Tom Vilsack, former governor of Iowa, was joined by Senator Sherrod Brown and Congressman Zack Space. They listened to local residents, many of them farmers, about how the federal government can help them and get through challenges facing their communities. Vilsak says over the next year $9 billion dollars will be spent to expand broadband service. Another goal, local produce production and local consumption through local farmers.

"So that institutional purchasers like schools, hospitals and prisons and the like can have the opportunity to purchase things that are grown here and raised here," said Vilsack.

The agriculture department expects farm profits to drop 38 percent this year. Hog farmers are especially hurting due to the H1N1 outbreak.

For more information on the Rural Tour, you can visit the USDA's Rural Tour Web site.

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