The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm and Food Worker Relief (FFWR) Grant Program awarded approximately $670 million to fourteen nonprofit organizations and one Tribal entity to issue one-time $600 relief payments to eligible farm and food workers. The program is funded through the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 funds. The full list of grant recipients is published at: FFWR description of funded projects (pdf).

The Seafood Processors Pandemic Response and Safety (SPRS) Block Grant Program provides grants to eligible state agencies and territories to support seafood processors, including at-sea processing vessels, to respond to coronavirus, including for measures to protect workers against COVID-19.

State agencies within select coastal States and American Samoa are eligible to apply directly to the U.S. Department of Agriculture for grant funds.

Program Updates

• The 2022 PRS application review period closed on October 31, 2022. For any questions related to PRS, contact PRSGrants@USDA.gov. 

Program Overview

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is revising the U.S. Standards for Watermelon to provide a common language for trade.

Docket Number: AMS–SC–20–0096
Effective Date: September 20, 2021

Summary

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) of the Department of Agriculture (USDA) is revising the U.S. Standards for Grades of Watermelons. Changes will provide a common language for trade of watermelons.

Contact

Docket Number: AMS–FGIS–19–0062
Comments Due: September 20, 2021

Summary

In the first round of the Pandemic Market Volatility Assistance Program, USDA distributed over $250 million in pandemic assistance payments to more than 25,000 eligible dairy farmers who received a lower value due to market abnormalities caused by the pandemic and ensuing Federal policies. The first round of payments were made on production up to 5 million pounds.  USDA will now make PMVAP payments to eligible dairy farmers for fluid milk sales between 5 million and 9 million pounds from July through December 2020.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) Federal Grain Inspection Service today announced that it is seeking comments on proposed revisions to the Federal Grain Inspection regulations. AMS is required to revise the regulations as a result of 2018 Farm Bill amendments to the U.S. Grain Standards Act.