The Daily Yonder blog reported Jan. 8 that "the percentage of people living in poverty increased from 15.8 percent of those living in rural counties in 2007, before the recession began, to 18.3 percent in 2011."

Rural Development helps to invest more than $30 billion to strengthen rural America

WASHINGTON (USDA) – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack issued a report Jan. 9 highlighting USDA Rural Development's fiscal year (FY) 2012 investments in job creation, businesses, infrastructure and housing for Americans living in rural communities across the nation.