Rural prosperity is reliable, clean water! USDA Rural Development Under Secretary Glen Smith attended the @NRWA WaterPro Conference in Phoenix, @Arizona_RD , highlighting the Agency's critical investments in water and waste disposal, infrastructure, and essential services that help rural communities grow and thrive. Reliable water. Strong infrastructure. Thriving communities. That's what investing in rural America looks like!

Enjoyed my visit to the Blue Mountain Mill project in Umatilla County. It was exciting to see firsthand how a $25 million @usdaRD investment is helping bring a new specialty grain mill to the region—connecting local farmers, rural businesses, and communities while creating new opportunities for growth. Oregon dryland wheat farmers now have a new buyer for two million bushels of grain! 🚜🇺🇸

Under Secretary Glen R. Smith was in Colorado last week with @RD_Colorado State Director Sallie Clark to see firsthand the devastating impact of the Aspen Acres Fire. Walking through Beulah and other areas in Custer and Pueblo Counties showed damage from the fire and the flash flooding. Behind every damaged property are families, businesses, memories, and a community facing the hard work of rebuilding. After the tour, community leaders, state and local officials, and representatives from Colorado’s congressional delegation joined at a recovery roundtable to discuss resources to support the community through this process. Recovery won’t happen overnight. It will take hard work, partnership, local, state, and federal resources, and communities that refuse to give up. At the end of the day, Under Secretary Smith said these communities will rise again, because neighbors will stand beside neighbors to rebuild together.

Excited to share that Maryann Pistilli, FL RD State Director, delivered an inspiring address at the 2026 Florida Rural Water Association Conference in Daytona Beach. Her leadership and commitment to strengthening rural infrastructure continues to move our communities forward.

(1/2) NRWA was thrilled to have @usdaRD Undersecretary Glen Smith as a keynote speaker during the Tuesday General Session of the WaterPro Conference, where he shared updates from the national level. NRWA is looking forward to working with Undersecretary Smith

$52M invested in rural healthcare! Providing primary healthcare to rural residents with a $52M investment from USDA Rural Development, @SunLifeHealth increases services for Casa Grande and surrounding communities. From the ground up...USDA Rural Development is building a stronger rural America. @Arizona_RD

Our USDA @RD_Missouri team was thrilled to welcome @usdaRD Under Secretary Glen R. Smith to Kansas City today! Great to touch base during his brief stop at the @agripulse Ag Outlook Forum to discuss our ongoing mission to support and grow rural Missouri. #AgOutlook2026 #Rural

BREAKING: @USDA is taking aggressive new action to protect pets and hold bad actors accountable. 🐾      Today, alongside @SecKennedy, @LaraLeaTrump, @JudgeJeanine, @TheJusticeDept, @OIGUSDA, and animal welfare leaders, we announced:      ➡️ The deployment of USDA’s new Animal Protection Bureau to target unlicensed breeders, illegal dog imports, and regulatory evasion
➡️ Strengthening Animal Welfare Act standards for dogs ➡️ A 20% increase in special-agent investigators focused on animal fighting and related crimes   ➡️ A review of breeders who surrendered licenses and may still be operating illegally   ➡️ More than 2,000 regulatory notices reinforcing humane-care requirements      Since February, @USDA_APHIS has conducted 2,000 inspections and more than doubled enforcement actions compared to past years.      Today is a great day for animal welfare — and a bad day for anyone who would do animals harm.

Innovation is happening in Rural Arizona! Rural Arizona communities are proving that big ideas aren't limited to big cities. USDA Rural Development Under Secretary Glen Smith joined Lori Urban, @Arizona_RD State Director, to visit the Maricopa Renewal Natural Gas facility. Thanks to a $25M guaranteed Business and Industry loan plus a $25M guaranteed Rural Energy for America Program loan from USDA Rural Development, the facility produces more than 375,000 MMBtu of renewable energy annually. The project began delivering gas to an existing Southwest Gas pipeline in 2023, providing a renewable energy source and supporting local agriculture by diverting manure from open storage.

Demystifying the Rural Data Gateway The USDA Rural Data Gateway is a powerful public data platform designed to make federal investment data accessible and transparent for rural communities. Learn more - rd.usda.gov/rural-data-gatew…

USDA is investing over $26M across 194 agricultural projects to expand market opportunities for farmers and ranchers nationwide through the Value-Added Producer Grant Program. 🥩🌾 With $11.6M dedicated to 80 beef producer projects, USDA is supporting long-term prosperity in rural America. 🔗 usda.gov/about-usda/news/pre…

⚡️Big news for rural communities, utilities, and co-ops! The USDA Rural Development is investing $410M through the new PART Programto boost grid reliability and lower costs for families. Learn more: tinyurl.com/4urwfssu #RuralUtilities #CleanEnergy #USD

🇺🇸@SecretaryWright delivered the U.S. National Statement at the @IAEAorg conference — delivering @POTUS’ message of unleashing American nuclear energy, fueled by partnership and peace.

Rural prosperity is reliable, clean water! USDA Rural Development Under Secretary Glen Smith attended the @NRWA WaterPro Conference in Phoenix, Arizona, highlighting the Agency's critical investments in water and waste disposal, infrastructure, and essential services that help rural communities grow and thrive. Reliable water. Strong infrastructure. Thriving communities. That's what investing in rural America looks like! @usdaRD @RD_Arizona @NRWA

The life you've built is worth protecting & we’re here to help you prepare before a disaster strikes. Talk with your family about local risks, evacuation routes & your household's unique needs. More in our blog: fema.gov/blog/national-prepa… #NationalPreparednessMonth #StandReady