Search Results for agency_names:"Agricultural Marketing Service"

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) of the Department of Agriculture has issued a final rule confirming fee changes for official grain inspection and weighing services provided by the Federal Grain Inspection Service (FGIS). Originally set in an interim rule from June 2024, these fee revisions came into effect in July 2024 and have been finalized without changes. The fees aim to cover costs for mandatory services under the United States Grain Standards Act, which requires annual fee adjustments and maintaining a financial reserve. Despite acknowledging comments on the potential impact of these fees on grain marketing, AMS noted that the changes are necessary for the continued operation of inspection services, ultimately benefiting all participants by reflecting current service costs.

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 Pecan Promotion, Research, and Information Order was established to help boost the pecan industry in the United States. It introduces a system to collect assessments from producers and importers to fund marketing campaigns and research aimed at increasing demand for pecans. The rule sets up a governing Board to oversee these activities and requires a referendum after three years to decide on the continuation of the order. While most of the industry supports this program, there are concerns about the financial burden on producers due to existing marketing orders.

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) has made a final rule that changes how butterfat testing records are handled for the Dairy Grading and Inspection Program. The rule allows plants to do butterfat tests in-house or at approved third-party labs and obligates them to keep these records available for inspection by the USDA. This change aims to streamline processes by aligning with current industry practices and providing a more accurate picture of the butter's quality over time. The rule is expected to help butter plants save between $4,560 and $31,560 annually by eliminating the need for duplicate USDA inspections.

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) of the USDA has issued a final rule establishing procedures for a referendum among natural grass sod producers. This rule aims to determine support for a proposed order that would implement a research and promotion program for natural grass sod, funded by a mandatory assessment. The order requires a simple majority vote in favor among producers for it to proceed. The rule also outlines voting methods, including electronic voting, to ensure broad participation and includes provisions for ensuring the confidentiality of ballots.

The Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Marketing Service has approved a recommendation to increase the assessment rate for watermelons under the Watermelon Research and Promotion Plan. The new rate boosts the assessment from six to nine cents per hundredweight. Domestic producers with 10 acres or more and domestic handlers will each pay four and a half cents per hundredweight, while importers of 150,000 pounds or more will pay nine cents per hundredweight. This increase aims to address inflation's impact on the plan’s buying power and continues to support marketing and research efforts, benefiting the watermelon industry overall. The rule also includes administrative corrections without changing the assessment rate.

The United States Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Marketing Service has issued a final rule aiming to make payments to poultry growers fairer. This rule under the Packers and Stockyards Act prohibits certain unfair practices used by live poultry dealers, especially in the competitive systems that determine how much growers are paid. It also requires dealers to provide more information to growers before asking them to invest in expensive farm updates, helping to reduce confusion and unfair advantage. Overall, the rule strengthens transparency, fairness, and accountability in the industry.

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) of the Department of Agriculture is implementing a new rule to establish standardized formulas for calculating user fees for services provided by the Federal Grain Inspection Service (FGIS). The changes aim to help FGIS charge fees that cover the costs of these services and maintain a reserve fund for operations, as required by law. The rule also includes some corrections and updates to existing regulations without imposing new requirements. These new fee regulations will ensure greater transparency and predictability for businesses using FGIS services.

The USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service has amended the Mango Promotion, Research, and Information Order to remove frozen mangos as a covered commodity, following a referendum where the majority of first handlers and importers voted against their inclusion. This change discontinues the collection of assessments for frozen mangos and reduces the National Mango Board's membership from 21 to 18 members. These changes are intended to relieve regulatory burdens on frozen mango importers and streamline the Order's provisions, including clarifying definitions and updating voting procedures. The rule became effective on February 25, 2021, and stakeholders are invited to submit comments by April 26, 2021.