Category Archives: News

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan will unveil the Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food Compass via a live webinar on Wed., Feb. 29 at 2 p.m. EST. The compass is a Web-based document and map highlighting … Continue reading →

Beginning farmers in Idaho are praising the Farm Service Agency for helping them get started. With the high cost of land and low capital, young farmers are finding it difficult to obtain loans to get into the business. To help … Continue reading →

Within 90 days, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said he plans to approve the consolidation of 131 Farm Service Agency offices with other USDA service centers in an effort to provide stronger service to U.S. farmers and ranchers. As part of … Continue reading →

Despite slower growth, 2012 is expected to be another good year for agricultural exports, according to USDA Chief Economist Joe Glauber. In a presentation during the annual Agricultural Outlook Forum, Glauber said U.S. agricultural exports for fiscal year 2012 are … Continue reading →

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack kicked off the commemoration of the department’s 150th anniversary today at USDA’s 2012 Agricultural Outlook Forum in Arlington, Va. To commemorate USDA’s rich history as well as its potential, Vilsack moderated a panel discussion with former … Continue reading →

Net farm income along with low interest rates has farmland prices soaring to a record high, according to a report from the USDA Economic Research Service. Record-level income has helped farmland survive the real estate crisis, yet speculation of a … Continue reading →

The Farm Service Agency received a ‘golden shovel’ in honor of their commitment to volunteerism. FSA employees are creating gardens as ways to connect with neighbors and local organizations in their communities. They have set the standard for innovative, collaborative … Continue reading →

Producers and rural residents across the nation are receiving surveys in their mailboxes as the first step toward conducting the 2012 Census of Agriculture. What is the Census of Agriculture? Every five years, the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service takes … Continue reading →

Surveys have been mailed out across the nation to identify all active farms within the United States. The surveys, issued by the National Agricultural Statistics Service, ask landowners whether they are currently farming and other basic information. The information will … Continue reading →

A new bill introduced in the House of Representatives would among other things, put a halt to step increases for federal employees through 2012. If passed, the bill — which has 29 co-sponsors — would take effect on the date … Continue reading →