The Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP) is investing up to $100 million over five years in cooperative agreements with non-profit organizations who are partnering with others to provide technical assistance and wrap-around support for transitioning and existing organic farmers. AMS is building partnership networks in six regions across the United States with trusted organizations serving direct farmer training, education, and outreach activities.

The partner organizations are:

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced that pistachio producers in three states will vote Oct. 31 through Nov. 18, 2022, on whether to continue their federal marketing order. Producers who have produced pistachios in California, Arizona, and New Mexico from Sept. 1, 2021, through Aug. 31, 2022, are eligible to vote. Notice of the referendum was published in the Federal Register on Aug. 19, 2022.

Docket Number:  AMS–SC–22–0040
Dates:

The referendum will be conducted from October 31 through November 18, 2022. To vote in this referendum, producers must have produced pistachios within the designated production area during the period September 1, 2021, through August 31, 2022.

Summary

Docket Number: AMS–FGIS–22–0012
Dates: 

Applications and comments for areas of designation terminating on September 30, 2022, currently operated by Aberdeen, Hastings, and Missouri must be received by September 19, 2022.

Applications and comments for areas of designation terminating on December 31, 2022, currently operated by Alabama, Kankakee, and Washington must be received between October 1, 2022, and October 31, 2022.

Summary

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) announces an opportunity for designation for grain inspection services in the vicinity of Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries (Alabama); Kankakee Grain Inspection, Inc. (Kankakee); Missouri Department of Agriculture (Missouri); Hastings Grain Inspection, Inc. (Hastings); Aberdeen Grain Inspection, Inc. (Aberdeen); and Washington Department of Agriculture (Washington).

Docket Number: AMS–SC–21–0099
Effective Date: September 19, 2022

Summary

This final rule implements a recommendation from the California Olive Committee to decrease the assessment rate established for the 2022 fiscal year and subsequent fiscal years. The assessment rate will remain in effect indefinitely unless modified, suspended, or terminated.

Contact

Docket Number: AMS–AMS–22–0056
Effective Date: August 19, 2022

Summary

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is announcing revisions to the 2022/2023 rates it will charge for Federal and State Audit Services provided by the Specialty Crop Program. Revisions correct the base units for these user fee rates, which were published on June 14, 2022. All other AMS user fee rates will remain unchanged.

Contact

The U.S.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) announced today an administrative variance to germination testing requirements for entities selling seed to the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Land Management (BLM) as part of its biannual seed purchases (bids). Effective August 8, 2022, this action allows seed to be shipped to BLM without germination test results if the germination testing process has been started prior to interstate shipment.

The Kentucky Department of Agriculture (KDA) will purchase local foods from socially disadvantaged and local producers from across the Commonwealth and distribute it to underserved populations using a network of existing partnerships along with some newer concepts.