Rural Infrastructure
Why Rural Mail Makes Privatizing USPS So Hard
Why privatizing USPS keeps stalling: rural mail costs more than it earns, the law protects it, and no plan says who would pay.
Agriculture and Rural America
Agriculture and rural America covers how food and fiber are grown and how the people and places that produce them are governed. It includes farms and farm work, the markets that move crops and livestock, the public programs that support and regulate farming, and the small towns and open country where much of this happens. Federal, state, and local governments all shape this area, along with farmers, companies, and researchers.
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October 4last updated
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The Webby-recognized AI behind our articles »
Latest in Agriculture and Rural America
United States Postal Service
Why Rural Mail Delivery Costs So Much More
Rural mail delivery costs more because routes cover far more miles with far fewer stops. See how USPS funds the gap and what private carriers charge.
Nutrition Assistance
How the New Dietary Guidelines Rewrote Federal Nutrition Advice
About 42 million Americans receive SNAP benefits (food assistance), averaging $187 monthly. On January 7, 2026, the Trump administration released new dietary guidelines that would completely…
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
About the H-2A Visa for Foreign Agricultural Workers
The H-2A visa program lets U.S. agricultural employers hire foreign nationals for temporary or seasonal farm jobs when American workers aren't available. It operates under a…
Topics in Agriculture and Rural America
Farms and farm work
Daily work on the land is covered in Farm Operations, the methods used to grow food in Agricultural Production Practices, and the workforce behind it in Agricultural Labor.
Farm Operations
6 articles
- Crop Insurance Basics: Protecting Your Harvest with USDA Programs
- Understanding USDA Farm Subsidies: Are You Eligible?
- USDA Grants and Loans for Beginning Farmers: Where to Find Them
Policy, markets, and science
Agricultural Policy explains the public programs that support farming, Agricultural Markets shows how farm goods are bought and sold, and Agricultural Research and Extension covers the science and education behind farming.
Land, water, and food
Environmental Issues in Agriculture looks at how farming affects land, water, and air. Food Safety covers oversight of what reaches the table, and Nutrition Assistance covers programs that help people afford food.
Rural life
Rural Communities covers the towns and regions where farming and other rural work take place.
All Articles on Agriculture and Rural America
What Organic, Natural, and Gluten-Free Labels Actually Mean on Food Packages
Walk through any American grocery store and you'll face a wall of claims plastered across food packages. "Organic," "Natural," and "Gluten-Free" labels jump out…
Getting EDA Funding for Your Community
Hidden in a corner of the Commerce Department sits an agency that most Americans have never heard of but that quietly shapes economic opportunity…
The Economic Development Administration: Fostering Growth in U.S. Communities
The Economic Development Administration is a bureau within the U.S. Department of Commerce, but it holds a unique position in the federal government. It's…
What America Exports to the World
The United States stands as the world's second-largest exporter, trailing only China. In 2024, America shipped $3.23 trillion worth of goods and services across…
Behind the FDA’s Work to Inspect Food Facilities
FDA food inspections examine facilities, preventive controls and corrective action. Public records show findings, while oversight exposes gaps in follow-up.
Animal Drug and Food Safety
The health of your family dog, the safety of the nation's milk and meat supply, and the development of life-saving medicines for backyard chickens…
How to Read Nutrition Labels
The black-and-white box on every packaged food and beverage is one of the most powerful public health tools the FDA has ever created. The…
What to Do When Your Food Gets Recalled
The United States has one of the safest food supplies in the world, but the complex journey from farm to table means problems can…
Reporting Food Problems to the Government
When you bite into a sandwich and find a piece of glass, or when your family gets sick after eating contaminated produce, your report…
Improving Health in America’s Heartland: HRSA Programs for Rural Communities
The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), a key agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), enhances health outcomes and…