White House Rural Council Blog

Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack explains that the Administration's vision for rural America combines new technologies and new markets with better use of our natural resources-more home grown biofuels and renewable energy.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack discusses Recovery Act funding to 129 rural libraries in 30 states to create, expand, and improve our nation’s rural libraries – benefitting over 1.7 million rural residents.

Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan discusses how her visit to the Nevada State Fair validates that we’re on the right track and the Farm Financial Forecasts for 2010.

As part of the restoration efforts following Hurricane Katrina, Dallas Tonsager, Under Secretary of USDA Rural Development, discusses how hundreds of Louisiana families have utilized the agency's single-family housing programs to rebuild their lives.

Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack visits the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines and announces renewable energy and energy efficiency loans and grants to help meet the needs of rural America.

EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson takes part in a classic American tradition by visiting the Wisconsin State Fair and discusses the strategies to address environmental challenges faced by rural America.

Deputy Transportation Secretary John Porcari visits the 157th Ohio State Fair and discusses the summer of recovery, that means more than $1.1 billion for Ohio's road, bridge, transit and airport projects.

More than 150 rural education and technology experts participate in a National Rural Education Technology Summit at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian to learn from one another and provide feedback to federal officials.

Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack unveils a new report outlining both the current state of renewable energy efforts in America and a plan to develop regional strategies to increase the production, marketing and distribution of biofuels.

Secretary Tom Vilsack discusses the Administration’s upcoming National Summit of Rural America: A Dialogue for Renewing Promise. Watch the livestream tomorrow, June 3, 2010 at USDA.gov.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack discusses opportunities to strengthen the rural economy after accompanying President Obama on his White House to Main Street Tour of towns in Missouri, Illinois and his home state of Iowa.

Deputy Chief of Staff Mona Sutphen gives a run-down of some key policy points in the President's State of the Union Address.

A new agreement between the USDA and the Navy will strengthen the economic recovery in rural America, create new jobs and new industries, decrease our dependence on foreign oil, and address the challenge of climate change.