The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced the appointment of one producer and one expert in finance and management to serve as members on the National Sheep Industry Improvement Center Board of Directors. The newly appointed members will serve three-year terms starting in January 2026.

Newly appointed members are:

12/19/2025: Peter Guenther – Seminole, Texas

Peter Guenther agrees to pay a civil penalty of $100,000 and will not represent itself as a USDA certified organic operation unless it becomes certified organic. Peter Guenther will not sell, label or represent products as USDA certified organic or use the USDA organic seal without organic certification.

12/30/2025: Peter and Amy Mursu Farm – New York Mills, Minnesota

The following webpages resources link to other USDA programs and resources that may complement and support AMS grant activities. These materials are provided as reference and are not requirements for AMS grant programs.  

• USDA’s Local/Regional Food Programs
• Starting or Expanding a Farm
• Learn about more USDA resources

The following resources are supplemental information, tools, and references to support program efforts and stakeholder understanding of AMS programs. The resources are intended for informational purposes and should be used in conjunction with program specific guidance.  

• Seeds of Success: Digging into the Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion Program
• Local Agriculture Market Program (LAMP)
   

The following resources support AMS grant recipients with post-award grant management and reporting requirements during the period of performance. Recipients should follow any provided program specific guidance.

• Grant Management Systems Changes
• Performance Measures
   

The following documents support applicants and reviewers throughout the AMS grant application and review process. These resources are intended for general informational purposes and do not replace the specific required outlined in the Request for Applications (RFA), or applicable grant terms and conditions.  

The following policies describe AMS processes, requirements, and guidance applicable to grant applicants and recipients throughout the life of the grant.

These policies are separate from, and do not replace the applicable Grant Terms and Conditions. Applicants and recipients are responsible for complying with all applicable grant terms and conditions in addition to the policies described below.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Grain Inspection Advisory Committee meeting will be held Jan. 21-22, 2026, in Kansas City, Missouri. A virtual option will also be available.

Virtual option: To register for virtual attendance to the January 2026 Grain Inspection Advisory Committee, please email Anthony Goodeman at Anthony.T.Goodeman@usda.gov.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced plans to purchase Bottled Concord Grape Juice, Dried Fruit, and Tree Nuts products for distribution to various food nutrition assistance programs. Purchases will be made under the authority of Section 32 of the Act of August 24, 1935 (Section 32).
Potential materials may include:

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced the appointment of eight members to serve on the National Fluid Milk Processor Promotion Board. Six of the eight appointees will serve three-year terms, effective immediately through June 30, 2028. The other two appointees will serve the remaining terms of vacant positions, effective immediately and expiring June 30, 2027.  

The newly appointed members are:

Kris Luckhaupt, Lynnfield, Massachusetts (Region 1);

Jon Cowell, Herndon, Virginia (Region 3), (partial term);