Department of Agriculture

Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins delivered remarks to hundreds of local leaders at the National Association of Counties. She spoke about vision for restoring rural prosperity to America. "We will ensure that USDA’s Rural Development programs are running as efficiently and effectively as possible to support the people they are intended to serve. We are carefully considering how we can improve programs to incentivize greater growth.

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins traveled to Kansas and Missouri, respectively, meeting with farmers, ranchers, and members of the agricultural community to discuss the challenges and opportunities shaping the industry. Conversations focused on expanding market access, strengthening rural economies, and ensuring producers have the tools to remain competitive on a global scale.

The Rural Utilities Service announces the acceptance of applications under the Distance Learning and Telemedicine grant program for fiscal year (FY) 2025, subject to the availability of funding. This notice is being issued prior to passage of a FY 2025 Appropriations Act in order to allow applicants sufficient time to leverage financing, prepare and submit their applications, and give the Agency time to process applications within FY 2025. Based on FY 2024 appropriated funding, the Agency estimates that approximately $40 million will be available for FY 2025.

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack announced more than $313 million in funding to connect rural residents, farmers and business owners in 18 states to reliable high-speed internet.

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Under Secretary Dr. Basil Gooden announced nearly $173 million in funding to connect rural residents, farmers and business owners in the Dakotas and eight other states to reliable high-speed internet. Projects are being financed by the fifth round of the ReConnect Program.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is accepting applications for funding that will help rural businesses create and save jobs in their communities. USDA is making loans and grants available under the Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant (REDLG) programs for fiscal year 2025. Through the programs, USDA provides zero-interest loans to local utilities which they then provide to local businesses for projects to create and retain employment in rural areas.

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Under Secretary Dr. Basil Gooden announced today that USDA is making available $25 million through the Broadband Technical Assistance (BTA) Program to help local organizations, cooperatives and Tribes expand affordable, high-speed internet projects in rural communities. Funding is made possible by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021.

The Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration (EDA) and the Department of Agriculture's Rural Development (USDA RD) offer this joint planning resource guide, designed to help you eliminate barriers and encourage collaboration among your stakeholders. The guide is separated into four key focus areas including infrastructure and high-speed internet expansion.

The Department of Agriculture (USDA) is partnering with rural cooperatives, local organizations and Tribes to support high-speed internet deployment in 11 states. USDA is awarding $5.2 million in cooperative agreements through the Broadband Technical Assistance Program, which is funded through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that USDA is making investments to provide clean drinking water, sanitary wastewater systems and affordable high-speed internet to people in Tribal communities. Secretary Vilsack made this announcement at the one of the nation’s largest Tribal economic development conferences, the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development’s Reservation Economic Summit (RES) in Las Vegas, Nevada. USDA is investing $58 million in Tribal