As well as helping them market and process their crops, co-ops also help farmers obtain farm supplies and provide them with important agronomy services, such as mapping their fields to ensure they use only the proper amounts of fertilizer, thus avoiding runoff problems. Photo courtesy GROWMARK

The famous chef and food writer James Beard once said, “Food is our common ground, a universal experience.”  From our potluck dinners to an after-church brunch, food is the tangible connection between us and our communities.  Studies have shown the positive impact family dinners have on the individuals who take part in them. Read more »

We’re just finishing a trio of new videos introducing programs within the Rural Development mission area that can be used to support local and regional food systems.

Prairieland Dairy of Hallam, Nebraska had a vision: they wanted to expand their operation to meet growing demand for sustainable, source-verified products.  In their mind, Nebraskans needed fresh, wholesome milk products produced in their own backyard.  With the help of USDA’s Rural Development office and a Business and Industry Guaranteed Loan, Prairieland was able to secure a $650,000 loan through a community bank, and today they are marketing products made with “local, farm-fresh Nebraska milk.” Read more »

Angela Jones and Michelle Stewart with part of the donations collected by the Midwest Regional Office for the Feds, Farmers, and Friends Feed Families food drive.

USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service Midwest Regional Office collected 4100 pounds of food to support the Feds, Farmers and Friends Feed Families Initiative. We decided to make it fun event and include some of our partners and rename the Food Drive the Yellow Brick Road Food Drive, a spinoff of the Wizard of Oz.  We successfully recruited help and support from the Girl Scouts, CITGO Petroleum and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.   With the support of our partners and our managers, the MWRO team was victorious in defeating that “Wicked Witch” of hunger. Read more »

Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan presented the HealthierUS School Challenge Gold Award to River Terrace Elementary School in Washington, D.C. on Friday, October 15, 2010. The River Terrace Elementary School is the first school in the District of Columbia to achieve Gold award status in the HealthierUS School Challenge (HUSSC).

In April of 2009, First Lady Michelle Obama visited a small school located in the Anacostia section of the District of Columbia, and challenged that school to meet the HealthierUS School Challenge (HUSSC). Read more »

Agriculture Committee Chairman Congressman Collin Peterson, Under Secretary for Rural Development Dallas Tonsager, Minnesota State Director Colleen Landkamer and others broke ground on a new senior facility last week.

Thanks the efforts of community members and financing from USDA Rural Development and Agstar Rural Capital Network, a project nine years in the making will soon be a reality in Hutchinson, Minn. Read more »