USDA Blog

The Department of Agriculture is a big institution, with a $149 billion budget and 114,000 employees. When Secretary Vilsack asked me to spearhead the Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food initiative, my first impulse wasn’t to create new programs and authorities, but rather to figure out how better to...

Written by Kayla Harless, People’s Garden Intern Throughout July, the People’s Garden Healthy Garden Workshops have been focused on plants and their problematic pests – diseases, fungi, viruses, harmful bugs, and environmental stressors. Today’s workshop covered a range of these, and included lots...

By Debra Baczewski, USDA Rural Development, Amherst, Mass. In support of the Feds Feed Families summer food drive, employees at the USDA Rural Development State Office in Amherst, Massachusetts have been collecting non-perishable food donations in their office. On Tuesday July 27, 105 pounds of non...

By Vicki Walker, USDA Rural Development Oregon State Director Victor Vasquez, USDA Deputy Under Secretary for Rural Development, delivered a strong, upbeat message to grant recipients at the Community Services Consortium Youth House Gardens in Corvallis, Oregon on July 12. The Deputy Under Secretary...

Written by Rachael Dubinsky, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rural Development Intern As the sweltering summer sun beat down on the storefront of Ocean Fresh Seafood in Harrington, Del., Kathy and Randy Cagle beamed with pride as they saw the fruits of the labor finally paying off. With their retail...

By Gail Bennett, Public Affairs Specialist, WV USDA Rural Development On Behalf of State Director Bobby Lewis They say “a picture is worth a thousand words” and this happy young man brings meaning and life to the cliché. Jamalyn Sexton and her three year old son, Connor, are happy new homeowners. A...

By Peter Rhee, Creative Media Director In a few days, USDA will launch a newly revamped and refreshed Blog, bringing key enhancements to our current offering. You will notice a new look and feel, enhanced search capabilities, easier navigation, categorization, and faster access to previous blog...

By Stacy Porto, Special Assistant Federal employees from across the country are coming together to do what the USDA does every day – increase food security and reduce hunger by providing low-income people access to food. Inspired by President Obama’s United We Serve Act, the Feds, Farmers, and...

By Lisa Wallenda Picard, Food Safety and Inspection Service Chief of Staff “Stop! She has to eat some fruit! Don’t give her MORE chips! MOM – Cassie’s going to kill her daughter with all this junk food!” Ceci Picard, aged 11, while playing one of the Apps for Healthy Kids entries. I admit the quote...

By Wayne Maloney, Office of Communications Officials from USDA and the Department of Education met at the Agriculture Department yesterday with National FFA student leaders from across the country. The students are visiting Washington, D.C., for the annual National FFA State President’s Conference...