Acting Local, Growing Global for Good Food

USDA Blog Post:

Posted by Anne L. Alonzo, Agricultural Marketing Service Administrator, on March 27, 2014 at 1:00 PM

From left to right: Deborah Kane, USDA Farm to School Program; Tim Snyder, Seeds of Change; Leslie Fowler, Chicago Public Schools; Anne Alonzo, AMS Administrator; Jim Slama, FamilyFarmed.org; Paul Saginaw, Zingerman's; Ken Waagner, e.a.t.; and Tom Spaulding, Angelic Organics Learning Center. The Good Food Festival & Conference is the oldest sustainable and local food trade show in America.

For over a century, my hometown of Chicago has been a cultural, financial, and agricultural hub.  And as a hub, it has a long history of supporting innovation and opportunity.  From the first cattle drives came the great Chicago Stockyards that supplied meat to the nation.  From the early trading of the Chicago Butter and Egg Board came the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. The city’s richly-woven tapestry of cultural diversity and the success of its food businesses prove Chicago’s value as an ideal business cultivator.

That is why it was so fitting that AMS Deputy Administrator Arthur Neal and I were invited to present at the Good Food Festival & Conference in Chicago on March 14. Hosted by Jim Slama of FamilyFarmed.org, the event is the oldest sustainable and local food trade show in America. Each year it brings together stakeholders including farmers, entrepreneurs, policy makers, and food industry representatives.

It was inspiring to talk with such a diverse group about innovative ideas to support the production and distribution of locally grown food. My agency, the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) has worked on local regional food systems for many years. In fact, at AMS we like to say “We did local before local was cool.”  In Chicago, we had the opportunity to celebrate the synergy of good food, great ideas, and new partnerships as we strive to increase healthy food access and economic growth in communities around the country.

I highlighted Secretary Vilsack’s ongoing support of local and regional food systems, much of which is coordinated across USDA by the Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food initiative.  I also shared how the new Agriculture Act of 2014 (Farm Bill) gives AMS a key role in providing increased support for local and regional food systems.  Programs like our Farmers Market Promotion Program (now the Farmers Market and Local Foods Promotion Program) and Specialty Crop Block Grant Program help turn entrepreneurial seeds into fruitful businesses and community resources.

Equally important, these creative small businesses are delivering fresh, healthy foods to underserved areas in both rural and urban communities.  Through supply chain models like food hubs—which connect rural communities of suppliers (farmers and ranchers) to larger suburban and urban communities (schools, hospitals, restaurants, etc.)—more and more farmers and suppliers are coming together to meet community needs and consumer demand.

In order to support the continued development of these food hubs and the many benefits they provide to rural economies, AMS is partnering with FamilyFarmed.org to develop a national guide on “Building Successful Food Hubs.”  The guide will include descriptions of key functions, best practices, and proven strategies for food hubs—all based on successful models operating across the United States.

Through this cooperative effort and others like it, along with USDA’s new and expanded efforts to support small- and mid-sized farmers and ranchers, we will continue the long Chicago tradition of turning local business success into national prosperity.

USDA Blog » Reapers and Creepers Give Rave Reviews for Fall Harvest and Halloween Stats!

USDA Blog » Reapers and Creepers Give Rave Reviews for Fall Harvest and Halloween Stats!

USDA Blog » RISE Volunteers Mentor Young Gardeners

USDA Blog » RISE Volunteers Mentor Young Gardeners

USDA Blog » A Commitment to Humane Handling in the Food Safety and Inspection Service

USDA Blog » A Commitment to Humane Handling in the Food Safety and Inspection Service

USDA Undersecretary for Natural Resources and Environment Visits Colorado's USDA Employees and Tours Flood Impacted Areas

USDA Blog Post:

Posted by Petra Barnes, Colorado State Public Information Officer USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, on October 29, 2013 at 4:00 PM

Undersecretary Robert Bonnie (second from left) is briefed by NRCS Soil Conservationist Don Graffis. Graffis discussed NRCS recovery efforts in the wake of a 2013 flood near Lyons Colorado. NRCS photo.

Recently, Undersecretary for Natural Resources and Environment Robert Bonnie visited Colorado to connect with USDA employees in the wake of the government shutdown.  On the morning of Wednesday, October 23rd Undersecretary Bonnie traveled to Fort Collins to host a USDA “family meeting” and listen to nearly 100 employees as they shared comments, asked questions, and voiced concerns. The Undersecretary fielded numerous questions during the structured event, while after several employees shared their appreciation for the chance to hear from and interact with leadership within the Department.

Later in the afternoon the Undersecretary participated in a tour that helped provide a hands-on account of the impact and devastation resulting from the recent flood which was only compounded because of the 2012 wildfires.  The first leg of the tour was led by Donald Graffis, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) soil conservationist in Longmont, Colo., while Sylvia Clark, Forest Service (FS) district ranger in Boulder coordinated the second half.  Phyllis Ann Philipps, NRCS State Conservationist in Colorado and Dan Jiron, FS Regional Forester were also on hand during the tour.

“There is so much damage.  It was difficult to look in any one direction and not see where some assistance was needed,” said Philipps.  NRCS began the tour in Lyons focusing on the debris and destruction within the town caused by the St. Vrain River.  The group then traveled to Apple Valley which hosts numerous small acreage landowners and then on to an area leading to Estes Park where in both locations the Undersecretary was able to visit and hear firsthand from those impacted including a small acreage landowner as well as a church caretaker who graphically described the damage to the church.  “There are no shortage of touching stories and people in need as a result of this flood.  It’s one thing to read about them, but to see it in conjunction with those impacted telling you their story moves you even more.”  Upon the FS leading the group, they traveled down Left Hand Creek and up Left Hand Canyon, stopping along the way to further detail challenges.  Finally the group stopped in what remains of Jamestown; a small community that sits in a narrow canyon along James Creek.  Jamestown is widely considered to have been the hardest hit.

With the programs USDA agencies manage and administer through technical and financial assistance, they are no stranger to responding to those in need during crisis and in the aftermath of disasters.  They must work together, and on this trip in addition to witnessing the tragic impacts of the 2012 wildfires and the 2013 flood, Undersecretary Bonnie was also able to see firsthand the partnership between NRCS and the FS as they progress in their recovery efforts.

GIPSA's National Grain Center Hosts Secretary Tom Vilsack

USDA Blog Post:

Posted by Mary Coffey Alonzo, Director, National Grain Center, GIPSA, on October 29, 2013 at 3:00 PM

Sec. Tom Vilsack visited the grain grading laboratory of GIPSA's Board of Appeals and Review (BAR) and the Grading Service Laboratory (GSL) on October 23, 2013. BAR staff explain their grading review process while BAR Chairman Jim Whalen looks on.

The Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration’s (GIPSA) National Grain Center (NGC) was proud to host Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on Wednesday, October 23.  The NGC, located in Kansas City, MO, is home to the Federal Grain Inspection Service’s (FGIS) Technology and Science Division along with staff from FGIS’ Quality Assurance and Compliance Division and Field Management Division.

The grain inspectors, scientists and engineers at the NGC provide a broad spectrum of grain inspection services and support within recently renovated state of the art laboratories.   During the visit, NGC staff demonstrated how they oversee, develop and approve methods and instruments used for grain inspection that ensure the consistent standard of measuring quality essential to grain marketing.

Members of the Board of Appeals and Review (BAR) and the Grading Services Laboratory (GSL) described their critical role within the grain inspection process.  When a grain quality factor is measured through sensory evaluation – how the grain looks or smells – all grain inspectors looking at and smelling the grain sample must be looking for exactly the same thing.

Tom Weber, Leader of GIPSA's Trace Analysis Laboratory, explains the process of preparing and testing grain samples for the presence of pesticide residues as Dr. Tim Norden, Chief of GIPSA's Analytical Chemistry Branch, and Mary Alonzo, Director of GIPSA's Technology and Science Division, watch.

The BAR’s experienced eyes and noses establish the point where a quality factor impacts a grain sample’s overall grade.  The GSL monitors the accuracy of individual grain inspection results while the BAR monitors the overall grain inspection results against the BAR’s standard of performance.  Both resolve appeals of grain inspection results determined at the initial point of inspection.  The BAR’s interpretation is USDA’s final and binding determination.

Equating the process to finding a needle in a haystack, Dr. Tim Norden described how specialized instruments allow his team to analyze grain samples for trace amounts of pesticides and mycotoxins.

The results are often used to confirm that U.S. grain meets international limits for these harmful chemicals.  Dr. Norden also emphasized that evolving technology requires that his staff and laboratory constantly maintain their skills.

The NGC’s Biotechnology Laboratory develops and validates methods to identify genetic events in grain.  Dr. Tandace Bell, Chief, Biotechnology and Analytical Services Branch, discussed the multi-step process used by her team.  Dr. Bell also emphasized the collaborative nature of biotechnology methods development.  GIPSA’s Biotechnology Proficiency Program, now in its tenth year, collaborates with over 200 laboratories around the world to ensure their ability to accurately detect genetic events.  GIPSA also works closely with other USDA agencies with biotechnology programs.

Dr. Tandace Bell, Chief of GIPSA's Biotechnology and Analytical Services Branch, discusses with Secretary Vilsack GIPSA's role in supporting agricultural biotechnology.

Test weight and moisture are the most commonly measured quality factors in all types of grain.   FGIS has developed a prototype for a training tool to improve inspector skills.

Secretary Vilsack was able to see that technique does indeed make a difference while trying out a test weight trainer being developed by FGIS.  The test weight trainer measures a grain inspector’s strike off technique against the approved standard.  New and experienced grain inspectors can use it to perfect their technique on this critical measurement.

FGIS approved two instruments to measure moisture in all officially graded commodities over the past year.  The Unified Grain Moisture Algorithm (UGMA)-Compatible moisture meters offer improved performance under a wider range of conditions.  Dr. Dave Funk, GIPSA’s Chief Scientist, developed the UGMA algorithm that is the basis of the measurement process of the new meters.  Dr. Funk recounted the development process, and demonstrated how the two machines offer equivalent results.

The renovated NGC enhances GIPSA’s ability to certify the accuracy and stability of instruments that measure various quality factors in grain.

We all thank Secretary Vilsack for allowing us to show him how the NGC and FGIS support U.S. agriculture.

TSD engineer Jason Jordon demonstrated to Secretary Vilsack the proper method for leveling off grain in the kettle used to measure test weight.

Ag Statistician Goes from NCAA to NASS

USDA Blog Post:

Posted by King Whetstone, National Agricultural Statistics Service, on October 29, 2013 at 2:00 PM

This post is part of the Science Tuesday feature series on the USDA blog. Check back each week as we showcase stories and news from USDA’s rich science and research portfolio.

2013 is the International Year of Statistics. As part of this global event, every month this year USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service will profile careers of individuals who are making significant contributions to improve agricultural statistics in the United States.

Growing up in Texas, you’re never far removed from agriculture. Even though I grew up in Houston, my grandparents had a beef operation and I’ve always believed that agriculture is simply in my blood. I also knew that I had a passion for numbers, so when time came for me to pick a college major, Agricultural Economics seemed like a great combination of my two passions.

I earned my degree from Prairie View A&M University in Texas. During my junior year, I joined USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) Texas Field Office as an intern, which ended up transforming into a full time position with the agency’s Arkansas office after my graduation.

In my 16 years with NASS, I have worked in many states, ranging from Hawaii to New York, until I finally ended up in my current position as the Director of NASS’ Northeastern Regional Field Office. I now get to guide and oversee all activities of the regional office as well as Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Delaware, Maryland, and the New England state offices, ensuring that the survey and estimating programs meet mission requirement.

My college experience largely shaped my leadership ambitions and skills. In addition to focusing on my economics and statistics studies, I was also the captain of my college’s basketball team during my senior year in 1998, and under my captaincy, Prairie View basketball team made the only NCAA appearance in the school’s history. Going through this experience showed me that I truly enjoy being a leader. I loved building up teamwork, developing game plans, and strategically planning the team’s tactics. These were all the skills that I still use today in my current position.

I also enjoy the ability to connect with folks across all sectors and levels in agriculture. Not only do I get the chance to establish and maintain relationships with top government and private sector officials who are involved in my region’s agricultural economy, but I also have an opportunity to closely work with local farmers and ranchers. I’m also a very active participant in the Ag in the Classroom program. I have visited many schools, especially during my stint at the New York Field Office, speaking to kids about careers in agriculture. I hope to inspire more children to see that agriculture industry is extremely diverse, and that if you have a passion for numbers and agriculture, like I did, there can be a bright future for you as an agricultural statistician or economist.

On the One Year Anniversary of Hurricane Sandy, USDA Looks Ahead

USDA Blog Post:

Posted by Wayne Maloney, Office of Communications, on October 29, 2013 at 10:45 AM

U.S. Forest Service crewmember Bill Scripp finishes the job of sawing downed trees at Forest Park in Queens, NY on Nov. 4, 2012 to make passage safe for residents. The park is a major walking thoroughfare, including popular recreational trails. Bill Scripp belongs to the Wayne National Forest, in Ohio Valley, OH. USDA photo by Dave Kosling.

All this week, Americans are pausing to reflect on the devastation caused when Hurricane Sandy slammed ashore on the eastern seaboard.  Over 160 people died, property was damaged, lives were disrupted, families were torn apart and jobs were affected.

USDA helped the recovery effort in a number of ways, and while we are proud of our work, we also learned from the experience in order to assist those affected by future catastrophes.

Our first task was helping those who were facing hunger.  Following a disaster, the USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) provides nutrition assistance to disaster survivors through disaster USDA Foods Distribution Programs and by authorizing the implementation of the Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D­ SNAP).  In addition, FNS approves waivers that simplify the SNAP benefit replacement process to aid ongoing SNAP households affected by a disaster.

Hurricane Sandy affected the area from Florida to Maine, causing extensive flooding, leaving more than 8.5 million customers without power, and contributing to severe fuel shortages in parts of New Jersey and New York.  The storm damaged or destroyed hundreds of thousands of homes.  In total, 24 counties in three states issued over $5.7 million in D-SNAP benefits to over 12,000 households, and almost 242,000 SNAP households received over $38 million in automatic supplemental benefits.

Seven states issued over $115 million mass SNAP replacement benefits to over 1 million affected households; and two States received hot foods waivers.  In addition, over 1.1 million pounds of USDA Foods worth $1.7 million was provided to meet congregate and household nutrition assistance needs in New York and New Jersey, and an estimated $14 million in free meals were provided through the National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs. We did it all with the help of our private and governmental partners.

Large numbers of trees fell, wires toppled, communications were disrupted.  The Forest Service mobilized.  At the height of the hurricane response effort, approximately 1,200 interagency firefighters organized by the U.S. Forest Service were sent to the impacted areas to provide assistance to communities in need.  Afterward, the Natural Resources Conservation Service moved in to assist five states through the Emergency Watershed Protection Program.  Debris were removed from waterways, and now the NRCS is working to process applications for floodplain easements to ensure that the effects of future storms are minimized.

The USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service’s (APHIS) Animal Care (AC) program supported FEMA operations at the National Response Coordination Center in Washington, D.C.,  following Sandy.  APHIS AC helped to connect animal response organizations to FEMA resources.  It was the first time APHIS Animal Care assisted in the mobilization of resources in response to state requests.

APHIS also staffed FEMA’s National Response Coordination Center (NRCC) in conjunction with its partners at the National Alliance of State Animal and Agriculture Emergency Programs (or NASAAEP) and the National Animal Rescue Sheltering Coalition (or NARSC) to facilitate private organizations’ support of people in disasters.  For example, PetSmart Charities worked on behalf of NARSC to set up distribution centers in three states to coordinate distribution of pet food and two members of the APHIS Animal Care Program Response team were deployed in advance of Sandy’s landfall to prepare to assist pet owners and owners of production animals.

These are just a few of the many examples of efforts undertaken by USDA employees to assist those in need. In times of disaster, USDA is ready to help.  Read more about our emergency preparedness and response efforts here.

To learn more about government-wide efforts to assist in the recovery from Hurricane Sandy click here.

Farm to School Programs Come to Life on Video

USDA Blog Post:

Posted by Deborah Kane, National Director, USDA Farm to School Program, on October 28, 2013 at 4:00 PM

In this video from Georgia Organics kids take a survey after tasting new foods.

Right before the Academy Awards I race around trying to see all the films that have been nominated. And right about now, with Farm to School Month about to come to a close, I’m feeling the same way about trying to absorb all the great information being shared this month.

As the USDA Farm to School Census shows, schools across the country are putting local foods on the school menu at breakfast, lunch and dinner; taking trips to the farm; integrating lessons about food and agriculture into the school’s curriculum; and sowing seeds in school gardens.

Lucky for me, and you, more and more school districts are documenting their good work through film. I took a break recently and got caught up. Here are just a few videos that I’d nominate for an Academy Award if there were a category for “Best Local Lunch Video.”

Bringing the Beef to School
Fifth generation ranchers visit student classrooms, and even bring their most cherished ranching tool: their horse. Honorable mention for taking advantage of the beautiful Montana countryside for an enthralling studio set. Saddle up for a beautiful ride here.

Try It, You Might Like It
Georgia Organics presents a documentary on how to help kids try new foods. They’ve got nine easy steps here.

Changing Lives in DC
By providing a culinary job training program for unemployed, underemployed, previously incarcerated persons, and homeless adults, DC Central Kitchen is changing lives and changing school food at the same time here.

The Kale Chip Test
How do kids at Lemon Grove School District, CA, feel about kale chips? Students in a newly formed “farm to school club” surveyed their peers and found out. See the results here.

Oregon’s AM Northwest
A popular morning talk show in Oregon dishes up farm to school lessons every month. Learn about healthy changes in the cafeteria here and wake up and get energized from some young gardening gurus here.

Cooking with Love in Chester, PA
These chefs and bakers at Chester Upland School District are more like a family, cooking up over 30,000 meals per day, all with a smile. The secret ingredient in their kitchen? Love. Learn more about the culinary family here.

Ripe Watermelons in Fayetteville, AR
Students at Fayetteville Public Schools in Fayetteville, Arkansas, a USDA Farm to School Grantee, learn how to tell if a watermelon is ripe, and other farm to school facts here.

Editor’s Note: How do the schools in YOUR community bring the farm to school? Please make sure your district is counted by accessing the Census results online. USDA will be accepting additional submissions to the USDA Farm to School Census through November 30, 2013. To receive information and updates about USDA’s Farm to School Program, please sign up for our Farm to School E-letter.

Schools in Montana are finding ways to put local beef on the menu.

Helping SNAP Recipients Prepare for November 1st Benefit Changes

USDA Blog Post:

Posted by Kevin Concannon, Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services, on October 28, 2013 at 11:00 AM

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients will see their monthly benefits decrease beginning on November 1^st. As USDA’s top official in charge of the program, I want to ensure that SNAP recipients know that this change is coming and understand what it means for you and your families.

As you know, the amount of SNAP benefits each eligible household receives depends on many things, such as income, household size and expenses. In addition, SNAP households have been receiving an increased amount of benefits because of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), a piece of legislation that provided a temporary boost in benefits to help individuals and families impacted by the economic downturn.

However, the portion of the ARRA legislation that provided these additional benefits ends on October 31. As a result, beginning on November 1, your monthly benefit will decrease. The amount of the decrease depends on your household size.

Assuming no other changes in income, household size, or expenses between October and November, the table below shows the decrease in SNAP benefits in November by household size.

Household Size	Difference
1	-$11
2	-$20
3	-$29
4	-$36
5	-$43
6	-$52
7	-$57
8	-$65
Each additional person	-$8

This change will affect each household. To make sure you get the correct SNAP benefit, give your caseworker information about your household.

As November approaches, I want to remind you of the USDA resources available to help plan and prepare healthy meals at a low cost, including:

• Plan, Compare and Prepare, tips to save money and eat healthier.
• Eat Right When Money’s Tight, tips to help stretch food dollars further.
• The USDA Recipe Box helps people find healthy low cost recipes and create cookbooks and shopping lists.
• 10-Tips Nutrition Series with easy-to-follow tips for a healthy diet.
• ChooseMyPlate.gov to learn more about building a healthy plate.

At USDA, we remain committed to ensuring that low income children and families have access to the critical nutrition assistance programs they need as they get back on their feet. If you are a SNAP recipient and have questions about your case or the change happening on November 1, contact your caseworker immediately or call your State’s information hotline.

USDA Blog » Local Food Makes the Grade: Farm to School and Beyond

USDA Blog » Local Food Makes the Grade: Farm to School and Beyond

Ancient Pacific Creation Legend Promotes Soil Health

USDA Blog Post:

Posted by Mark Defley, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Guam, on October 25, 2013 at 4:00 PM

Ancient Palauans feeding the giant child, Chuab. This painting is common on traditional meeting houses. Photo courtesy of NRCS.

Imagine talking about soil management to 50 farmers from Palau with a collective 1,500 years of experience. The Ngetkip Community’s minister of community and cultural affairs requested me, a resource conservationist with USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service in Palau, to talk about soil.

These farmers mostly have no formal education or training. They still farm mostly with hand tools and as their parents and grandparents taught them. They know what to do, what works well and how to do it. But they don’t necessarily know why.

So the challenge was to provide an understanding of the modern scientific context for their traditional knowledge. In addition to discussing soil chemistry and ecology, metaphors were a useful communication tool.

For this, I turned to the Palau creation legend of Chuab (OO-ahb) the Giant. In the days of the goddess Latmikaik, there were only the islands of Angaur and Peleliu. On Angaur, Latmikaik gave birth to a daughter named Chuab. She grew so quickly and tall that soon the villagers had to make a ladder to reach her mouth with food. As she grew towards the clouds they could no longer feed her.

The villagers became exhausted by these unending efforts to feed the ever-hungry child. So they confronted a disgraced Latmikaik, who consented to their plan to kill Chuab. Wood was piled at her feet and the fire was lit. As Chuab’s body fell, it broke into pieces and became the various islands of Palau.

Palau has red volcanic soil. Photo courtesy of NRCS.

From this story, we can imagine the islands as a body. In fact, this body has a red inside because of the red volcanic soils of Palau. But a healthy body needs skin to contain it. So over this body of red soil lie two protective layers. The first is a dense, green skin of trees, grasses, ferns and vines. This layer continuously sheds its leaves and branches to create the next layer. The second is the most fragile and most important layer of skin—the brown one. This is a thin organic topsoil, very easily washed away by Palau’s 150 inches of rain each year.

Like a cut to the body, all soil disturbance is damaging to the land and needs treatment. Indeed when it rains in Palau, the land bleeds red water full of sediment which washes to the sea, killing coral reefs. When a plow shovel or dozer cuts and exposes to the elements this body of the land, it must be covered so it can heal properly and quickly. So, much like a bandage, we use conservation practices to protect the skin of the land until the soil heals. These healing practices include mulching and tree and shrub establishment.

In fact, Palauan agriculture includes caring for both layers of skin. They continue their tradition of “feeding the soil” through mulching practices.

Chuab serves as a legendary bridge to connect modern science, traditional conservation practices and a world view backed by more than 3,000 years of agricultural refinement. Even though Palauan ancestors long ago stopped feeding the hungry child Chuab, the farmers of Ngetkip know that the land still and will always demand to be fed in order to grow, be healthy and provide for the children of Palau.

This land is using cover and mulch to improve soil health. Photo courtesy of NRCS.

How I Serve: The Importance of Public Service

USDA Blog Post:

Posted by Deputy Secretary Krysta Harden, on October 25, 2013 at 2:30 PM

Deputy Secretary Krysta Harden meets with USDA employees in Minnesota.

Yesterday, I visited with USDA employees in Minnesota to tell them how much their work means to the Secretary, myself and the American people. USDA employees across the country and around the world do critical work that impacts millions of lives and I could not be prouder.

Folks often ask me why I work in the federal government and my answer always is: it’s how I serve. Public service is at the core of our nation’s principles. Our founding fathers performed a public service when they laid the foundation for the United States of America—as they sat down to write the Declaration of Independence and as they worked each day afterward to create and maintain a nation.

Public service looks a bit different today. At USDA alone, we help people buy homes, connect rural schools and hospitals to the internet, feed underserved children during the school year and summertime, provide loans to farmers and ranchers, fight wildfires and keep our food system safe and secure. Our employees are the best and brightest in the business. Public service is an honorable profession and should not be taken for granted.

These are just some examples of our great work. For all this and more, I want to express my deepest thanks to the incredibly talented and dedicated workforce at USDA.

We Can't Wait

USDA Blog Post:

Posted by Michael T. Scuse, Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services, on October 25, 2013 at 1:00 PM

Michael Scuse, Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services, listens to those impacted by the Atlas Blizzard in South Dakota.

Farmers and ranchers know many variables are sometimes not in their hands, especially when it comes to weather.  That’s why USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack and U.S. Senator Tim Johnson asked me to travel to South Dakota this week to see firsthand the widespread destruction to livestock in the wake of the Atlas Blizzard, and to consult with affected producers on how USDA can help right now – - despite two years of Congressional inaction on the Food, Farm and Jobs Bill.

When I joined one farmer in his living room, learning how his livestock losses, including pregnant stock, meant years of income gone, I thought of Congress, how it lurches from one crisis to the next, and how that legislative atrophy creates real consequences beyond just American farmers but for entire rural communities.

This storm killed tens of thousands of livestock.  It’s a real financial emergency, yet USDA’s most helpful program in South Dakota and the neighboring states of Nebraska and North Dakota also hit by the snowstorm, the Livestock Indemnity Program, is unavailable until Congress acts.   We’re reminding everyone in the interim to keep careful records and to submit documented losses to their local Farm Service Agency office.

We’re also offering a special signup of the Environmental Quality Incentives Program through November 15th, 2013, to help producers dispose of livestock carcasses, replace destroyed fencing, and rebuild shelterbelts and other conservation practices damaged by the storm.  Special thanks to the State of South Dakota for its cost-sharing partnership with USDA on this effort.

And the USDA’s StrikeForce Initiative is working closely to connect Native American Tribes in the state with a variety of USDA resources, including conservation programs.

When our friends are sick or hospitalized, we take turns on their farm because they would do it for us, and today in South Dakota, people are coming together, creating relief funds and holding potluck fundraisers for those affected by the blizzard- – a spirit of cooperation that underlies rural America.  And with nearly one-fifth of the total veteran population living in rural America in 2011, don’t we need more of that spirit in Washington?

South Dakotans can count on USDA to use every single tool in our toolbox, but there are only so many tools.  We may have little control over the weather, but folks do have control over Farm Bills, and that control comes with responsibility to ensure that a full five-year Farm Bill is enacted at once.

If you agree, I invite you to share your story on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube or other social media tools by using  #MyFarmBill to let everyone know how these programs are important to you.

This is an aerial view of cattle killed by the Atlas Blizzard in South Dakota on Oct. 10, 2013. Civil Air Patrol photo by David Small.

Dallas Schools Look to Source School Meals within the State of Texas

USDA Blog Post:

Posted by Deborah Kane, National Director, USDA Farm to School Program, on October 24, 2013 at 2:00 PM

Dallas ISD launched a Harvest of the Month program during Farm to School Month. Each month the district’s cafeterias feature Texas grown fruits and vegetables. (Photo credit: Dallas ISD)

This post was written by USDA Farm to School Grantee Dallas Independent School District (ISD). Last November, the district became one of a cohort of 32 schools and districts across the country using USDA funds to spend a year planning a robust farm to school program, embedding best practices from the very start, and learning from their peers.

Guest post by Dora Rivas, Executive Director, Dallas ISD Food and Child Nutrition Services

The temperatures are below 95 degrees, there are high school football games every Friday night and the State Fair is in full swing – it must be October in Texas! October is also National Farm to School Month, a perfect time to reflect and celebrate all Dallas ISD Farm to School has accomplished over the last 12 months!

Dallas ISD is one of the largest urban school districts in the country with over 157,000 students in 220 schools, so the idea of implementing farm to school program district-wide was a bit daunting. Our first steps were to establish a definition of “local” and determine how much we were already spending on locally produced foods.  The definition we settled on is “anything grown or produced within the state of Texas.” By this definition, we determined that during the 2012-2013 school year, the district had spent $9,126,070 on “local” produce, baked goods, and dairy. (Editor’s note: You can learn more about Dallas ISD’s local procurement for the 2011-12 school year at the new Farm to School Census site.)

The next step was to determine how we could increase our “local” spending. To do this, we began to identify menu items that are available seasonally and worked with our produce distributor to find farmers who could provide those items. This process resulted in the decision to initiate a Harvest of the Month program. This initiative highlights Texas grown products on the cafeteria menu; offers monthly samples of Texas grown products called “Tasty Teaser” to students; and offers educational materials for classroom teachers and parents focused on produce grown seasonally in Texas.

Our greatest achievement during the planning year was bringing together a collaborative team with diverse expertise to lead our farm to school efforts. The team has been committed to the task at hand and dedicated to meeting regularly and working diligently to meet objectives. Being under the direction of the Food and Nutrition department, we were able to have the most immediate impact on menu planning, procurement, and marketing and promotion. The team also conducted a district-wide assessment of existing infrastructure (like school gardens) and policies (like the district’s wellness plan) that might serve to support our program; is leading efforts to evaluate the effectiveness of our work; planned a robust agenda of Farm to School Month activities; and is finishing up a Farm to School Implementation Plan to guide our efforts in future years.

As our program takes root and grows, our hope is to become increasingly integrated in our district, our community, and our local agricultural economy.

Happy to Farm to School Month!

Dallas ISD students watch a milking demonstration at the Texas State Fair as part of a Farm to School Month field trip. (Photo credit: Dallas ISD)

First African-American Smokejumpers Take their Last Jumps

USDA Blog Post:

Posted by Deidra L. McGee, Office of Communication, U.S. Forest Service, on October 24, 2013 at 11:23 AM

L to R: U.S. Army Sgt. Clarence H. Beavers, Triple Nickles' Association President Joe Murchison, Smokey Bear, 2nd Lt. Walter Morris and Lt. Col. Roger S. Walden visited the U. S. Forest Service in Washington, D. C., March 26, 2010.

In the summer of 1945, a group of African-American paratroopers for the U.S. Army became smokejumpers assigned to a special Forest Service mission known as “Operation Firefly.” Also known as the Triple Nickles, they represented the 555^th Parachute Infantry Battalion for colored soldiers who set out to make a jump for change.

Two of these valiant, pioneering men recently passed away or “took their last jump” as the Triple Nickles Association likes to say.

Lt. Col. Roger S. Walden, 91, took his last jump on Sept. 17. Walden will be interred at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date. Second Lt. Walter Morris, 92, took his last jump on Oct. 13 and was memorialized on Oct. 19 in Palm Coast, Fla.

The Forest Service honored Morris, Walden and Clarence Beavers—the last surviving member of the Triple Nickles— during a March 2010 ceremony in Washington, D.C.

“These highly skilled paratroopers used their military training in a different kind of combat few people were aware of,” Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell said during the ceremony. “Fighting the fires that had the potential to do great harm to the nation in a time of war was dangerous, important work.”

The Triple Nickles’ original role was to minimize damage caused by balloon bombs launched by the Japanese across the Pacific Ocean with the intent to start forest fires in the western U.S. In the end, few of the incendiary devices reached U.S. soil, but the Triple Nickles were instrumental in helping the Forest Service fight naturally-caused fires.

“The Army kept Operation Firefly quiet because they didn’t want the Japanese to know that the balloon bombs had actually reached the U.S. coastline,” Morris said.

Prior to his death, Morris was to receive the prestigious ONYX Lifetime Achievement Award and the Legion of Merit Award on Oct. 26 during the 10th Annual ONYX Awards. The honors will be awarded posthumously. The Onyx awards recognize the accomplishments and contributions of African-Americans and those of the African Diaspora.

Both Morris and Walden hold a very special place in Forest Service history.  They will always be remembered for their bravery, sacrifice and groundbreaking achievements in wildland firefighting. We praise them for their courage and heroic service to the Nation with dignity, grace and valor. During a time of war and social prejudices, the commitment to serve their country through wildland firefighting was challenging and unique.

The Triple Nickles served in more airborne units, in peace and war, than any other parachute group in history. The 555th paved the way for African-American soldiers to become part of the prestigious 82nd Airborne Division, when the Triple Nickles were absorbed into that division after the integration of the military in 1947. The 555th Parachute Infantry Association, located in Tampa, Fla., was founded in 1979 to keep alive the legacy of the Triple Nickles. There are more than 1,000 members in 28 Triple Nickles’ chapters across the country.

First Winter Crop Deemed a Success with New High Tunnel

USDA Blog Post:

Posted by Beverly Moseley, Natural Resources Conservation Service, on October 22, 2013 at 3:00 PM

Mildred Griggs of Marianna, Ark., installed a seasonal high tunnel through the USDA StrikeForce Initiative for Rural Growth and Opportunity.

Mildred Griggs, of Marianna, Ark., wasn’t looking for bragging rights when she installed her new seasonal high tunnel, last year, but that’s what she earned this spring after harvesting her first winter vegetable crop.

“We had the best salad green mix in the region,” says Griggs.

With the high tunnel, Griggs was able to extend her fall growing season of fresh produce into the winter months. Her harvest included lettuce, spinach, beets, carrots and greens.

“Some of this goes to the community, some is sold, and some of it we process for ourselves to eat,” she says.

Griggs’ property has been in the family since 1923, when cotton was the cash crop. But the family also worked to sustain their local community by giving fruits and vegetables from their orchards and garden to those in need. Griggs continues that tradition today.

The high tunnel was made possible in part to financial assistance she received from the Natural Resources Conservation Service, through the USDA StrikeForce for Rural Growth and Opportunity. The initiative addresses high-priority funding and technical assistance needs in rural communities in 16 states, including Arkansas, with an emphasis on historically underserved communities in rural counties with persistent poverty.

“I’m certain that we would not have had the seasonal high tunnel had it not been for StrikeForce and the meetings that were arranged from different representatives of USDA agencies through the state,” Griggs says.

StrikeForce uses community outreach meetings to inform attendees about USDA Farm Bill programs.

Derinda Smith, NRCS district conservationist in Marianna, has been a part of these outreach efforts.

“The USDA StrikeForce Initiative has afforded some of the smaller alternative crop producers to be eligible to grow their crops under the seasonal high tunnel,” Smith says, who has worked closely with Griggs throughout the application and installation process.

The two women have also worked on implementing water and soil resource conservation practices under the tunnel. For instance, Griggs now waters each plant via drip or micro-irrigation lines, which results in water use efficiency.

“She’s done a really great job with this seasonal high tunnel. She’s made it work for her and the community and that’s a really, really nice thing for her to do,” Smith adds.

Derinda Smith (left), NRCS district conservationist in Marianna, Ark. and Mildred Griggs, of Marianna, visit about resource conservation practices for optimizing vegetable production under a high tunnel.

Lower-fat French Fries? You Bet!

USDA Blog Post:

Posted by Chris Guy, USDA Agricultural Research Service Information Staff, on October 22, 2013 at 1:00 PM

This post is part of the Science Tuesday feature series on the USDA blog. Check back each week as we showcase stories and news from USDA’s rich science and research portfolio.

Americans love, love, love their spuds:  In 2010, per capita consumption of potatoes in the U.S. hit almost 114 pounds, according to USDA’s Economic Research Service. One of our favorite ways to dish up this versatile veggie is in the form of French fries.

Of course, deep-frying those potato slices to golden crispness adds extra calories from the oil.  But what if you could indulge your French fry craving with fewer calories? And what if the technique to achieve that was more environmentally friendly than conventional fry preparation?

That’s not just some chef’s pipe dream; the scientists of the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) have cooked up a way to do it.

After the potatoes are peeled and sliced into strips, but before they’re dunked in the deep-fat fryer, the scientists prep them with three minutes of infrared (IR) heat.  The IR preparation forms a nice, microscopic crust on the fries, which helps reduce their oil uptake.

In the ARS experiments, fries that were prepped with three minutes of IR heat at 120 kilowatts per square foot, then deep-fried at about 295 degrees Fahrenheit for seven minutes, had 37.1 percent less oil than fresh-cut fries that didn’t get the IR treatment.

As for the flavor of the finished product, more than half of 77 volunteer taste-testers said they found the taste and color of the IR-prepped fries to be no different from conventionally prepared fries.  More than half of the panelists said they preferred the IR fries’ extra crispness.

Fries prepped with infrared heat before frying have less fat than conventionally prepared fries, ARS scientists have shown.

The IR process is also suitable for fries that are partially processed at a potato processing plant, then frozen and shipped for later “finish-frying.”  Those fries are typically blanched with hot water or steam to inactivate enzymes in the spuds that might otherwise cause undesirable browning.

The IR heating blanches the potato strips and gets rid of the unwanted enzymes without using water.  That eliminates the need to air-dry the strips, so processors who opt for the IR method could reduce their water use and maybe their energy bills, too.

That means the IR fries could be good news for potato processors, the environment—and our waistlines!

Nationwide Census on Farm to School Activities Shows Promising Results

USDA Blog Post:

Posted by Deborah Kane, National Director, USDA Farm to School Program, on October 22, 2013 at 10:00 AM

USDA Census shows healthy habits are taking root across the country.

When students have experiences such as tending a school garden or visiting a farm they’ll be more likely to make healthy choices in the cafeteria. And when schools invest their food dollars in their local communities, all of agriculture benefits, including local farmers, ranchers, fishermen, food processors and manufacturers.

Good news: these healthy habits are taking root all across the country.

USDA released today results from a nationwide Census of farm to school activities. We found that 43 percent of all public school districts have an existing farm to school program in place. Another 13 percent of school districts surveyed are committed to launching a farm to school program in the near future. With purchasing local food as a primary farm to school activity, in school year 2011-2012, schools purchased and served over $350 million in local food.

And there’s a farm to school program flourishing in every single state in the nation. Here’s a sample of what we heard from school districts across the country:

“We have successfully added local beef to our menu on a monthly basis. Each month we make 800 burgers in-house with beef from a ranch that is less than 30 miles away. We live in a ranch community and the kids respond really well when they know where their beef is coming from. We are all very proud!” – Livingston School Districts 4 & 1 Livingston, MT

“We’re processing local roma tomatoes at our summer feeding sites for later use in the school meal program as, for example, marinara sauce on ravioli.” – Hopkins Public Schools, MN

“Local farmers help us develop recipes to use in the kitchens. We’ve been buying local for years and it just keeps getting better and better!” – South Jefferson Central School, NY

“We purchase freshly ground, whole grain flour for use in school made rolls and other grain items. This wheat is grown 3 miles from the schools; a local business was created thanks to our farm to school program!” – Bleckley County Schools, GA

“Connecting with a local farmers market has allowed us to bring fresh, local produce into our operation.” – Chesapeake Public Schools, VA

“We do 17 weeks of local produce every fall.” – Kirkwood Schools, MO

“Our students are always happy to see local farmers come to our school.” – STAR School, AZ

How do the schools in YOUR community bring the farm to school? Please make sure your district is counted by accessing the Census results online. USDA will be accepting additional submissions to the USDA Farm to School Census through November 30, 2013.

Editor’s Note: To receive information and updates about USDA’s Farm to School Program, please sign up for our Farm to School E-letter.

"Bringing the Farm to School: Growing Healthy Children & Communities" infographic.

Thanks to USDA, Rural Arkansas Residents and Businesses Have Safer Water

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USDA Blog Post:

Posted by Denise Scott, USDA Rural Development, on September 5, 2013 at 12:50 PM

Administrator Padalino speaking at the Ozark Mountain Regional Public Water Authority Treatment Plant in Arkansas. The opening marked completion of the 500th water and environmental project completed by USDA through the Recovery Act. USDA photo.

USDA Rural Utilities Service Administrator John Padalino recently visited the 500th water and wastewater project funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. “The Recovery Act has brought improved water and wastewater services to nearly 1.7 million rural residents,” said the Administrator.

Administrator Padalino made his remarks at the Ozark Mountain Regional Public Water Authority Treatment Plant in Arkansas.

Most people in the U.S. take for granted the fact that safe drinking water is readily available for use by simply turning on a tap, or pushing a button on a fountain.  However, many rural communities within the U.S. must deal with negative impacts associated with contaminated water sources at their homes and schools.

In fact, since the 1980’s there have been efforts to bring safe drinking water to Boone, Newton, and Searcy counties in Arkansas.  Groundwater in this region is often contaminated with naturally occurring random, radium, and fluoride, which water systems must address.   Contaminated ground water is unsafe and unfit for humans to use USDA funding for the Ozark Mountain Regional Public Water Authority system is used to provide clean, safe water for over 20,000 residents and businesses.

In addition to the USDA funding, the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission provided nearly $10 million for the project. Programs like the one which funded the Treatment Plant would not be available without a Food, Farm and Jobs Bill.

Rural areas need safe and reliable water for the health of their communities and sustainable economic growth. Since the start of the Obama Administration, USDA has invested more than $218 million, in over 100 water and wastewater programs in rural Arkansas alone.

To find out more about how USDA water and environmental programs can assist your community click here.