USDA Blog

As a heat wave consumes much of the country, especially here in Washington, DC, winter seems a long way off—unless you’re a farmer. For the 2.2 million farms that grow our nation’s food, fiber, and fuel, it’s likely a good time to be thinking ahead to the upcoming harvest and preparing for the...

By James Miller, Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services Earlier today I announced, on behalf of Secretary Tom Vilsack, an opportunity for landowners to enroll environmentally sensitive land into the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). CRP is administered by the USDA Farm Service...

President Obama’s America’s Great Outdoors Initiative came to Nebraska on July 12, when 200 attendees gathered in Grand Island for a listening session. They were joined by Dave White, Chief of the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), and senior representatives of the U.S. Departments...

By Kathleen Merrigan, Deputy Secretary, U.S. Department of Agriculture Yesterday, I had the amazing opportunity to survey the northern Everglades, a vast watershed of incredible beauty. USDA prides itself on protecting natural resources across our nation and the Fisheating Creek Wetlands Reserve...

By Robert Westover, USDA Forest Service Office of Communcations Working to implement and respond to the USDA strategic plan, the Forest Service’s National Roadmap for Responding to Climate Change sets priorities for responding to a changing climate. USDA’s strategic plan was announced in mid-June...

By Ron Morton, Assistant State Public Affairs Specialist, Athens, Georgia In the 1930s, a rural Georgia wetland was drained to help control the spread of malaria. As the land dried, water-loving wildlife like the endangered wood stork had to find a new home or perish. Eventually, the land became dry...

By Terrell Erickson, National Biologist, USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service Although no one yet knows the full environmental impact of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, we are hopeful about a new initiative to aid wildlife in the Gulf, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)...

By Tom Williams, Pennsylvania State Director, USDA Rural Development I joined Congressman Mark Critz (PA-12 th), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and other state and local officials this week to celebrate a long-awaited groundbreaking for Pegasus Sewer Authority in Johnstown. Thanks to the teamwork...

By Deidra McGee, USDA Forest Service Public Affairs On June 19 and 20, the USDA Forest Service sent 17 delegates from across the country to join with 520 young adults from across the country for the world's first two-day Outdoor Youth Summit and Festival in New York City's Central Park. With the...