Tag Archives: USDA

COMET-Farm: Science-based Tools to help Specialty Crop Growers

December 15, 2015   Dr. Amrith Gunasekara, CDFA Science Advisor

Agricultural food production and the relationship with the air, water and soil systems is complex, both from scientific and practical perspectives. Bringing the scientific interrelationships into a user-friendly on-line tool to help agricultural producers understand their entire farming operation’s carbon footprint is the challenge that the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Services (USDA-NRCS) and Colorado State University undertook …

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USDA Awards $34.3 Million to Support Communities’ Local Foods Infrastructure, Increase Access to Fruits and Vegetables

October 6, 2015   Office of Public Affairs

Funding Supports Local Food Systems, Farmers Markets and Healthier Eating for SNAP Participants Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack helped to kick off the nation’s harvest season this week by announcing nearly $35 million in new funding through four grant programs to support local and regional food systems, including farmers markets. Secretary Vilsack has named strengthening local food systems as one of …

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USDA and NASA expand partnership to monitor drought and predict wildfires from space

July 17, 2015   Office of Public Affairs

Meeting at NASA’s Ames Research Center in Mountain View, CA, USDA Deputy Secretary Krysta Harden and NASA Deputy Administrator Dava Newman have announced an expanded partnership between the two agencies to better protect America’s working lands, predict and prevent natural disasters, and inspire young people to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, mathematics and agriculture. Among other things, the agreement …

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Grill like a pro! Food safety tips from the USDA

July 1, 2015   Office of Public Affairs

July 4 is right around the corner and for the estimated 80% of households that own grills or smokers, that means one thing – barbeques.  Grill masters can make sure they don’t leave their diners with a nasty case of food poisoning by following USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service food safety tips. Annually the CDC estimates that 48 million …

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From USDA: Agriculture Secretary Vilsack Announces $150 Million, New Partnership to Support Water Quality and Quantity in Drought-Stricken California

June 24, 2015   Office of Public Affairs

Resilient Lands and Waters partnership will focus public and private resources towards conserving and restoring the Sierra-Cascade California Headwaters Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today joined Interior Deputy Secretary Mike Connor and California Secretary for Natural Resources John Laird to announce a new partnership focused on conserving and restoring the Sierra-Cascade California Headwaters, as part of President Obama’s Resilient Lands and …

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USDA to Expand Investment in Water Conservation, Resilience across Drought-Stricken States

May 21, 2015   Office of Public Affairs

Targeted drought funding builds on substantial drought relief efforts From the USDA: Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced that the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will invest approximately $21 million in additional Farm Bill dollars to help farmers and ranchers apply science-based solutions to mitigate the short and long term effects of drought.  These investments will focus financial and technical …

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Earth Day & Invasive Species: Sacramento-area students meet “Hungry Pests”

April 21, 2015   Office of Public Affairs

Sixth-graders from Cowan Fundamental Elementary School joined students at nearby Mira Loma High School in the Sacramento area this morning for an energizing and educational event built around the themes of Earth Day (April 22) and invasive species. CDFA Secretary Karen Ross applauded the students’ efforts to learn about the science behind efforts to detect and deter invasive pests and …

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USDA Awards Grants to Support Schools Serving Healthier Meals and Snacks

March 6, 2015   Office of Public Affairs

Up to $25 million will be provided for new food service equipment; $5.5 million for training WASHINGTON, March 6, 2015 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will be awarding over $30 million in grants to help schools prepare healthy meals for their children. Twenty-five million dollars in grants will help schools purchase …

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USDA announces $9 million to support Community Food Projects program

February 19, 2015   Office of Public Affairs

WASHINGTON, Feb. 19, 2015 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) today announced the availability of $9 million in funding to assist low-income individuals and communities in developing local and independent food systems. NIFA is funding the grants through the Community Food Projects program (CFP), authorized by the Agricultural Act of 2014 (Farm …

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Rural ag producers encouraged to apply for USDA’s Rural Energy for America (REAP) program

February 19, 2015   Office of Public Affairs

From USDA: USDA Announces Funding for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Projects WASHINGTON – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced that rural agricultural producers and small business owners can now apply for resources to purchase and install renewable energy systems or make energy efficiency improvements. These efforts help farmers, ranchers and other small business owners save money on their energy …

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