Understanding Meat Grading

Before contacting the AMS Livestock and Poultry Program (AMS-LP) about the Remote Grading Program for Beef (RGP), it is important to understand what official quality grading and certification is and consider whether these voluntary fee-based services are applicable to your meat packing operation and how they may benefit your marketing objectives. The following resources may assist with these considerations:

Law: Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946

USDA Seeks Nominees for the Colorado Potato Administrative Committee – Area 2

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is seeking nominees for the Area 2 Colorado Potato Administrative Committee to fill four producer member seats, three handler member seats, and seven alternate member seats whose terms will begin June 1, 2024. Nominations must be made prior to or during the nomination meetings being held in each district.

The nomination meetings for all districts and Alamosa, Bulk, and Independent Handlers will be held February 6-8, 2024, from 8 a.m.- 5 p.m. at Outcalt Ski-Hi Complex in Monte Vista, Colorado. 

USDA Seeks Nominees for National Watermelon Promotion Board

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is seeking nominations for the National Watermelon Promotion Board to fill 13 member seats whose terms begin on Jan. 1, 2025, and end Dec. 31, 2027.

The National Watermelon Promotion Board is seeking nominees for:

  • Two producer and two handler seats from District 2
  • Two producer and two handler seats from District 3
  • Five importer seats

District 2 consists of Georgia. District 3 consists of Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas.

USDA Announces Final Programmatic Environmental Assessment for the Local Meat Capacity Grant Program

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced the availability of a final Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA) for the Local Meat Capacity (Local MCap) Grants program. The PEA analyzes and discloses the potential environmental impacts associated with the establishment of the Local MCap grant program.

USDA to Hold Public Hearing in February on Proposed Amendments to California Raisins Marketing Order

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced today it will hold a public hearing on proposed amendments to the federal marketing order for California raisins Feb. 13-14, 2024, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. PT at the Raisin Administrative Committee offices in Fresno, California.

The committee, which locally administers the marketing order, recommended the following amendments:

Subscribe to