WASHINGTON, Jan. 8, 2014-The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced speakers for the 2014 Agricultural Outlook Forum, "The Changing Face of Agriculture," to be held from Feb. 20-21 at the Crystal Gateway Marriott Hotel, Arlington, Va.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack will moderate two general session panels on the Future of Agriculture. Speaking in the first panel will be Administrator of the U. S. Agency for International Development Rajiv Shah; President of the Produce Marketing Association Cathy Burns; and Kellee James, founder and CEO of Mercaris, a market trading platform for organic agricultural commodities.

The second panel focuses on young farmers and includes Executive Director of the Farmer Veteran Coalition Michael O'Gorman; Joanna Carraway, a young Kentucky farmer who won the 2013 Top Producer Horizon Award; Greg Wegis, who operates a 17,600-acre vegetable and nut farm in California; and the Interim Director of the National Young Farmers Coalition, Emily Oakley.

Deputy Secretary Krysta Harden will welcome the audience and moderate an afternoon panel titled "A Roadmap for Women in Agriculture" composed of notable young women discussing their successful careers. Panelists include corn and soybean farmer Kate Danner; Director of Government Relations for Land O' Lakes Autumn Veazey; and Director of Specialty Crops for the North Carolina Farm Bureau Federation Debbie Hamrick.

USDA's Chief Economist Joseph Glauber will deliver the 2014 Agricultural & Foreign Trade Outlooks. The Forum's dinner speaker will be U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman.

The U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance will host a live streaming Food Dialogues®, (www.fooddialogues.com/) titled "Nutrition: Who Is Shaping America's Eating Habits?" Panelists will include :

• Carolyn O'Neill, MS, RD - Nutrition Expert, Food Journalist, and Television Personality (Moderator)
• Dr. Craig Rowles - Partner and General Manager, Elite Pork Partnership, Carroll, Iowa
• Dennis Derryck - President and Founder, Corbin Hill Farms, New York, NY
• Jim Call - Farmer, Call Farms, Madison, Minn.
• Colette Rihane, MS, RD -Nutrition Guidance and Analysis Division Director, Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion, USDA, Washington, DC
• Dr. Roger Clemens - Chief Scientific Officer for ETHorn and Adjunct Professor of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences at USC, Los Angeles, Calif.
• Barbara Ruhs, MS, RD, LDN -Corporate Dietician, Bashas' Grocery Stores, Phoenix, Ariz.

USDA's first release of preliminary data from the new Census of Agriculture will occur at the Forum; panelists will cover the latest information on land tenure and demographic and production trends.

Speaking at the 29 breakout sessions will be more than 95 distinguished experts in the fields of international trade, forestry, conservation, invasive pests and citrus disease, nanotechnology, social media, local food systems, and food safety. The Forum continues to feature the traditional USDA commodity supply and demand, food price, farm income, and weather outlooks.

A program schedule and registration are available at www.usda.gov/oce/forum. USDA has hosted the Agricultural Outlook Forum since 1923 to provide farmers and ranchers, government, and agribusinesses with sound information for decision-making. Attendees are expected to include members of farm organizations, food and fiber firms, academia, foreign governments, and the news media.

Registration is $375 until Jan. 21, 2014, and $425 thereafter. Plenary speeches will be Webcast after 6 p.m. ET on Feb. 21, and breakout session speeches and presentations will be posted online after 6 p.m. Feb. 21.

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The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is pleased to announce a new one-stop shop for organics at usda.gov!

We are also pleased to highlight grants to support organic-focused research, education and extension programs.

Looking for USDA programs and services that support the growing organic sector? USDA has created a centralized web resource center at USDA.gov for all the programs, services, and data we have that support organic agriculture.

Visit (and bookmark) the organic web resource center to access:

• Conservation programs, flexible microloans, and other financial resources for farmers and ranchers.
• Organic price reports, cost/revenue comparisons, and other economic and market data.
• Improved crop and livestock insurance and other programs tailored to the organic sector.
• Production and conservation assistance and research on organic agriculture.
• Benefits of organic certification and how to get certified.
• USDA staff at your local field offices and much more!

USDA is committed to helping organic agriculture grow and thrive by removing obstacles for organic farmers and businesses.

Earlier this year, Secretary Vilsack instructed all USDA agencies to incorporate the needs of the organic sector into their programs and services, and asked AMS to lead this effort.

This one-stop shop for organic-related programs and services at USDA.gov is one way we are meeting those needs.

USDA Blog: A One-Stop Shop for Organics, with Lots in Store
By Mark Lipson, USDA Organic Policy Advisor

Organic Resource Center at USDA.gov

Last week, Secretary Vilsack announced that the following universities received a combined total of $3 million to support research, education and Extension programs that will improve the competitiveness of organic livestock and crop producers:

• University of Florida, Gainesville, Fla., $675,719. This project focuses on developing sustainable wholefarm systems for organic pecan production in the Southeast.
• Michigan State University, East Lansing, Mich., $464,482. This project will develop alternatives to antibiotics for fire blight control in organic crops.
• University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minn., $718,225. This project will create a series of online, interactive educational modules with a focus on the fundamentals of organic agriculture and how to transition to organic farming.
• University of Texas Pan American. Edinburg, Texas, $746,973. This project focuses on launching an innovative new academic program that engages students in rigorous, well-designed research projects designed to address real-world problems faced by organic farmers in south Texas.
• Washington State University, Pullman, Wash., $749,661. This project examines whether, over time, the adoption of organic farming improves natural pest control.

The flagship program to fund organic production, the Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative, currently remains unauthorized to continue until a new Farm Bill is passed by Congress.

USDA is funding these efforts through its Organic Transitions Program, which is an essential part of our commitment to the organic farm sector. USDA also provided $847,637 in continuation awards to previous Organic Transitions Program grantees.

Press Release

About the Organic Transitions Program

USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) facilitates the competitive and efficient marketing of agricultural products. Through its National Organic Program, AMS facilitates trade and ensures the integrity of organic agricultural products by consistently implementing organic standards and enforcing compliance with the regulations throughout the world. Learn more.

The USDA Organic Insider informs the organic community on a wide range of functions, including regulatory updates, requests for public comments, and USDA programs and services.

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WASHINGTON, Dec. 13, 2013 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced more than $1.8 billion in funding for electric utility infrastructure projects in 25 states and one territory to improve service for more than 37,000 rural customers. The projects include more than $45 million for smart grid technology, $73 million for renewable energy projects and over $213 million targeted to benefit Native Americans. This funding will build or improve more than 6,500 miles of line to deliver electricity to rural America.

"Rural electric cooperatives have provided reliable, affordable power to rural communities for more than 75 years. Today's investments will help ensure our electric infrastructure continues to deliver reliable and affordable electricity for years to come," Vilsack said. "This funding is part of the Obama Administration's vision for a new rural energy economy and USDA's commitment to creating economic opportunity in rural America. Investments in smart grid technologies will continue to modernize our nation's electric system and improve operational efficiencies."

Today's funding announcement is provided through the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Rural Utilities Service Program.

Among the projects being funded is the Navajo Tribal Utility Authority, which serves rural electric consumers in Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah. The utility will receive funding of nearly $168 million to build approximately 1,215 miles of line, invest in smart grid technologies and make other system improvements. Nearly 3,800 rural electric consumers in the three states will see direct benefits from this investment. Of the $168 million in funding, more than $166 million will serve Native Americans.

In North Dakota, the Nodak Electric Cooperative will receive a loan of $31 million to serve 920 consumers, build 450 miles of line, and make other system improvements. The loan amount includes $2.4 million for smart grid projects and $540,000 for service to Native Americans.

In Alabama, Covington Electric Cooperative will receive a $42.5 million loan guarantee to construct 539 miles of line and make other system improvements, including $8,000 for smart grid applications. These funds will increase electric system reliability for approximately 5,400 rural Alabama customers.

Both South Dakota and Alabama are part of USDA's StrikeForce for Rural Growth and Opportunity which leverages community resources in persistent poverty areas in targeted states.

Secretary Vilsack said that today's announcement is another reminder of the importance of USDA programs for rural America. A comprehensive new Food, Farm and Jobs Bill would further expand the rural economy, Vilsack added, saying that's just one reason why Congress must get a comprehensive Bill done as soon as possible.

Look here for a list of rural electric utilities that will receive USDA funding, contingent upon the recipient meeting the terms of the loan agreement.

President Obama's plan for rural America has brought about historic investment and resulted in stronger rural communities. Under the President's leadership, these investments in housing, community facilities, businesses and infrastructure have empowered rural America to continue leading the way - strengthening America's economy, small towns and rural communities. USDA's investments in rural communities support the rural way of life that stands as the backbone of our American values.

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USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (866) 632-9992 (Toll-free Customer Service), (800) 877-8339 (Local or Federal relay), (866) 377-8642 (Relay voice users)

WASHINGTON, December 12, 2013 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture today announced the creation of a new, unified emergency response framework to address Huanglongbing (HLB), a serious disease of citrus that affects several U.S. states and territories. This new framework will allow USDA and its many partners to better coordinate HLB resources, share information and develop operational strategies to maximize effectiveness.

"USDA listened to the citrus industry's request for more urgency and greater coordination on the response to HLB and is implementing an emergency response structure," said Secretary Tom Vilsack. "To jump start this initiative and affirm our commitment to industry, USDA is also providing $1 million to be used in support of research projects that can bring practical and short-term solutions to the growers in their efforts to combat this disease. Through the Specialty Crop Research Initiative of the Farm Bill, USDA has provided $9 million in research to blocking the ability of insects to spread HLB to healthy trees. We need Congress to quickly pass a new Farm, Food, and Jobs Bill that continues to support this kind of research to protect a crop worth more than $3 billion in the last harvest."

The new framework will bring together USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), along with state departments of agriculture and the citrus industry into a Multi-Agency Coordination (MAC) Group for HLB. It will provide industry with a single contact for all the federal and state entities that work on citrus issues and better enable the collective to collaborate on policy decisions, establish priorities, allocate critical resources, and collect, analyze, and disseminate information.

The HLB MAC Group will also help coordinate Federal research with industry's efforts to complement and fill research gaps, reduce unnecessary duplication, speed progress and more quickly provide practical tools for citrus growers to use.

HLB, also known as citrus greening, is named for the green, misshapen, and bitter-tasting fruit it causes. While this bacterial disease poses no danger to humans or animals, it has devastated millions of acres of citrus crops throughout the United States and abroad. In the United States, the entire States of Florida and Georgia are under quarantine for HLB, and portions of California, Louisiana, South Carolina and Texas are also under quarantine for the disease. The U.S. Territories of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands are under HLB quarantines as well.

You can find more information about HLB and the HLB MAC Group on USDA's Multi-Agency Response to Devastating Citrus Disease website.

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Note to Reporters: USDA news releases, program announcements and media advisories are available on the Internet and through Really Simple Syndication (RSS) feeds. Go to the APHIS news release page at www.aphis.usda.gov/newsroom and click on the RSS feed link.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (866) 632-9992 (Toll-free Customer Service), (800) 877-8339 (Local or Federal relay), (866) 377-8642 (Relay voice users).