USDA

USDA to use outdoors recreation to boost economy around national forests, grasslands

BY: and - January 31, 2023

The USDA program is an acknowledgement from the government about the clear economic benefits of the outdoor recreation sector for rural areas, Chris Perkins, the senior director at the industry and nonprofit coalition group Outdoor Recreation Roundtable, said. 

Pa. one of three states piloting a mental health helpline for farmers, agriculture producers

BY: - February 11, 2022

Speaking to reporters Friday, Department of Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding and state Sen. Elder Vogel, R-Beaver, who chairs the Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee, announced the availability of a new pilot mental health helpline, known as the AgriStress HelpLine, for those in the commonwealth’s agriculture industry. 

USDA appoints Heidi Secord as Pa.’s Farm Service Agency exec

BY: - January 19, 2022

Heidi Secord, who will serve as the FSA state executive director for Pennsylvania, is a farmer-member of the Pennsylvania State Conservation Commission. She was appointed to that role by Gov. Tom Wolf.

Pa. business receives more than $103K from USDA Rural Energy program | Five for the Weekend

BY: - December 4, 2021

The grant, is part of a $633 million investment by the USDA to "reduce the impacts of climate change on rural communities," according to a statement from the department. 

Boy eats lunch

Feds issue year-long extension of free food for school students

BY: - April 22, 2021

The U.S. Department of Agriculture this week issued a year-long extension of a waiver program that lets schools send free food home with students. Originally set to expire this September, the program will now be in effect through June 2022.