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Shining Light on Farm & Food Policy for 20 Years.
Sunday, December 22, 2024
Both Democratic and Republican senators pushed for simpler Rural Development program applications in a hearing Tuesday, saying the current process is arduous and favors those who hire grant writers to help them in the process.
USDA Rural Development has announced the fourth round of its ReConnect program, which will offer more than $1 billion to expand broadband in rural America and begin taking applications in September.
After the Department of Agriculture announced a new round of investments in rural broadband this week, the head of USDA’s Rural Development efforts says they are seeing more interest and increased participation in the ReConnect program.
The Agriculture Department is promising to deliver $700 million to delayed pandemic aid to biofuel producers by this summer, and the money will be especially welcome should soaring gas prices dampen ethanol demand.
Lawmakers are proposing creation of an Office of Rural Prosperity in the White House, which would be tasked with coordinating rural policy across the government.
The new leader of USDA's rural development efforts wants to underscore the importance and diversity of farm country in her actions as undersecretary, offering priorities that mirror the Biden White House and Vilsack Department of Agriculture in the process.
The Senate passed a bipartisan infrastructure bill that would provide $550 billion in new funding to repair America’s roads, bridges ports and waterways, while dramatically increasing high-speed internet access.
The Senate Agriculture Committee is set to hold a vote this morning on the nominations of Robert Bonnie to be USDA’s Under Secretary of Agriculture for Farm Production and Conservation and Xochitl Torres Small for Under Secretary of Agriculture for Rural Development.
