The start to today’s National Ag Day Activities was coffee in the USDA Atrium. We’ll be back here for dinner this evening and to hear from U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack. The Secretary has become a regular on AgWired lately.

This morning our program was moderated by Orion Samuelson and our speaker was Krysta Harden, USDA Chief of Staff. I saw Krysta recently when she received a special award from the National Biodiesel Board. Krysta welcomed us and talked about the work that the USDA does. It was an informational speech which I recorded for you to listen to. She brought us some interesting facts like having 50 USDA employees stationed in Afganistan working with farmers on conservation issues and that they’ve fed 3.9 million people with the SNAP program.

Listen to the remarks made by Krysta this morning here: Comments From Krysta Harden

2012 National Agriculture Day Activities Photo Album