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 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 5 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the selection of 22 broadband infrastructure projects to give rural residents in 18 states or territories access to improved economic and educational opportunities, attracting new businesses and jobs.

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Washington DC - March 4 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that 29 rural utilities and cooperatives in 16 states have been selected to receive loans and loan guarantees to build and repair more than 5,600 miles of distribution and transmission lines and make system improvements.

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Washington DC - March 2 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that applications are being accepted to provide affordable rental housing to rural residents through the Guaranteed Rural Rental Housing Program.

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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 - February 26 - The USDA Secretary Vilsack signed an updated Memorandum of Agreement to promote increased cooperation between USDA, tribally controlled colleges and universities(TCUs), and American Indian/Alaska Native communities, ensuring that TCUs and American Indian/Alaska Native communities participate equitably in USDA employment, programs, and activities.

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Washington DC - February 25 - USDA officials highlighted one of its newest web-based mapping tool, Your Food Environment Atlas, which will enable researchers, policy makers, and the public to find information on a range of factors that affect access to healthy, affordable food, and will allow users to map the data by county.

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