USDA

AMES, IA - July 23, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will accept 1.7 million acres offered under the 45th Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) general sign-up. The Department received nearly 28,000 offers on more than 1.9 million acres of land, demonstrating CRP’s continuing appeal as one of our nation’s most successful voluntary programs for soil, water, and wildlife conservation. Under Vilsack’s leadership, USDA has enrolled nearly 12 million acres in new CRP contracts since 2009. Currently, there are more than 26.9 million acres enrolled on 700,000 contracts

WASHINGTON, D.C. - June 26, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- A former executive of Lender Processing Services Inc. (LPS) – a publicly traded company based in Jacksonville, Fla. – was sentenced today to serve five years in prison for her participation in a six-year scheme to prepare and file more than 1 million fraudulently signed and notarized mortgage-related documents with property recorders’ offices throughout the United States, announced Acting Assistant Attorney General Mythili Raman of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida Robert E. O’Neill, and Special Agent in Charge Michelle S. Klimt of the FBI Jacksonville Division.

Milford, DE - June 25, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Abraham Lincoln, creator of the United States Department of Agriculture, was known for being self-reliant. So, it is fitting that with support from USDA, prospective homeowners in Milford are building their own homes.

PORTLAND, OR - June 20, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) - USDA Rural Development’s Chief of Staff for Housing and Community Facilities, Dom McCoy, traveled to...

ortland, Ore - June 13, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- USDA Rural Development’s Administrator for Housing and Community Facilities, Tammye Treviño, traveled to Redmond, Oregon, this week to speak to farm worker housing developers, managers, funders and advocates at the 2013 Biennial Farmworker Housing Conference

KETCHIKAN, AK - June 10, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Rural Development Alaska State Director Jim Nordlund today welcomed U.S. Department of Agriculture Housing and Community Facilities Administrator Tammye Treviño to Southeast Alaska. Administrator Treviño is in the state to discuss a USDA pilot program that allows qualified USDA home loan borrowers, including those in Alaska, to refinance their mortgages and lower their loan payments. She will also meet with local leaders to discuss the USDA StrikeForce initiative. June is Homeownership Month, and the Administrator is visiting several states to discuss home loan programs that are available in rural areas

Post Falls, ID - June 5, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- USDA Housing and Community Facilities Administrator Tammye Treviño today kicked off National Homeownership Month in Idaho by highlighting programs to help rural residents buy, refinance and repair homes.

WASHINGTON, DC - May 31, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today kicked off National Homeownership Month by highlighting programs to help rural residents buy, refinance and repair homes

WASHINGTON, DC - May 24, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today that applications are being accepted from lenders for loan guarantees to finance rural rental housing. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) remains focused on carrying out its mission, despite a time of significant budget uncertainty. Today's announcement is one part of the Department's efforts to strengthen the rural economy.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - May 23, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- USDA Rural Development Acting Under Secretary Doug O’Brien today announced the expansion of a partnership with one of the largest issuers of mortgage-backed securities in the nation to increase investments in rural rental housing. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) remains focused on carrying out its mission, despite a time of significant budget uncertainty. Today’s announcement is one part of the Department’s efforts to strengthen the rural economy.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - May 23, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced a series of immediate steps the Department is taking to help homeowners affected by recent tornadoes in Oklahoma.

WASHINGTON, DC - April 15, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture has proposed a series of changes to make it easier for agricultural producers and rural small businesses to apply for renewable energy and energy efficiency funding. USDA remains focused on carrying out its mission, despite a time of significant budget uncertainty. Today's announcement is one part of the Department's efforts to strengthen the rural economy.

WASHINGTON, DC - March 29, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that USDA is seeking applications to provide assistance to agricultural producers and rural small businesses for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. Funding is available from USDA's Rural Energy for America Program (REAP). The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) remains focused on carrying out its mission, despite a time of significant budget uncertainty. Today's announcement is one part of the Department's efforts to strengthen the rural economy

BARABOO, WIS - March 19, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- USDA Rural Development State Director, Stan Gruszynski, announced today that Habitat for Humanity of the Sauk – Columbia Area (HFHSCA) has been selected to receive a USDA grant to help strengthen their capacity to provide affordable housing and spur regional economic development

WASHINGTON, D.C. - March 19, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- USDA continues to operate its housing programs under the law and in accordance with the will of Congress. Earlier today, Reuters filed a report based on a study of USDA’s home loan portfolio. USDA disputes certain findings in that report

WASHINGTON, DC - January 31, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that USDA is adding 15 more states and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico to a pilot program that enables current USDA home loan borrowers to save money on housing costs by refinancing their mortgages with lower interest rates. USDA Housing Administrator Tammye Treviño made the announcement on behalf of Secretary Vilsack

WASHINGTON, DC - January 30, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- TOMORROW, Administrator for USDA Rural Housing Programs Tammye Treviño will announce that USDA is expanding the USDA Single Family Refinancing Pilot Program to help more rural homeowners reduce their mortgage payments. The program is being expanded to include 15 additional states and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

Washington, DC - January 09, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Agriculture Under Secretary for Rural Development Dallas Tonsager today announced that USDA has awarded loans and grants to 12 organizations to construct, purchase and rehabilitate rural, multi-family, farm labor housing properties.

WASHINGTON, DC - December 19, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Agriculture Under Secretary for Rural Development Dallas Tonsager announced today that funding is available to preserve and revitalize USDA-financed rural rental housing.

BISMARCK, ND - October 26, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Jasper Schneider, USDA Rural Development state director, today announced that all five Tribal colleges in North Dakota were awarded grants to improve campus infrastructure. Through the Tribal College Initiative Grant program, each college will receive a $158,656 grant.