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Secretary Vilsack Awards Employees for Exceptional Service Supporting, Advancing U.S. Agriculture

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today presented the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) highest honor to 39 teams of distinguished employees who made the most significant accomplishments that support USDA’s mission, strategic goals, objectives and priorities. Vilsack also presented a Secretary’s Act of Valor Award to a team that risked injury to themselves by attempting lifesaving actions during a disaster response.

“Hard-working and dedicated employees are at the heart of the service we aim to provide agricultural producers and all Americans,” Vilsack said. “The work being honored this year includes identifying the bioenergy potential of a crop, improving the resilience of supply chains, and an act of valor attempting to rescue pilots of a helicopter downed while fighting the Moose Fire in Idaho in July 2022.”

All USDA employees, employees of other Federal agencies, and organizations collaborating with USDA to accomplish the Department's mission are eligible to be nominated for a Secretary’s Honor Awards, which are honorary and do not include monetary awards. Awards were given to teams whose work advanced USDA’s six strategic goals.

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CHP Talks: Paul Bootsma—Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario #farmers #agriculture

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My guest this week is Mr. Paul Bootsma, Policy Coordinator for the Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario (CFFO). We discuss his policy work at the CFFO and how the organization advocates for farmers with both the federal and provincial governments. We also discuss the current issue of waste at some small abbatoirs (slaughter facilities) in Ontario where there seems to be a pattern of excessive condemnation of animal carcasses by provincial inspectors, raising cost for both farmers and abbatoir owners.