The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the appointment of six members to serve on the United Sorghum Checkoff Program’s Board of Directors. Five of the appointees will serve three-year terms and one member will serve a two-year term. The terms of the members appointed to three-year terms start December 2023 and end December 2026. The term of the member appointed to a two-year term starts immediately.

Newly appointed members are:

The U.S. Department of Agriculture today announced the appointment of nine members to serve on the National Watermelon Promotion Board. The appointees from District 1, Importers, and Public Member will serve three-year terms beginning Jan. 1, 2024, and expires on Dec. 31, 2026.

The newly appointed members are:

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is seeking nominations from fluid milk processors and other interested parties for candidates to serve on the National Fluid Milk Processor Promotion Board. The deadline for nominations is Jan. 12, 2024.

From the nominees, the Secretary of Agriculture will appoint eight individuals to succeed members whose terms expire on June 30, 2024. Newly appointed members will serve three-year terms from July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2027.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will host an in-person educational event for cattle producers and interested stakeholders at the USDA Cattle and Carcass Training Center (Training Center) at West Texas A&M University in Canyon, Texas, on December 14, 2023.  While anyone can attend the event, it is targeted to producers, feeders, and other stakeholders who want a better understanding of factors that contribute to the market value of cattle, and how these factors can inform marketing and production decisions. 

AMS, along with the USDA Cattle & Carcass Training Center (CCTC) located at West Texas A&M University, will host an educational in-person event at the Caviness Meat Science and Innovation Center on December 14, 2023.   

The event will focus on feeder cattle grading and evaluation, USDA Market News’ feeder cattle data visualization tool and dissemination, and emerging technology in the cattle industry.  Attendees will hear from USDA and industry experts and participate in live cattle demonstrations.

Docket Number: AMS-FTPP-23-0008
Comments Due: December 18, 2023

Summary

On Nov. 20, 2023, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will add a non-carcass merit premium for hogs raised in compliance with animal confinement legislation (ACL) to the National Weekly Direct Swine Non-Carcass Merit Premium report. This addition will provide pork industry stakeholders with the information necessary to make informed production and marketing decisions relating to ACL-compliant hogs.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is seeking reviewers to evaluate grant applications submitted under the Farm Labor Stabilization and Protection Pilot Program (FLSP).

This competitive grant pilot program provides up to $65 million funding support to agricultural employers for implementing robust labor standards to promote a safe, healthy work environment for both U.S. workers and workers hired under the seasonal H-2A visa program.