No child in this country should grow up in poverty.  And as a new analysis by USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS) makes clear, to end that injustice we must do more to tackle growing income inequality.  The study, released today, found that rising income inequality explains an overwhelming 93 percent of the increase in rural child poverty between 2003 and 2014.  As the report notes, income inequality was considerably higher in 2014 than in 2003 in both urban and rural areas.  Over the past seven years, USDA and the Obama Administration’s work to bring economic opportunity to rural America has produced concrete results: rural areas are seeing income growth; two-thirds of rural communities have demonstrated job growth; and for the first time in years, rural areas are gaining population rather than losing residents.  But this new research on the pervasive effects of income inequality underscores that broader Administration priorities, like raising the minimum wage, must be part of any comprehensive approach to rural poverty.

At USDA, we are fulfilling our commitment to driving rural economic development by making targeted investments in the Four Pillars of a new economy in rural America: exports and production agriculture fueled by increased productivity and research; local and regional food systems creating an entrepreneurial and innovation attitude; the bio-based economy; and conservation and natural resources.  To complement these efforts, in 2010, USDA launched the StrikeForce Initiative for Rural Growth and Opportunity, which has since expanded to 970 persistent poverty counties in 25 states and Puerto Rico.  USDA has invested more than $23.5 billion in nearly 190,000 projects in StrikeForce counties since the initiative began, creating opportunity where it is needed most.

The White House Rural Council, which I am proud to chair, has generated even more momentum.  In April 2015, the Council launched Rural Impact, a cross-agency effort to combat poverty and improve upward mobility in rural and tribal places.  In September 2015, 10 rural and tribal communities were selected to participate in Rural Impact demonstrations, which are helping communities adopt a two-generation approach to addressing the needs of both vulnerable children and their parents.  The goal of these demonstrations is to increase parents’ employment and education and improve the health and well-being of their children and families, by helping communities adopt a comprehensive, whole-family framework for addressing child poverty.

USDA has also established the USDA Rural Child Poverty Nutrition Center at the University of Kentucky.  This year, the Center awarded $1.3 million in grants to help 17 rural communitiesimplement creative strategies to better coordinate between existing nutrition programs, making it easier for families to navigate and access assistance.

All of these efforts are part of the Administration’s modern approach to addressing poverty and expanding economic mobility.  Investments in economic development, and programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), which have been proven effective at lifting millions of Americans out of poverty and improving children’s long-term health and educational outcomes, are complementary elements of that comprehensive approach.  Because hardworking families should be able to thrive, the President’s agenda includes raising the minimum wage, closing the gender wage gap, fighting for paid family and sick leave, and broadening access to college and high quality training.  This approach creates good jobs, strengthens the safety net, invests in workers’ skills, and ensures that the economy works for all Americans.

To eliminate rural child poverty, we must extend that same bold, innovative approach to reach all rural communities – no matter how small.

America’s farmers and ranchers are among the most productive in the world, and they depend on exports. 

Roughly 20% percent of U.S. farm income comes from agricultural exports, and those exports help to support rural communities across the country. 

However, foreign taxes on our agricultural exports are often very high, much higher than foreign taxes on other exports. 

That's why the Trans-Pacific Partnership, the President's high-standard trade deal, will open foreign markets to U.S. food and agriculture, providing new and commercially meaningful market access and advancing regulations that are transparent and based on science.

This week, the American Farm Bureau Federation released a report showing that the TPP will bring an annual increase of: 

• $4.4 billion in net farm income
• $297 million in soybean and products exports
• $25 million in cotton exports
• $90 million in rice exports
• $735 million in fruit and nut exports
• $419 million in vegetable exports
• $1 billion in beef export
• $940 million in pork exports
• $169 million in poultry exports
• $131 million in dairy exports

This report details the reason we've heard from farmers across America that the TPP will help their industry. In December for example, the White House and the USDA traveled to Wakefield, Virginia, to talk with a peanut farmer about the President's trade deal. 

Listen to Paul Rogers, a peanut farmer from Virginia, and Dell Cotton, Executive Secretary of the Virginia Peanut Growers Association, tell their stories, and see photos of the visit to Rogers Farm here.

Today marks an historic win for conservation and communities in the West and for the United States. Thanks to unprecedented conservation cooperation across the western United States, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced earlier today that the charismatic rangeland bird – the greater sage-grouse – does not need to be protected under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The greater sage-grouse conservation strategy comprises the largest landscape-level conservation effort in U.S. history and demonstrates that through strong Federal, state, and private collaboration, the ESA can be an effective and flexible tool in encouraging conservation and providing the certainty needed for sustainable economic development in our states and communities.

This success was only possible through close collaboration among western states, the Department of the Interior, USDA, and more than 1,100 ranchers across eleven states. The bipartisan leadership of many western governors, including Colorado Governor Hickenlooper, Wyoming Governor Mead, Nevada Governor Sandoval, and Montana Governor Bullock is a testament that when we work together, we can successfully conserve landscapes and help save species, while providing certainty to rural economies.

Roughly half of the sage grouse’s remaining habitat is found on public lands, primarily managed by the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service.  After taking into account extensive public and state input, Federal agencies also announced today the finalization of 98 resource management plans that are based on the best available science and address the primary threats to the sage-grouse and its habitat.  These plans and other actions by Federal and state agencies will also help reduce the threat of wildfire in western portions of the range. In total, these plans will put in place protections on nearly 70 million acres of important sage-grouse habitat.

These collective conservation efforts achieve more than protecting one species. The sagebrush habitat is shared with more than 350 other wildlife species, including world-class populations of mule deer, elk, pronghorn and golden eagles. They also provide sustainable development benefits that help local communities and the U.S. economy. More than 1,100 ranchers are voluntarily working with Federal and state agencies to conserve the greater sage-grouse. Since 2010, USDA has partnered with these landowners to conserve or restore 4.4 million acres of key habitat through programs that provide financial assistance for conservation, and hundreds of other properties are enrolled through similar state or Federal programs.

Today’s announcements mark an incredible milestone, proving that collaborative, science-based, forward-looking efforts can conserve an entire landscape. There’s no doubt that important work remains to ensure a bright future for the sage-grouse and the sagebrush habitat.  This includes implementing the state and Federal plans, as well as the comprehensive rangeland fire strategy. USDA has announced plans to spend another $211 million by the end of 2018 to help hundreds of ranchers conserve or restore more habitat, bringing the total to 8 million acres.  And Congress still needs to pass the Administration’s $45 million proposed increase in funds to help implement these public land management plans.  We are confident they will benefit both rural communities and the Western sagebrush landscape now and in the future. 

But new trade agreements are only possible if our negotiators can speak with one voice to negotiate free and fair trade deals. Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) — now being considered in Congress — allows them to do just that.

Here's what’s at stake. The world is becoming even more competitive — opportunities and power are taken out of the hands of hardworking American farmers and put into the hands of their competitors. That is why the President is negotiating the Trans-Pacific Partnership, which will further open Asia-Pacific markets for American agricultural products.

It’s time for Congress to stand up for American businesses, communities, and families, rural and urban alike, and pass TPA legislation.

Here are five reasons why trade is important for the U.S. agricultural industry:

1. America's farmers and ranchers are among the most productive in the world, but they depend on exports, which generate approximately 20 percent of their farm income.

2. U.S. agricultural exports to countries where the United States has free trade agreements (FTAs) increased more than 155 percent, from nearly $25 billion to more than $60 billion between 2003 and 2014.

3. U.S. agricultural exports were more than $150 billion in 2014, up more than 4 percent from 2013.

4. Overseas sales of agricultural products supported more than 1 million full-time American jobs, both on and off the farm in 2013.

5. Every dollar of agricultural exports stimulated another $1.22 in business activity in 2013.

You can get the full factsheet breaking down the important role trade plays in supporting America's farmers and ranchers here.

Ed. note: This is cross-posted on the U.S. Department of Agriculture's blog. See the original post here.

Every parent’s wish is for their children to thrive and prosper. Yet, too many of our nation’s families still live in poverty, despite doing their best to make ends meet. Rural families and children have additional challenges as schools, health care services, healthy food choices, jobs, and other opportunities are often miles away in a different town, county, or even state. The Obama administration is committed to these families, and believes that all children — no matter where they live — should have an opportunity to succeed.

Today, President Obama and I met with eight members of the National 4-H community in the Oval Office. Each one of them had an inspiring story about how they are opening up new doors for kids in their hometowns, and how this work is building stronger communities where they can learn, play, and grow.

We wanted to take a moment to introduce you to these young leaders and tell you about the projects that encouraged President Obama to invite them to the White House to say “thank you.” Investing in kids like these is an investment in America’s future.

The White House Rural Council, which I chair, is taking on rural child poverty as a top priority. Learn more about our plan to leverage federal resources and partner with others to help these families succeed. We will be working directly with kids and families to help them create more opportunities for themselves, their communities, and their future.

You too can be a part of the solution. Visit serve.gov and use #ServeRural to help us build up one community at a time – starting with yours.

Kashawn Burke, 16, Georgia

“Being a healthy living youth ambassador has made me more aware of childhood obesity. Since then I have been working with youth in my community on physical activity and healthy eating.”

Kashawn Burke is a 16-year-old sophomore who is active in ROTC, a Cross Country Runner, a 4-H Healthy Living Youth Ambassador, and an active member of the 4-H Robotics Club with Fort Valley State University. Kashawn’s 4-H Healthy Living ambassador platform is Childhood Obesity. This was inspired by 4-H and his Basic Ag Science & Technology Class. He has raised awareness by promoting healthy eating and physical activity to citizens in his community.

Jacob Jensen, 17, Utah

“Of all the many different opportunities to serve, child hunger and poverty is the one that I felt like I could have the most impact. This is where I felt like I could make a difference. As Dr. Seuss says, ‘Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.’”

For 15 years, the Salt Lake County Program 4-H has been a huge part of Jacob Jensen’s life. He has donated thousands of pounds of fresh vegetables to the Utah Food Bank from his personal garden and worked with Utah 4-H on a project to donate 905,000 pounds of meat to the Utah Food Bank, feeding over 444,000 Utahans facing hunger. During his 4-H State Ambassador Project, Jacob taught over 160 low income youth about healthy eating, mental health, substance abuse, and physical fitness.

Kimberly Lopez, 15, Idaho

“I am motivated to do this type of community service because I see problems everywhere in my town, but I also saw ways I could help to better our community What keeps me committed is actually seeing the change in the kids in my community in the ways that they eat and how active they are and how everyone works together to make the town better.”

Kimberly Lopez, was one of 19 Idaho teens chosen to launch Idaho’s 4-H Food Smart Families teen program after being trained at the University of Idaho. After her time there, she returned to her hometown in Idaho in order to teach youth and families that food security hinges on more than meals, but also the value of nutrition education and healthy choices.

Spencer Orr, 17, Iowa

“4-H has provided me with the opportunity to gain leadership, citizenship, and communication skills, all while being able to learn and help others within my community. My experiences through 4-H have shaped me into the person that I am, and will continue to impact my life forever.”

Spencer Orr has been involved with 4-H since he was in fifth grade. A junior in high school now, Spencer competes in various horse competitions and showing at the local and state level. He has played a role in taking his local Bits and Spurs Judging Team to win the Iowa state championship four years in row. 4-H has provided Spencer with the opportunity to gain leadership, citizenship, and communication skills, all while being able to learn and help others within his community.

Gabrielle Parker, 17, Maryland

“I am helping my community grow and thrive by sharing with other youth what 4-H has taught me: it is okay to step out of your comfort zone.  As young adults in today’s society we have countless opportunities to make a difference. One of 4-H’s mottos is ‘Learn by Doing.’”

When Gabrielle attended her very 4-H first club meeting freshman year of high school, she was unanimously elected as Club Secretary. More recently, thanks to 4-H, she was selected as a member of the state teen leadership forum in the Maryland 4-H State Council.  She also was a catalyst for Maryland 4-H’s highly-successful and nationally-recognized Youth Healthy Living Ambassador program.  Gabrielle is proud to be a member of a military family.

Andres Parra, 20, Arizona

“Kids need to become leaders in their community because it’s difficult to hear only one voice but, when there are hundreds of kids leading positive changes, I know they can make a huge difference.”

Andres was introduced to the 4-H/United Healthcare Eat4-Health program and discovered a passion for nutrition and exercise that led to more productive academic and personal health habits. These habits had a personal impact for Andres, who lost 60 pounds by his senior year. Through the program, Andres became a teen health ambassador and taught more than 200 5th and 6th graders about nutritious eating habits and making healthy choices.

Lorena Rivera, 15, Idaho

“I am helping my community’s young children because they are our future. I want them to know that they have older people, adults and teens here to help them. I help them gain knowledge about how to create healthy meals with their families and help them understand concepts they cannot quite grasp.”

Lorena Rivera was one of 19 Idaho teens chosen in May 2014 to launch Idaho’s first 4-H Food Smart Families teen program. The program addresses food insecurity by empowering families to make informed decisions about budgeting at the store and cooking healthful meals at home. After training at the University of Idaho, Lorena returned to her hometown in Idaho to demonstrate hands-on healthy living strategies, helping other 4-H youth to work to make positive changes in their community.

Geneva Wright, 18, Alaska

“I found out that I have a voice and am helping others to realize they have a voice and to speak out against violence and to have a stand. Not just in my village, but across the state.”

Geneva Wright, is Koyukon Athabascan from the Native Village of Tanana, Alaska. She has been active  in 4-H for over four years, and has participated in local, regional and national events. She is a responsible, trustworthy teen who often is asked to assist the school principal and other adults in her village.  She loves basketball, dogs and being with her friends and family.  Through her 4-H public speaking projects she has not only made statewide, but national impacts, and has encouraged other to share their voices.

Ed. note: This is cross-posted on the U.S. Department of Agriculture's blog. See the original post here.

When USDA unveiled the new Regional Conservation Partnership Program last year, I said that this effort would pioneer a new era of conservation. As of today, the program is doing just that — leveraging an unprecedented three-quarters-of-a-billion-dollar investment in projects to preserve clean land and water and create new jobs across the country.

One of the innovative programs in the 2014 Farm Bill, the Regional Conservation Partnership Program brings a wide variety of new partners together — from private businesses, to universities, to local and tribal governments, to non-profit organizations and more — to develop their own action plans and to pledge their own resources to the project. Local organizations are in the driver’s seat, setting priorities and developing conservation projects that make sense for their communities.

The response to this new approach to conservation projects was overwhelming. Earlier this year, when local partnerships submitted their plans to USDA, they requested more than six times the amount of available funding in the first round. This incredible response is a call to action and it shows how much need there is for a program like RCPP.

From the first round of applications, we selected 115 of the most effective, most innovative projects from across the country to receive more than $370 million in the first round funding. Local partners will invest over $400 million more, for a total funding impact of nearly $800 million.

Leveraging our own resources by encouraging private investment in conservation means we can do more and have a greater impact than we ever could on our own. Since 2009, USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service has worked with 750,000 producers and landowners to implement conservation activities on 325 million acres. The Regional Conservation Partnership Program helps us to extend the impact of our resources even further. Over the next five years, USDA plans to invest a total of $1.2 billion through the program, leveraging an estimated $2.4 billion for conservation in total with the matching investment from partnering organizations.

Today’s announcement is just the beginning. Keeping the momentum going, we will soon take proposals for new projects. Another round of funding will be announced later this year, and USDA is working with new applicants to develop partnership plans that will enable even more worthy projects to be completed in the future. To learn more about the Regional Conservation Partnership Program and to see a list of this year’s projects, visit www.nrcs.usda.gov. For more information on today’s announcement, you can listen to a media call with Secretary Vilsack and NRCS Chief Jason Weller.

This has been a tremendous year for the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the rural families and communities we serve.

Deputy Secretary Krysta Harden recently shared a reflection on her most inspirational moments this year. I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished at USDA over the course of this year, and I thought I’d take a moment to share just a few of our top accomplishments.

1. We led what was widely called "the most successful Farm Bill implementation."

Farm bill graphic. (Photo credit: U.S. Department of Agriculture)

After the passage of the Farm Bill early this year, USDA pressed ahead at full speed to implement its programs and provisions, which have benefited America's farmers, ranchers, and rural communities. You can track our progress at www.usda.gov/farmbill.

2. We helped 146,000 rural Americans become first-time home buyers.

A family stands in front of their new home due to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Rural Development (RD) home ownership program. (Photo credit: U.S. Department of Agriculture)

USDA has helped thousands of rural Americans achieve the dream of home ownership, and helped countless more make critical repairs and upgrades to their homes. Learn more at www.rurdev.usda.gov.

3. We achieved a record $152.5 billion in farm and ranch exports that supported 1 million jobs here at home.

A ship is unloaded at a U.S. port. (Photo credit: U.S. Department of Agriculture)

America’s farmers and ranchers achieved record exports yet again this year, supported by Administration programs focused on opening markets abroad and connecting potential exporters here at home with the resources they need to get into the business of exporting. This year, we also launched the Made in Rural America initiative, an effort to help rural businesses export non-farm products made in rural communities.

4. We launched new initiatives that take public-private partnership to the next level in rural America.

A farmer shakes hands with a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) employee. (Photo credit: U.S. Department of Agriculture)

Over the course of 2014, USDA launched several new initiatives, including the $10 billion Rural Infrastructure Opportunity fund, the Regional Conservation Partnership Program, and the $150 million Rural Business Investment Company, that leverage funding from private sector investors to build on USDA’s own investments in conservation, infrastructure, and small businesses, and expand opportunity in rural communities. Learn more at www.usda.gov/opportunity.

5. We served more than 187 million summer meals to low-income kids, an increase of more than 14 percent since 2009.

A smiling girl with orange glasses at lunch provided through assistance from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Food Nutrition Service (FNS). (Photo credit: U.S. Department of Agriculture)

During the summer months, USDA’s summer meals help make sure that kids get the nutrition they need even when school is not in session. With strong support from local partners, we’ve reached a record number of kids and ensured that they begin the next school year healthy and ready to learn. Learn more at www.fns.usda.gov/sfsp.

6. We filed 109 patent applications for innovative products and techniques developed by USDA researchers.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack looks into a microscope. (Photo credit: U.S. Department of Agriculture)

Groundbreaking research conducted by USDA scientists ends up on your plate, in your home, and as the clothes on your back. Their discoveries in the lab translate into science you can see. And thanks to the new Farm Bill, USDA was able to establish the new Foundation for Food and Agricultural Research, which will leverage public and private resources to further boost agricultural research. For more stories on how USDA research impacts your everyday life, visit blogs.usda.gov/category/science.

The list above is just a small snapshot -- after all, it’s hard to choose just a few success stories from a year where we moved more than $4.3 billion in critical disaster assistance to thousands of producers; answered nearly 1.3 million questions to help consumers stay food safe; made 340 investments in local food infrastructure and launched a series of new web directories designed to connect consumers with farmers markets, on-farm markets, CSAs and food hubs; provided more than 3,500 microloans to help beginning and veteran farmers grow their businesses; and lessened the threat of wildfires to communities by treating 1.7 million acres of forest land. This has truly been a year of action, partnership, and innovation at USDA, and I know that, as we look ahead to 2015, USDA will continue to focus on making a positive impact in rural communities.

See more from 2014:

• 2014: A Year of Action
• These were our five favorite Joining Forces moments of 2014
• Five Reach Higher moments from 2014
• Here are nine ways we geeked out about science and technology in 2014

Those of us who call rural America home know that there’s more to the rural economy than just farms and ranches. From bio-based products to rural manufacturing, the potential to grow and make innovative products in rural America is limitless. Most rural businesses are small ones -- and they support one in three jobs in rural America. Our loans and grants are helping those businesses thrive -- supporting reliable services like water, housing and broadband to make these same communities attract and retain a talented workforce. Collectively, these investments support the businesses and families that call America’s rural areas “home.” That's because we know that the better we equip those communities with the resources they need to succeed, the stronger our entire country's economy will be as a result.

I'm proud to report that the Department of Agriculture did several really important things to help rural communities across the country this week. Here's a run down on what we've been up to. Take a look, and if you learned something new -- pass it on.

Want to stay up to date with USDA? Follow along with us on Twitter at @USDA.

We made key investments in connecting rural communities to the Internet.

Most folks don't realize that there are communities across America that still lack access to broadband Internet -- an amenity as essential today as electricity was in the 1930's. We're working to fix that.

On Wednesday, we announced more than $190 million in investments in broadband projects through our Community Connect program, the Public Television Digital Transition Grant, and the Telecommunications Infrastructure Loan Program.

These investments are going to mean that communities like Chickaloon, Alaska -- home to tourism businesses, artisans who are hand-manufacturing unique Alaskan crafts, lodging, and food -- now have access to high-speed broadband internet.

Want to learn more? Take a look at this post on the USDA blog.

We announced new funding to bring clean and reliable water to those communities.

Yesterday, I was thrilled to announce more than $352 million in loans and grants that will upgrade the rural water and wastewater systems in communities across the country. These investments won't just help make sure these rural areas have access to clean water -- they'll also create jobs and help those communities retain and attract new businesses and residents.

You might not realize that we've invested nearly $11 billion in this sort of new and improved water and wastewater infrastructure since 2009 -- and it's benefited nearly 15 million rural residents and almost 6 million households and businesses.

Learn more about that announcement here.

And we made it easier to learn how our investments are helping your state.

Want to get a deeper dive into exactly how our investments are at work in your state? This week, we also released a new series of state-by-state “Made in Rural America” fact sheets. Each state fact sheet provides a snapshot of how USDA investments help to build a better atmosphere for small business in rural America.

The fact sheets showcase some of the innovative businesses at work in rural areas across the country. For example, Smude’s Natural Sunflower Oil in Pierz, Minnesota, produces cold-pressed sunflower oil. With support from USDA, the company now processes 30,000 bushels of sunflower seeds each year and produces several thousand gallons of food-grade, cold-processed sunflower oil. Smude’s products can be found in over 100 retail stores and restaurants throughout Minnesota and the owners are now working to become the country’s first national distributor of food-grade, cold-pressed sunflower oil.

And in Oregon, a USDA grant has supported the non-profit Sustainable Northwest as they find new uses for Western juniper wood. Western juniper has outgrown its natural range in central and eastern Oregon, and is threatening ecosystem health. Sustainable Northwest is using a USDA grant to market the naturally rot-resistant Western juniper wood as an alternative to pressure-treated wood. Making it marketable will create jobs in Oregon’s timber and forest product industries while supporting ecosystem restoration. These are just a few example of what investments in rural America can mean in real terms for families and businesses across the country.

To see how rural businesses support a strong economy in your state, visit www.usda.gov/opportunities.

These days, it seems like it’s easier than ever to turn a good idea into reality. This is the era of Kickstarter, where entrepreneurs can connect with potential investors at the click of a button.

Of course, it takes more than money to grow an idea. It takes an atmosphere that fosters creativity and rewards innovation. And at a deeper, less obvious level, it requires strong, secure infrastructure—roads and bridges, but also internet access and community facilities like hospitals and schools—that improves connectivity and access to information, moves products to market, and makes communities competitive and attractive to new businesses and investments.

Part of the challenge we face in rural America is that in too many places, infrastructure is outdated and cannot support the same kinds of opportunities that are easily found in cities and larger towns.

USDA itself has a strong record of supporting rural infrastructure upgrades. Our Rural Development program has a loan portfolio of over $200 billion direct and guaranteed loans. Yet, there continues to be significant unmet demand for investment in rural America that exceeds our capacity.

We can’t address this disparity alone, which is why this week, USDA, as part of the White House Rural Council, hosted the first-ever Rural Opportunity Investment Conference. This conference brought together key people from the investment community, rural areas and government to make the business case for investing in rural America.

In conjunction with the conference, we also announced a new $10 billion Rural Infrastructure Opportunity Fund. Supported entirely by private sector dollars with an initial investment from CoBank, a national cooperative bank and member of the Farm Credit System, and managed by Capitol Peak Asset Management, the Fund offers a sustainable platform for new kinds of investors to inject billions into rural infrastructure projects.

Up until now, we have faced a major hurdle when it comes to making the connection between the demand for investment in rural areas and the financial community. The new Fund serves as a proof point that rural America is a promising investment. The financial community should look at investing in rural America not just as a good thing to do—there is a huge opportunity for them to see a return on their investment in rural America as well.

The Fund represents a new approach to USDA’s support for job-creating projects across the country. It allows us to act as a matchmaker between strong projects and potential private investors and expands our capacity to facilitate rural investment beyond what we can do alone.

Rural America needs strong, stable infrastructure in order to meet the current demand for food and farm products, as well as the growing demand in areas such as renewable energy, local and regional food, and the bioeconomy. To attract young people to rural America, prevent rural “brain drain," and ensure a stable rural workforce, we have to make sure that rural areas offer the same breadth of opportunity that cities can offer and that starts with strong, modern infrastructure.

These are high-potential areas that will create jobs and stimulate growth, which makes rural infrastructure not just a rural issue—it’s a national economic issue, too.

We believe that this Fund and the communities brought together for the first time at this week’s conference are a key part of addressing the unmet demand for rural investment. If we can inject even a small portion of the enormous amount of available investment capital in the United States into rural projects, we can help to foster an environment that spurs rural innovation and ensures that rural America remains open for business. 

To see how USDA has invested in your state, visit www.usda.gov/opportunity. 

While no individual event can be linked to climate change, extreme weather conditions are increasingly impacting our farmers, ranchers and forest owners, to the detriment of their bottom lines, our food supply, and the future security of our farm economy.

We need a strategy that strengthens agriculture’s response to the impacts of a changing and shifting climate. Our farmers and ranchers need new and better tools to respond and prepare for the challenges of drought, heat stress, excessive moisture, longer growing seasons and changes in pest pressure.

USDA has answered the call from our nation’s producers and land managers and launched seven regionally-located Climate Hubs to act as repositories of data and offer the practical, science-based tools and strategies our producers need to adapt and succeed in the face of a changing climate.

Recognizing that regions face different climate challenges, the Hubs are housed in USDA facilities spread across the country. Each Hub will focus on developing research and solutions tailored to the specific vulnerabilities of its region, such as drought-tolerant seed varieties, strategies to maintain soil health, and ways to monitor and respond to fires and pest outbreaks.

We won’t work alone. Climate Hubs support President Obama’s Climate Action Plan to responsibly cut carbon pollution, slow the effects of climate change and put us on track to a cleaner environment. Through Climate Hubs, we will further strengthen our partnerships with a wide range of organizations working on climate issues, including the Department of Interior, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, land-grant universities, Native Nations and organizations, state departments of environment and agriculture, research centers, and farm groups.

In order to address climate change, we have to get ahead of it, and no one innovates in the face of challenge better than rural America. This will not be an easy task, but I am confident that working together, USDA and its partners can effectively manage the risks from a shifting climate and build a stronger, more secure future for our farm and forest resources.

Learn more by visiting the USDA Climate Solutions webpage.

Through StrikeForce, we’ve partnered with more than 400 community organizations, businesses, foundations, universities and other groups to support 80,300 projects and ushered more than $9.7 billion in investments into rural America. Expanding StrikeForce support to these four additional states will help leverage USDA resources with the unique expertise of community leaders, business, foundations and other groups working in rural Kentucky, Louisiana, Tennessee and West Virginia.

President Obama has also recognized the unique challenges of rural poverty with his new Promise Zone initiative. For example, in addition to receiving StrikeForce support, the Kentucky Highlands in southeastern Kentucky has also been targeted as a Promise Zone area. Promise Zones are part of the President’s plan to create a better bargain for the middle-class by partnering with local communities, faith-based organizations, foundations, and businesses to create jobs, increase economic security, expand educational opportunities, increase access to quality, affordable housing, and improve public safety. 

The Kentucky Highlands region is undergoing a period of structural economic change that is indicative of a trend across rural Appalachia. Changes in basic industries have directly impacted families in the rural Highlands region, leading to an unemployment rate higher than the national average. The Kentucky Highlands Investment Corporation is spearheading Promise Zone strategies in the region and has developed a layered and collaborative approach to drive sustainable economic and community development in the region.

In addition to the rural Promise Zone in eastern Kentucky, President Obama also announced a tribal Promise Zone in the Choctaw Nation located in rural southeastern Oklahoma. The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma has the country’s third largest tribal population and, like many tribes across the US, has struggled with persistent poverty and crime rates that far exceed the national average. Despite these challenges, Choctaw Nation has created a strong base for economic revitalization. The Promise Zone designation will catalyze the creation of a formal planning committee – Revitalizing Our Communities Commission of Southeastern Oklahoma (ROCC) – that will drive further public, private, and philanthropic investment into essential community infrastructure. Read more about efforts to combat poverty in southeastern Kentucky, the Choctaw Nation, and three additional promise zones.

Investing in struggling communities is an important part of the President’s plan to restore the basic bargain at the heart of the American story – that everyone should have a fair chance at success. And that, no matter who you are or where you’re from, if you’re willing to work hard, you should be able to find a good job and support a family.

This has been an important week for the White House Rural Council – a partnership between multiple Federal agencies, created by President Obama last year to focus and coordinate our efforts to create jobs in rural America and support American agriculture.

We marked the one-year anniversary of the Council on June 11; and on the same day, the Rural Council released a report alongside the White House Council of Economic Advisors and USDA that notes significant progress in our efforts to grow the rural economy.  But President Obama and I also know that there’s more to be done.

Over the past three years, the rural economy has strengthened. Last year, U.S. farm sector income reached a nominal record of $98.1 billion and record agricultural exports supported nearly a $43 billion trade surplus and 1.15 million American jobs.

But this week’s report also reflected a strong belief I share with President Obama – that while progress has been made, we still have a great deal of work to do. It’s not time to let up.

Together, we’re working to further broaden markets for U.S. agriculture products.  On top of the new trade agreements signed by the President last year with Colombia, Panama and South Korea – expected to boost exports by $2.3 billion per year – the Administration is working to further expand markets for U.S. agriculture products.

Here at home, the Administration has carried out an all-of-the-above energy approach to help Americans reduce pain at the pump as well as their home energy costs. Since 2009 we have nearly doubled wind energy capacity in the U.S. and helped to support 230 new bioenergy projects – but there is still more to be done.  As part of his to-do list for Congress, President Obama is urging Congress to pass the Production Tax Credit, which will help renewable energy companies create jobs here at home.

Finally, while the report outlines our investments so far in communities across rural America – more than 6,250 new community facilities, grants and loans for more than 50,000 rural businesses, and upgraded water, electric and broadband utilities for millions – the Administration is working to further strengthen these investments.

Just this week, President Obama announced an additional $2 billion in funding through the Small Business Administration to help generate business loans across rural America. These loans, which will be paid back at no cost to the taxpayer, will help rural businesses continue creating jobs.

As we look back over the past three years, at USDA we’re proud of our accomplishments on behalf of rural America – but we’re not letting up. This week’s report is a reminder that we have come a long way. But we have much more to do on behalf of our small towns and rural communities, and I know that through our shared commitment to rural America, even greater progress is yet to come.

An audio version of this week’s column can be found here.

Tom Vilsack is the Secretary of Agriculture.

Strengthening the domestic biofuels industry has been another critical component of this overall strategy. And today, U.S. biofuel production is at its highest level in history. In fact, average monthly production increased more than 40 percent between 2008 and 2011. That means more jobs – especially in rural America – and greater energy security. 

At USDA, we continue to support cutting-edge efforts to reduce America’s reliance on fossil fuel. For example, earlier this month, USDA announced approval of a $5 million payment to Western Plains Energy, LLC to support the construction of a biogas anaerobic digester in Oakley, KS. The completed project will utilize waste energy resources from a local cattle feedlot to replace almost 90 percent of the fossil fuels currently used by Western Plains Energy. In Blairstown, Iowa, USDA funding will be used to construct a 55,000 square foot facility that will produce cellulosic ethanol by converting municipal solid waste and other industrial pulps into advanced biofuels, as well as using conventional renewable biofuel derived from seed corn waste.  When operational, the facility is expected to produce approximately 3.6 million gallons of cellulosic ethanol per year. Support for renewable energy projects such as these is an example of the many ways USDA is helping revitalize rural economies. 

Last year, through the Rural Energy for America Program, USDA provided biomass project funding assistance for a total of 52 projects with just over $31 million in grant and loan note guarantees. This support helped to leverage a total of $154.5 million of biomass project development in 26 states which will help produce clean, renewable heat and power for farms and small businesses in rural America. 

We’ve got to keep this momentum going. This week, the biofuels community filed a brief to intervene in an ongoing lawsuit against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on how the EPA is setting goals for the implementation of the congressionally mandated Renewable Fuels Standards (RFS). These folks, largely from rural America, are standing up for a more secure energy future and a stronger economy – one that can create up to a million new jobs in the domestic biofuels and biobased industries. 

While some may challenge the EPA on enforcement of the Renewable Fuels Standard, it is important to recognize that biofuels will be an increasingly important part of our nation’s energy portfolio in the years ahead. And when combined with other efforts to increase energy efficiency and promote advanced, clean energy technologies, we will move closer to achieving energy independence and build on the progress we’ve already made. In fact,we have already cut net oil imports by ten percent – or a million barrels a day – in the last year alone. 

At the same time, we know that our economy will rely on oil for the foreseeable future. As we work to expand domestic oil production, we will also need to blend it with our domestically produced biofuels – whether cellulosic ethanol or drop in, biodiesel or aviation – and the sooner the better. After all, we can’t afford to wait on the issue of American energy security.

The feedback we’re providing to the White House, based on our travels throughout the countryside, has helped us find creative ways to move the country forward without relying on Congress to act because rural Americans can’t wait.

Today's announcements are the result of the Rural Council’s ability to cut across large federal agencies to deliver results for rural families and businesses.  Along with colleagues at the Departments of Commerce, Health and Human Services, and Labor, we announced three new ways to leverage existing programs and funding to drive economic growth in rural communities.

These announcements include:

• Promoting A Bioeconomy:  President Obama issued a Presidential Memorandum today directing the federal government to dramatically increase the purchase of biobased products over the next two years, which will create jobs and drive innovation where biobased products are grown and manufactured.  The biobased products sector marries the two most important economic engines for rural America: agriculture and manufacturing.  
• Rural Jobs Accelerator: We are launching a national competition, providing about $15 million for projects that promote innovation-fueled regional job creation.  The competition will combine funding from USDA, the Economic Development Administration, Delta Regional Authority and the Appalachian Regional Commission. USDA will utilize our Rural Community Development Initiative program to support this effort and provide technical assistance and training funds to qualified intermediary organizations to develop their capacity to undertake housing, community facilities, and community and economic development projects in rural areas.  
• Rural Health IT Workforce:  The Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Labor signed a memorandum of understanding to connect community colleges and technical colleges that support rural communities with the materials and resources they need to support the training of Health Information Technology (HIT) professionals that work in rural hospitals and clinics.  

Click here to learn more about the efforts of the White House Rural Council.

Ed note: This post was originally published on the USDA blog

Yesterday at the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 93^rd Annual Meeting, I thanked about 10,000 farmers for helping to make U.S. agriculture a bright spot in our nation’s economy.

In the past few decades, U.S. agriculture has become the second most productive sector of the American economy, thanks to farmers adopting technology, reducing debt, and effectively managing risk. In 2011, America’s farmers, ranchers and producers achieved record farm income, record exports, and have helped to contribute to an unemployment figure in rural America that has fallen faster than in other parts of the country. Over the last three years, as USDA has made significant investments in rural America, we have also looked closely at the way we do business so that we are sustaining and enhancing the farm economy for generations to come. That is why today I introduced USDA’s Blueprint for Stronger Service—a plan that will help to preserve this success in the long term. 

The Blueprint for Stronger Service takes a realistic view of the needs of American agriculture in a challenging budget climate, and lays out USDA’s plans to modernize and accelerate service delivery while improving the customer experience through use of innovative technologies and business solutions. To manage the $3 billion—or 12 percent—reduction Congress has made to discretionary funding for the Department since 2010, USDA looked closely at the way we do business.  For example, some agencies put hiring controls in place and instituted early separation programs. These efforts, when coupled with regular retirement, meant nearly 7,000 employees have retired from USDA over the past 15 months. The plan is also part of the Administration’s Campaign to Cut Waste, launched by President Obama and Vice President Biden to make government work better and more efficiently for the American people. The end result is a plan that will create optimal use of USDA’s employees, better results for USDA customers, and greater efficiencies for American taxpayers.

The USDA, like families and businesses across the country, cannot continue to operate like we did 50 years ago. We must innovate, modernize, and be better stewards of the taxpayers’ dollars.  We must be built to meet the evolving needs of a 21st century agricultural economy.

When fully implemented, the recommendations included in the Blueprint for Stronger Service will provide efficiencies valued at about $150 million annually—and eventually more based on future realignment of the workforce—and will ensure that USDA continues to provide optimal service to the American people within available funding levels.

A Blueprint for Stronger Service details a list of 133 recommendations that affirm processes already in place, as well as 27 initial improvements, and others aimed at longer-term improvements. The initial recommendations include the following:

• Consolidate more than 700 cell phone plans into about 10;
• Standardize civil rights training and purchases of cyber security products;
• Ensure more efficient and effective service to our employees by moving toward more centralized civil rights, human resource, procurement, and property management functions, creating millions of dollars in efficiencies without sacrificing the quality of our work.

Budget reductions, staff attrition and increased workload also necessitated a review of USDA facilities, offices and lab operations across the country. As a result, USDA will close 259 domestic offices, facilities and labs across the country, as well as seven foreign offices. In some cases, offices are no longer staffed or have a very small staff of one or two people; many are within 20 miles of other USDA offices. In other cases, technology improvements, advanced service centers, and broadband service have reduced some need for brick and mortar facilities.

American agriculture is currently experiencing its most productive period in history thanks to the resiliency, resourcefulness and efficiency of our farmers, ranchers and producers. As we move forward, USDA will continue to find ways to modernize its services, improve the customer experience, and ensure a successful, sustainable future for rural America.

A week ago, President Obama released the American Jobs Act, a specific plan to jumpstart our economy and put Americans to work today.  It contains ideas that both parties in Washington have supported.  And yesterday, he laid out a plan that will pay for it – and for other long-term investments we need to stay competitive – while reducing our deficits.

His plan takes a balanced approach.  It looks for savings across government.  And it asks everyone to do their part and pay their fair share so we can live within our means.

For agriculture, the plan focuses on what the President and I believe is one of the most pressing challenges facing producers right now: maintaining a strong safety net and disaster assistance programs that will work for all farmers and ranchers, no matter what they produce or where.

The plan will strengthen our disaster assistance programs, which are currently set to run out of funding at the end of the month.  It means that farmers knocked down by natural disaster can get their operations back on track.  After witnessing flood, drought, hurricanes, tornadoes and wildfires this year – I am even more certain of the importance of this component of the safety net.

By modernizing our crop insurance program and making modest changes to the subsidy that crop insurance companies receive, we’ll make sure that we improve the programs and implement them more efficiently.

The plan proposes reducing conservation funding by 3 percent to help control the deficit. But it challenges us to leverage our still-significant investments in conservation to attract more private sector investment so we don’t lose ground in our effort to conserve soil and water resources.

Farmers and ranchers have worked over the years – especially following the farm crisis of the 1980s – to reduce their debt but thrive by investing wisely, adapting, innovating, and cutting back when necessary.  Agriculture shows us that by investing wisely and cutting wisely, we can grow the economy for the long term, and get our country’s fiscal house in order.

The President’s plan follows that mold.  It will invest to create jobs now, maintaining a strong safety net and creating a better market for our agricultural goods.  And it sets us on a path to compete by asking everyone to pay their fair share, while investing in the innovation and economic opportunities we need to win the future.

Tom Vilsack is Secretary of Agriculture.

Last year, almost $920 million in agricultural goods moved through the port, nearly double the amount from 2006. And this year it’s on pace to exceed that total by 8.5 percent. Those exports alone are helping support nearly 8,400 American jobs.

At the same time, the port is beginning work on a major tunnel and a deep-dredge project that will provide jobs for construction workers to keep it among the busiest in the nation. These are steps - much like those proposed by President Obama in the American Jobs Act – that are already underway to grow the economy and create jobs. 

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack speaks at the Port of Miami on Saturday, September 10, 2011 after meeting with leaders from agriculture and business industries. (Photo by Ryan Holloway in Miami-Dade County)

We need these types of projects across the country. We’ve got roads, bridges, rail lines and tunnels that need rebuilding and there are private companies with the equipment and know-how to do it. More than one million unemployed construction workers are ready to go to work now if both parties in Washington come together to make it happen. 

Another idea in the President’s plan calls for extending the payroll tax cut for working families, putting an extra $1,500 in their pockets. This is one of the best ways to increase consumer demand — creating more work for businesses and more jobs for workers. 

The President’s plan will help small businesses put people back to work by offering tax credits for each new job created. And we can give help for state and local governments to keep teachers, firefighters and other first responders on the job preparing our children for a better future and keeping our families safe. 

We need to build an economy that creates jobs for the future. We need an economy that makes, innovates, and exports. Florida’s farmers do just that when they ship their products through the Port of Miami.

The American Jobs Act gives us the opportunity to embrace those principles and create jobs now. We need elected leaders in Washington to come together to hammer out a solution that benefits everyone. When they do, we’ll support job growth and build a stronger future for all Americans.

Tom Vilsack is Secretary of Agriculture.

Find out more about the American Jobs Act.

Last night, I went to the Capitol to hear the President address Congress about the way forward to grow the economy and create jobs.
 
There is no doubt that these have been tough times.  And it’s very tough for the many Americans who are looking for work.  So we’ve got to keep finding ways to help the unemployed in the short term and rebuild the middle class over the long term.
 
The American Jobs Act that President Obama laid out this evening will have an immediate impact.  It will create jobs now.  And it is based on bipartisan ideas that both Democrats and Republicans have supported in the past. 
 
Americans living in rural communities know well that the specific ideas in the bill work.

Too many of rural areas are dealing with crumbling infrastructure.  They know the benefits of rebuilding local roads, or of improving their water system.  And our rural construction workers are ready to get back on the job.
 
The small businesses that employee most rural Americans know that the tax cuts in the bill will mean more work, so they can expand and hire.  And every working rural family will benefit from money back in their pockets.
 
Small rural governments know they can use the support to keep folks on payroll.  Teachers, firefighters and other first responders need to be kept on the job preparing our children for a better future and keeping our families safe.
 
Most importantly, folks in rural America know that in difficult times, we need to come together to hammer out a solution that benefits everyone.  And elected leaders in Washington need to do the same as they work to support job growth and build a stronger future for all Americans.

Tom Vilsack is Secretary of the Department of Agriculture. 

Find out more about the American Jobs Act

The centerpiece of his trip was the Rural Economic Forum, held Tuesday at Northeast Iowa Community College in Peosta.  There, 200 small business owners, farmers, retirees, elected officials and others came together to discuss their ideas for a revitalized rural economy.  I was pleased to participate in that forum, along with my Cabinet colleagues Housing and Urban Development Secretary Donovan, Transportation Secretary LaHood, and Administrator Mills of the Small Business Administration.

President Barack Obama, accompanied by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, holds a breakout session at the White House Rural Economic Forum at Northeast Iowa Community College in Peosta, Iowa, Aug. 16, 2011, as part of his three-day economic bus tour of the Midwest. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

After opening remarks by the President, the participants broke into a series of small discussion groups – with topics ranging from agricultural innovation and energy opportunities to small business to infrastructure.  Each group developed a series of ideas and recommendations, which will become part of a larger report to the White House Rural Council that I chair.

I had the opportunity to facilitate the Ag Innovation and Energy break-out session, with about 20 farmers, ranchers, and other officials.  Our discussion – which the President joined for a few minutes – touched on the importance of the renewable energy sector and new markets, as well as particular barriers to growing the rural economy through agricultural innovation.

Some in the audience expressed amazement that the President of the United States would spend an entire day – let alone a three-day bus trip – focusing on the needs of rural America.  I am not surprised. 

This president has repeatedly shown his commitment to the continued strength of small towns and rural areas.  He is focused on innovation and small business development that will create jobs in rural areas and strengthen the middle class.  And, he was enthusiastic about the opportunity to hear ideas and insights from the people who live in rural America. 

The President’s parting words in Peosta said it all:

Sometimes there are days in Washington that will drive you crazy.  But getting out of Washington and meeting all of you, and seeing how hard you're working, how creative you are, how resourceful you are, how determined you are, that just makes me that much more determined to serve you as best I can as President of the United States.

I hope that you’ll take a few minutes to read the report because it gives a really good picture of the economic landscape in rural America today. It also shows the commitment and key investments the Obama Administration has already made in rural communities.

The Jobs and Economic Security for Rural America (pdf) report, focuses on 5 critical areas:

1. Creating jobs and promoting economic growth
2. Improving access to quality health care and education
3. Fostering innovation
4. Expanding outdoor opportunities
5. Supporting veterans and military families

Moving forward, the information included in the report on the specific needs as well as unique opportunities found within rural America, will guide the Rural Council as we work to drive job growth and tackle some of the toughest challenges facing our rural communities.
 
As chair of the Rural Council, I am working to coordinate Federal government efforts for rural American and encourage public-private partnerships to improve economic conditions in rural communities.Over the last few months, my fellow Cabinet members and Administration officials have held over 50 meetings and events in rural communities across the country to hear about how we can be more effective partners for rural communities.  And we will continue those meetings this month.
 
Together we are working to strengthen economic conditions, create jobs, promote innovation and improve access to essential community services in rural America.

The report gives a good sense of the unprecedented opportunities for economic growth in rural America that the Administration will be focusing on through the White House Rural Economic Forum. And you can keep checking the White House Rural Council site to learn more about Administration activities that are happening throughout next week.

Tom Vilsack is the Secretary of Agriculture and the Chair of the White House Rural Council

In Denver, I heard from business leaders who discussed the value of President Obama’s tax policies for businesses of all sizes, and appreciated the administrations work to better partner with the business community.  We had a productive dialogue about how the pending trade agreements with South Korea, Columbia and Panama will benefit local agricultural producers, with the potential to create hundreds of jobs in Greeley, Colorado and other towns.  And we discussed how resorts might form partnerships on recreation to make better use of forests and other natural environments to help create jobs in communities throughout the Rocky Mountains.

Secretary Vilsack addresses participants at a White House Rural Business Council meeting held in Denver, CO. Attendees represented the renewable energy, telecommunications, tourism, and agricultural industries on June 28, 2011. (Photo by Amy Mund, USDA Rural Development)

Everyone in the room agreed that there are incredible opportunities for growth in the economy as long as we believe in the strength and determination of the American people to work hard and innovate.

And these business leaders also were interested in creating jobs in rural communities.  They understand that small communities can offer a stable, well-educated, dedicated workforce – sometimes without having to pay big-city rent.  That is why they are so excited about the steps taken by the Obama administration to make rural communities great places to do businesses, with improvements to critical infrastructure like roads, stronger schools, and expanded access to broadband Internet.

Joining business leaders for a conversation has been a fantastic way for me and my colleagues to hear directly from people who are creating jobs and look for best practices that can be replicated elsewhere.  These efforts will not only mean more responsive government and more effective public policy – but we’ll help put folks back to work, and build the thriving businesses and economy we need to win the future.

Tom Vilsack is the Secretary of Agriculture.

President Obama has already established an impressive record in rural areas, which the Rural Council will build on.  The Administration’s record includes substantial investments in rural America to modernize our Nation’s infrastructure, provide broadband access to 10 million Americans, enhance energy independence, expand educational opportunities, and provide affordable health care.  Nevertheless, the President believes that even more needs to be done in order to fully capitalize on the emerging opportunities in Rural America.  Despite recent advances, rural communities continue to struggle to maintain the population and businesses needed for sustained economic growth. 

The White House Rural Council will focus on actions to better coordinate and streamline federal program efforts in rural America, and to better leverage federal investments.  The collaboration will result in better programs and services in rural communities and will maximize the benefits of those programs.

Economic growth, prosperity, and the creation of quality jobs are on the minds of every citizen.  This morning, the White House Rural Council met and discussed ways to increase the availability of working capital investment.  This is absolutely essential in order for small towns and rural areas to attract new businesses, spur growth and create jobs.  This is especially true in the sectors of economic growth involving new technological innovations and development of renewable energy – areas where Rural America has the most promise, but faces the most difficult competitive challenges.

In addition, I am greatly looking forward to utilizing the Rural Council as a means of connecting with Rural America and to continue the important dialogue the Administration has worked to establish with rural communities since 2009 regarding the needs and challenges that Rural America faces.  In the coming months, my Cabinet colleagues and I will be communicating with Rural America to ensure that every American is aware of the programs and services they can access.  And we will get the most direct and current input from rural stakeholders to ensure we provide the best service possible.

In the end, millions of Americans are counting on us to ensure that young people growing up in rural places have a bright future ahead – that they can envision a tomorrow that includes a job, and a vibrant rural community that they can call home.  Ensuring that tomorrow begins with the actions we take today.  And today, I am proud to be part of the President’s White House Rural Council and to help “Win the Future” for Rural America. 

For the past two years, USDA has worked to support the research, investment, and infrastructure necessary to build a nationwide biofuels industry that creates jobs in every corner of the country. 

USDA has a long history of helping Americans with their energy choices. Our Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) has helped thousands of rural businesses and farmers improve the efficiency of their equipment or produce their own renewable energy by installing solar panels or wind turbines. 

Now we are helping people understand that this popular program can also help gas stations install special pumps to provide biofuels to motorists across the county. 

Today there are millions of so-called ‘flex fuel vehicles’ on the road that can use fuel containing up to 85 percent ethanol (E-85).  But too few filling stations offer this fuel.  Some folks don’t even know that their car or truck is built to use E-85.  So while many stations make it easy for motorists to choose between regular and super grade petroleum at the pump, very few stations allow motorist to make a similar choice when it comes to a blend of ethanol and petroleum. 

The Obama Administration has set a goal of making 10,000 new flex-fuel pumps available to America’s drivers within the next five years – a five-fold increase from today’s level.  And today, I am visiting Minnesota where there are over 360 stations pumping E-85 – more than any other state.  It is time for the rest of the nation to follow their lead. 

Making higher ethanol blends available to drivers not only gives them choices, it helps reduce our dependence on foreign oil and build a green energy economy.  As demand for American-produced ethanol increases, new production techniques are making it possible to produce high quality fuel from biomass including wood chips, switchgrass and even algae.  And as this technology reaches commercialization levels, refineries producing these biofuels will need to dot the countryside, providing good paying jobs for Americans. 

By building infrastructure to put biofuels produced here in America in our fuel tanks, USDA is supporting the clean energy economy we need to ensure our long-term prosperity and help us out-compete the rest of the world. 

Tom Vilsack is Secretary of Agriculture

Today is an historic day for USDA.  Working with colleagues at the Department of Justice, we launched a program that provides a path to justice for Hispanic and women farmers who believe they were discriminated against by USDA between 1981 and 2000.  Many of these farmers and ranchers have waited and fought to get relief, but until now their only means of getting their complaints heard was to file an individual case in federal court.  Today we are providing folks with a simpler path that enables them to file a claim for compensation that will be resolved by a neutral party without the involvement of the courts.

When I was sworn in as Secretary of Agriculture two years ago, President Obama and I made a commitment to mend USDA’s troubled civil rights record.  Since then, we have taken comprehensive action to turn the page on past discrimination.  Last year we entered into a settlement with black farmers in Pigford II to address pending claims, and finalized a historic settlement agreement with Native American farmers under Keepseagle that faced discrimination by USDA.

With today’s announcement, we are continuing work to build a new era for civil rights at USDA: correcting our past errors, learning from our mistakes, and outlining definitive action to ensure there will be no missteps in the future.  The process has been long and often difficult, but my staff and I have been working hard every day to make USDA a model employer and premier service provider that treats every customer and employee fairly, with dignity and respect.

If you are a woman or Hispanic farmer or rancher and feel you were discriminated against by USDA between 1981 and 2000, you must request a claims package to participate in the claims process. To begin this process, you can either call 1-888-508-4429 or visit www.farmerclaims.gov to submit your information online.

Tom Vilsack is the Secretary of Agriculture.

Creating Jobs and Improving the Economy in Rural America

Over the past two years, the Obama Administration and USDA have worked to build a foundation for sustainable economic growth in rural America.  At the center of our vision is an effort to increase domestic production and use of renewable energy.  Someone has to build these plants.  Someone has to produce the parts for these plants.  Someone has to maintain these plants.  Someone has to run these plants.  Someone has to transport the fuel.  That can all happen in rural communities.  This week, I announced USDA support to help private companies create hundreds of jobs building three new refineries producing advanced biofuels. 

A Nationwide Biofuels Industry and Market

It is critical to develop a biofuel industry powered by feedstocks produced in every corner of the country, in addition to the Midwest. That is why USDA has established five regional research centers working on science necessary to ensure profitable biofuels can be produced from a diverse range of feedstocks.  And this week, USDA announced funding for feasibility studies into bioenergy projects in every corner of the country. 

Developing a Sustainable Biofuels Industry and Market

USDA developed a Biofuels Roadmap to determine the next steps in growing an advanced biofuels economy.  And in 2010 alone, USDA invested over $ 1 billion in improving the entire supply chain of biofuels and bioenergy, from research and development, to production and commercialization.

• Support for Producers: We implemented incentives to help encourage producers to grow new feed stocks – finalizing the Biomass Crop Assistance Program, which has already provided $240 million to help producers who are joining this energy revolution defray the cost of production, storage and transportation. 
• Commercialization: In addition to our support for biorefineries, we are working to expand the number of convenient locations where consumers can obtain higher blends of biofuels. 
• Partnerships with Government and Private Industry: We are capitalizing on federal and commercial partners who see the potential for biofuels to reduce their energy costs and bolster strategic goals.  We have partnered with the Department of the Navy as it embraces a biofuel future to help build a green fleet, and with the Federal Aviation Administration to help them and the commercial airline industry move towards using biofuels to power jets. 

Promoting Energy Efficiency and Reducing Energy Costs for Farmers and Small Businesses

Through investments in energy efficiency and renewable energy sources, farms and rural small businesses across the country can reduce their energy consumption and energy expenses.  In two years, USDA has helped nearly 4,000 rural small businesses, farmers and ranchers save energy and improve their bottom line by installing renewable energy systems and energy efficiency solutions that will save a projected 4.3 billion in kWh– enough energy to power 390,000 American homes for a year. 

From 2000 to 2006, while I was Governor of Iowa, approximately 60 percent of the total population increase in the state was directly attributable to immigrants.  Our economy thrived.  The new population contributed to local economies, paid taxes, became valued and productive members of their communities and helped lead an economic revitalization in the state. 

To continue this progress, I established ‘welcome centers’ to help newly arrived families get settled, work with local schools and civic institutions, and offer workforce development programs and English language courses.  And we selected three ‘model cities’ and gave them resources to be more receptive to immigrants.  

I am proud of this work, and I think we can do more to encourage and recognize the positive impact that legal immigrants have on communities.  But today our nation is failing a different group of immigrants who should have an opportunity to make a difference too. 

These are the children of undocumented immigrants who did not choose to come here – but who were raised in our communities and educated in our schools.  These young people should help make up the next generation of leaders – our future doctors, teachers, and scientists – but their legal status prevents them from going to college, or getting a good job.

To reap the benefits they will offer our nation – and give them the fair shake they deserve – Congress should pass the DREAM Act, which allows the best and the brightest young people to earn their legal status after a rigorous process.  Only children who arrived before they were 16, get a high school degree, and complete two years of college or join the military will qualify for the DREAM Act.  The U.S. House of Representatives approved the measure last week in a bipartisan vote that included the support of eight Republicans.  Now all eyes are on the Senate.

Our rural communities have a particular stake in this legislation.  Far too many are losing population.  And many of the best minds in their high school classes choose to pursue opportunities away from home. 

Think of the message we can send to the children of immigrant farm workers – for example – by inviting them to be active and productive citizens in the rural communities where they grew up.  They might become future partners of USDA and make the transition from farm workers to farm owners who help feed this nation.  The values they learned in rural America – the importance of hard work and of giving back – may lead them to be a teacher, an entrepreneur, or serve our nation in the military. 

We must act now.  Rural America and the nation should not have to wait any longer.  We should not punish children and young adults for decisions their parents made – our values and our best interests tell us otherwise. 

The Obama administration will continue to fight for a comprehensive immigration solution that includes AgJobs and a stable workforce for our farms.  But in the meantime, the DREAM Act embodies many of those same values – by giving folks the opportunity they deserve to work hard, strengthen our economy, and contribute to our great nation. 

Tom Vilsack is Secretary of Agriculture

Since my first day as Secretary of Agriculture in January 2009, President Obama and I have made resolving USDA’s troubled civil rights record one of our top priorities.  Today we have taken an important step forward in this work as the House of Representatives joined the Senate in passing the Claims Settlement Act of 2010 to finally allow USDA to turn the page on past discrimination against black farmers.  The inequities many faced are well-documented and affirmed in the courts; however, the question of compensation has lingered.

The Claims Settlement Act will allow those that have been waiting to get the relief they deserve and have long been promised. USDA has worked with Congress to include strong protections against waste, fraud, and abuse and ensure that only deserving applicants are reimbursed under this settlement.

On Monday, I joined a conference call (audio) with representatives from the Department of the Interior and Justice to applaud the Senate’s choice to approve the fully paid-for $1.15 billion settlement and to urge the House to finalize this long-awaited resolution.  I applaud the House for acting so quickly, as we can focus our attention on resolving other cases and claims.

I’m proud of the many critical steps we’ve taken in the past months to right the wrongs of the past, but more work remains to be done. I have put into action an all-encompassing program to correct our past errors, learn from those mistakes, and outline definitive action to ensure there will be no missteps in the future.  The process has been long and often difficult, but we can’t wait any longer to close this sad chapter in USDA’s history.

Tom Vilsack is Secretary of Agriculture

For example, consider Pride of the Hills Manufacturing, Inc., a company that supports the natural gas industry.  Pride of the Hills was awarded $1,940,000 in financing through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act), directed through USDA Rural Development’s Business and Industry Guaranteed Loan Program. The company will use the money to modernize equipment, improve operational efficiency and add 49 new jobs.

Earlier today I announced that 15 businesses in 10 states will receive over $60 million in USDA Recovery Act loan guarantees to create and save jobs.  These represent just a small part of the $1.6 billion in guaranteed USDA business loan funding that will create or save an estimated 33,000 jobs across the nation.

Another business that will benefit is JBT Grain Company in Middleton, Michigan. Using a loan guaranteed by USDA, the firm will build a new feed mill and pellet plant, creating 16 new jobs.  A Manchester, Tennessee firm was selected to receive funding to build a 48 unit assisted living facility.  Not only will the development benefit residents, it has already generated 22 new health-care related jobs.  

A host of success stories like these are included in a report that USDA issued last week highlighting some of the 2,000 businesses nationwide that are benefiting from guaranteed loans provided through the Recovery Act.  When you read the report, you’ll see that the Recovery Act is continuing to provide jobs and stimulate economic activity in rural America. 

Tom Vilsack is Secretary of Agriculture

Speaking to the members of the National Press Club here in Washington yesterday morning,  I explained that the heart of President Obama’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. 

I outlined steps that USDA will take, working with other agencies and the private sector, to reach a national goalof producing 36 billion gallons of biofuel a year in the United States by 2022, with 21 billion gallons coming from advanced biofuel production.

• We will establish five USDA regional biomass research centers and announce, through our Rural Development mission area, funding for the construction of a biorefinery or bioenergy plant in each of the regions.  This will occur within 60 days and construction will commence in 2011.
• We will provide the resources to help install, over the next five years, 10,000 pumps that will allow motorists access to ethanol fuel blends that meet their needs.
• We will encourage more use of biofuels in USDA’s fleet of almost 43,000 vehicles.
• We are resuming payments under USDA’s Biomass Crop Assistance Program(BCAP) to encourage producers to grow feedstocks for advanced biofuel production.
• We are entering into a Memorandum of Understandingwith the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to work with the airline industry to develop feedstocks that can be processed into jet fuel.

The benefits to the economy from advanced biofuel production are outlined in a new USDA report, issued today, that says biofuel production costs will continue to drop with each succeeding generation of biofuels.  The more we make, the less each gallon will cost.

I also want to acknowledge the Environmental Protection Agency for authorizing the use of E-15in late model vehicles and I expect a decision later this year regarding use of E-15 in older models. 

Belief and action are powerful forces to affect change.  I believe the President’s vision for rural America compels us to action.  I believe in renewable fuel production goals and I believe in the need for improved energy security, a cleaner environment, better economic opportunity and job creation in rural America.  Working together, with the support of everyone who calls rural America home, we will revitalize our rural economy and create meaningful opportunities for those who live there.

Earlier today, I released a report (pdf) outlining how funds allocated to seven programs administered by USDA Rural Development have sparked economic growth,  created or saved over 300,000 jobs, and funded projects in almost 3,000 counties. USDA staff approved 95,000 loans, made 2,500 grants and assisted 2,000 rural businesses with loan guarantees.  We also assisted 93,000 American families close home loans, either by guaranteeing a loan from a lending institution or making a loan through our direct program.  We approved Internet projects that will provide an estimated 7 million people, many of them in remote areas including Tribal lands, access to improved state-of-the-art broadband service.

Secretary Vilsack meets with construction workers at a plant site in Berlin, MD. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is providing construction jobs across the nation. September 20, 2010. (by U.S. Department of Agriculture)

Through the Recovery Act, USDA has funded over 850 water projects to improve public health and environmental quality; over 560 public safety facilities; 312 cultural and educational facilities including 196 library projects; and over 180 healthcare facilities.  

These efforts will continue to drive job creation for the next several years, but as importantly, the buildings, broadband and water systems, taken together, supply the economic fabric for business expansion by private companies.  The Recovery Act is a continuing success, and today’s report confirms that. 

Read the report (pdf).

Tom Vilsack is Secretary of Agriculture