From a very humble start, National Invasive Species Awareness Week’s Kids’ Day has bloomed into an event featuring an invasive species magician, a 13-year old ‘invasive species hunter’ from Texas, and even Woodsy Owl from the Forest Service.

The event, sponsored by USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, will take place on February 26 at the U.S. Botanic Garden in Washington, D.C.—a perfect setting to educate kids about the importance of protecting our forests, agriculture and the environment from harmful invasive species.

I am excited for this year’s lineup of activities and special guests!  For months, my staff and I have been recruiting presenters and participants from Federal and state agencies, area master naturalists, master gardeners, 4H clubs, Girl and Boy Scout troops, and local schools. Kids and their parents will have the opportunity to take invasive species drawing lessons, look at specimens through microscopes, play invasive species games, and meet APHIS’ very own Sheriff Al, the feared combatant of noxious weeds.

Although Kids’ Day will take place on a Sunday afternoon, I have had no trouble finding experts to come to the Botanic Garden and share their knowledge with the public, even on their day off. It’s obvious that these volunteers are truly dedicated to their important work.

Families that attend Kids’ Day also have the opportunity to wander throughout the Botanic Garden, looking at the towering trees, rare orchids, and spiky cacti. I know that they’ll come away with an experience that parents and children alike will never forget!

To learn more about National Invasive Species Awareness Week, go to www.nisaw.org, or come visit us at Kids’ Day at the U.S. Botanic Garden’s West Gallery on February 26, from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. We hope to see you there.

Twenty-four university students will attend USDA’s 2012 Agricultural Outlook Forum Feb. 23-24.  The students are the recipients of corporate and USDA sponsorship aimed at promoting the education of the next generation of agriculturalists.  The Forum titled, “Moving Agriculture Forward,” is USDA’s largest annual event and will be held at the Crystal Gateway Marriott Hotel in Arlington, Virginia.  “USDA welcomes the next generation to participate in the Forum so they might see opportunities to excel to even greater heights in their careers,” said Secretary Vilsack.

This year, sponsoring corporations and USDA agencies include: CHS, Inc.; Farm Credit; USDA’s Economic Research Service, Agricultural Research Service, and Natural Resources Conservation Service.

The 24 university juniors and seniors majoring in agricultural-related studies were selected based on their essays, “Agriculture as a Career,” and recommendations from their deans.  To view the names of the winning students and several of the winning essays, please go to: http://www.usda.gov/oce/forum/diversity/diversity_program.htm

To view the Forum program, please go to: www.usda.gov/oce/forum.

Brenda Chapin, 202-720-5447

Gaining a simple, painless way to connect to food, materials, technology and other necessities was the draw for 200 rural leaders and residents, primarily Native, who came from across the state to Anchorage earlier this month. They talked to vendors and meet with Federal and state officials including those from the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and Rural Development at the Rural Small Business Conference hosted by Alaska Village Initiatives (AVI).

The goal of the conference is to bring together rural businesses, leaders and residents in order to provide them with networking opportunities, training and technical information to help meet the needs of their communities.  The theme to this year’s conference is “Focus on the Future”. USDA has many programs designed to assist rural residents in developing a business or a cooperative.

Opening remarks included streaming video welcomes from Senators Mark Begich and Lisa Murkowski; a personal welcome from Chad Padgett, former USDA Rural Development and Farm Service Agency State Director and current State Director for Congressman Don Young,  and Charles Parker, AVI President/CEO – all lauding the importance and effectiveness of the conference.

The number of vendors and people attending this year’s conference exceeded all previous years, a great barometer on the interest and value this venue brings.  A unique focal point of the conference was the “Marketplace Tradeshow” that afforded participants an excellent opportunity to meet exhibitors to explore and learn about available services to their rural, often remote communities.

AVI is a non-profit, membership based company dedicated to improving the well-being of rural Alaska and strengthening their self reliance through training, assistance, advocacy and economic development.  AVI has sponsored the Rural Small Business Conference for the past twenty one years.

Molly Voeller, Public Affairs Specialist for the Natural Resources Conservation Service in Alaska and Larry Yerich, Public Information Coordinator for USDA Rural Development-Alaska provide agency program and service information to participants and vendors. Photo courtesy of Doug Lindstrand.

Trail users of all types take part in a Trails 101 course offered through CoTrails in January 2012 on the Anna Ruby Falls trail. One of the goals of CoTrails is to educate and engage a robust volunteer force to assist with trail maintenance and planning efforts. Photo credit: USDA Forest Service/Judy Toppins

The Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests in Georgia receive 2.2 million visitors each year, and their primary activity is use of 850 miles of designated system trails. But it’s not only hikers that take advantage of the recreation opportunities which these trails provide. Cyclists, hunters, anglers, off-highway vehicle enthusiasts and horseback riders all recreate on national forest trails– and they don’t always see eye-to-eye.

One year ago, the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest embarked on a unique collaborative effort to bring these trail users together to help identify and maintain a diverse, quality trail system on Georgia’s national forests.  By working together with all trail users, the Forest Service created an opportunity to seek new ways to deal with the ever-increasing use of trails, public demand for more trails, limited agency resources to properly maintain existing trails, and potential competition among different trail users.

The forests first began the Collaborative Trails Initiative, or “CoTrails,” by hosting a series of meetings in forest communities. How could all trail users work together and with the Forest Service to address shared concerns and find solutions?  More than 350 people attended those meetings. A core group of more than 40 volunteers coalesced to see the effort through the planning stage. The result is a five-part strategic plan launched in January that the Forest Service and an ever-growing number of CoTrails volunteers are beginning to implement.

Trail users of all types take part in a Trails 101 course offered through CoTrails in January 2012 on the Anna Ruby Falls trail. One of the goals of CoTrails is to educate and engage a robust volunteer force to assist with trail maintenance and planning efforts. Photo credit: USDA Forest Service/Judy Toppins

The CoTrails Strategic Plan outlines five objectives. They include engaging volunteers, inventorying and assessing existing trails, creating a forest-wide interactive online map of the trail system and identifying unauthorized trails and opportunities to incorporate new system trails on the national forests. A professional assessment of 200 miles of trails is already underway, and thousands of volunteer hours have already been invested.

The far-reaching influence of this effort will benefit more than just trail users by offering a more satisfying recreation experience. It will also protect watersheds, improve forest health and contribute to local and regional economies that depend on forest-related recreation.

To volunteer with CoTrails, learn more about the initiative or read the Strategic Plan, visit the CoTrails volunteer website or the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests’ website. You can also connect with CoTrails volunteers on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/CoTrails.

The signing of that purchase agreement represents another very important milestone in the U.S.-China trade relationship, a relationship that continues to grow and flourish – in large part thanks to agricultural trade.  Last fiscal year, for the first time ever, China was the number one market for U.S. food and agricultural exports. And it was also the top market, by far, for U.S. soybeans. In fact, China purchased nearly 60 percent of the U.S. soybeans sold internationally last year.

For many years, USDA has partnered with the U.S. soybean industry to facilitate trade through our international marketing programs in China and other countries worldwide. I’m proud that we continue to provide support and funding to help link buyers and suppliers, to provide technical assistance, and to share information on sustainable production practices and food safety standards. I’m also proud that, with USDA support, the U.S. soybean industry will be holding a variety of conferences, seminars and workshops focusing on the feed, aquaculture, swine and poultry sectors in China over the coming months.

As a soybean farmer myself, I am especially proud that China continues to look to the United States as a reliable supplier of high-quality soybeans and other products. As I assured our Chinese customers last week, the United States remains firmly committed to being their supplier of choice.

Overall, the American brand of agriculture continues to surge in popularity worldwide. Farm exports in fiscal year 2011 reached a record high of $137.4 billion—exceeding past highs by $22.5 billion—and supported 1.15 million jobs here at home. The agricultural trade surplus stands at a record $42.7 billion.

At a Feb. 15 ceremony in Des Moines, Chinese buyers agreed to purchase more than 8.6 million metric tons of U.S. soybeans. Standing, from left, are: Iowa Soybean Association CEO Kirk Leeds, CFNA Deputy Director Chen Ying, U.S. Soybean Export Council CEO Jim Sutter, CFNA President Bian Zhenu, USDA Acting Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services Michael Scuse, China’s Assistant Minister of Commerce Yu Jianhua, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey, American Soybean Association President Steve Wellman and United Soybean Board Director Bob Haselwood. Seated, from left, are: are CHS representative Troy Skelton, Guangzhou Dongling Grains Trading Director Han Peihui, Shandong Rizhao Changhua Foods Deputy General Director Zhang Miao, Columbia Grains President William Gallo, Cargill Investment (China) Vice President Shi Jiehui, and Cargill Investment representative Greg Adams. (Photo courtesy of the Iowa Soybean Association)

A historic gathering of former Secretaries of Agriculture will commemorate USDA’s celebration of the Department’s 150th anniversary and founding in 1862.  On February 23 at the 2012 Agricultural Outlook Forum, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack will moderate a plenary panel of eight former Secretaries of Agriculture invited to speak on “Agriculture: Visions of the Future” at the Crystal Gateway Marriott Hotel in Arlington, Va.

USDA has hosted the 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.

For more information and to view a Webcast of the morning plenary event after 6 p.m. Feb. 23, please go to: www.usda.gov/oce/forum.

Contact: Brenda Chapin, 202-720-5447

EU Commissioner of Agriculture and Rural Development Dacian Cioloş (left) Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan announced that the United States and the European Union formed a partnership that will recognize the two organic programs as equivalent and allow access to each other's markets. The announcement was made at the BioFach World Organic Fair in Nuremberg, Germany on Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2012. Photo courtesy of the European Commission.

Travis Forgues is an organic dairy farmer in the town of Alburgh in northwest Vermont, almost at the Canadian border and surrounded on three sides by Lake Champlain. Like many of the other dairy farmers in northern Vermont, Travis is a realist. He went to college. He tried city life. But he was born into farming, and that’s how he wanted to raise his own family. So Travis went to his dad and had a talk about organic farming, and he convinced his father, and then many others, to convert their land from conventional agricultural practices to organic. As Travis saw it, organics was a growing niche within American agriculture, and consumer demand for organically produced dairy was taking off. Better still, consumers were willing to pay more for organic products. Today, as a result of Travis’ work, nearly 130 dairy farmers across New England have signed on to the “New England Pastures” organic dairy cooperative for Organic Valley.

Ten years have passed since the U.S. Department of Agriculture launched its National Organic Program (NOP). You may recognize the “USDA Organic” seal on thousands of fruits, vegetables, meat or other goods you can buy at the local market. The program combines detailed organic standards with a rigorous oversight and enforcement system. It also provides access to the U.S. market for imported organic products that meet our standards.

The integrity of this system has helped propel strong growth in consumer demand for certified organic products. Over the past decade, organic food sales more than quadrupled from $6.1 billion to nearly $27 billion. As organic exports expect to grow 8 percent annually over the next several years, this growth has also created important opportunities for international trade, supporting jobs here at home. While maintaining the rigor of the system and the trust of consumers, we can help drive further exports, economic growth, and support sustainable agricultural production by working to establish common organic standards with foreign nations.

Last week marked an important step forward for the organic food industry.  I was happy to announce that beginning June 1, products certified as organic in the United States or European Union can be sold as organic in the other market, reducing costs and removing burdensome barriers for thousands of U.S. organic farmers wanting to export their goods to Europe. This agreement between the world’s two largest organic producing markets is truly a game changer for America’s blossoming organic industry.

This comes following work in 2009 to establish a similar agreement with Canada. And we are working to establish similar partnerships with Japan, South Korea, and Mexico as well. The growth by the organic industry is just one part of the impressive story of American agriculture.

Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan announced that the United States and the European Union formed a partnership that will recognize the two organic programs as equivalent and allow access to each other's markets on Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2012 in Nuremberg, Germany. EU Commissioner of Agriculture and Rural Development Dacian Cioloş and Merrigan signed the formal letters creating the partnership. Photo courtesy of the European Commission.

Overall, agriculture is a bright spot in our economy, enjoying record exports, record incomes for farming families, and a trade surplus that is nine times greater today than it was just five years ago. Today, agriculture supports 1 in 12 jobs in the United States and provides American consumers with 83 percent of the food we consume. To sustain these successes and to continue to feed our nation and the world, the United States must continue to build a diverse agriculture industry and attract the smartest, hardest-working young people in the nation to careers in agriculture.

The fact that organics is an appealing practice for many young and beginning farmers is not lost on USDA. Currently, 30 percent of principal operators of farms are 65 years old or more. By diversifying our agricultural practices and working with new partners such as the EU to improve markets for our agricultural products, we are also investing our country’s future.

For me, organics and beginning farmers are near and dear to my heart. I drafted the Organic Foods Production Act under the direction of Senator Patrick Leahy of Vermont, then Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture. Today, more than 20 years later, the organic industry has blossomed. National surveys have indicated that more than two-thirds of U.S. consumers buy organic products at least occasionally, and 28 percent buy organic products weekly. And, most importantly, organics have given many farmers, young and old, a second chance.

With the EU partnership, as with the Canadian arrangement before it, Travis Forgues sees a more stable future for his family and community. It means higher incomes for organic farmers and ranchers, more opportunities for small businesses, and jobs for people who package, ship, and market organic products. Estimates show the market for U.S. organic sales to the EU could grow more than 300 percent within the first few years. It is another major win for the American economy and President Obama’s jobs strategy. More importantly, it is a win for Travis, his young family, and many others like them.

EU Commissioner of Agriculture and Rural Development Dacian Cioloş and Agriculture Deputy Secretary Merrigan shake hands after signing the formal letters creating the organic partnership. Photo courtesy of the European Commission.

Since the formation of the White House Rural Council in June 2011, we have had a unique opportunity to provide recommendations on how to grow the economy and create jobs in rural America.

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.

Students in the Schmahl Science Workshop and the Greene Scholars Program recently discussed their research projects with Deputy Under Secretary Ann Bartuska, pictured here (center) with Gloria Whitaker-Daniels (left), and Belinda Lowe-Schmahl (right)” (Photo Credit: Belinda Lowe-Schmahl)

This post is part of the Science Tuesday feature series on the USDA blog. Check back each week as we showcase stories and news from the USDA’s rich science and research portfolio.

Developing a rapid, inexpensive biosensor to detect salmonella on vegetables; expanding understanding of the antimicrobial properties of nutmeg; finding a non-invasive method to test for glucose levels. 

What do these ideas have in common?  They each represent a research project by a student participating in the Schmahl Science Workshop or the Greene Scholars Program.

I recently met this awesome group of young women at a “STEM” Workshop held in History Park in San Jose, California.  “STEM” refers to the combined fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics – fields in which women have historically been underrepresented, but fields that are also vital to food and agricultural science.  In programs like this, I’m encouraged to see that this situation might be changing.  More and more, students from all walks of life are realizing the value of a quality STEM education, and the fulfilling careers to which it can lead.

This forum was powerful, not just because of these extraordinary women, but because I also met some of their parents, mentors, and teachers and was able to see the impact that this kind of program can have on everyone involved.  The participating students sat at the front table with Dr. Belinda Schmahl and me, while the other attendees sat in the audience.  Each student presented a quick synopsis of their project, which led to further discussions about the scope and resources needed for the research.

One remarkable success story I heard about involved providing students with access to a laboratory where they can do cell culture, biochemistry, and DNA sequencing.  The project started in a garage, but with donated equipment has grown to be housed in a renovated warehouse and today is a core component of learning through these programs.

When asked what these students would like to see in their schools, their responses were clear and direct.  They would like to have more experiential, or “hands on” learning.  They would like to “make the knowledge more real,” or understand how learned ideas and concepts can be applied to their daily lives, not only in science, but in history and math as well.  They also like to see passion and enthusiasm from their teachers.  Six students expressed interest in learning about neurobiology – it’s that kind of interest that we must nurture by providing further learning opportunities for exploration.

At USDA we’re working to expand opportunities to broaden access to STEM education to all groups, stressing its importance to food, agriculture, and natural resources.  The Division of Community and Education at the National Institute of Food and Agriculture awards Higher Education Challenge Grants to college and university faculty to improve teaching in the food and agricultural sciences by enhancing curricula, increasing faculty professional development, and encouraging student experiential learning opportunities.  Through programs like this, we’re working to train the scientists today to be leaders in food and agricultural science tomorrow.

USDA Rural Development State Director Virginia Manuel; Under Secretary for USDA Rural Development Dallas Tonsager (right) ; and Maine Congressman Michael Michaud at a Rural Roundtable in Maine About two dozen Maine business leaders discussed business development issues with Federal officials.

It was a unique opportunity for Maine leaders to share their thoughts on the challenges and prospects for Maine’s economy at a Rural Roundtable held earlier this month, at the Rural Development State Office in Bangor. The Roundtable, facilitated by USDA Rural Development Maine State Director Virginia Manuel, brought the participants together with Under Secretary for Rural Development Dallas Tonsager and Maine Congressman Michael Michaud for a candid discussion.

The nearly two dozen leaders representing business, academia, and economic and community development, shared what keeps them awake at night about their business or organization, resulting in a dynamic conversation geared towards promoting economic and business growth, development of renewable energy, accelerating hiring, and spurring innovation in rural communities across Maine.

Under Secretary Tonsager said, “This was an immense opportunity to hear from Maine’s dynamic leaders in business, academia, and economic and community development, and to gain insight on how we can create opportunities that will spur economic growth, capitalize on the ingenuity of Maine people, and strengthen the local economy.”

Participants of the Rural Roundtable included Lawrence M. Barrett, President of Eastern Maine Community College. The college will benefit from a USDA Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grant, which adds it to a virtual network that will provide access for adult learners throughout rural Maine to improve their employability and obtain marketable technical skills.

Also in attendance was Claudia Raessler, Owner, SuriPaco, LLC, an independent family-owned farm based in Yarmouth, which was selected to receive a USDA Rural Development Value-Added Producer Grant.  SuriPaco will use the funds for business planning and marketing for a specialty, high-end luxury alpaca fiber in the textile market through a mid-tier value chain.

In addition, Anthony Buxton, Esq. and Richard Silkman, Principal, Kennebec Valley Gas Company, joined in the dialogue. The company is proposing an $86 million pipeline for central Maine. The 56-mile natural gas pipeline would serve 12 rural Maine communities and bring the first natural gas supply to the Kennebec Valley region for industrial, commercial, and consumers in central Maine.

The participants’ comments were recorded and will be reported to Washington. The event is one in a series of roundtables being held across the nation with senior Obama Administration officials on behalf of the White House Business Council.

To learn more about how USDA Rural Development business programs can help produce jobs in your area, click here.