Latest Tom Vilsack News

Farmers in 6 Vermont counties affected by flooding can apply for emergency loans

Aug. 30, 2024 13:35 PM EDT

MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) — Farmers in six Vermont counties can now apply for emergency loans granted by a federal disaster declaration in response to heavy rain and flooding in July. U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack approved Gov. Phil Scott's request on Thursday. ...

Senators demand the USDA fix its backlog of food distribution to Native American tribes

Aug. 23, 2024 14:27 PM EDT

A bipartisan group of senators is demanding immediate action from USDA Secretary Thomas Vilsack after several tribal nations reported that a federal food distribution program they rely on has not fulfilled orders for months, and in some cases has delivered expired food. Last spring,...

Black and other minority farmers are getting $2 billion from USDA after years of discrimination

Jul. 31, 2024 19:16 PM EDT

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — The Biden administration has doled out more than $2 billion in direct payments for Black and other minority farmers discriminated against by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the president announced Wednesday. More than 23,000 farmers were approved for...