News and reports from the Department of Agriculture.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

WASHINGTON, September 10, 2024 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today that the Biden-Harris Administration is investing $100 million in 21 new projects to expand work on the USDA Forest Service’s Wildfire Crisis Strategy. This initiative aims to reduce the threat of wildfire in high-risk areas across the country.

WESTBY, WI, Sept. 5, 2024 – During a visit to Wisconsin today, President Joe Biden and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack will announce more than $7.3 billion in financing for rural electric cooperatives to build clean energy for rural communities across the country through the Empowering Rural America (New ERA) program. Together, New ERA and other investments in rural clean energy in the President’s Inflation Reduction Act make up the largest investment in rural electrification since President Franklin Delano Roosevelt signed the Rural...

WASHINGTON, Sept. 5, 2024 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack issued a statement following the release of the Economic Research Service’s 2024 Farm Sector Income Forecast.

On September 4, 2024, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service released its annual Household Food Security Report in the United States. The report indicates that in 2023, 86.5 percent of U.S. households were food secure throughout the year, while the remaining 13.5 percent (18 million households) experienced challenges with food availability, quality, or variety at some point during the year.

WASHINGTON, August 29, 2024 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today joined the U.S. Department of Education along with education, parent, and school meal partner organizations to host a virtual pep rally celebrating the back-to-school season. The event aimed to thank those who educate and nourish the nation’s school children and highlighted steps taken by the Biden-Harris Administration to support school meals as an essential educational tool.

The Biden-Harris Administration announced a $140 million investment for clean energy projects in rural Nevada and Kentucky. This initiative aims to reduce power bills, enhance access to clean energy, and create jobs for rural families, small businesses, and agricultural producers.

BOONE, IA, Aug. 28, 2024 – At the annual Farm Progress Show in Boone, Iowa, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today that USDA is partnering with American business owners to expand innovative domestic fertilizer production. This initiative aims to create jobs in rural communities and strengthen local economies. The Department is awarding $35 million for seven projects across seven states through the Fertilizer Production Expansion Program (FPEP), funded by the Commodity Credit Corporation. The program provides grants to independent business...

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the release of an updated guideline to strengthen documentation supporting animal-raising and environment-related claims on meat and poultry product labels. This initiative aims to enhance consumer protection against false and misleading labels, aligning with President Biden’s Executive Order on Promoting Competition in the American economy.

WASHINGTON, DC, August 16, 2024 – Two years ago, President Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act, marking the largest investment in climate action and clean energy in history. This law is central to the Biden-Harris Administration’s Investing in America agenda and aims to lower energy costs, create new income streams, and address the climate crisis. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has received significant resources through this act to better serve communities nationwide.