USDA Warns Food Purchase Programs Vendors of Fraudulent Phishing Emails Imitating Bid Solicitations

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is warning vendors who wish to participate in USDA food purchase programs of a possible phishing scheme using fraudulent email messages. The fake emails look like they are solicitations for bids sent by USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), which manages USDA’s food purchase programs.

USDA Announces Results of the Cranberry Marketing Order Referendum

The U.S. Department of Agriculture today announced that producers voting in a referendum on the federal marketing order for cranberries did not show enough support to continue the program.

The marketing order requires that USDA conduct the referendum on the marketing order every four years. The marketing order was favored by 26.5% of cranberry growers voting in the referendum and by 20.1% of the production volume voted in the referendum.

FGIS User Fees & Budget

Under the 2015 reauthorization of the US Grain Standards Act, two actions were required of the Secretary of Agriculture with respect to fees for official inspection and weighing.  One action is that all fees related to official inspection and weighing services must be adjusted at least annually to maintain a 3-to-6-month operating reserve, with adjustments being made based on a target operating reserve of 4.5 months[1].  The other is that the export tonnage fees for official inspection and weighing must be based on the rolling 5-year a

Data Standardization Evaluation

Background: 

The Grain Inspection Advisory Committee meets regularly to advise AMS on the programs and services it delivers under the U.S. Grain Standards Act.  An area of growing importance in regards to the services delivered is the supply of data to both internal and external users.  Having secure access to accurate and standardized data in a timely fashion is paramount to facilitating grain trade.

Discussion Topics:

Physical Scientist (GS-1301)

Physical Scientists perform analytical analysis of grains and agricultural commodities. The incumbent serves in the development, implementation, and performance rheological, physicochemical, and biochemical methods for characterizing the end-use functional properties of cereal grains, oilseeds, and related commodities. These duties may include:

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