USDA-Agricultural Marketing Service

On this grey rainy day in NYC, AMS Specialty Crops Program has a great team together at the NY Produce Show. We look forward to connecting! Come visit us at Booth #163.

Today, USDA announced a $1.13 billion investment to support local and regional food systems, building upon the Department’s previous investments in the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement (LFPA) and Local Food for Schools (LFS) programs. This round of funding will allow states, territories, and federally recognized Tribes to purchase wholesome, locally produced foods for distribution within their communities to emergency food providers, schools, and childcare centers. USDA will allocate up to: 🔹$471.5 million for states and territories to purchase local, unprocessed, or minimally processed domestic foods for use within their school systems 🔹$188.6 million for use in childcare facilities 🔹$375.1 million for states, territories, to use in local feeding programs, including food banks, schools and other organizations that reach underserved communities. 🔹$100 million will go to Tribal governments. Today’s notice of funding will continue this vital work and provide an additional $1.13 billion to support local agriculture, schools, and feeding programs. https://bit.ly/3ZKOHAJ

Congratulations to the new members of the Cattlemen’s Beef Promotion and Research Board. Newly appointed members are: Arizona – Sine Kerr, Buckeye Colorado – Angelina Kelleghan, Loma Iowa – E. Michael Holden, Scranton; and Amy Glick, Solon Kansas – Evan Lesser, Palco; and Larry Kendig, Osborne Louisiana – John M. Thompson, Saint Francisville Michigan – Monte J. Bordner, Sturgis Minnesota – Bill Post, Chandler Mississippi –Janet Gent Parker, Seminary Missouri – Mark Anthony Fellwock, Monett Nebraska – Becky R. Potmesil, Alliance; Joyce Racicky, Mason City; and Joan Ruskamp, Dodge (2-year term) New Mexico – Boe C. Lopez, Springer North Carolina – Brian D. Warren, Newton Grove Oklahoma – Leanne Robison, Stillwater; South Dakota – VeaBea Thomas, Harrold; and Oren L. Lesmeister, Parade Tennessee – Gary W. Daniel, Cypress Inn Texas – Wesley D. Ratcliff, Oakwood; Amy Kirkland, Vega; Jared K. Ranly, D.V.M., Lott; and David Henderson, Tennessee Colony Utah – Mark J. Wintch, Milford Wisconsin – Arin Crooks, Lancaster; and Steve Springer, Linden Wyoming – Gwen Geis, Gillette Mid-Atlantic Unit – Creed Ward, Volga, https://bit.ly/45sAqJ4. Northeast Unit – Warren W. Nop, Middlebury, Vt. Southwest Unit – Kristin A. McQueary, Ruby Valley, Nev.; Cindy Tews, Hanford, Calif.; and Carlos Carrillo, Hanford, Calif. Importer Unit – Jason Frost, Washington, D.C.; Selwyn Jones, Wimberley, Texas; and Matthew Allan, Washington, D.C. The board is authorized by the Beef Promotion and Research Act of 1985 and is composed of 99 members representing 34 states and five units. Members must be beef producers or importers of beef and beef products nominated by certified producer organizations. https://bit.ly/3OST8mN

Congratulations to the new members of the American Egg Board. Newly appointed members and alternates are: East States Jessica Hanslik, Ridgeland, Miss., member Libby Schwab, Hanover, N.H., alternate member John Puglisi, Howell, N.J., member Mark Sauder, Lititz, Pa., alternate member John C. Watson III, Raleigh, N.C., member Lake Wagner, Abingdon, Va., alternate member Gijs Schimmel, Lexington, Ga., member (1-year term) Central States Thomas Edward Hertzfeld III, Whitehouse, Ohio, member Mitch Knapke, Saint Henry, Ohio, alternate member Jeffrey Cutler, Fort Recovery, Ohio, member Alex Weaver, Versailles, Ohio, alternate member Sean Delano, Whitewater, Wis., member Melinda Creighton Truex, Warsaw, Ind., alternate member Tim Zweering, Holland, Mich., member Ted Greidanus, Neosho, Mo., alternate member West States Clint Hickman, Litchfield Park, Ariz., member Tracy Ramsdell, Flandreau, S.D., alternate member Emily Battilega, Sioux Center, Iowa, member Pat Melena, Wayne, Neb., alternate member Justin Haats, Spicer, Minn., member (1-year term) The American Egg Board is composed of 18 members and 18 alternates representing three areas and is authorized by the Egg Research and Consumer Information Act of 1974. https://bit.ly/4gksn7f

Congratulations to the new members of the American Lamb Board. Newly appointed members are: Jimmy Parker, Vinemont, Ala. – Producer (101 to 500 head) David Fisher, Sonora, Texas – Producer (Greater than 500 head) Stephen J. Schreier, Tracy, Minn. – Feeder (5,000 head or more) Andrew Allman, Gill, Colo. – First Handler The 13-member American Lamb Board is composed of six producers, three feeders, three first handlers and one seedstock producer. https://bit.ly/3BgwbHh

Congratulations to the new members of the Grain Inspection Advisory Committee. Members appointed for a three-year term beginning April 1, 2025 include: 🔹Gang Guo, Senior Director of Grain Research and Quality, Ardent Mills, LLC, Denver, Colo. 🔹Christopher Frederking, Director of Operations and Safety, Zen-Noh Grain Corporation, Convent, La. 🔹Charles Bird, Senior Director, Government Affairs, Neogen Corporation, Lansing, Mich. 🔹Tristan Bradford, Director, State Grain Laboratory, Montana Grain Inspection Service, Great Falls, Mont. 🔹Lyndsey Erb, Director of Industry Affairs, U.S Soybean Export Council, Chesterfield, Mo. 🔹Barbara Grove, Quality Systems Manager/Food Safety Director, Central Valley Ag, York, Neb. Established under the U.S. Grain Standards Act, the advisory committee represents the interests of all segments of the U.S. grain industry from producer to exporter. The committee is comprised of 15 members representing grain processors, merchandisers, handlers, exporters, consumers, grain inspection agencies and scientists. https://lnkd.in/ek3K6prq

📢 Announcement!  The USDA - Southwest Regional Food Business Center Food Business Center is now accepting applications for Business Builder grants in Nevada and Utah.  The center has $720,000 available in grants for farmers and food businesses in Nevada and $680,000 available for those in Utah.  Applications are open through January 24, 2025, in Nevada and through February 15, 2025, in Utah. Additional funding will be announced as it becomes available.     https://lnkd.in/e5br6RU3 #FoodSecurity #BuinessGrowth #USDAFunding #USDARegionalFoodBusinessCenter 

Congratulations to the new members of the Cotton Board. Newly appointed members: Caroline Collins Barber, Charlotte, N.C. Kelly Gupta, Houston, Texas Doyle Schniers, San Angelo, Texas Newly appointed alternate members: Daniel Pacheco, Oro Valley, Ariz. Martin Schatz, Alameda, Calif. Willie Scott, Collins, Ga. Chris Matschek, Garden City, Texas Reappointed members: Adam Hatley, Mesa, Ariz. Michelle Tarry, Maplewood, N.J. Tara Hoffmann, New York, N.Y. Julie Davis Holladay, Lubbock, Texas Reappointed alternate members: Nicholas A. Pence, Severna Park, Md. Steven J. Bohman, Allen, Texas Steven D. Olson, Plainview, Texas Newly appointed advisor: Nicole Tanner, Liverpool, N.Y. Reappointed advisor: Damian Murrieta, Stanfield, Ariz. Additional appointments: USDA appointed five members to fill board vacancies with terms through Dec. 31, 2025: David C. Light, Rolla, Kan., member Carolyn Seeliger, Burden, Kan., alternate member Brad Harrison, Elk City, Okla., alternate member Volkan Tastan, Cherry Hill, N.J., alternate member Elizabeth Cobarrubias, Salem, Ore., alternate member USDA appointed two members to fill board vacancies with terms that expire Dec. 31, 2026: Jennifer Pisula, Wilmington, Del., member Shannon Chestnut, Mansfield, Texas, alternate member https://bit.ly/49rMKwp

Join us on a journey down your grocery store's baked goods aisle, guided by the knowledge and expertise of AMS.  From identifying bio-engineered food, differentiating wheat options for cakes and pasta, to inspecting and weighing various grains in AMS-monitored labs, we’ve got you covered.  Embrace an informed shopping experience! Learn more here: https://lnkd.in/edAcjXbF 

Congratulations to the new members of the Popcorn Board. Newly appointed members are: Seth Kunnemann, Imperial, Nebraska Cindy Moyer, Mount Joy, Pennsylvania Eric J. Sieg, Ramsey, Indiana The Popcorn Board has five processor members. https://lnkd.in/eSfWwy3t