USDA Blog

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 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...

Written by Adam Czech USDA Minnesota Public Affairs Specialist If Tami and Kim Bredeson have their way, Minnesota will be known as more than just the Land of 10,000 Lakes. It also will be recognized for its wineries and vineyards. The Bredeson’s own Carlos Creek Winery in Alexandria, Minn. During a...

By Jill Lee, National Institute of Food and Agriculture Jim Hafer’s passion for teaching is second only to his savvy in leveraging opportunity. He noticed many retirements at the local power plant and coal mines and saw opportunity for his agriculture students at Chief Dull Knife College in Lame...

By Bill Menner and Janie Dunning, USDA Rural Development State Directors of Iowa and Missouri Bringing broadband to rural communities is about more than guaranteeing your daughter has 24/7 access to Twitter, or giving your son unlimited opportunities to play video games.

Submitted by: Colleen Callahan, Illinois State Director, USDA Rural Development Question: Why do you go to a hospital? A: To visit someone who is sick B. To get a diagnostic test C. To see a specialist D. To have surgery E. To meet your trainer for your workout F. All of the above

By Richard A. Machek, Florida State Director, USDA Rural Development I recently returned from a groundbreaking ceremony that was 10 years in the making. Like many of Florida’s rural cities and towns, the City of Marianna has faced years of reduced revenues and a shrinking business district. Looking...