $11M in initiatives for U.S. dairy industry resilience
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced an investment of $11.04 million to bolster the dairy industry through its Dairy Business Innovation Initiatives (DBI) grant program. The funding aims to assist small and mid-sized dairy businesses in enhancing their development, production, marketing, and distribution processes.
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Biden administration invests $104 million in rural clean energy projects
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced a significant investment in rural communities across 34 states to expand access to clean energy and reduce energy costs. USDA Deputy Secretary Xochitl Torres Small made the announcement, highlighting the initiative as part of the Biden-Harris Administration's Investing in America Agenda.
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USDA announces historic funding boost for climate-smart agricultural practices
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced an allocation of up to $7.7 billion for fiscal year 2025 to assist agricultural and forestry producers in adopting conservation practices on working lands. This includes up to $5.7 billion for climate-smart practices, funded by the Inflation Reduction Act, a part of President Biden's Investing in America Agenda, along with $2 billion from Farm Bill funding. This marks a significant increase compared to previous years.
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Biden-Harris Administration invests $1.3 billion in rural infrastructure across 30 states
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Deputy Secretary Xochitl Torres Small announced a significant investment in rural infrastructure projects across the United States. The USDA is allocating $1.3 billion to fund 116 projects aimed at improving access to clean and reliable electric grids, safe drinking water, and job opportunities in rural and Tribal communities. This initiative aligns with President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, which focuses on economic growth from the middle out and bottom up.
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USDA announces $1.7 billion investment in locally produced foods
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced a $1.7 billion investment to purchase locally and regionally produced foods for emergency food assistance. This funding, facilitated by the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC), aims to support American producers by providing access to local and regional markets and the financial benefits of selling directly to institutions. The initiative also ensures that American children and families in need have access to healthy food at schools, child care facilities, and emergency food providers.
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USDA celebrates National Cooperative Month's 60th anniversary
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack has issued a proclamation recognizing October 2024 as the Department’s 60th anniversary of National Cooperative Month.
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Biden-Harris Administration announces funding for clean energy projects across Midwest
As part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, the Biden-Harris Administration has announced over $2.8 billion to support clean power in the Midwest. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) revealed a loan guarantee up to $1.52 billion for Holtec Palisades under the Inflation Reduction Act’s Energy Infrastructure Reinvestment (EIR) program to restart an 800-MW nuclear station in Covert Township, Michigan.
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USDA announces funding for agrifood innovation challenge winners
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), in collaboration with the Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR), has announced three projects recommended for funding through the "Nourishing Next Generation Agrifood Breakthroughs" Innovation Challenge. The selected projects will receive a total of $1.15 million, with Columbia University and the University of British Columbia each receiving $500,000, and From the Land, LLC receiving $150,000.
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Federal agencies release roadmap for community-led growth in forest products
The Departments of the Interior, Agriculture, and Commerce have released a report aimed at boosting community-led economic development in the sustainable forest product sector and outdoor recreation. This initiative supports healthy, resilient forests while addressing climate change impacts, workforce and housing shortages, and intergovernmental coordination barriers in rural forest-dependent communities. The report builds on President Biden’s Executive Order on Strengthening the Nation’s Forests, Communities, and Local Economies (E.O. 14072), signed on Earth Day 2022.
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USDA partners with CAPAL to enhance diversity through new memorandum
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Conference on Asian Pacific American Leadership (CAPAL). This agreement aims to raise awareness of USDA as an employer among Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) college students and to support the recruitment, hiring, and retention of a diverse workforce.
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USDA highlights advancements in equity during final national convening
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) held its Final Equity Convening in Washington, D.C., to mark the achievements of the USDA Equity Commission and highlight progress made under the Biden-Harris Administration. The event, held at USDA Headquarters, was the culmination of a series of equity summits and regional convenings aimed at emphasizing equity and inclusion within USDA programs.
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USDA advises preparedness as Hurricane Helene approaches
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has issued a reminder to communities, farmers, ranchers, families, and small businesses in the path of Hurricane Helene about available assistance programs. USDA staff at regional, state, and county offices are prepared to help.
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Biden-Harris administration advances eight new clean energy projects under PACE program
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the advancement of eight new clean energy projects through the Powering Affordable Clean Energy (PACE) program. These projects, if approved, will receive over $248 million to lower electricity bills, expand access to renewable energy, and create jobs for rural families, small businesses, and agricultural producers.
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USDA approves emergency food aid program for hurricane-hit areas in Louisiana
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that low-income residents in eight Louisiana parishes affected by Hurricane Francine may be eligible for assistance through the Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP). The hurricane began impacting the area on September 11, 2024.
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USDA invests $466M globally through key food assistance programs
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced a $466.5 million investment aimed at enhancing global food security through its international development programs. The announcement was made by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack at the Clinton Global Initiative 2024 annual meeting.
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Biden-Harris administration announces final awards for meat processing investment program
WASHINGTON, Sept. 19, 2024 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today that USDA is awarding more than $35 million in grants to 15 independent meat processors in 12 states to increase processing capacity, spur competition, expand market opportunities for U.S. farmers, and create jobs in rural areas. This marks the final investment in the Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program (MPPEP), funded by President Biden’s American Rescue Plan, which was first launched in 2022.
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Agriculture Secretary highlights wildfire resilience investments during visit to Arizona
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack visited two communities in Arizona today to highlight U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) investments aimed at protecting communities and natural resources from wildfire and drought, expanding access to clean energy, creating jobs, and building stronger, more resilient communities.
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USDA invests nearly $121M in specialty crops research
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced an investment of nearly $121 million to advance research and extension activities aimed at addressing key challenges faced by specialty crop and organic agriculture producers. This includes $70.4 million for specialty crop production research across the United States and $50.5 million to support farmers and ranchers growing high-quality organic food, fiber, and products.