Washington DC - March 11 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture joined First Lady Michelle Obama in announcing the innovative Apps for Healthy Kids competition to Americans as part of the Let’s Move! initiative.

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Washington DC - March 11 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced new details about the functions and objectives of USDA’s Office of Environmental Markets, now part of USDA’s Natural Resources and Environment mission area.

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Washington DC - March 10 - Corn harvested area declined 10,000 acres in Michigan, but was unchanged in Illinois, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. Corn production in the U.S. is estimated at 13.1 billion bushels, down fractionally from previous estimates.

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Washington DC - March 9 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack marked National School Breakfast Week (March 8-12) by calling for national support for increased participation in the School Breakfast Program and advancing the health and nutrition of our Nation’s children.

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Washington DC - March 9 -  The formation of the new Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Advisory Committee will inaugurate a new level of collaboration between the USDA Forest Service and the American people in the restoration of forested landscapes.

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Washington DC - March 9 - Brazil announced it is moving forward on retaliation for injuries due to the U.S. cotton program and the export credit guarantee program. The retaliation list totals 102 products including both agricultural and industrial goods.

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Washington DC - March 9 - The fifth edition of the Power of Meat, a joint study by the American Meat Institute and the Food Marketing Institute, finds that the recession is continuing to impact food purchasing and consumption behavior, including the meat department.

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Washington DC - March 8 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack discussed USDA’s work to strengthen the American agriculture economy and revitalize rural communities in the keynote speech at the 2010 Commodity Classic in Anaheim, Calif. Vilsack focused on efforts to increase exports of agricultural products to help American farmers, ranchers, and workers.

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Washington DC - March 8 - The United States and Russia have reached an agreement to reopen the Russian market to U.S. pork and pork products, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced.

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Washington DC - March 5 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture is seeking project proposals that will improve water quality and the overall health of the Mississippi River in 41 eligible watersheds in 12 states.

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Washington DC - March 2 - Pointing out that exports generate 8,000 U.S. jobs for every $1 billion of agricultural goods exported, an ad hoc coalition of food, feed and agricultural entities today urged Congress to promptly pass several pending free trade agreements.

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Washington DC - March 2 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack launched USDA’s Trade Adjustment Assistance for Farmers Program to help American agricultural producers adjust to the current, challenging economic environment.

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Washington DC - March 2 - A bipartisan group of nineteen Senators sent a letter to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk urging the Administration to press China to live up to its commitments and allow the importation of American pork.

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Washington DC - March 1 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that the USDA will donate more than 100,000 tons of U.S. agricultural commodities valued at nearly $170 million in fiscal year 2010 under the McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program.

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Washington DC - March 1 - Agriculture Deputy Secretary Merrigan announced the availability of $5 Million in funding for the Farmers Market Promotion Program with a goal of improved food access in local, rural and underserved communities to promote the consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables from local farms.

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