USDA-Agricultural Marketing Service

Congratulations to the new members of the National Peanut Board. Newly appointed members and alternates serving until Dec. 31, 2026:? Thomas, Adams, Newville, Alabama (Member)? Josh, McCoy, Midland City, Alabama (Alternate)? Perry, Jackson, Graceville, Florida (Member)? Scott, Walker, McDavid, Florida (Alternate)? Lonnie, Fortner, Port Gibson, Mississippi (Member)? Alan, Atkins, Hamilton, Mississippi (Alternate)? Raymond P., Garner Jr., Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina (Member)? Julie M., Ward, Clarkton, North Carolina (Alternate)? Westley, Drake, Newsoms, Virginia (Member)? Richard, Williams, Suffolk, Virginia (Alternate) Newly appointed members and alternates serving from Jan. 1, 2025, to Dec. 31, 2027:? Clifford, Neece, Portales, At-Large (Member)? Don, Sanders, Portales, At-Large (Alternate)? Casey Cox, Kerr, Camilla, Georgia (Member)? Wesley, Webb, Leary, Georgia (Alternate)? Neal, Baxley, Marion, South Carolina (Member)? Doug, Jarrell, Estill, South Carolina (Alternate)? Jeff, Roper, Lubbock, Texas (Member)? Mason, Becker, Brownfield, Texas (Alternate) The National Peanut Board is comprised of 12 producer members and alternates.?? Members can serve up to two consecutive three-year terms. https://lnkd.in/evykS-Zp?

Take a walk with us down the produce aisle. AMS provides information and services to inform your grocery store purchases and help ensure the quality of what goes in your cart. 1. If your pineapple has a sticker saying where it was grown, you can thank COOL - a law administered by AMS that requires grocery stores and some other retailers to tell customers where certain foods come from. AMS also inspects fruit like pineapples, as well as vegetables and other crops. 2. Clamshell packages for grapes make it easy to see what you’re buying; AMS oversees marketing orders that regulate grape containers, quality and more. 3. Buying organic? The USDA Organic seal is the only federally regulated organic label and requires practices that preserve biodiversity and ecological balance. AMS also oversees the Plant Variety Protection Act, which encourages new plant varieties and helps ensure plenty of veggies to choose from at the store. https://lnkd.in/edAcjXbF?

Today USDA and the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), in partnership with Tuskegee University, are announcing the launch of the nation’s first federal sponsored Student Apprenticeship Program. The new program aims to increase the talent pipeline for USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) from Minority-Serving Institutions and provide students with practical job experience. Under the program, apprentices will participate in orientation, technical training, and onsite work experience at an AMS facility. Apprentices who complete the program will receive the equivalent of two years of academic training, a DOL Registered Apprenticeship certificate and a college degree. For more information about the National Student Apprenticeship Program, contact Retention Lead Rupert Richards in AMS’ Office of the Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer at [email protected]. https://bit.ly/3YRX7Vu

USDA AMS is seeking suppliers of black bean burgers to help support the demand for wholesome, high-quality products for use in USDA Foods nutrition assistance programs. Black bean burger producers not currently participating as vendors for USDA’s nutrition assistance programs are invited to contact the Commodity Procurement Program (CPP) new vendor specialists at [email protected] for information on how to become an approved vendor. AMS regularly purchases a variety of 100% domestically produced and processed commodity food products. These purchases support American agriculture by encouraging consumption of domestically produced foods. The wholesome, high-quality products purchased by USDA, collectively called USDA Foods, are delivered to schools, food banks and households in communities across the country, and are a vital component of our nation’s food safety net. https://bit.ly/3CCPCKo

AMS Federal Grain Inspection Service hosted the 92nd American Royal Collegiate Crops Contest at the National Grain Center in Kansas City, Missouri. The contest is part of the national collegiate crops competition that helps students develop skills in evaluating crops for quality and learn about certification, viability, and marketing. Collegiate Crops contest participants identified a variety of seeds, plants, and damages and they received a tour of the National Grain Center.

AMS programs and services help make grocery shopping a little clearer. AMS provides information and services to inform your grocery store purchases and help ensure the quality of what goes in your cart. From produce, dairy and eggs to meat, the bakery and the pantry. Visit the aisles below to see how. ? https://lnkd.in/edAcjXbF?

Attention all USDA-licensed hemp producers! Don't forget, your Producer Annual Report is due on Dec. 15. Every USDA-licensed hemp producer must submit this report, whether or not you grew hemp this year. Please complete this report online through Hemp e-Management Platform (HeMP). Completing this report is a requirement of the US Domestic Hemp Production Program and failing to do so may result in suspension of your USDA producer license. This is also a great opportunity to update your harvest records, make sure you see your test results in your HeMP account, and ensure you have acknowledged receipt of any open audit reports. For more information, please contact us at [email protected].

USDA AMS announced a cooperative agreement with the District of Columbia under the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program (RFSI). ? ? ? ? Through this agreement, USDA and Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development are working together to offer more than $1.4M in competitive grant funding for projects designed to build resilience across the middle of the supply chain. ? ? ?? D.C. is taking applications through Jan. 12, 2025. https://lnkd.in/eys6tXTt?

AMS Administrator Bruce Summers spoke at the 82nd Annual Professional Agriculture Workers Conference in Montgomery, Alabama. Bruce discussed AMS’ work with Tuskegee University, such as the Student Enrichment Program, which gives students meaningful work experience, & about AMS’ commodity support programs, such as the National Organic Program & Livestock & Poultry Program.

The USDA issued a proposal to amend the uniform pricing formulas applicable in all 11 Federal milk marketing orders. AMS will host three public webinars to educate stakeholders on the proposed amendments and producer referendum process: November 21 at 3 p.m. ET November 25 at 11 a.m. ET A link to access the webinars will be provided in advance on the AMS hearing website at https://bit.ly/3URacx1.