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USDA kicked off National Small Business Month with the Midwest “Path to Prosperity" event at the Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville, MO on April 24^th and 25^th. This was the 19^th event, since 2022, to provide regional business and economic development workshops that featured experts from the financial industry, federal government, community partners and stakeholders.

May is World Trade Month and this is World Trade Week – a perfect opportunity to celebrate U.S. agriculture’s trade successes and highlight the importance of trade to the farm sector and to our nation as whole. After all, about 20 percent of all U.S. agricultural production is exported, providing a critical source of farm income, supporting more than a million jobs, and generating nearly $200 billion in additional economic activity each year in our rural communities and beyond.

It’s officially pool season! Meals at the pool come in many forms – ordered from the snack bar, delivered from local restaurants, packed from home, or carried outside from the kitchen. Follow these food safety steps to keep splashing all summer long!

Yimmuaj Yang, community director of the Wisconsin-based nonprofit and community organization Groundswell Conservancy, explains its mission in the simplest terms: “We protect special places forever.”

When people think about Wisconsin agriculture, they immediately think of Wisconsin as a leader in dairy farms and cheese production. As of December 31, 2022, Wisconsin had 6,216 dairy farms, and in 2022 Wisconsin produced just over 5.2 billion pounds of cheese.

Organic is a growing sector, with domestic sales of organic products topping $69.7 billion in 2023. However, consumer research shows that consumers do not always understand what “organic” means and how USDA protects the organic label.

The USDA, in collaboration with USDA Equity Commission (EC) members, embarked on a significant journey to the heart of Texas, where the vibrant spirit of agriculture intertwines with the pursuit of equity. The occasion? The Texas Hispanic Farmer and Rancher Conference (THFRC) and Food Summit 2024 in McAllen, Texas, held from April 24-27, 2024. This gathering marked the second Regional Equity Convening, following the Inaugural Regional Convening in Michigan, where USDA leadership stood shoulder to shoulder with stakeholders to champion equity and engage with the transformative recommendations outlined in the USDA Equity Commission’s final report.

Studies have shown that trees benefit our mental and physical health. Spending time around trees reduces stress and anxiety, lowers blood pressure, and improves mood. Simply viewing nature from a hospital window can speed recovery time.  A study by the University of Michigan also revealed that exposure to nature can alleviate symptoms of depression and anxiety in young people.

For Equity Commission (EC) Rural Community Economic Development (RCED) subcommittee member Shonterria (“Terri”) Charleston, what began as a pursuit to bridge a gap between those in need and the Department of Agriculture turned into the fulfillment of a prophecy set by her mother.

“Aquaculture is agriculture,” said Simon Ellis, executive director of The Marine and Environmental Research Institute of Pohnpei (MERIP) based in Kolonia, a city on the island of Pohnpei in the Federated States of Micronesia. For the last 20 years, this humanitarian, not-for-profit organization has provided less advantaged Micronesian communities with environmentally sustainable and economically viable skills to produce agricultural products for international markets. The underlying objective of teaching Micronesian and Hawaiian farmers effective techniques and business practices is to allow for self-sustenance as a primary goal, with aspirations of economic advancement as a small business. MERIP also helps farmers in securing start-up financing, small business development, marketing training, and access to international buyers.