Washington DC - February 16 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that the USDA has taken the first step toward implementing a plan to address veterinary shortages throughout rural America by repaying student loans in return for services in areas suffering from a lack of veterinarians.

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Washington DC - February 16 - The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) is petitioning the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to reconsider its finding that human-caused greenhouse gas emissions are an endangerment to public health and welfare (“endangerment finding”).

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Washington DC - February 9 - Congressman Earl Pomeroy said he will push the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to reverse a new rule that has placed an unfair financial burden on hospitals across the nation.

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Washington DC - February 1 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced USDA’s intention to purchase $29.1 million worth of blueberry, pear, potato, peach and mixed fruit products for federal food nutrition assistance programs.

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Washington DC - December 16 - USDA Secretary Vilsack spoke at the climate change talks in Copenhagen, Denmark, highlighting the Obama Administration’s efforts in actively partnering with rural communities to create solutions for curbing greenhouse gases and preventing the worst impacts of climate change.

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Washington DC - December 9 - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency plans to strengthen its assessment of pesticide health risks. EPA’s proposal would include a more thorough assessment of risks to workers, including farmworkers and farm children.

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Washington DC - November 24 - The American Soybean Association (ASA) is urging Congress to provide funding to deliver much-needed financial assistance to farmers and rural communities to assist them in recovering from devastating losses caused by hurricanes, excessive rain during harvest and other natural disasters across the country.

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Washington DC - October 29 - Congressman Tom Perriello has introduced a bill, H.R. 3627, the Rural and Small Town Telework Tax Credit Act of 2009, to help spur growth of technology jobs in rural areas and small towns.

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Washington DC - September 16 - Treasury Deputy Secretary Neal Wolin and New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson announced $1 billion in stimulus bond authority for 58 tribes across the country to create jobs, complete projects, and bring much needed economic revitalization to Indian Country.

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Washington DC - September 4 - On the 200th day of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack highlighted the important investments being made in communities throughout the country and announced an additional $172.5 million in funding for water and environmental projects in 24 states.

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Washington DC - August 31 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that eight organizations have been selected to receive $600,000 in grants to help low- and very-low-income rural residents repair their homes.

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Washington DC - August 26 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the selection of $175.8 million in water and environmental projects in rural communities being funded immediately through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

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Washington DC - August 20 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced $1.16 billion in loans to build and repair 11,249 miles of distribution and transmission lines and make system improvements that will benefit rural customers.

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Washington DC - August 19 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture  launched a new website designed to enhance discussions and facilitate innovation for issues facing rural America as part of the Obama Administration’s Rural Tour.

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Washington DC - August 19 - A new USDA economic analysis has found that rural communities with greater broadband Internet access had greater economic growth; employment growth was higher and non-farm private earnings greater than areas with less access.

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