AMS

What is the current state of USDA’s Farmers to Families Food Box Program "1.5 million boxes have already been delivered and those suppliers are taking that food in family-sized boxes to distribute across the country," said Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue. "Fo ...

During a webinar Thursday, the USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service and Farm Service Agency outlined how producers are to apply for $16 billion in direct aid through the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program once the application period opens.   “O ...

This week, the USDA announced details of the $470 million in Section 32 food purchases to occur in the third quarter of fiscal year 2020 in addition to purchases previously announced. The purchases will provide additional support for producers and Americans in need, in response to changing market conditions caused by the COVID-19 national emergency ...

Agricultural Marketing Service Administrator, Bruce Summers, says public input is important as USDA continues to develop the nation's hemp industry.   “Interim final rule included a public comment period so we can hear from producers state departments of agriculture and all sectors of the industry,” Summers recently said.  “The public co...

A former member of the Washington state Department of Agriculture has been promoted within AMS.  Tricia Kovacs has been appointed deputy administrator of the Agricultural Marketing Service’s Transportation and Marketing Program.  Kovacs joined the AMS in 2016 as the local and regional food systems policy advisor, playing a key role in coordinating AMS and Rural Development implementation of the Lo

If you're thinking of starting your own Farmer's Market, but don't know where to start, the USDA has a program that can help.   "With the wholesale market and food facility design program, that's what allows us to do the work with the Farmer's Markets," said Agricultural Marketing Services Achitect Ron Thatcher.  He...

On Monday, the USDA announced $7 million of funding support for specialty crop industries.  The funding will support 11 projects in six states, including Washington to “develop solutions to challenges” affecting specialty crop producers.  The funding is mana...

"When I was growing up as a kid, I used to go to an auction with my uncle to buy cows," said Joe Gaynor, with USDA's Agriculture Marketing Service  "And he always wondered why the guy at the front that sat on a cell phone is buying cows or deciding not to buy cows. He ...

USDA is seeking public input on GMO labeling.  AMS posted 30 questions for the public this week regarding labeling food items containing genetically modified ingredients.  According to Politico, the feedback will help the agency develop a proposed rule governing how food manufacturers disclose when products contain genetically engineered ingredients.   ...

According to the USDA, the American Egg Board engaged in inappropriate conduct leading up to what's been called "mayogate,".  The Department of Agriculture published the results of a recent review of the checkoff on-line.  According to Politico, the review was triggered after internal American Egg Board e-mails were discovered showing a coordinated campaign against California based Hampt