tom vilsack

On Monday, Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack announced a $2.7 billion investment to help 64 electric cooperatives and utilities.  The funding from the Department of Agriculture will help the cooperatives expand and modernize the nation’s rural electric grid and increase grid security.   "This ...

President Joe Biden has again nominated Margo Schlanger and Stacy Dean to politically appointed positions at the Department of Agriculture.  Biden nominated Schlanger to serve as Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights and Dean as Undersecretary for Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services. Both wer...

Due to language missing from the 2018 Farm Bill, the Secretary of Agriculture is not permitted to waive the match requirement within the Specialty Crop Research Initiative, a key USDA plant pest and disease prevention research program targeting fruits and vegetables...

USDA Deputy Secretary Jewel Bronaugh’s announced retirement last week will soon leave a key department post without a political appointee.  Bronaugh’s announcement she wants to spend more time with her family is a key loss for USDA and Secretary Tom Vilsack.  Senate Ag Ranking M...

Agriculture Deputy Secretary Jewel Bronaugh announced Thursday her intention to step away from her role at USDA.   “It is with mixed emotions that today I am announcing that I will step away from my role as Deputy Secretary in the coming weeks so I can spend more time with my family,” Bronaugh said.   She not...

Last week, Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack announced his agency is expanding efforts to reduce the risk of wildfires in the western U.S.  Funds will be invested to directly protect at-risk communities and critical infrastructure in 11 additional landscapes in Washington Oregon, Idaho California, Arizona, Nevada, and Utah.   “...

The USDA and the Department of Health and Human Services recently announced the appointment of 20 nationally recognized scientists to serve on the 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee.  The Committee will review the current body of science on key nutrition topics and develop a scientific report that includes its independent assessment of the evidence and recommendations for USDA and HHS as t

Secretary Tom Vilsack said with the new Ag trade team of Alexis Taylor and Doug McKalip in place, U.S. producers will soon see the benefits.  Both were confirmed to their trade posts by the Senate last month.  Taylor, the former head of the Oregon Department of Agriculture, to head USDA’s Foreign Ag Service as Undersecretary for Trade; and McKalip as Chief Ag Negotiator at the U.S. Trade Represent

According to Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack, when it comes to crafting the new Farm Bill, the USDA’s role is one of advisory and providing information.  But that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have a wish list of his own.  First, he said it will be important all sides work together to get a Farm Bill done on time.    “It will be important and n...

The American Farm Bureau Federation expects a major hearing on the Federal Milk Marketing Order this year.  The Federation recently set its policy priorities for the year, at the 2023 AFBF Annual Convention.  The Farm Bureau was armed with the outcome of the AFBF Federal Milk Marketing Order Forum that took place last fall in Kansas City, MO.  AFBF Economist Da...