I think I am qualified to say that my friend Senator McGovern would have liked the George McGovern Lecture delivered last week in Rome by former Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Kathleen Merrigan. The lecture named
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Merrigan's Last Act: Enlisting Extension Agents as 'Voices for Food'
Extension agents — usually associated with helping farmers behind the scenes — sometimes do get out front on public policy. And when they do, it’s with such a light touch it’s hardly noticed. But it’s
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Merrigan Expresses Worry About FSMA's Impact on Agriculture
Kathleen Merrigan, who recently left her role as Deputy Secretary of Agriculture at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, said this week she is concerned about the negative impact the Food Safety Modernization Act could have
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USDA Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan to Step Down Next Month
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s number two in command, Kathleen Merrigan, a longtime advocate of local and regional food systems, announced yesterday she will be leaving her post.
Deputy Secretary Merrigan, who led the USDA’s
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USDA Makes Grants Available for Farm to School Programs
Farm to school food programs are set to receive a boost this October in the form of $3.5 million in federal grant money.
Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Kathleen Merrigan announced Tuesday that the USDA’s Food
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USDA’s Merrigan: No One Gets a Pass on Food Safety
Deputy Agriculture Secretary Kathleen Merrigan touched on the importance of food safety in the growing regional and local food movement during the U.S. Department of Agriculture Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food event at the
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USDA Releases First Farm to School Evaluation
Efforts to serve local food in schools are expanding nationwide, but creating a market between small farms and school districts still poses many challenges, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s first report on farm-to-school
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USDA Encourages Americans to Know Their Farmers
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) released a new video this week in an effort to create economic opportunities in rural communities by promoting local and regional food systems.
The video provides commentary from USDA
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White House Farmers Market Opens
At the sound of a herd of cow bells, the farmers market by the White House kicked off yesterday. Surrounded by Washington, DC-area sustainable and local food advocates, Deputy Agriculture Secretary Kathleen Merrigan helped ring
USDA Promotes Local Food in Georgia
USDA Leaders Promote Local Food in Georgia This Week–Is Local Food Safer?
Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Kathleen Merrigan visited the University of Georgia Monday to discuss the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) ‘Know Your Farmer