USDA
MFU commends Hennen and Landkamer appointments
Minnesota Farmers Union commends the Obama Administration on naming Linda K. Hennen as Minnesota's Farm Service Agency (FSA) Director; and Colleen Landkamer as the Minnesota State Director for Rural Development at the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
"Both nominations are excellent, and they will serve Minnesota well," said Doug Peterson, Minnesota Farmers Union President. "Minnesota Farmers Union has had the pleasure of working with these people before and looks forward to continue to work with them in their new roles. Congratulations to Linda and Colleen.
Hennen has more than 30 years of experience working with the Farm Service Agency, including 15 years of management experience. She served as District Director in Minnesota from 2000-2007, where she had oversight for farm program operations and management decisions for 10 southeastern counties. Prior to that position, Hennen worked in the Minnesota FSA office in a variety of roles where she gained expertise on the state's agricultural issues. She has many years of direct experience with regional producers and grew up farming in Minnesota. Hennen continues to be a part-owner of a family farm in Stevens County.
Landkamer has been county commissioner for Blue Earth County since 1988 and has worked with various organizations on rural development issues.
Let’s go on rural broadband
(February 8, 2009) - One the biggest drawbacks of living in rural America is the high cost and low quality of connectivity: antiquated dial-up internet speeds, costly satellite television and cellular phone service that cackles more than Grandma's hens.
Congress hopes to address these needs in the Obama stimulus package. Presently, the House-passed version of the plan holds $6 billion in grants to expand America's broadband networks. The Senate plan contains $9 billion in cash.
The bigger fight, however, won't be over how much to spend; it'll be over how best to spend it. And, with billions literally on the table, the battle promises to be a classic rural v. urban match with rural advocates out-lobbied and outspent by industry giants who want most of the loot for themselves and their urban subscribers.
The House plan employs grants to dole out its $6 billion. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Utility Service is put in charge of half the money, with $1.5 billion or so earmarked specifically for use in "rural areas without sufficient access to high-speed broadband service."
The rest of the House money, $3 billion, would be invested through grants administered by the Commerce Department. Much of it would flow to "unserved' rural areas while the remainder would be spent on better broadband in "underserved" areas.