USDA is providing Resources for plant breeders and seed growers. These resources are provided as general information for plant breeders and seed growers. For the most up to date information please reference the USPTO website.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Grain Inspection Advisory Committee (GIAC) meeting scheduled for Oct. 28-29, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo., is cancelled and will be rescheduled for a later date once authority and appropriations are provided.

The GIAC is authorized by the U.S. Grain Standards Act (USGSA) and operates on congressionally appropriated funds. The authority for the GIAC expired on Sept. 30, 2025, and Federal Grain Inspection Service staff who manage the committee are currently furloughed due to a lapse in funding.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) has launched Many Hats – A Food Hub Operator’s Toolkit, a central depot of resources to support food hub leaders. The toolkit was developed through a partnership with the University of Vermont and Michigan State University to build upon existing knowledge of food hubs and understand the many roles of food hub operators, from start up, to expansion, to innovation.  

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is accepting comments on a proposed rule to establish the quantity of each class of spearmint oil produced in Washington, Idaho, and Oregon and parts of Nevada and Utah (Far West) that handlers may purchase from, or handle on behalf of, producers during the 2025-2026 marketing year.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Grain Inspection Advisory Committee’s fall meeting will be held Oct. 29-30, 2025, in Kansas City, Missouri. Visit the Grain Inspection Advisory Committee webpage for more information about the committee and meeting details.

Funds support projects that promote the maple syrup industry, strengthen and explore new market opportunities for U.S. food and agricultural products

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced $72.9 million in grant funding awarded to 56 states and territories for 586 projects through the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP). The program funds innovative projects designed to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops through marketing, education, and research. The program is administered by USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS).

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced today it will conduct a referendum Oct. 22-Nov. 12, 2025, for eligible first handlers and importers of mangos to decide whether to continue their research and promotion program.

First handlers and importers who are engaged in handling or importing 500,000 pounds or more of mangos at the time of the referendum and during the representative period of Jan. 1, 2024 - Dec. 31, 2024, are eligible to vote. The order will continue if it is favored by a majority of first handlers and importers voting in the referendum.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced $3.38 million in grant funding awarded to three organizations through the Bison Production and Marketing Grant Program (BPMGP). The program will strengthen and enhance the production and marketing of bison and bison products in the United States through business and resource development, and the advancement of innovative approaches to solving long-term needs in the bison sector. Awards will go to Mad Agriculture, National Bison Association, and Flower Hill Institute.

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.