The Poultry Grading Picture Series illustrates various defects described in the official U.S. Classes, Standards, and Grades for Poultry. The illustrations selected are to assist USDA poultry commodity graders, industry, academia, and food buyers. All photos and defect criteria referenced in this picture series apply to chickens within the 2-6 pound size range. Refer to the official U.S. Classes, Standards, and Grades for Poultry for tolerances of other carcass weights.

On December 7, 2022, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced changes to the Regional Food Business Centers Request for Applications (RFA) relating to the indirect cost rate. Pursuant to 2 CFR 200.414(c)(1), USDA is required to accept the NICRA from those entities that have one. USDA will issue an updated RFA and application documents in the coming days. USDA is also extending the deadline to allow applicants to adjust proposals according to the updated Indirect Costs section in the RFA.  Information on the new deadline will be coming soon.

The Monacan Indian Nation Walut Pí:se “Food is Good” Project aims to assist and support our local farmers and vendors, provide good, healthy local foods to our tribal citizens and the community and to provide for the underserved community.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service is delaying until Dec.31, 2023, the enforcement of a requirement that all hemp must be tested by a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)-registered laboratory. The original deadline for hemp producers to meet the requirement was Jan. 1, 2023. Due to inadequate DEA-registered laboratory testing capacity, testing can be conducted by labs that are not registered with DEA until Dec. 31, 2023. Laboratories testing hemp must comply with all other regulatory requirements.

Docket Number: AMS-LP-22-0065
Effective Date: January 6, 2023

Summary

Today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) published for public inspection a final rule in the Federal Register to secure the contract information needed to populate a Cattle Contracts Library. The official publication of the final rule is scheduled for Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2022. The final rule will require packers that slaughtered an average of not less than five percent of the number of fed cattle slaughtered nationally during the immediately preceding five calendar years to submit contractual information for the purchase of cattle.

New Jersey’s Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement Program (LFS) will strengthen the food systems for schools by helping to expand local food accessibility as well as engage local and socially disadvantaged growers.

Destination vs Origin Official Grades

DISCUSSION PAPER FOR GIAC MEETING DECEMBER 14-15, 2022

BACKGROUND

The Grain Inspection Advisory Committee provides advice to the Secretary of Agriculture on matters related to the implementation of the U.S. Grain Standards Act. A topic of recurring interest over the past decade has been how new technology can be incorporated into the official grading system to improve efficiency, timeliness, consistency and accuracy. (Refer to Exhibit A for relevant resolutions from prior years.) In preparation for the next meeting, a subgroup of the committee collected input from industry and designated / delegated agencies.