WASHINGTON, September 19, 2012––The U.S. Department of Agriculture today announced that the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) and World Agricultural Outlook Board (WAOB) will begin issuing several major USDA statistical reports at 12:00 noon EDT beginning in January 2013. The current USDA release time of 8:30 a.m. EDT will remain in effect until January 1, 2013. USDA statistical reports affected are: World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates, Acreage, Crop Production, Grain Stocks, Prospective Plantings, and Small Grains Summary. The time for livestock reports currently released at 3:00 p.m. will not change.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 19, 2012—Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced $11.8 million in additional financial and technical assistance to help crop and livestock producers in 22 states apply conservation practices that reduce the impacts of drought and improve soil health and productivity. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) provides this assistance through its Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program (WHIP) and Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP).

SERGEANT BLUFF, Iowa, September 14, 2012 – TODAY, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack discussed how the increased use of biofuels is helping to reduce the nation’s reliance on foreign oil during a tour of AGP Biodiesel. During the tour, Vilsack highlighted today’s action by the Environmental Protection Agency to establish the volume of biodiesel products required to be included in diesel fuel markets.

WASHINGTON, September 14, 2012—Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan today announced new grants to support schools as they strive to serve healthy food, provide nutrition education, and create an environment focused on healthy eating and physical activity.

WASHINGTON, September 14, 2012 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today made the following statement on the departure of USDA Rural Utilities Service Administrator Jonathan Adelstein:

DES MOINES, IOWA - Sept 13, 2012—Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced funding for rural water projects to create jobs and improve rural water and wastewater systems in 16 states.

WASHINGTON, September 12, 2012 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced the selection of recipients in 14 states and one territory to receive loans to create or save jobs and boost local economies. Funding is provided through USDA’s Intermediary Relending Program (IRP).

Keene, N.H., September 11, 2012 –Deputy Agriculture Secretary Kathleen Merrigan today highlighted how the Obama Administration is working to promote local and regional food systems across the country to create additional economic opportunities for farmers, expand healthy food access and meet growing customer demand. In a visit to New Hampshire and Vermont, Merrigan toured local businesses and farms that are promoting job creation and expanding local food systems.

NORFOLK, Va., September 8, 2012 - US Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Energy for Navy Tom Hicks today toured the USS Monterey (CG 61) at the Naval Station Norfolk and highlighted the Obama Administration's commitment to energy independence for the Nation's military.

LEXINGTON, N.C., September 7, 2012 –Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today highlighted the Obama Administration’s successful efforts to grow rural manufacturing, create more jobs and help generate economic opportunity in small towns and rural communities. During a visit to Tarheel Plastics, LLC in Davidson County, Vilsack discussed how rural manufacturing is growing, with rural manufacturing employment increasing by 3.8 percent in 2011 over 2010 - double the national rate.

RALEIGH, N.C., September 7, 2012 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that USDA has reached its $250 million goal to finance smart grid technologies, a key component of President Obama’s effort to help modernize our nation’s electric system. Vilsack also announced nine rural electric cooperatives and utilities in 10 states including North Carolina will receive loan guarantees to make improvements to generation and transmission facilities and implement smart grid technologies.

WASHINGTON, September 6, 2012 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that USDA is accepting applications for technical assistance grants to develop domestic and migrant farm labor housing.

WASHINGTON, September 6, 2012 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that USDA’s SuperTracker diet planning and tracking tool has reached one million registered users. SuperTracker is a resource to help individuals make healthy lifestyle choices to improve their dietary pattern, maintain a healthy weight, track their level of physical activity, and reduce their risk of chronic disease.

WASHINGTON, August 30, 2012 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack released the following statement today on the U.S. Department of Agriculture's export forecast for fiscal years 2012 and 2013, which shows a level of U.S. agricultural exports unmatched in our nation's history.

BOONE, Iowa, Aug. 30, 2012-Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced more than $18 million in grants to organizations across 24 states that will help beginning farmers and ranchers with the training and resources needed to run productive, sustainable farms.

WASHINGTON, August 29, 2012 — USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) Administrator Juan M. Garcia today urged livestock producers affected by natural disasters such as Hurricane Isaac to keep thorough records of their livestock and feed losses, including additional expenses for such things as feed purchases because of lost supplies.

WASHINGTON, August 29, 2012 — Agriculture Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services Kevin Concannon today announced that America's students will see healthier and more nutritious foods in the cafeteria as they return to school this year. The new nutrition standards for school meals, implemented as a result of the historic Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, will help to combat child hunger and obesity and improve the health and nutrition of the nation's children.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 29, 2012-As the Obama Administration continues to support farmers and businesses impacted by the drought, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced a two-month extension for emergency grazing on Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acres, freeing up forage and feed for ranchers as they look to recover from this challenging time.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 24, 2012 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced $26 million in Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) awarded by USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to entities across the nation for projects that test and prove innovative approaches to conserving America’s private lands. The grant winners will demonstrate innovative approaches to improving soil health, increasing pollinator and wildlife habitat, protecting water quality and producing on-farm energy savings. Grant recipients will pay 50 percent of all project costs.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 22, 2012—Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today made a series of announcements that continue to underscore the Obama Administration’s ongoing work to help farmers, ranchers and businesses impacted by the most severe drought in 50 years. The Secretary said the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) intends to file special provisions with the federal crop insurance program to allow haying or grazing of cover crops without impacting the insurability of planted 2013 spring crops, a move that can help provide much needed forage and feed this fall and winter for livestock producers. In a separate step, Vilsack will modify emergency loans, allowing loans to be made earlier in the season helping livestock producers to offset increased feed costs and those who have liquidated herds.