Search Results for keywords:"Agricultural Marketing Service"

The Agricultural Marketing Service of the USDA has issued a rule to postpone the effective date of changes to the organic standards for mushrooms and pet food. Initially set to take effect on December 23, 2024, the new regulations will now be effective from March 21, 2025, with compliance required by March 22, 2027. This delay follows a presidential directive for a regulatory review, addressing aspects like mushroom growing materials and the use of certain synthetic substances in organic pet food. The decision is immediate to allow more time for review and was made without public comment, as it was considered impractical and against public interest to delay this process until after additional comments.

The Agricultural Marketing Service is seeking public comments on an extension and revision of an existing information collection under the Packers and Stockyards Act. This information helps monitor the livestock, meat packing, and poultry industries and ensures entities are complying with financial and trade practices. Comments are being accepted until January 31, 2025, and the public can provide input on the necessity, utility, and methods of this data collection. The agency estimates that participating in this collection will require an average of 1.73 hours per response from various stakeholders like livestock auction markets and meat packers.

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) of the USDA has issued a final rule that amends the pricing provisions in 11 Federal Milk Marketing Orders (FMMOs). These changes include updating milk composition factors and surveyed commodity products, revising Class III and IV formula factors, and modifying the Class I skim milk price calculation. Most amendments will take effect on June 1, 2025, while certain adjustments related to skim milk composition will be effective December 1, 2025. This rule aims to more accurately reflect current market conditions and ensure orderly milk marketing.

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) has announced the 2021 fee schedule for the official inspection and weighing of grain, required by the United States Grain Standards Act. The schedule adjusts fees based on the annual evaluation of operational costs and reserve funds. As the operating reserve was short of the target, all Schedule A service fees increased by 5% for 2021. Information on these fees is available on the agency's public website.

The Department of Agriculture is seeking public comments on a proposed information collection related to estimating daily livestock slaughter under federal inspection. This request is part of the Paperwork Reduction Act process and comments are due by March 1, 2021. The information helps the Agricultural Marketing Service make market outlook projections and maintain statistical data. The data collected from businesses, individuals, and farms is important for making informed marketing decisions, especially because the government is a significant purchaser of meat.

The Softwood Lumber Research, Promotion, Consumer Education and Industry Information Order has been amended to increase the assessment rate from $0.35 to $0.41 per thousand board feet. This rule is administered by the Softwood Lumber Board under the oversight of the Agricultural Marketing Service of the USDA. The additional funds will support ongoing and new initiatives to promote softwood lumber. This change follows the review of past expenditures and revenues and aims to support the lumber industry's growth, addressing both current challenges and new opportunities.

The Department of Agriculture is seeking public comments on an information collection requirement related to rules and reporting for the livestock and poultry industries, as mandated by the Packers and Stockyards Act. The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) collects this data to monitor practices in these industries and ensure fairness, preventing deceptive or anti-competitive actions. Public comments are invited until March 26, 2021, and interested individuals can submit feedback on the federal website indicated. The collection involves significant recordkeeping and affects businesses, with over 15,000 respondents expected to comply.

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture is announcing a virtual meeting of the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) from April 29 to May 1, 2025. The meeting will discuss standards for organic production and substances allowed or prohibited in organic products. The public can submit written comments by April 28, 2025, or give oral comments during webinars on April 22 and 24, 2025. Access and more details are available on the AMS website.

The Department of Agriculture has finalized a rule superseding the interim rule to establish the Domestic Hemp Production Program, as required by the 2018 Farm Bill. This rule outlines regulations for State and Tribal plans and a Federal plan for hemp production where State or Tribal plans are not USDA-approved. The program details requirements for record-keeping, THC level testing, disposal of non-compliant plants, producer licensing, and overall compliance. The rule also specifies procedures for land use data collection and cooperation with law enforcement and other agricultural agencies.

The Agricultural Marketing Service of the USDA has extended the comment period for proposed changes to the United States Classes, Standards, and Grades for Poultry. Initially announced on January 16, 2025, and set to end on March 17, 2025, the period now extends until May 16, 2025. This extension comes after receiving a request from a U.S. trade association advocating for the poultry industry, suggesting that more time is needed to gather feedback on the revisions that aim to align with industry advancements and consumer preferences.