The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2022 directed the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) to create a Cattle Contracts Library Pilot Program (library) to increase market transparency for cattle producers. AMS hosted a listening session in April 2022 to begin the process of gathering feedback from stakeholders. Feedback gleaned from this meeting and over the subsequent months has informed the development of the pilot library, including comments related to content, frequency of reporting, and usability.

The Colorado Department of Education School Nutrition Unit is requesting Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement Program funding to support Colorado's local food system by sub awarding funds for the purchase of local food for School Food Authorities participating in the National School Lunch Program across the state of Colorado. Participating school districts will use funds to purchase food that is grown, raised, produced, aggregated, stored, and distributed within Colorado or 400 miles from production to destination.

Applications will be accepted beginning August 7, 2023 for seasonal Instrument Mechanic Helper (High Volume Instrument Technician, WG-3359-5, $19.47 per hour). Completed applications may be delivered to the Florence Classing Office at 1725 Otis Way, Florence, SC 29501, or emailed to FlorenceCO@usda.gov. Selected individuals will be trained to repair and calibrate HVI machines. HVI Technicians must pass the 80 hour Cotton Program HVI Technical School. Current USDA employees will be promoted to WG-5 after successful completion of HVI Technical School.

The following seasonal cotton jobs are available in our Florence, SC Classing Office.

Apply Starting August 7, 2023:

1. Instrument Mechanic Helper (HVI Technician)  The minimum requirements to qualify for this position include high school diploma or GED.

Apply Starting August 14, 2023

Local Foods for Schools Cooperative Agreement Program (LFS) activities will strengthen the Wisconsin food system and expand economic opportunity. There are two beneficiaries. The first are Public, Private, or Residential Child Care Institutions (RCCIs), referred to as School Food Authorities (SFAs) in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast Program (SBP). Second, are socially disadvantages and/or small businesses farmers/producers. Funds will increase access to local, unprocessed, and minimally processed foods by March 2024.

The Wyoming Department of Education (WDE) will purchase and provided unprocessed or minimally processed local and regional food products via a collaboration with Fresh Food Wyoming L3C. This organization will collaborate with WDE to facilitate the purchase and distribution of local/regional food products to Wyoming School Food Authorities (SFAs) that participate in the National School Lunch Program.

The Arkansas Local Food Purchase Assistance Program (ARLFPA), funded through the Local Food Purchase Assistance Program (LFPA), will establish cooperative agreements between the state’s food distribution network and local farmers/producers to provide fresh, nutritious foods to underserved communities. The purpose of this program is to strengthen Arkansas’ local food system while, supporting local and socially disadvantaged farmers/producers through building and expanding opportunities.