tom vilsack

House Ag Chair G.T. Thompson renewed his calls this week for Farm Bill SNAP reforms that scuttled last year’s Farm Bill effort.  That came during a debate on a narrowly-passed House budget that the Senate must still consider.   Thomps...

The Department of Agriculture published an interim rule Wednesday, that focused on technical guidelines for climate smart agriculture crops used as biofuel feedstocks.    “These standards could be adopted by clean transportation fuel programs, who incentivize the production of biofuel feedstock crops using climate smart practices," said USDA Head Tom Vilsack.  "If leveraged...

Finalizing a poultry tournament system rule designed to improve fairness.   “This is a system that has come under a great deal of concern and criticism by producers across the United States," Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack noted this week.  "And we'...

How will Tom Vilsack’s service as the 32nd Ag Secretary be best recalled?   Perhaps his efforts to promote a circular economic model to agriculture and rural America as reflected through the use of a whiteboard diagram.  It’s a message refined not just by multiple presentations over a three-year period, but as the secretary notes, through the feedback and guidance of wife Christie.    “Turns out w

If you ever have an opportunity to visit the USDA headquarters in D.C., you’ll see painted portraits of all agriculture secretaries, including that of Secretary Tom Vilsack, from his first term of service from 2009 to 2017.  As Vilsack prepares to wrap up a second four-year stint as Ag Secretary, some might be surprised when he says a second portrait reflecting this most recent time in office is n

Last week, the USDA announced the final $300 million in assistance to distressed direct and guaranteed farm loan borrowers under the Inflation Reduction Act.  Over the past two years, USDA acted swiftly to assist distressed borrowers in retaining their land and continuing their agricultural operations.  Th...

On Thursday, the USDA announced a $78.3 million investment through the Powering Affordable Clean Energy program , which includes $4 million bound for Washington.  Cunningham Solar is slated to use those funds to develop nearly three megawatts of solar energy in the central part of the state.  USDA's ...

On Friday, the USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service ordered testing of the nation's milk supply for bird flu.  The Department said testing of raw or unpasteurized milk will help better monitor the spread of the virus in dairy cows.  Testing of r...

Another AIM for Climate opportunity, this during COP 29, in Ibaka, Azerbaijan, this week.   “We announced now aim for climate has over 800 partners, 56 countries have joined collaboratively to support the initiative we announced as well 52 additional innovation sprints, which brings to a total of 129 innovation sprints that have been identified and are sponsored, if you will, by AIM for Climate,&q

Earlier this week, southwest Washington representative Marie Gluesenkamp Perez announced that $4,881,150 has been secured in USDA Community Connect Program funds to expand rural broadband in west Lewis County.  With the funding, Lewis County PUD will deploy 47.3 miles o...