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In Conversation with #WomeninAg: Casey Cox

June 30, 2015 Rachael Dubinsky, Office of Communications

As part of our ongoing #womeninag series, we are highlighting a different leading woman in agriculture each month. This month, we profile Casey Cox, the Executive Director of the Flint River Soil and Water Conservation District. In this role, she manages the Flint River Partnership, an agricultural...

Conservation Initiatives

In Oregon, Finding the Lost River Whychus

June 30, 2015 Maret Pajutee, District Ecologist, Sisters Ranger District, Deschutes National Forest

Sisters is a dreamy mountain town in Central Oregon with almost everything you might want in a scenic hideaway. With snowy peaks and expansive forests, it is an ideal location for biking, hiking, or simply contemplating wide expanses of blue sky. But for many years Sisters was missing one crucial...

Forestry

Big Data for Small Producers - USDA Market News Now Covers 85 Farmers Markets

June 30, 2015 Craig A. Morris, Agricultural Marketing Service Livestock, Poultry, and Seed Program Deputy Administrator

Farmers markets are an important part of local and regional food systems. Nationwide, 150,000 farmers and ranchers are selling their products directly to consumers to meet the growing demand for local food. Many sell their products at farmers markets, which can be a catalyst for future growth...

Conservation Food and Nutrition Farming Technology

Through Conservation, an Iowa Farmer Keeps Water Clean Downstream

June 30, 2015 Jason Johnson, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Iowa

David Petersen takes extra steps to ensure his dairy in southeast Iowa does not impact water quality downstream. Through voluntary conservation work, he prevents manure from washing off the dairy into the nearby Cedar, Iowa and Mississippi rivers. Majestic Manor, run by Peterson and his wife Amy...

Conservation

Urban Garden Tackles Hunger, Boosts Nutrition

June 30, 2015 Barbara Bowen, Public Affairs Specialist, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Virginia

One high tunnel can’t feed the world, but it can make a world of difference in providing fresh fruits and vegetables to those with limited access to healthy foods. These plastic covered structures use natural sunlight to create more favorable conditions for vegetables and specialty crops. And for...

Food and Nutrition Farming

Rural Community Development Spurs Growth

June 30, 2015 Richard Derksen, Office of the Chief Scientist

This post is part of the Science Tuesday feature series on the USDA blog. Check back each week as we showcase stories and news from USDA’s rich science and research portfolio. Though many of us don’t see farmers every day, we certainly see and benefit from the products of their farms every day...

Research and Science

Arkansas Woman Graduates from Youth Loan to Become FSA's 13,000th Microloan Recipient

June 29, 2015 Tanya Brown, FSA Outreach Marketing Editor

At age 18, Dakota Williams knows exactly what she wants to do with her life — own a farm and raise cattle. “[Farming] is all I’ve ever known. I’m a third generation farmer, working the same land as my grandparents and I don’t want to see it end,” said Dakota. A member of the Cherokee tribe, Dakota...

Conservation

Team Up for School Nutrition Success

June 29, 2015 Hans Billger, Public Affairs Specialist, Food and Nutrition Service

The following guest blog highlights the important work of our partner the American Heart Association. The association is a tireless advocate for supporting nutritious options in all environments, including the workplace, grocery stores, restaurants, and schools. AHA recently participated in USDA’s...

Food and Nutrition

Behind the Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food Initiative: Matt Russell

June 26, 2015 Elanor Starmer, Senior Advisor to the Secretary on Local and Regional Food Systems

“The term ‘farm to school’ involves thinking of the whole plate, so to speak. It’s about increasing the amount of local and regional foods served in school cafeterias while also increasing education and community outreach for kids, and creating market opportunities for producers.” So says Matt...

Food and Nutrition Farming

Family Values Produce Success for Sorghum Industry Leader

June 26, 2015 Craig A. Morris, AMS Livestock, Poultry, and Seed Program Deputy Administrator

Meet Verity Ulibarri Family values have proven to be the source of Verity Ulibarri’s success. As the vice president for Farm Credit of New Mexico and a board director for the Sorghum Checkoff, the sorghum producer from New Mexico is making strides in the agriculture industry. Ulibarri, a fifth...

Conservation