On Oct. 1, 2025, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) Federal Grain Inspection Service (FGIS) opened the annual U.S. grain exporter registration period and waiver requests for the 2026 calendar year.

The United States Grain Standards Act, 7 U.S.C. 87f-1, requires registration of people who 1) are engaged in the business of buying grain for sale in foreign commerce or 2) handle, weigh or transport grain for sale in foreign commerce.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is seeking public comments on its proposal to revise seven U.S. grade standards for canned tomato products (U.S. Standards for Grades of Canned Tomatoes, Tomato Ketchup, Tomato Sauce, Tomato Juice, Canned Tomato Paste, Canned Tomato Puree, and Concentrated Tomato Juice).

USDA Certified Information - G 159 Specification (pdf), effective September 2025

Program Contact

Greg Preast
East Texas Meat Processors
1499 US 175
Frankston, Texas 75763
Cell:  703-554-4394
Office:  903-876-2882
office@etxbeef.com 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is seeking public comments on its proposal to revise the U.S. Standards for Grades of Lemons.

AMS proposes amending the standards to add a definition for the term “seedless lemons”. This new definition would not be applied to affect grade.  

Program Updates

What are my requirements for administering my grant?

You must follow the requirements provided in your Notice of Award, which refers to your grant’s General Terms and Conditions.  You can find links to each active fiscal year at the Grants Terms and Conditions page.

How do I request a payment?

You must complete and submit the following documentation:

More to come...

Program Updates

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) announced the following agencies are designated to provide official services at non-export port locations in specified geographic areas under delegated authority of the United States Grain Standards Act (USGSA):

Indiana, Kentucky and Tennessee: Ohio Valley Grain Inspection

Illinois and Iowa: Keokuk Grain Inspection Service

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) today announced the approval of three new vision grading instruments for use in its beef grading program.