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.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) announced United States Grain Standards Act (USGSA) designation opportunities in the vicinity of Decatur, Indiana and Marshall, Michigan, and requests comment on the quality of services provided by Michigan Grain Inspection Services Inc. and two applicants requesting to provide USGSA services in the Texas Central designation area.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is seeking nominees for the Raisin Administrative Committee to fill twenty-one independent producer member seats and twenty-one alternate member seats whose terms will begin May 1, 2024. Nominations must be made during the nomination meetings being held virtually in each district on November 16.

Independent producers’ seats for the 2024-2026 term are based on deliveries for the 2022-2023 crop year and there will be a total of twenty-one seats to be divided among the districts as follows: