Secretary Vilsack Announces Funding to Improve Electric Service in Rural Communities
ATLANTA, Ga., Oct. 4, 2012 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced funding to modernize and improve the efficiency of rural electric generation and transmission systems. Under Secretary for Rural Development Dallas Tonsager made the announcement on Vilsack's behalf during a speech before members of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. Today’s announcement includes a $30 million loan guarantee to Jefferson Energy Cooperative, which serves parts of 11 Georgia counties.
Secretary Vilsack Announces that America's Farm Co-ops Set Records in 2011
WASHINGTON, Oct. 2, 2012 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said today that farmer, rancher and fishery cooperatives posted record sales and income in 2011, surpassing the previous record sales year of 2008 by $10 billion while besting the old income record by $500 million.
USDA Grants Support Marketing Innovation for American Farmers and Ranchers
WASHINGTON, Oct. 2, 2012 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that USDA will award matching grants for 22 projects under the Federal-State Marketing Improvement Program to help create economic opportunities for American farmers and ranchers.
USDA Report Shows History of Major Nutrition Assistance Programs Providing Americans with Critical Safety Net in Economically Challenging Times
WASHINGTON, September 21, 2012—The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Economic Research Service today released a new research report which investigates the relationship between economic conditions and participation in USDA’s five largest nutrition assistance programs. Most notably, the increase in SNAP participation during 2008-10 was consistent with the increase during the previous three economic downturns (1980-81, 1990-92, 2001-03), after adjusting for the increase in the unemployment rate.
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