From across the horseshoe shaped town of Pikeville, KY, various buildings, parking lots, temporary walkways, and above ground construction of the Pikeville Medical Center (PMC) expansion project, on Tuesday, July 12, 2011, in Pikeville, KY. After months of infrastructure construction and rain delays, one of Kentucky’s largest American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) projects is under way. The $44.6 million Community Facilities Loan will finance construction of a new medical office building and parking garage. The new medical office building will house outpatient surgery, endoscopy, surgical support and provide exam, waiting and office space for 23 primary and specialty care physicians. It also will contain a medical research center to support existing research – in conjunction with Pikeville College – on health disparities, genetic research related to the prevalence of cancer and other areas, including drug and treatment trials. The new parking garage with more than 1,000 spaces will be built adjacent to the new medical building, eliminating the need to shuttle patients back and forth from remote parking areas. The new garage will provide closer and easier proximity to medical and hospital services for all patients.

Wayne Rutherford, County Judge-Executive for Pike County, says funding from ARRA is a boon for his county because it will create jobs.

“This is great for Pike County’s economy. We know we have a great hospital, and with this support, it will be even better,” said Rutherford. “The unemployment rate here is above the state average and this will stimulate jobs. There will be construction, which means lots of jobs on the front end – and even more once it is built.”

Pike County is one of Kentucky’s persistent poverty counties and the current medical facility provides health care services for a rural population of more than 68,000. This project will create 1,430 direct and indirect construction jobs, in addition to 97 long-term jobs. It is scheduled to be completed in December 2012.

“This project is a prime example of the ARRA monies being utilized for much-needed health care facility expansion in an economically-depressed region of Eastern Kentucky and Appalachia,” said Tom Fern, State Director for Rural Development in Kentucky. “This hospital has received national recognition for its quality of care, and this money will allow them to expand and build upon their success and continue providing quality health care services to the region.”

PMC was named National Hospital of the Year by the American Alliance of Healthcare Providers in November 2009. The hospital was among 400 elite health care facilities to apply for this prestigious honor. To earn this recognition, PMC competed against more than 400 hospitals, including the Mayo Clinic, the John Hopkins Hospital, Cedar-Sinai Medical Center, the Cleveland Clinic, Duke University Medical Center and Vanderbilt University.

Pikeville City Manager Donovan Blackburn said the medical center is the largest employer in Pikeville and contributes nearly $2 million to the city through the payment of occupational taxes. He went on to say that Pikeville Medical’s success is also the city’s success because as other cities struggle with dwindling revenues, Pikeville has actually seen growth.

“This is a regional medical center that is very important to the city. Pikeville is a legal, financial and education hub for Eastern Kentucky and a gateway to rural communities in Virginia and West Virginia. There are half a million within a 50-mile radius – so it’s not just local people that depend on this facility,” said Blackburn. “From a regional standpoint it adds volume from a jobs standpoint. Everybody in this county knows someone or has family that works for Pikeville Medical Center.

“People in this area used to have to go out of the area for good jobs and quality medical services, but Pikeville Medical has changed that,” added Blackburn. "And it has impact on other parts of the city’s economy – hotels, restaurants and retail. It increases the quality of life tenfold.”

The Recovery Act was designed to spend money gradually over time in order to sustain a true recovery – with peak spending to occur early this year. While the experts agree that ARRA is already responsible for creating or saving approximately two million jobs, about 75 percent of recipients that reported on their Recover Act spending indicated their projects are less than half complete, meaning there is even more job impact from those dollars to come.

USDA Photo by Lance Cheung.

From across the horseshoe shaped town of Pikeville, KY, various buildings, parking lots, temporary walkways, and above ground construction of the Pikeville Medical Center (PMC) expansion project, on Tuesday, July 12, 2011, in Pikeville, KY. After months of infrastructure construction and rain delays, one of Kentucky’s largest American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) projects is under way. The $44.6 million Community Facilities Loan will finance construction of a new medical office building and parking garage. The new medical office building will house outpatient surgery, endoscopy, surgical support and provide exam, waiting and office space for 23 primary and specialty care physicians. It also will contain a medical research center to support existing research – in conjunction with Pikeville College – on health disparities, genetic research related to the prevalence of cancer and other areas, including drug and treatment trials. The new parking garage with more than 1,000 spaces will be built adjacent to the new medical building, eliminating the need to shuttle patients back and forth from remote parking areas. The new garage will provide closer and easier proximity to medical and hospital services for all patients.

Wayne Rutherford, County Judge-Executive for Pike County, says funding from ARRA is a boon for his county because it will create jobs.

“This is great for Pike County’s economy. We know we have a great hospital, and with this support, it will be even better,” said Rutherford. “The unemployment rate here is above the state average and this will stimulate jobs. There will be construction, which means lots of jobs on the front end – and even more once it is built.”

Pike County is one of Kentucky’s persistent poverty counties and the current medical facility provides health care services for a rural population of more than 68,000. This project will create 1,430 direct and indirect construction jobs, in addition to 97 long-term jobs. It is scheduled to be completed in December 2012.

“This project is a prime example of the ARRA monies being utilized for much-needed health care facility expansion in an economically-depressed region of Eastern Kentucky and Appalachia,” said Tom Fern, State Director for Rural Development in Kentucky. “This hospital has received national recognition for its quality of care, and this money will allow them to expand and build upon their success and continue providing quality health care services to the region.”

PMC was named National Hospital of the Year by the American Alliance of Healthcare Providers in November 2009. The hospital was among 400 elite health care facilities to apply for this prestigious honor. To earn this recognition, PMC competed against more than 400 hospitals, including the Mayo Clinic, the John Hopkins Hospital, Cedar-Sinai Medical Center, the Cleveland Clinic, Duke University Medical Center and Vanderbilt University.

Pikeville City Manager Donovan Blackburn said the medical center is the largest employer in Pikeville and contributes nearly $2 million to the city through the payment of occupational taxes. He went on to say that Pikeville Medical’s success is also the city’s success because as other cities struggle with dwindling revenues, Pikeville has actually seen growth.

“This is a regional medical center that is very important to the city. Pikeville is a legal, financial and education hub for Eastern Kentucky and a gateway to rural communities in Virginia and West Virginia. There are half a million within a 50-mile radius – so it’s not just local people that depend on this facility,” said Blackburn. “From a regional standpoint it adds volume from a jobs standpoint. Everybody in this county knows someone or has family that works for Pikeville Medical Center.

“People in this area used to have to go out of the area for good jobs and quality medical services, but Pikeville Medical has changed that,” added Blackburn. "And it has impact on other parts of the city’s economy – hotels, restaurants and retail. It increases the quality of life tenfold.”

The Recovery Act was designed to spend money gradually over time in order to sustain a true recovery – with peak spending to occur early this year. While the experts agree that ARRA is already responsible for creating or saving approximately two million jobs, about 75 percent of recipients that reported on their Recover Act spending indicated their projects are less than half complete, meaning there is even more job impact from those dollars to come.

USDA Photo by Lance Cheung.

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Talk with a Soybean Farmer and Soil Water Retention/Filtration Demonstration.

Children from local schools and summer programs have come to the “Farmers on the Green” event, to participate in STEM soy and agriculture-based learning activates and lunch at the Boys and Girls Club of Harlem in New York, NY, on July 29, 2021. The activities also include experiments that demonstrate water retention of soil with various organic content, soybean bag toss, soybean spoon carry around a soy information placard, soy product quiz, talk with New York FFA officers about their interests and activities in agriculture.

Soy-biobased grass manufacturer, SYNLawn, partnered with United Soybean Board, New York Corn and Soybean Growers and Indiana Soybean Alliance. In honor of this special event, SYNLawn installed a soy biobased synthetic grass at the club, where all of the learning stations are set-up. The soy biobased synthetic grass covers a hard surface that became too hot to play on, during high summer heat conditions. The new covering is cooler and provides a softer low maintenance surface.

During the event, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development (RD) Deputy Under Secretary Justin Maxson, on the 10th anniversary of the creation of the USDA’s Certified Biobased Product Label, unveiled an Economic Impact Analysis of the U.S. Biobased Products Industry. The report demonstrates that the biobased industry is a substantial generator of economic activity and jobs, and that it has a significant positive impact on the environment. For more information, go to usda.gov/media/press-releases/2021/07/29/usda-releases-economic-impact-analysis-us-biobased-products. USDA Media by Lance Cheung.

Northeast Community College Area President Dr. Michael R. Chipps asks a question during a meeting of the Rural Community College Alliance (RCCA) at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2016. USDA photo by Tom Witham.

From the Pikeville Medical Center building, a portion of the U-shaped town of Pikeville can be seen beyond the above ground construction phase (foreground) of the Pikeville Medical Center (PMC) expansion project, on Tuesday, July 12, 2011, in Pikeville, KY. Some of the property has been cut into the mountainside. The construction area is where the parking garage will be; eliminating the long walk patients have to overcome to get from the current parking lot to the main medical center. After months of infrastructure construction and rain delays, one of Kentucky’s largest American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) projects is under way. The $44.6 million Community Facilities Loan will finance construction of a new medical office building and parking garage. The new medical office building will house outpatient surgery, endoscopy and surgical support and provide exam, waiting and office space for 23 primary and specialty care physicians. It also will contain a medical research center to support existing research – in conjunction with Pikeville College – on health disparities, genetic research related to the prevalence of cancer and other areas, including drug and treatment trials. The new seven-floor parking garage with more than 1,000 spaces will be built adjacent to the new medical building. This will eliminate the need to shuttle patients back and forth from remote parking areas, as the center’s current parking areas are filled to capacity on a daily basis. The new garage will provide closer and easier proximity to medical and hospital services for all patients.

Wayne Rutherford, County Judge-Executive for Pike County, says funding from ARRA is a boon for his county because it will create jobs.

“This is great for Pike County’s economy. We know we have a great hospital, and with this support, it will be even better,” said Rutherford. “The unemployment rate here is above the state average and this will stimulate jobs. There will be construction, which means lots of jobs on the front end – and even more once it is built.”

Pike County is one of Kentucky’s persistent poverty counties and the current medical facility provides health care services for a rural population of more than 68,000. This project will create 1,430 direct and indirect construction jobs, in addition to 97 long-term jobs. It is scheduled to be completed in December 2012.

“This project is a prime example of the ARRA monies being utilized for much-needed health care facility expansion in an economically-depressed region of Eastern Kentucky and Appalachia,” said Tom Fern, State Director for Rural Development in Kentucky. “This hospital has received national recognition for its quality of care, and this money will allow them to expand and build upon their success and continue providing quality health care services to the region.”

PMC was named National Hospital of the Year by the American Alliance of Healthcare Providers in November 2009. The hospital was among 400 elite health care facilities to apply for this prestigious honor. To earn this recognition, PMC competed against more than 400 hospitals, including the Mayo Clinic, the John Hopkins Hospital, Cedar-Sinai Medical Center, the Cleveland Clinic, Duke University Medical Center and Vanderbilt University.

Pikeville City Manager Donovan Blackburn said the medical center is the largest employer in Pikeville and contributes nearly $2 million to the city through the payment of occupational taxes. He went on to say that Pikeville Medical’s success is also the city’s success because as other cities struggle with dwindling revenues, Pikeville has actually seen growth.

“This is a regional medical center that is very important to the city. Pikeville is a legal, financial and education hub for Eastern Kentucky and a gateway to rural communities in Virginia and West Virginia. There are half a million within a 50-mile radius – so it’s not just local people that depend on this facility,” said Blackburn. “From a regional standpoint it adds volume from a jobs standpoint. Everybody in this county knows someone or has family that works for Pikeville Medical Center.

“People in this area used to have to go out of the area for good jobs and quality medical services, but Pikeville Medical has changed that,” added Blackburn. "And it has impact on other parts of the city’s economy – hotels, restaurants and retail. It increases the quality of life tenfold.”

The Recovery Act was designed to spend money gradually over time in order to sustain a true recovery – with peak spending to occur early this year. While the experts agree that ARRA is already responsible for creating or saving approximately two million jobs, about 75 percent of recipients that reported on their Recover Act spending indicated their projects are less than half complete, meaning there is even more job impact from those dollars to come.

USDA Photo by Lance Cheung.

Hand washed baby lettuce leaves are slowly poured into a washing machine to dry in a spin cycle at Manakintowne Specialty Growers a 21-acre farm in Powhatan County, Virginia, where the Jo Pendergraph, her family and team raise specialty produce for chefs and markets of Richmond, Charlottesville and Williamsburg, VA area, on Friday, May 6, 2011. This includes the online food hub of Lulus Local Food served by the Fall Line Farms cooperative. This is one of the farms that chefs get those seemingly unique greens such as French Sorrel, Pea Shoots, Frisee, Tat soi, Mizuna, Pink/green radish shoots, Sunflower shoots, Baby red mustard, Tuscan Kale, Beet greens. All harvested by hand and scissors. As well as micro greens such as Pak choi, Tat soi, Mizuna, Purple kohlrabi, Shungiku (edible chrysanthemum), Ruby chard, Purple/Daikon/Triton radish, Red amaranth and Bull's Blood Beet. Edible flowers such as African Blue Basil, Nasturtiums, Johnny Jump Ups, and Chive blossoms Dianthus (pinks) are grown here. The seasonal choices are listed by suppliers and ordered by members on Lulus Local Food website, the food is distributed to pick-up points in the Richmond, VA area. They also offer a wide variety of household food staples and specialty fruits, vegetables, meats, soaps, eggs, cheeses, flowers, honey, pastas, sauces, syrups, baked goods, mushrooms, flour and grains from and for the Richmond. VA area. USDA Photo by Lance Cheung.

In this retention of Kentucky, water runs on, around and through the slate rock geology that surrounds and supports the construction phase of Pikeville Medical Center (PMC) expansion project, on Tuesday, July 12, 2011, in Pikeville, KY.

After months of infrastructure construction and rain delays, one of Kentucky’s largest American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) projects is under way. The $44.6 million Community Facilities Loan will finance construction of a new medical office building and parking garage. The new medical office building will house outpatient surgery, endoscopy and surgical support and provide exam, waiting and office space for 23 primary and specialty care physicians. It also will contain a medical research center to support existing research – in conjunction with Pikeville College – on health disparities, genetic research related to the prevalence of cancer and other areas, including drug and treatment trials. The new seven-floor parking garage with more than 1,000 spaces will be built adjacent to the new medical building. This will eliminate the need to shuttle patients back and forth from remote parking areas, as the center’s current parking areas are filled to capacity on a daily basis. The new garage will provide closer and easier proximity to medical and hospital services for all patients.

Wayne Rutherford, County Judge-Executive for Pike County, says funding from ARRA is a boon for his county because it will create jobs.

“This is great for Pike County’s economy. We know we have a great hospital, and with this support, it will be even better,” said Rutherford. “The unemployment rate here is above the state average and this will stimulate jobs. There will be construction, which means lots of jobs on the front end – and even more once it is built.”

Pike County is one of Kentucky’s persistent poverty counties and the current medical facility provides health care services for a rural population of more than 68,000. This project will create 1,430 direct and indirect construction jobs, in addition to 97 long-term jobs. It is scheduled to be completed in December 2012.

“This project is a prime example of the ARRA monies being utilized for much-needed health care facility expansion in an economically-depressed region of Eastern Kentucky and Appalachia,” said Tom Fern, State Director for Rural Development in Kentucky. “This hospital has received national recognition for its quality of care, and this money will allow them to expand and build upon their success and continue providing quality health care services to the region.”

PMC was named National Hospital of the Year by the American Alliance of Healthcare Providers in November 2009. The hospital was among 400 elite health care facilities to apply for this prestigious honor. To earn this recognition, PMC competed against more than 400 hospitals, including the Mayo Clinic, the John Hopkins Hospital, Cedar-Sinai Medical Center, the Cleveland Clinic, Duke University Medical Center and Vanderbilt University.

Pikeville City Manager Donovan Blackburn said the medical center is the largest employer in Pikeville and contributes nearly $2 million to the city through the payment of occupational taxes. He went on to say that Pikeville Medical’s success is also the city’s success because as other cities struggle with dwindling revenues, Pikeville has actually seen growth.

“This is a regional medical center that is very important to the city. Pikeville is a legal, financial and education hub for Eastern Kentucky and a gateway to rural communities in Virginia and West Virginia. There are half a million within a 50-mile radius – so it’s not just local people that depend on this facility,” said Blackburn. “From a regional standpoint it adds volume from a jobs standpoint. Everybody in this county knows someone or has family that works for Pikeville Medical Center.

“People in this area used to have to go out of the area for good jobs and quality medical services, but Pikeville Medical has changed that,” added Blackburn. "And it has impact on other parts of the city’s economy – hotels, restaurants and retail. It increases the quality of life tenfold.”

The Recovery Act was designed to spend money gradually over time in order to sustain a true recovery – with peak spending to occur early this year. While the experts agree that ARRA is already responsible for creating or saving approximately two million jobs, about 75 percent of recipients that reported on their Recover Act spending indicated their projects are less than half complete, meaning there is even more job impact from those dollars to come.

USDA Media by Lance Cheung.

Processed water is held in this ground storage tank and buffers the water level of the primary existing water storage tank (not seen) at the Freer Water Control and Improvement District (FWCID) Arsenic Removal System Site, on Tuesday, June 18, 2013, in Freer, Texas.

FWCID benefits from the financial assistance of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development (RD) to complete a two-phase approach to meeting the city’s water supply and safety needs, on Tuesday, June 18, 2013. Although, the naturally occurring arsenic levels have remained constant for more than a century, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) safe level standards have established lower levels of arsenic to be safe for human consumption. To meet those levels FWCID approached USDA and was awarded a $986,000 loan for Phase I, to install two new water wells, each rated at 167 gallons per minute (creating a total of eight wells); 13,600 feet of well collection lines; and 15,000 linear feet of well control line to remotely control the well pumps and the 1,000,000 gallon holding tank at the well facility, which supplies water to the new Arsenic Removal System (Phase II). Previously, water was manually controlled by personnel who knew when and how long to manually opened and closed water valves or started well pumps to ensure holding tank levels were within operating levels during peek and slack times of the day. Phase II was a combination of a $1,832,000 loan and a $1,258,750 grant, which provided for the customized arsenic removal system, seen in these photos. The system includes a new 3,530 sp. ft. facility, on a .76-acre site, and houses the operations room, computer and power system, laboratory room, and pump systems. The entire operation can be monitored through a desktop computer interface system. The computer-controlled system ensures raw water is fed to the arsenic removal pump system, which works in sequence to maintain a constant pressure, when needed, to pump water through (blue) arsenic removal absorber vessels, and into ground storage tanks that feeds the residential and commercial needs of the city. Samples of water are periodically tested; and so far the arsenic levels have been below 1 part per billion (PPB), well under the 10 PPB limit. USDA Photo by Lance Cheung.

From left, U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack presided at the swearing-in ceremony for Alexis Taylor in Urbandale, Iowa, on December 29, 2022. Taylor assumes the duties of Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs. USDA Photo by Cecilia Lynch.

Trucks and bulldozer on roadway. Brazil. Photo: Thomas Sennett / World Bank

Photo ID: BR007S20 World Bank

From across the horseshoe shaped town of Pikeville, various buildings, parking lots, temporary walkways, and

above ground construction phase of Pikeville Medical Center (PMC) expansion project can be seen, on Tuesday, July 12, 2011, in Pikeville, KY. After months of infrastructure construction and rain delays, one of Kentucky’s largest American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) projects is under way. The $44.6 million Community Facilities Loan will finance construction of a new medical office building and parking garage. The new medical office building will house outpatient surgery, endoscopy and surgical support and provide exam, waiting and office space for 23 primary and specialty care physicians. It also will contain a medical research center to support existing research – in conjunction with Pikeville College – on health disparities, genetic research related to the prevalence of cancer and other areas, including drug and treatment trials. The new seven-floor parking garage with more than 1,000 spaces will be built adjacent to the new medical building. This will eliminate the need to shuttle patients back and forth from remote parking areas, as the center’s current parking areas are filled to capacity on a daily basis. The new garage will provide closer and easier proximity to medical and hospital services for all patients.

Wayne Rutherford, County Judge-Executive for Pike County, says funding from ARRA is a boon for his county because it will create jobs.

“This is great for Pike County’s economy. We know we have a great hospital, and with this support, it will be even better,” said Rutherford. “The unemployment rate here is above the state average and this will stimulate jobs. There will be construction, which means lots of jobs on the front end – and even more once it is built.”

Pike County is one of Kentucky’s persistent poverty counties and the current medical facility provides health care services for a rural population of more than 68,000. This project will create 1,430 direct and indirect construction jobs, in addition to 97 long-term jobs. It is scheduled to be completed in December 2012.

“This project is a prime example of the ARRA monies being utilized for much-needed health care facility expansion in an economically-depressed region of Eastern Kentucky and Appalachia,” said Tom Fern, State Director for Rural Development in Kentucky. “This hospital has received national recognition for its quality of care, and this money will allow them to expand and build upon their success and continue providing quality health care services to the region.”

PMC was named National Hospital of the Year by the American Alliance of Healthcare Providers in November 2009. The hospital was among 400 elite health care facilities to apply for this prestigious honor. To earn this recognition, PMC competed against more than 400 hospitals, including the Mayo Clinic, the John Hopkins Hospital, Cedar-Sinai Medical Center, the Cleveland Clinic, Duke University Medical Center and Vanderbilt University.

Pikeville City Manager Donovan Blackburn said the medical center is the largest employer in Pikeville and contributes nearly $2 million to the city through the payment of occupational taxes. He went on to say that Pikeville Medical’s success is also the city’s success because as other cities struggle with dwindling revenues, Pikeville has actually seen growth.

“This is a regional medical center that is very important to the city. Pikeville is a legal, financial and education hub for Eastern Kentucky and a gateway to rural communities in Virginia and West Virginia. There are half a million within a 50-mile radius – so it’s not just local people that depend on this facility,” said Blackburn. “From a regional standpoint it adds volume from a jobs standpoint. Everybody in this county knows someone or has family that works for Pikeville Medical Center.

“People in this area used to have to go out of the area for good jobs and quality medical services, but Pikeville Medical has changed that,” added Blackburn. "And it has impact on other parts of the city’s economy – hotels, restaurants and retail. It increases the quality of life tenfold.”

The Recovery Act was designed to spend money gradually over time in order to sustain a true recovery – with peak spending to occur early this year. While the experts agree that ARRA is already responsible for creating or saving approximately two million jobs, about 75 percent of recipients that reported on their Recover Act spending indicated their projects are less than half complete, meaning there is even more job impact from those dollars to come.

USDA Media by Lance Cheung.

From across the horseshoe shaped town of Pikeville, KY, various buildings, parking lots, temporary walkways, and above ground construction of the Pikeville Medical Center (PMC) expansion project, on Tuesday, July 12, 2011, in Pikeville, KY. After months of infrastructure construction and rain delays, one of Kentucky’s largest American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) projects is under way. The $44.6 million Community Facilities Loan will finance construction of a new medical office building and parking garage. The new medical office building will house outpatient surgery, endoscopy, surgical support and provide exam, waiting and office space for 23 primary and specialty care physicians. It also will contain a medical research center to support existing research – in conjunction with Pikeville College – on health disparities, genetic research related to the prevalence of cancer and other areas, including drug and treatment trials. The new parking garage with more than 1,000 spaces will be built adjacent to the new medical building, eliminating the need to shuttle patients back and forth from remote parking areas. The new garage will provide closer and easier proximity to medical and hospital services for all patients.

Wayne Rutherford, County Judge-Executive for Pike County, says funding from ARRA is a boon for his county because it will create jobs.

“This is great for Pike County’s economy. We know we have a great hospital, and with this support, it will be even better,” said Rutherford. “The unemployment rate here is above the state average and this will stimulate jobs. There will be construction, which means lots of jobs on the front end – and even more once it is built.”

Pike County is one of Kentucky’s persistent poverty counties and the current medical facility provides health care services for a rural population of more than 68,000. This project will create 1,430 direct and indirect construction jobs, in addition to 97 long-term jobs. It is scheduled to be completed in December 2012.

“This project is a prime example of the ARRA monies being utilized for much-needed health care facility expansion in an economically-depressed region of Eastern Kentucky and Appalachia,” said Tom Fern, State Director for Rural Development in Kentucky. “This hospital has received national recognition for its quality of care, and this money will allow them to expand and build upon their success and continue providing quality health care services to the region.”

PMC was named National Hospital of the Year by the American Alliance of Healthcare Providers in November 2009. The hospital was among 400 elite health care facilities to apply for this prestigious honor. To earn this recognition, PMC competed against more than 400 hospitals, including the Mayo Clinic, the John Hopkins Hospital, Cedar-Sinai Medical Center, the Cleveland Clinic, Duke University Medical Center and Vanderbilt University.

Pikeville City Manager Donovan Blackburn said the medical center is the largest employer in Pikeville and contributes nearly $2 million to the city through the payment of occupational taxes. He went on to say that Pikeville Medical’s success is also the city’s success because as other cities struggle with dwindling revenues, Pikeville has actually seen growth.

“This is a regional medical center that is very important to the city. Pikeville is a legal, financial and education hub for Eastern Kentucky and a gateway to rural communities in Virginia and West Virginia. There are half a million within a 50-mile radius – so it’s not just local people that depend on this facility,” said Blackburn. “From a regional standpoint it adds volume from a jobs standpoint. Everybody in this county knows someone or has family that works for Pikeville Medical Center.

“People in this area used to have to go out of the area for good jobs and quality medical services, but Pikeville Medical has changed that,” added Blackburn. "And it has impact on other parts of the city’s economy – hotels, restaurants and retail. It increases the quality of life tenfold.”

The Recovery Act was designed to spend money gradually over time in order to sustain a true recovery – with peak spending to occur early this year. While the experts agree that ARRA is already responsible for creating or saving approximately two million jobs, about 75 percent of recipients that reported on their Recover Act spending indicated their projects are less than half complete, meaning there is even more job impact from those dollars to come.

USDA Photo by Lance Cheung.

Steve Balungwe (floral shirt) accompanied by his brother Innocent arrive at the new three-bedroom home he just closed on, in Rockingham, VA, on May 19, 2021. Congratulating him on homeownership is United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development (RD) Single-Family Housing Specialist Robin J. Chapman who helped him through the process. They then tour his new 2,000 square-foot townhouse in The Townes development.

Mr. Balungwe, 28-years old, is a nurse’s aide at the nearby Harrisonburg Health and Rehabilitation Center. He first heard about the program from a former coworker who also qualified for a home loan. He was given Ms. Chapman’s contact information. His first call to her was to ask about the program. He also learned about the program by going to the USDA website rd.usda.gov/programs-services/all-programs/single-family-housing-programs.

“I really enjoy helping low- and very-low-income families through Rural Home Loans (Direct Program) process and enjoy the opportunities of homeownership,” said Ms. Chapman.

For more information about the Direct Program please got rd.usda.gov/sites/default/files/fact-sheet/508_RD_FS_RHS_SFH502Direct.pdf

Mr. Balungwe emigrated from the Democratic Republic of Congo to attend the Blueridge Community College on a student visa. Then he applied for and received a permanent resident visa.

Balungwe says, that in the Congo, “there are no home loans; house and property are paid for in cash.” The process of homeownership typically takes a long time. Here, he appreciates the opportunity to build equity in his own home, rather than paying rent. Additionally, compared to the current small, cramped third-floor apartment he describes, he will enjoy the three stories, three bedrooms, and garage of his new home.

“Now I’m able to tell other students and coworkers about my USDA path to homeownership.” Says Steve. “USDA Rural Development provides real opportunities for low-income people to become homeowners.”

USDA Photo/Media by Lance Cheung.

Tunnel ventilation fans are big, but are designed to move large volumes of air at safe gentle rates of approximately 4 miles per hour. When occupied, 20,000 chickens will live on this floor in this chicken house. Roxanne and Matthew Molnar have an 80,000 poultry farm on April 21, 2011, in Grantville, PA and were recipients of a $20,000 Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) grant. The money is a portion of the cost to modernize the second of two 40,000 chicken capacity chicken houses.

Roxanne Molnar and her husband Mathew have an 80,000 chicken farm in Grantville, PA, and were recipients of a $20,000 Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) grant. Her oversized coat and wind blown hair are standard for this American poultry farmer, wife and mother of two boys, on Thursday, April 21, 2011. The grant money is a portion of the cost it took the Molnar’s to modernize the second of two 40,000 chicken capacity chicken houses. Chickens need to be kept at a comfortable temperature to remain productive. New radiant heaters keep the chickens warm during Pennsylvania winters. On warm days, ceiling vents provide passive venting of heat out of the building; when chicken house temperatures are estimated to be above 90 degrees, fans come on, pulling air through water evaporator elements lowering air temperature down 10-15 degrees and flows along the chicken house's length, in effect a tunnel of cooled air. The benefits to the chickens are heat and excess moisture removal; minimized dust and odor; limits buildup of ammonia and carbon dioxide; and provides oxygen for respiration. All these systems are computer controlled allowing owner, Roxanne Molnar to run the farm by herself and raise two small boys Gavin (2) and Grant (5). Husband, Matthew works off the farm and frequently travels, so along with the demands of parenting and manually controlling fans, vents, and having to remove the 80,000 chickens from their feeders and moving them around to cool them was an increasingly daunting task. The computer controls of the new system automate many of the daylong tasks allowing the Molnar’s to run their family farm. USDA Photography by Lance Cheung.

40-year-old maize grower and shea harvester Samata Alidu lives in Gushie, in northern Ghana. She is one of 24,000 female farmers who have received training in better agricultural practices through the Nestlé Grains Quality Improvement Project. Thanks to the advice she has received from our agronomists, she has been able to more than double her production. "The impact on the community has been immense’’, she says. “I can now pay my children’s school fees. I can now afford to sew them school uniforms. And I even have some extra income."

Photovoltaic panels are wiped off for peak performance at The Wash Basket Laundromat, in Palmyra, Pennsylvania, on April 20, 2011. The business qualified for U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development (RD) Rural Energy for America Program assistance to add 72 photovoltaic panels (solar cells) which helps runs the laundry machines and reduce electrical demand by 1/3. The array generates 20,000 KW/year, an approximate $250 savings per month. USDA photo by Lance Cheung.

Organic tomatillo from Tuscarora Organic Growers (TOG) was delivered to Each Peach Market in the Washington, D.C., on Tuesday Aug 2, 2016. Each Peach Market, established in 2013, is a full service grocery store providing produce, dairy, farm fresh eggs, meat, beer and wine, prepared foods and more. The staff is ready and able to tell about how and where the foods are from and suggest ways to prepare meals. Jeanelouise Conaway and Emily Freidberg co-own the market to, as they say “…share our love for good food and the DIY culinary spirit with our community.” They feature many great local products grown and made in the region, and use suppliers such as Tuscarora to get them into this urban market.For the story behind these photos go to Rural Cooperatives Magazine and subscribe to future digital editions at www.rd.usda.gov/publications/rural-cooperatives-magazine

For more information about USDA Rural Development please go to www.rd.usda.gov/

For more information about USDA please go to www.usda.gov

USDA Media by Lance Cheung.

Tuscarora Organic Growers (TOG) drivers Ray Smith (with cap) and James Hall deliver organic produce to Each Peach Market in the Washington, D.C., on Tuesday Aug 2, 2016. Each Peach Market, established in 2013, is a full service grocery store providing produce, dairy, farm fresh eggs, meat, beer and wine, prepared foods and more in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday Aug 2, 2016. The staff is ready and able to tell about how and where the foods are from and suggest ways to prepare meals. Jeanelouise Conaway and Emily Freidberg co-own the market to, as they say “…share our love for good food and the DIY culinary spirit with our community.” They feature many great local products grown and made in the region, and use suppliers such as Tuscarora to get them into this urban market.For the story behind these photos go to Rural Cooperatives Magazine and subscribe to future digital editions at www.rd.usda.gov/publications/rural-cooperatives-magazine

For more information about USDA Rural Development please go to www.rd.usda.gov/

For more information about USDA please go to www.usda.gov

USDA Media by Lance Cheung.

Weeks from completion, a methane reactor with endothermic gasifier surrounds Doug Jernigan, a three-generation family farm owner (with his wife Aileen) and employer who, a few months earlier, refinanced a first of it’s kind, in the nation, swine-turkey waste to renewable energy system (RES), with the assistance of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development (RD) Renewable Energy for America Program (REAP) loan guarantee in Mt. Olive, NC, Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2015.

Typical systems separate methane gas for energy, solids are disposed or repurposed and liquids are cleaned. This new system addition takes the watery manure effluent to a new and as Mr. Jernigan say’s “prolific profit” producing state through savings and sales. “There is an opportunity for the farm to make money doing a good thing for the environment.”

The system handles about 75,000 gallons of swine and turkey waste effluent each day. Piped to a series of tanks, and mechanical equipment that separates solids, and liquids. The current treatment facility biologically removes ammonia nitrogen with bacteria adapted to high-strength wastewater; removes phosphorus via alkali precipitation; and reduction emissions of odorant compounds, ammonia, pathogens, and heavy metals to the environment. The water is cleaned for reuse in the swine and turkey operations that wash more manure into the cycle of the system.

The new methane reactors (under the framework of what will be a C-span structure) use an endothermic gasifier that heats the waste solids to very high temperatures to the point that they release gases. The clean methane gas will fuel an engine that turns a 300KW electrical generator producing electricity; ethanol will help fuel farm equipment, and resulting potash solids can be used or sold for agricultural fertilizer. Excess amounts of electricity, that the farms cannot use, will be sold and transmitted to the local energy company, for use by residents and businesses; renewable energy credits (REC) are sold to a different energy company.

With a system that eliminates all ammonia and other odor creating compounds, Mr. Jernigan says, “What I’m doing is good for the environment; it’s good for the farm in the respect that you’re getting rid of waste that you’re creating in a high-tech way. There’s no footprint. It’s just gone.”

Doug and Aileen are lifelong farmers and they have three grown children that work in the farm operation. Their farm currently operates a 21,600 finishing farm operation, an eight house turkey operation, a 250 head cow /calf operation. The farm also consists of 2,400 acres of row crop production (cotton, corn, soybeans and wheat).

Doug Jernigan’s grandfather started farming here in 1941, and he continues the tradition with his business that began in 1974.

In talking about the greater potential of this technology and what others should consider, Jernigan says, “I see it as a win-win thing.”

For more information about USDA, RD and REAP please see: www.usda.gov, www.rd.usda.gov, and www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/rural-energy-america-pr...

USDA Photo by Lance Cheung

*The treatment system (without the methane reactor) was documented to remove, on a mass basis, approximately 99% of total suspended solids, 98% of COD, 99% of TKN, 100% ammonia, 100% odor compounds, 92% phosphorus, 95% copper, and 97% zinc from the flushed manure. Fecal coliform reductions were measured to be 99.98%

Water hoses from a tanker truck leads to a truck mounted boiler that heats water for recirculation into white resin impregnated fabric in a sanitary sewer pipe that runs under these grounds. It will cure the fabric into a hard plastic pipe lining from one manhole to the next one, on Tuesday, July 19, 2011, as part of Buena Vista Township Phase II Sewer Project, in Michigan, where the United States Department of Agriculture funded the refurbishment and rehabilitation of 45,500 linear feet of defective sewer pipe, and more than 200 manholes; on Tuesday, July 19, 2011. The project includes the construction of an off-site excess flow basin; construction of a pump station; and improvements at the wastewater treatment plant. The system will serve 2,349 residential and 177 commercial customers and will bring the township into compliance with environmental regulations regarding pollutant discharges.

Inspections revealed that the 1960s sanitary sewer system had inflow from storm and rainwater systems and overflowed into the sanitary sewer system. Infiltration was found in the form of cracks, and other failures that allowed groundwater to enter. Rather than digging up the old system, rehabilitation with a cured-in-place-pipe (CIPP) method was chosen. This provides up to a 50% savings and the liner is projected to last 50-100 years. CIPP repair of the 8-30” diameter pipes involves pulling a resin-saturated fabric liner through a damaged pipe, which is then cured with steam or hot water to form a tight-fitting, joint less replacement pipe. Trenchless repair methods require less digging than traditional “dig and replace” repair methods and minimize damage to yards and landscaping. There are two of these teams and one manhole rehabilitation to seal the underground casting frame or brick structure. They process 600-800 feet per day.

Wade Trim Inc. Professional Engineer Tiffany Harrison said about working with the United States Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development “It was very easy, they make it very straight forward, in what paperwork they need. They were always available for questions.

USDA Rural Development has funded water and sewer projects in 117 Michigan communities serving more than 94,000 customers.

Senior Advisor to the Secretary of Agriculture Doug O’Brien said, “America will win the future by out-building, out-educating and out-innovating the world,” O'Brien said. “The Obama Administration is committed to the residents and business owners of Buena Vista Township in building the infrastructure needed to protect our environment and ensure clean water for future generations.” Being almost entirely surrounded by the Great Lakes, Michigan residents know that a small problem upstream usually leads to much bigger problems downstream and that the impact of water pollution extends far beyond the immediate community.

USDA photo by Lance Cheung.

www.rurdev.usda.gov

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development (RD) Under Secretary Xochitl Torres Small visits Envelope 1 in Columbiana, OH, on February 8, 2023, to see the progress on their new building. At the same time, current operations continue in the existing building. Envelope 1 received a $25M Business and Industry Loan Guarantee for this project which is now 70% complete.

For more about the Business and Industry Loan Guarantee Program under the OneRD Guarantee Loan Initiative, please visit rd.usda.gov/onerdguarantee.

USDA photo by Heather Stacy.

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development (RD) Under Secretary Xochitl Torres Small has a morning visit with Mayor Matt Donaldson, USDA Rural Partners Network (RPN) Community Liaison Amy Wilkie 60 miles northeast of Savannah, in Twin City, GA, on Jan 30, 2023.

The Rural Partners Network (RPN) is an all-of-government program that helps rural communities find resources and funding to create jobs, build infrastructure, and support long-term economic stability on their own terms. For more information, please go to rural.gov.

USDA media by Valerie H McMakin.

Organic okra from Tuscarora Organic Growers (TOG) was delivered to Each Peach Market in the Washington, D.C., on Tuesday Aug 2, 2016. Each Peach Market, established in 2013, is a full service grocery store providing produce, dairy, farm fresh eggs, meat, beer and wine, prepared foods and more. The staff is ready and able to tell about how and where the foods are from and suggest ways to prepare meals. Jeanelouise Conaway and Emily Freidberg co-own the market to, as they say “…share our love for good food and the DIY culinary spirit with our community.” They feature many great local products grown and made in the region, and use suppliers such as Tuscarora to get them into this urban market.For the story behind these photos go to Rural Cooperatives Magazine and subscribe to future digital editions at www.rd.usda.gov/publications/rural-cooperatives-magazine

For more information about USDA Rural Development please go to www.rd.usda.gov/

For more information about USDA please go to www.usda.gov

USDA Media by Lance Cheung.

Pigs at Keenbell Farm are pasture raised by 3rd generation farmer CJ Isbell in Rockville, VA, on Friday, May 6, 2011. The farm was established in 1951, and produces grass-fed beef, pastured pork, and free-range eggs beyond organic standards. Keenbell Farms pork products range from sausage, to bacon, pork chops, roasts, bratwurst, and many more. A majority of their diet is grass and roots. They are offered corn, soybean, minerals, and a hay mixture that was developed by the farm. Raising the pigs on pastures reduces odor problems, and avoids hazardous waste issues by distributing the manure. Pastures are rotated at least, every 90 days to allow the grass and land to re-grow. Keenbell and other farms produce meat products for Fall Line Farms food hub that offer a wide variety of household food staples and specialty items. Members can pick their customized orders from an ever changing inventory of fruits, vegetables, meats, soaps, eggs, cheeses, flowers, honey, pastas, sauces, syrups, baked goods, mushrooms, flour and grains. Suppliers post what they have to sell on Lulus Local Food online listing where customers can make their selection. Every Thursday, suppliers team up to deliver customized orders to, one of several pick-up points, designated by the customer in or around the Richmond, VA area. USDA Photo by Lance Cheung.

Amy's Organic Garden in Charles City, VA, on Thursday, May 5, 2011. Owner Amy Hicks harvesting greens at her farm. Ms. Hicks' farm participates with Fall Line Farms a local food cooperative in the Richmond, VA area that offers a wide variety of household food staples and specialty items on an ever changing inventory of fruits, vegetables, meats, soaps, eggs, cheeses, flowers, honey, pastas, sauces, syrups, baked goods, mushrooms, flour and grains. Suppliers post what they have on a Lulus Local Food online listing and customers can make their selection. Every Thursday suppliers deliver orders to, one of several pick-up points, designated by the customers in or around the Richmond area. USDA Photos by Lance Cheung.

California Center for Cooperative Development (CCCD) Cooperative Developer, Seed Farmer, and Co-op Founder Mai Nguyen at their farm operation, on a small experimental plot, where they grow Ethiopian Blue Tinge Emmer, Canus, Hollis, Marquis, and Fortuna wheat, as well as some chickpea and Hunan popping bean, near Petaluma, CA, on Dec. 30, 2017. These varieties haven’t been widely grown in California and little is known about how they fare as dry-farmed crops in these climes. Nguyen uses a cover crop of crimson clover to fix nitrogen and help the grains compete with the weeds. The varieties that thrive will be harvested for the next season of more seeds. Grown out, over multiple harvests, a supply of seed will be available to wheat producers for commercialization and then bought by local bakers and residents.

All of the heritage seeds at one point began as a teaspoon of seeds from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Research Service (ARS) U.S. National Plant Germplasm System (NPGS) and were grown out. The NPGS is a collaborative effort to safeguard the genetic diversity of agriculturally important plants.

To help share the cost of farming, they started a cooperative of small-scale farmers in the area to buy farm and seed cleaning equipment.

Nguyen also authors a grain catalog tell the stories of various producers and lists the grains that seed farmers are producing each year. With this information, farmers can better source the next season’s seeds. To take that a step further, Mai leads the California Grain Campaign, an outreach effort held at farmers markets and public venues to encourage the supply goals for the increasing demand for locally grown heritage whole grains.

Nguyen’s work with CCCD supports the building of agricultural and worker-owned cooperative businesses. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is one of many organizations that award grants to qualified businesses, that build other businesses. CCCD is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that does this by promoting cooperatives and helping them to build their capabilities to address the economic and social needs of California’s communities. The organization supports agricultural, childcare, utility, financial, housing, and other worker-owned cooperative businesses with start-up, management, and other technical assistance. As businesses become self-sufficient, its members share in the rewards, challenges, decisions and responsibilities.

Nguyen’s parents emigrated from Vietnam during and following the 1975 “Fall of Saigon.” Later, they met, married and had Mai. During their childhood in a refugee and immigrant community, they recall how families learned to cook and prepared available local foods, but still had a desire for foods that were part of their heritage from Southeast Asia. Family experience, community gardening, work in refugee camps and their degree in atmospheric physics, planted the seed for their career working with refugee and immigrant farmers to build their own cooperative businesses that produce Umeboshi apricots, jujube drink concentrate and heritage wheat for a wide range of customers. USDA Media by Lance Cheung.

Farm road lined with a row of hay rolls, on a rainy day, at Doug Jernigan Farms, a three-generation family farm and employer who, a few months earlier, refinanced a first of its kind, in the nation, swine-turkey waste to renewable energy system (RES), with the assistance of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development (RD) Renewable Energy for America Program (REAP) loan guarantee in Mt. Olive, NC, Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2015.

Typical systems separate methane gas for energy, solids are disposed or repurposed and liquids are cleaned. This new system addition takes the watery manure effluent to a new and as Mr. Jernigan say’s “prolific profit” producing state through savings and sales. “There is an opportunity for the farm to make money doing a good thing for the environment.”

The system handles about 75,000 gallons of swine and turkey waste effluent each day. Piped to a series of tanks, and mechanical equipment that separates solids, and liquids. The current treatment facility biologically removes ammonia nitrogen with bacteria adapted to high-strength wastewater; removes phosphorus via alkali precipitation; and reduction emissions of odorant compounds, ammonia, pathogens, and heavy metals to the environment. The water is cleaned for reuse in the swine and turkey operations that wash more manure into the cycle of the system.

The new methane reactors (under the framework of what will be a C-span structure) use an endothermic gasifier that heats the waste solids to very high temperatures to the point that they release gases. The clean methane gas will fuel an engine that turns a 300KW electrical generator producing electricity; ethanol will help fuel farm equipment, and resulting potash solids can be used or sold for agricultural fertilizer. Excess amounts of electricity, that the farms cannot use, will be sold and transmitted to the local energy company, for use by residents and businesses; renewable energy credits (REC) are sold to a different energy company.

With a system that eliminates all ammonia and other odor creating compounds, Mr. Jernigan says, “What I’m doing is good for the environment; it’s good for the farm in the respect that you’re getting rid of waste that you’re creating in a high-tech way. There’s no footprint. It’s just gone.”

Doug and Aileen are lifelong farmers and they have three grown children that work in the farm operation as well. Their farm currently operates a 21,600 finishing farm operation, an eight house turkey operation and a 250 head cow /calf operation. The farm also consists of 2,400 acres of row crop production (cotton, corn, soybeans and wheat).

Doug Jernigan’s grandfather started farming here in 1941, and he continues the tradition with his business that began in 1974.

In talking about the greater potential of this technology and what others should consider, Jernigan says, “I see it as a win-win thing.”

For more information about USDA, RD and REAP please see: www.usda.gov, www.rd.usda.gov, and www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/rural-energy-america-pr...

USDA Photo by Lance Cheung

*The treatment system (without the methane reactor) was documented to remove, on a mass basis, approximately 99% of total suspended solids, 98% of COD, 99% of TKN, 100% ammonia, 100% odor compounds, 92% phosphorus, 95% copper, and 97% zinc from the flushed manure. Fecal coliform reductions were measured to be 99.98%

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development (RD) Xochitl Torres Small celebrates Mayor Errick Simmons' announcement that Delta Region Authority (DRA) has awarded a grant of $2.5M to Greenville, MS, on April 14, 2023. USDA, part of the Rural Partners Network (RPN) community, has identified regional airport renovations as its signature project, with the desire to create 200 jobs. Part of RPN's work is to attract and leverage federal funding beyond USDA to fund projects in RPN communities. DRA, through EDA, has granted an award to the City of Greenville for $2.5 M to bring the hangar up to Dept. of Defense code standards. This is a $15M project with other support, including private and public investments. This is significant in that it illustrates the first time that other federal dollars outside USDA have been used to fund a signature project in an RPN community (and in Mississippi, where RPN was launched in 2022!)

The Rural Partners Network has transformed the way we serve rural people in Mississippi and throughout the country. By partnering with communities to drive economic growth for generations to come, we are creating opportunities for all people to build successful futures. And this is just the beginning.

USDA Media by Lance Cheung.

Yolo Eco-Clean Cooperative (YECC) Cleaning Specialists Maria Fernandez cleans a light fixture with a cleaning cloth that has been dampened with an environmentally conscious cleaning solution, on Jan. 4 2017, in Davis, California. They mix and use their own cleaning products from proven traditional liquids and materials. The solutions provide healthy and safe results for clients, children, pets, and workers. California Center for Cooperative Development (CCCD) supports the building of small business that are cooperatively owned. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is one of many organizations that award grants to businesses such as CCCD is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that promotes cooperatives and help them build their capabilities to address the economic and social needs of California’s communities. CCCD supports agricultural, arts and crafts, childcare, energy, housing, and a variety of worker-owned cooperative businesses with start-up, management, and other technical assistance. As businesses become self-sufficient, it’s members share in the rewards, decisions and responsibilities. Fernandez and Garcia are new and are employed by YECC. They hope to prove themselves and join the worker/owners of YECC. A steady income and flexible hours better provides the time and money for their families. USDA Media by Lance Cheung.

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack visited Arkansas on Friday, September 16, 2022, to meet with producers and partners to discuss the new USDA Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities Project program designed to expand markets for America’s climate-smart commodities, leverage the greenhouse gas benefits of climate-smart commodity production, and provide direct, meaningful benefits to production agriculture, including for small and underserved producers.

The USDA is investing up to $2.8 billion into 70 selected projects for the first funding pool of the Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities funding opportunity; 20 of those projects are expected to affect Arkansas.

(USDA/FPAC photo by Christopher Willis)

Audience listens to the Opportunities in Rural American panel discussion at the White House Rural Council inaugural Rural Opportunity Investment conference on Wednesday, Jul. 23, 2014. (L to R Panel members Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack (moderator), New York City Chief Investment Officer Seema R. Hingorani, Citigroup Bank Services Group Global Head of Public Sector Julie Monaco, American Bankers Association President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Jeff L. Plagge, and Treasury Secretary Anthony Foxx). The White House Rural Council brings together top leaders from the business community and financial institutions, senior government officials, economic development experts and others from across the country to discuss potential investments in business and infrastructure projects in rural communities. USDA photo by Bob Nichols.

Tuscarora Organic Growers (TOG) driver Ray Smith delivers produce to Each Peach Market in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, on Tuesday Aug 2, 2016. TOG’s staff of 4 full time employees and up to 18 part time employees ensures each farm receives 70-75% of the sale of their produce. The balance is used to operate the co-op and make deliveries to its markets in the Baltimore-Washington metropolitan area.

Starting in 1988, Tuscarora currently has 50 producer-members and generates about $3.5 million in annual sales. The members’ farms average 5-15 acres, with their major products being produce destined for restaurants, food co-ops and independent retailers. By providing a marketing and distribution system for small-scale produce growers in the Northeast, the Tuscarora co-op helps members’ diversify their crops and increase profitability.

Each Peach Market, established in 2013, is a full service grocery store providing produce, dairy, farm fresh eggs, meat, beer and wine, prepared foods and more in the Mount Pleasant district of Washington, D.C. The market staff is ready and willing to tell about how and where the foods are from and suggest ways to prepare meals. Jeanelouise Conaway and Emily Freidberg co-own the market and say they like to “…share our love for good food and the DIY culinary spirit with our community.” They feature many local products grown and made in the region, and use suppliers such as Tuscarora to get them into this urban market.

For the story behind these photos go to Rural Cooperatives Magazine and subscribe to future digital editions at www.rd.usda.gov/publications/rural-cooperatives-magazine

For more information about USDA Rural Development please go to www.rd.usda.gov/

For more information about USDA please go to www.usda.gov

USDA Photo by Tiffany Edmundson.

The Lytle Community Health Center lab room is used to collect specimens from patients in Lytle, Texas, on December 5, 2017. This health center (HC) is a satellite clinic of Atascosa Health Center, Inc., who qualified and was approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development (RD) Community Facility Direct Loan program for a direct loan of $1,450,000. The funds allowed the purchase of an existing medical office building which includes a retail pharmacy, and the relocation to the new location. The Lytle Community HC once operated out of two of several adjoining retail suites and a diner in a single building. The new facility is approximately 8,500 square feet, has 10 additional medical exam rooms, and includes a spacious parking lot. Design and remodeling of select areas improved the efficiency in the work areas of providers and staff; and added an adjoining autoclave room to sterilize tools; a lab procedure room, vaccine storage area, and improved access and privacy in the large patient waiting area. The facility also includes office space for behavioral health and WIC services on a permanent basis. The loan is for 40 years at 2.7500% percent. This loan serves a population of 44,911. USDA Photo by Lance Cheung.

Mesh bags protect and catch the ripe date fruit in date palm trees at Mountain View Estates MVE in Thermal, CA, on June 29, 2022.

U.S. Congressman Raul Ruiz, M.D. CA-36 and U.S. Department of Agriculture USDA Rural Development RD Under Secretary Xochitl Torres Small will tour Mountain View Estates MVE in Thermal, CA, on June 30, 2022.

The MVE was developed in three phases and will be home to 398 very low-income households at complete build-out. Amenities include a laundry room, computer lab, multipurpose public room, 24-hour security, a soccer field, picnic pavilions, covered playground equipment, a jogging path with exercise stations, and more. USDA RD invested in the water infrastructure that made Mountain View possible.

USDA Media by Lance Cheung.

Water filled fin-tube heating element under plant tables at Good Harvest Farm on April 19, 2011 in Strasburg, PA, was completed using a Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) grant for the renovation six months ago that replaced an 80-year old structure with a new 4,000 sq. ft. structure that features energy efficient glass roof with curtains that block or trap heat, radiant heaters in or above the floor, and the replacement of an oil-fired hot-air furnaces with propane fueled boilers that supply fin-tube and cement embedded tube elements with hot water. With current fuel prices, there is a projected 2011 energy cost savings of more than $20,000; a 40% reduction in energy costs – exceeding projected savings. Plant health and quality has improved and been more consistent because the temperature and humidity is computer controlled and distributed evenly throughout the facility. Utilizing sensors and a roof mounted weather station the system can maintain four different climate zones 24-hours a day. Two 1,000,000 BTU propane fueled boilers heat the water to 190 degrees for the 8,000 feet of fin-tube heating elements were used where the original foundation, and the 8,000 feet of tubing that was embedded in a new cement foundation. After traveling through the energy efficient system, water only looses 20 degrees. When temperatures become to hot, motorized roof vents open to allow rising heat to escape; a 98% energy savings from massive fans that previously forced air out. Both systems create a microclimate in and round the plant trays in the growing and sales room. Representing Good Harvest Farm Chris Powell says, “You don’t need to have a lot of land to have a lot of green houses. There are places in cities where vegetables are grow on store roof tops and selling them below in the same structure.” USDA Photo by Lance Cheung.

US Congresswoman Stacey Plaskett (VI-at large), US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development (RD) Under Secretary Xochitl Torres Small, RD Virgin Islands State Director Lakeisha Hood, local leaders, and stakeholders participate in a working luncheon roundtable in the Arthur Abel Complex, Office of the Lieutenant Governor, in Frederiksted, US Virgin Islands, on March 21, 2023. Their topics will include housing, challenges, energy, and telecommunications.

(USDA photos by Rebecca Kaufman.)

Arsenic removal absorber vessels, at the Freer Water Control and Improvement District (FWCID) Arsenic Removal System Site, on Tuesday, June 18, 2013, in Freer, Texas.

FWCID benefits from the financial assistance of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development (RD) to complete a two-phase approach to meeting the city’s water supply and safety needs, on Tuesday, June 18, 2013. Although, the naturally occurring arsenic levels have remained constant for more than a century, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) safe level standards have established lower levels of arsenic to be safe for human consumption. To meet those levels FWCID approached USDA and was awarded a $986,000 loan for Phase I, to install two new water wells, each rated at 167 gallons per minute (creating a total of eight wells); 13,600 feet of well collection lines; and 15,000 linear feet of well control line to remotely control the well pumps and the 1,000,000 gallon holding tank at the well facility, which supplies water to the new Arsenic Removal System (Phase II). Previously, water was manually controlled by personnel who knew when and how long to manually opened and closed water valves or started well pumps to ensure holding tank levels were within operating levels during peek and slack times of the day. Phase II was a combination of a $1,832,000 loan and a $1,258,750 grant, which provided for the customized arsenic removal system, seen in these photos. The system includes a new 3,530 sp. ft. facility, on a .76-acre site, and houses the operations room, computer and power system, laboratory room, and pump systems. The entire operation can be monitored through a desktop computer interface system. The computer-controlled system ensures raw water is fed to the arsenic removal pump system, which works in sequence to maintain a constant pressure, when needed, to pump water through (blue) arsenic removal absorber vessels, and into ground storage tanks that feeds the residential and commercial needs of the city. Samples of water are periodically tested; and so far the arsenic levels have been below 1 part per billion (PPB), well under the 10 PPB limit. USDA Photo by Lance Cheung.

Insituform’s Mack Meher checks the water flow that fills the white resin impregnated fabric lining that goes down the manhole here, and through the existing 50 year old sanitary sewer pipe, to the next manhole, on Tuesday, July 19, 2011; part of Buena Vista Township Phase II Sewer Project, in Michigan, where the United States Department of Agriculture funded the refurbishment and rehabilitation of 45,500 linear feet of defective sewer pipe, and more than 200 manholes; on Tuesday, July 19, 2011. The project includes the construction of an off-site excess flow basin; construction of a pump station; and improvements at the wastewater treatment plant. The system will serve 2,349 residential and 177 commercial customers and will bring the township into compliance with environmental regulations regarding pollutant discharges.

Inspections revealed that the 1960s sanitary sewer system had inflow from storm and rainwater systems and overflowed into the sanitary sewer system. Infiltration was found in the form of cracks, and other failures that allowed groundwater to enter. Rather than digging up the old system, rehabilitation with a cured-in-place-pipe (CIPP) method was chosen. This provides up to a 50% savings and the liner is projected to last 50-100 years. CIPP repair of the 8-30” diameter pipes involves pulling a resin-saturated fabric liner through a damaged pipe, which is then cured with steam or hot water to form a tight-fitting, joint less replacement pipe. Trenchless repair methods require less digging than traditional “dig and replace” repair methods and minimize damage to yards and landscaping. There are two of these teams and one manhole rehabilitation to seal the underground casting frame or brick structure. They process 600-800 feet per day.

Wade Trim Inc. Professional Engineer Tiffany Harrison said about working with the United States Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development “It was very easy, they make it very straight forward, in what paperwork they need. They were always available for questions.

USDA Rural Development has funded water and sewer projects in 117 Michigan communities serving more than 94,000 customers.

Senior Advisor to the Secretary of Agriculture Doug O’Brien said, “America will win the future by out-building, out-educating and out-innovating the world,” O'Brien said. “The Obama Administration is committed to the residents and business owners of Buena Vista Township in building the infrastructure needed to protect our environment and ensure clean water for future generations.” Being almost entirely surrounded by the Great Lakes, Michigan residents know that a small problem upstream usually leads to much bigger problems downstream and that the impact of water pollution extends far beyond the immediate community.

USDA photo by Lance Cheung.

www.rurdev.usda.gov

A U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development (RD) Community Facility Grant of $45,500 providing the City of Hondo the ability to purchase two new Police Interceptor Utility (PIU) vehicles for Police Officer Will Barton, seen in mirror, and fellow officers of the Hondo Police Department in Hondo, Texas, on December 5, 2017. Hondo PD is committed to maintaining a safe environment in order to protect the citizens of Hondo, Texas. The fleet of high-mileage police vehicles (mostly police cruiser / sedans) are used 24/7 in this rural region of Texas, 56 miles west of San Antonio. The older cruisers require a high level of maintenance to ensure quality service and reliable response times. These PIU vehicles are better suited for the diverse road ways from highways to rugged off-road areas in any weather and require less maintenance. Also seen are two other PIU vehicles that were purchased with a prior USDA grant. The new vehicles are at various stages of preparation for law enforcement duty. A new larger graphic design better identifies the newest Hondo Police Department vehicles. Lights, communication and other specialized equipment will soon be added to the two new vehicles. Hondo is in a rural region of Texas, 56 miles west of San Antonio, and has a population of 8,803. USDA Photo by Lance Cheung.

U.S. Congressman Raul Ruiz, M.D., CA-36, and U.S. Department of Agriculture USDA Rural Development RD Under Secretary Xochitl Torres Small announce $13 million in national investments to expand access to rural water infrastructure and create equitable economic opportunities for more than 19,000 people in colonias, rural, and tribal communities. This includes a $1.5 million Water and Waste Disposal colonias grant to Coachella Valley Water District CVWD in Coachella, CA, on June 30, 2022. The district will replace the water main pipeline and three booster stations. This investment will help the CVWD provide adequate water service to customers by increasing the amount of water pumped through the pipeline distribution system. A colonia is a rural community within the U.S.-Mexico border region that lacks adequate water, sewer, housing, or a combination of all three. USDA Media by Lance Cheung.

Anthony Arredondo holds a test strip to a comparison chart to show Freer Water Control and Improvement District (FWCID) Manager Diana Adame, right, that the tested water is less than one part per billion of arsenic, thanks to financial assistance of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development (RD).

Freer Water Control and Improvement District (FWCID) benefits from the financial assistance of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development (RD) to complete a two-phase approach to meeting the city’s water supply and safety needs, on Tuesday, June 18, 2013. Although, the naturally occurring arsenic levels have remained constant for more than a century, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) safe level standards have established lower levels of arsenic to be safe for human consumption. To meet those levels FWCID approached USDA and was awarded a $986,000 loan for Phase I, to install two new water wells, each rated at 167 gallons per minute (creating a total of eight wells); 13,600 feet of well collection lines; and 15,000 linear feet of well control line to remotely control the well pumps and the 1,000,000 gallon holding tank at the well facility, which supplies water to the new Arsenic Removal System (Phase II). Previously, water was manually controlled by personnel who knew when and how long to manually opened and closed water valves or started well pumps to ensure holding tank levels were within operating levels during peek and slack times of the day. Phase II was a combination of a $1,832,000 loan and a $1,258,750 grant, which provided for the customized arsenic removal system, seen in these photos. The system includes a new 3,530 sp. ft. facility, on a .76-acre site, and houses the operations room, computer and power system, laboratory room, and pump systems. The entire operation can be monitored through a desktop computer interface system. The computer-controlled system ensures raw water is fed to the arsenic removal pump system, which works in sequence to maintain a constant pressure, when needed, to pump water through (blue) arsenic removal absorber vessels, and into ground storage tanks that feeds the residential and commercial needs of the city. Samples of water are periodically tested; and so far the arsenic levels have been below 1 part per billion (PPB), well under the 10 PPB limit. USDA Photo by Lance Cheung.

The Union Valley Apartments participates in two U.S. Department of Agriculture USDA Rural Development RD Multifamily Housing programs that assists the property owners and residents, in Finleyville, PA, on Sept. 2, 2021. For more information go to rd.usda.gov/multifamily The owner qualified for the RD currently holds the title through the Multifamily Housing Direct Loans program that provides affordable financing for projects in rural areas and is geared for low-income, elderly and disabled individuals and families as well as domestic farm laborers. For more information go to rd.usda.gov/programs-services/multifamily-housing-programs/multifamily-housing-direct-loans.

Many of the residents qualify for the Multifamily Housing Rental Assistance program that provides payments to owners of USDA-financed Rural Rental Housing or Farm Labor Housing projects on behalf of low-income tenants unable to pay their full rent. Rental Assistance can only be provided for apartments in new or existing Rural Rental Housing and Farm Labor Housing financed properties. Payments are made on behalf of the tenants and become part of the property’s income, which pays operational expenses. For more information, go to usda.gov/programs-services/multifamily-housing-programs/multifamily-housing-rental-assistance

The initial construction was supported by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development HUD program that provided a tax credit for the developer. For more information, go to hud.gov/program_offices/housing/mfh/map/maphome/taxcredit

USDA Photo Media by Lance Cheung.

California Center for Cooperative Development (CCCD) Cooperative Facilitator, Seed Farmer, and Co-op Founder Mai Nguyen, at their seed farm operation, they grow Ethiopian Blue Tinge Emmer, Canus, Hollis, Marquis, and Fortuna wheat, as well as some chickpea and Hunan popping bean, near Petaluma, CA, on Dec. 30, 2017. California Center for Cooperative Development (CCCD) Cooperative Developer, Seed Farmer, and Co-op Founder Mai Nguyen at their farm operation, on a small experimental plot, where they grow Ethiopian Blue Tinge Emmer, Canus, Hollis, Marquis, and Fortuna wheat, as well as some chickpea and Hunan popping bean, near Petaluma, CA, on Dec. 30, 2017. These varieties haven’t been widely grown in California and little is known about how they fare as dry-farmed crops in these climes. Nguyen uses a cover crop of crimson clover to fix nitrogen and help the grains compete with the weeds. The varieties that thrive will be harvested for the next season of more seeds. Grown out, over multiple harvests, a supply of seed will be available to wheat producers for commercialization and then bought by local bakers and residents.

All of the heritage seeds at one point began as a teaspoon of seeds from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Research Service (ARS) U.S. National Plant Germplasm System (NPGS) and were grown out. The NPGS is a collaborative effort to safeguard the genetic diversity of agriculturally important plants.

To help share the cost of farming, they started a cooperative of small-scale farmers in the area to buy farm and seed cleaning equipment.

Nguyen also authors a grain catalog tell the stories of various producers and lists the grains that seed farmers are producing each year. With this information, farmers can better source the next season’s seeds. To take that a step further, Mai leads the California Grain Campaign, an outreach effort held at farmers markets and public venues to encourage the supply goals for the increasing demand for locally grown heritage whole grains.

Nguyen’s work with CCCD supports the building of agricultural and worker-owned cooperative businesses. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is one of many organizations that award grants to qualified businesses, that build other businesses. CCCD is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that does this by promoting cooperatives and helping them to build their capabilities to address the economic and social needs of California’s communities. The organization supports agricultural, childcare, utility, financial, housing, and other worker-owned cooperative businesses with start-up, management, and other technical assistance. As businesses become self-sufficient, its members share in the rewards, challenges, decisions and responsibilities.

Nguyen’s parents emigrated from Vietnam during and following the 1975 “Fall of Saigon.” Later, they met, married and had Mai. During their childhood in a refugee and immigrant community, they recall how families learned to cook and prepared available local foods, but still had a desire for foods that were part of their heritage from Southeast Asia. Family experience, community gardening, work in refugee camps and their degree in atmospheric physics, planted the seed for their career working with refugee and immigrant farmers to build their own cooperative businesses that produce Umeboshi apricots, jujube drink concentrate and heritage wheat for a wide range of customers. USDA Photo by Lance Cheung.

Blue inlet pipes bring water from remote wells and river sources, and from unprocessed reservoir tank into into the Freer Water Control and Improvement District (WCID) Arsenic Removal System facility, in Freer, TX, on Tuesday, June 18, 2013. Freer Water Control and Improvement District (FWCID) benefits from the financial assistance of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development (RD) to complete a two-phase approach to meeting the city’s water supply and safety needs, on Tuesday, June 18, 2013. Although, the naturally occurring arsenic levels have remained constant for more than a century, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) safe level standards have established lower levels of arsenic to be safe for human consumption. To meet those levels FWCID approached USDA and was awarded a $986,000 loan for Phase I, to install two new water wells, each rated at 167 gallons per minute (creating a total of eight wells); 13,600 feet of well collection lines; and 15,000 linear feet of well control line to remotely control the well pumps and the 1,000,000 gallon holding tank at the well facility, which supplies water to the new Arsenic Removal System (Phase II). Previously, water was manually controlled by personnel who knew when and how long to manually opened and closed water valves or started well pumps to ensure holding tank levels were within operating levels during peek and slack times of the day. Phase II was a combination of a $1,832,000 loan and a $1,258,750 grant, which provided for the customized arsenic removal system, seen in these photos. The system includes a new 3,530 sp. ft. facility, on a .76-acre site, and houses the operations room, computer and power system, laboratory room, and pump systems. The entire operation can be monitored through a desktop computer interface system. The computer-controlled system ensures raw water is fed to the arsenic removal pump system, which works in sequence to maintain a constant pressure, when needed, to pump water through (blue) arsenic removal absorber vessels, and into ground storage tanks that feeds the residential and commercial needs of the city. Samples of water are periodically tested; and so far the arsenic levels have been below 1 part per billion (PPB), well under the 10 PPB limit. USDA Photo by Lance Cheung.

Water valves are opened to begin recirculation water that will be heated to cure the white resin impregnated fabric into a hard plastic pipe lining that extends from one manhole to the next one, on Tuesday, July 19, 2011, part of Water hoses from a tanker truck leads to a truck mounted boiler that heats water for recirculation into white resin impregnated fabric in a sanitary sewer pipe that runs under these grounds. It will cure the fabric into a hard plastic pipe lining from one manhole to the next one, on Tuesday, July 19, 2011, as part of Water hoses from a tanker truck leads to a truck mounted boiler that heats water for recirculation into white resin impregnated fabric in a sanitary sewer pipe that runs under these grounds. It will cure the fabric into a hard plastic pipe lining from one manhole to the next one, on Tuesday, July 19, 2011, as part of Buena Vista Township Phase II Sewer Project, in Michigan, where the United States Department of Agriculture funded the refurbishment and rehabilitation of 45,500 linear feet of defective sewer pipe, and more than 200 manholes; on Tuesday, July 19, 2011. The project includes the construction of an off-site excess flow basin; construction of a pump station; and improvements at the wastewater treatment plant. The system will serve 2,349 residential and 177 commercial customers and will bring the township into compliance with environmental regulations regarding pollutant discharges.

Inspections revealed that the 1960s sanitary sewer system had inflow from storm and rainwater systems and overflowed into the sanitary sewer system. Infiltration was found in the form of cracks, and other failures that allowed groundwater to enter. Rather than digging up the old system, rehabilitation with a cured-in-place-pipe (CIPP) method was chosen. This provides up to a 50% savings and the liner is projected to last 50-100 years. CIPP repair of the 8-30” diameter pipes involves pulling a resin-saturated fabric liner through a damaged pipe, which is then cured with steam or hot water to form a tight-fitting, joint less replacement pipe. Trenchless repair methods require less digging than traditional “dig and replace” repair methods and minimize damage to yards and landscaping. There are two of these teams and one manhole rehabilitation to seal the underground casting frame or brick structure. They process 600-800 feet per day.

Wade Trim Inc. Professional Engineer Tiffany Harrison said about working with the United States Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development “It was very easy, they make it very straight forward, in what paperwork they need. They were always available for questions.

USDA Rural Development has funded water and sewer projects in 117 Michigan communities serving more than 94,000 customers.

Senior Advisor to the Secretary of Agriculture Doug O’Brien said, “America will win the future by out-building, out-educating and out-innovating the world,” O'Brien said. “The Obama Administration is committed to the residents and business owners of Buena Vista Township in building the infrastructure needed to protect our environment and ensure clean water for future generations.” Being almost entirely surrounded by the Great Lakes, Michigan residents know that a small problem upstream usually leads to much bigger problems downstream and that the impact of water pollution extends far beyond the immediate community.

USDA photo by Lance Cheung.

www.rurdev.usda.gov

The Union Valley Apartments participates in two U.S. Department of Agriculture USDA Rural Development RD Multifamily Housing programs that assists the property owners and residents, in Finleyville, PA, on Sept. 2, 2021. For more information go to rd.usda.gov/multifamily The owner qualified for the RD currently holds the title through the Multifamily Housing Direct Loans program that provides affordable financing for projects in rural areas and is geared for low-income, elderly and disabled individuals and families as well as domestic farm laborers. For more information go to rd.usda.gov/programs-services/multifamily-housing-programs/multifamily-housing-direct-loans.

Many of the residents qualify for the Multifamily Housing Rental Assistance program that provides payments to owners of USDA-financed Rural Rental Housing or Farm Labor Housing projects on behalf of low-income tenants unable to pay their full rent. Rental Assistance can only be provided for apartments in new or existing Rural Rental Housing and Farm Labor Housing financed properties. Payments are made on behalf of the tenants and become part of the property’s income, which pays operational expenses. For more information, go to usda.gov/programs-services/multifamily-housing-programs/multifamily-housing-rental-assistance

The initial construction was supported by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development HUD program that provided a tax credit for the developer. For more information, go to hud.gov/program_offices/housing/mfh/map/maphome/taxcredit

USDA Photo Media by Lance Cheung.

Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue meets with Rural Development State Directors at the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Washington, DC on Wednesday, July 24, 2019. USDA photo by Tom Witham.

Sheep are still the main livelihood in Selenge Aimag, Mongolia. Once a year the sheep are shorn. A big task with a pair of scissors, the whole family and neighborhood get involved while children play around. Photo: Sally Mayberry / World Bank

Photo ID: SM-MN005 World Bank

Gavin (2, right) and Grant Molnar (5, left) use a shovel to scour the floor for debris at the Roxanne Molnar Farm on April 21, 2011, in Grantville, PA. Roxanne and Matthew Molnar have an 80,000 poultry farm and were recipients of a $20,000 Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) grant. The money is a portion of the cost to modernize the second of two 40,000 chicken capacity chicken houses. Chickens need to be kept at a comfortable temperature to remain productive. New radiant heaters keep the chickens warm during Pennsylvania winters. On warm days, ceiling vents provide passive venting of heat out of the building; when chicken house temperatures are estimated to be above 90 degrees, fans come on, pulling air through water evaporator elements lowering air temperature down 10-15 degrees and flows along the chicken house's length, in effect a tunnel of cooled air. The benefits to the chickens are heat and excess moisture removal; minimized dust and odor; limits buildup of ammonia and carbon dioxide; and provides oxygen for respiration. All these systems are computer controlled allowing owner, Roxanne Molnar to run the farm by herself and raise two small boys Gavin (2) and Grant (5). Husband, Matthew works off the farm and frequently travels, so along with the demands of parenting and manually controlling fans, vents, and having to remove the 80,000 chickens from their feeders and moving them around to cool them was an increasingly daunting task. The computer controls of the new system automate many of the daylong tasks allowing the Molnar’s to run their family farm. USDA Photography by Lance Cheung.

Gavin (2, right) and Grant Molnar (5, left) use a shovel to scour the floor for debris at the Roxanne Molnar Farm on April 21, 2011, in Grantville, PA. Roxanne and Matthew Molnar have an 80,000 poultry farm and were recipients of a $20,000 Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) grant. The money is a portion of the cost to modernize the second of two 40,000 chicken capacity chicken houses. Chickens need to be kept at a comfortable temperature to remain productive. New radiant heaters keep the chickens warm during Pennsylvania winters. On warm days, ceiling vents provide passive venting of heat out of the building; when chicken house temperatures are estimated to be above 90 degrees, fans come on, pulling air through water evaporator elements lowering air temperature down 10-15 degrees and flows along the chicken house's length, in effect a tunnel of cooled air. The benefits to the chickens are heat and excess moisture removal; minimized dust and odor; limits buildup of ammonia and carbon dioxide; and provides oxygen for respiration. All these systems are computer controlled allowing owner, Roxanne Molnar to run the farm by herself and raise two small boys Gavin (2) and Grant (5). Husband, Matthew works off the farm and frequently travels, so along with the demands of parenting and manually controlling fans, vents, and having to remove the 80,000 chickens from their feeders and moving them around to cool them was an increasingly daunting task. The computer controls of the new system automate many of the daylong tasks allowing the Molnar’s to run their family farm. USDA Photography by Lance Cheung.