Release No. 0023.18

Contact: USDA Press
Email: press@oc.usda.gov

WASHINGTON, Jan. 31, 2018 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) today announced the launch of a new electronic data platform to deliver market price information to the commodities industry. The new web-based platform, Market Analysis and Reporting Services (MARS), uses state-of-the-art technology to present detailed data sets in a more customer-focused way to better support competitive markets for producers and help stabilize food prices for American families.

“USDA Market News is the most relied upon source of unbiased agricultural market data,” said Greg Ibach, Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs. “USDA’s on-site market reporters gather, analyze and publish unbiased data all day long to ensure fair food prices for consumers across the country and around the world. The MARS project applies the best data management practices to make that data available when and where farmers, packers and processors need it.”

As Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue promised last summer, USDA staff are using the latest technologies available to deliver the most effective, most efficient, customer-focused service in the federal government. MARS improves the transparency, speed and accuracy of USDA Market News, and facilitates the flow of data from more than 3,600 markets to AMS analysts and ultimately to producers, industry and the public. The new dynamic interface provides data analysts one-stop instant access to agricultural commodity data through a searchable database with the ability to create custom reports, data sets and data visualizations to make large amounts of information more easily understandable in a fraction of the time. Businesses may also utilize the built-in application program interface (API) to use the data to create new uses for the data as customer needs evolve.

On Feb. 2, 2018, Market News information for dairy products will be the first set of data and reports available through MARS followed by Cotton and Tobacco, scheduled for April 2018. Dates for Livestock, Poultry and Grain and Specialty Crops will be announced on the new My Market News website. It is anticipated that all Market News data will be moved to the new system by March 2019. USDA’s existing Market News website will continue to post data until all commodities are available through MARS.

To learn more about MARS, participate in our overview webinar or visit the new My Market News web portal.

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Date: Tuesday, April 3, 2018 - 10:00am

Contact Info: Peter Wood

                     peter.wood@ams.usda.gov

                     202-720-6179

Release No.: 031-18

WASHINGTON, April 3, 2018 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) submitted a Report to Congress that reviews the Livestock Mandatory Reporting (LMR) Program and includes feedback from a broad range of stakeholders.  The program gets its authority through the LMR Act of 1999, which must be reauthorized by Congress every five years, and the most recent reauthorization was in 2015.

“From the small producer looking to market a few head of cattle to the large packer managing risk exposure, LMR provides critical market intelligence,” said Greg Ibach, Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs. “This review provided an opportunity for the best minds of the livestock and meat sectors to come together to improve and expand on this great service.”

Consistent with the Agriculture Reauthorizations Act of 2015, AMS worked with USDA’s Office of the Chief Economist and a diverse group of stakeholders to study the marketing methods and challenges with reporting livestock and meat markets to help identify program improvements and promote an orderly reauthorization of LMR in 2020.

Through a series of stakeholder meetings, AMS identified, and in many cases implemented, various recommendations to strengthen the program and provide industry with more meaningful data.  Information gathered from these meetings and from several studies is the basis for the Report to Congress to inform the next reauthorization.

AMS strives to continually meet the data needs of stakeholders.  Given this collaboration, stakeholders identified a small number of legislative changes to the program.  The most pressing issue identified by the livestock and meat industry is how to access the most data while ensuring the confidentiality of proprietary transactions and market participants.  Due to industry consolidation, confidentiality requirements have limited some of the information AMS can publish, a particularly critical issue for the lamb industry.  Another common theme expressed by the cattle and swine industries was the ongoing concern about the thinness of the negotiated market.  Negotiated trade has been rapidly replaced by formula pricing, forward markets, and longer-term marketing agreements.

For LMR to remain an effective tool, AMS and industry, in concert with Congressional direction, must continually assess new market developments to determine the best ways to improve market reporting.  AMS remains committed to responding dynamically to industry needs by addressing critical market reporting issues while providing market transparency and preserving the confidentiality of market participants.

Get the latest Agricultural Marketing Service news at www.ams.usda.gov/news or follow us on Twitter @USDA_AMS. You can also read about us on the USDA blog.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender

June 3, 2019

On August 27, 2018, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, Sonny Perdue, announced details of actions the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) would take to assist farmers in response to trade damage from unjustified retaliation.  As part of those actions, USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service announces the Food Purchase under the authority of Section 5 of the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) Charter Act for distribution to various food nutrition assistance programs.  Products to be procured include but are not limited to:

Material Code

Material Description

Date

Delivery Time frame

100001

BUTTER PRINT SALTED 36/1 LB

June 2019

October 1, 2019 -
December 15, 2019

110396

MOZZARELLA STRING CHEESE, LOW MOISTURE PART SKIM

360/1 OZ UNIT

July 2019

October 1, 2019-

December 15, 2019

Solicitations will be issued in the near future, and will be available electronically through the Web-Based Supply Chain Management (WBSCM) system.  A hard copy of the solicitation will not be available. Public WBSCM information is available without an account on the WBSCM Public Procurement Page. All future information regarding this acquisition, including solicitation amendments and award notices, will be published through WBSCM, and on the Agricultural Marketing Service's website at www.ams.usda.gov/selling-food. Interested parties shall be responsible for ensuring that they have the most up-to-date information about this acquisition. The contract type is anticipated to be firm-fixed price. Deliveries are expected to be to various locations in the United States on an FOB destination basis.

Pursuant to Agricultural Acquisition Regulation 470.103(b), commodities and the products of agricultural commodities acquired under this contract must be a product of the United States to be considered to be such a product if it is grown, processed, and otherwise prepared for sale or distribution exclusively in the United States. Packaging and container components under this acquisition will be the only portion subject to the World Trade Organization Government Procurement Agreement and Free Trade Agreements, as addressed by FAR clause 52.225-5.

Offerors are urged to review all documents as they pertain to this program, including the latest—

• AMS Master Solicitation for Commodity Procurements (MSCP), March 25, 2019;
• Applicable commodity specification(s) identified in the subsequent solicitation(s); and
• Qualification Requirements for Prospective Contractors Selling Commodities to USDA, March 1, 2017.

These documents are available on the AMS Commodity Procurement website.

To be eligible to submit offers, potential contractors must meet the AMS vendor qualification requirements. The AMS point of contact for new vendors is Andrea Lang who can be reached by phone at (202) 720-4237 or by email to NewVendor@ams.usda.gov. Details of these requirements are available online at: https://www.ams.usda.gov/selling-food/becoming-approved. Once qualification requirements have been met, access to WBSCM will be provided. Bids, modifications, withdrawals of bids, and price adjustments shall be submitted using this system. Submission of the above by any means other than WBSCM will be determined nonresponsive.

To receive e-mail notification of the issuance of AMS solicitations, contract awards, and other information, subscribe online by visiting: “Stay up to date on USDA Food Purchases” available on the AMS Commodity Procurement website.

In an effort to assist all impacted producers, these acquisitions will not be set-aside for small business.   Adjustments to the information in this notice may be subject to change due to growing conditions; product availability; market conditions; trade negotiation status; and program capacity. The acquisition schedules are subject to change at the unilateral right of the Government.

Inquiries may be directed to the Contracting Officer, Jeffrey Jackson, via email at jeffrey.jackson@usda.govor to Bill Lang via email at william.lang@usda.gov

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender

June 3, 2019

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today announced the appointment of seven members to serve on the National Fluid Milk Processor Promotion Board. Six appointees will serve three-year terms, July 1, 2019, through June 30, 2022. One appointee will serve the remaining two-year portion of a vacant position, effective immediately, and expiring June 30, 2021.

Newly appointed members are:

Robert D. Knodle, Lynnfield, Mass. (Region 1);

Joseph R. DePetrillo, Dallas, Texas (Region 4);

William H. Kelly, Chicago, Ill. (Region 7);

Timothy K. Kelly, Phoenix, Ariz.  (Region 8), (2-year term);

Joseph D. Reske, Dallas, Texas (Region 10); and

J. Everett Williams, Madison, Ga. (At-large, general public).

Newly reappointed are:

Rachel A. Kyllo, St. Paul, Minn. (At-large, processor).

The National Fluid Milk Processor Promotion Board is composed of 15 fluid milk processors from 15 geographic regions and five at-large members. At least three at-large members must be fluid milk processors and at least one must be from the general public. The remaining at-large seat may be filled by a fluid milk processor or a member from the general public. The board was established by the Fluid Milk Promotion Act of 1990 to develop and administer a coordinated program of advertising and promotion to increase the demand for fluid milk products.

The National Fluid Milk Program is financed by a mandatory 20-cent per hundredweight assessment on all fluid milk processed and marketed commercially in consumer-type packages in the contiguous 48 states and the District of Columbia. Processors who commercially process and market three million pounds or less per month, excluding those fluid milk products delivered to the residence of a consumer, are exempt from assessments.

Since 1966, Congress has authorized the establishment of 22 industry-funded research and promotion boards. They empower farmers and ranchers to leverage their own resources to develop new markets, strengthen existing markets, and conduct important research and promotion activities. USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service provides oversight, paid for by industry assessments, which ensures fiscal accountability and program integrity. Information about these programs is available on the Research and Promotion Programs page on the AMS website.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender

August 7, 2019

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced plans to purchase Mozzarella, Process and Natural American Cheddar Cheese for the National School Lunch Program and other Federal food nutrition assistance programs.

Solicitations will be issued during September 2019 for deliveries beginning January 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020.  Offers to sell these products must be received not later than the date specified on the solicitations. Solicitations will be available electronically through the  Web-Based Supply Chain Management (WBSCM) system. A hard copy of the solicitation will not be available. Public WBSCM information is available without an account on the WBSCM Public Procurement Page. All future information regarding this acquisition, including solicitation amendments and award notices, will be published through WBSCM, and on the Agricultural Marketing Service's website at www.ams.usda.gov/selling-food. Interested parties shall be responsible for ensuring that they have the most up-to-date information about this acquisition. The contract type is anticipated to be firm-fixed price with economic price adjustment. Deliveries are expected to be to various locations in the United States on an FOB destination basis.

Pursuant to Agricultural Acquisition Regulation 470.103(b), commodities and the products of agricultural commodities acquired under this contract must be a product of the United States and shall be considered to be such a product if it is grown, processed, and otherwise prepared for sale or distribution exclusively in the United States. Packaging and container components under this acquisition will be the only portion subject to the World Trade Organization Government Procurement Agreement and Free Trade Agreements, as addressed by FAR clause 52.225-5.

Offerors are urged to review all documents as they pertain to this program, including the latest—

• AMS Master Solicitation for Commodity Procurements (MSCP), August 2, 2019;
• Applicable commodity specification(s) identified in the subsequent solicitation(s); and
• Qualification Requirements for Prospective Contractors Selling Commodities to USDA, March 1, 2017.

These documents are available on the AMS Commodity Procurement website.

To be eligible to submit offers, potential contractors must meet the AMS vendor qualification requirements. The AMS point of contact for new vendors is Andrea Lang who can be reached by phone at (202) 720-4237 or by email to NewVendor@ams.usda.gov.  Details of these requirements are available online at: https://www.ams.usda.gov/selling-food/becoming-approved. Once qualification requirements have been met, access to WBSCM will be provided. Bids, modifications, withdrawals of bids, and price adjustments shall be submitted using this system. Submission of the above by any means other than WBSCM will be determined nonresponsive.

To receive e-mail notification of the issuance of AMS solicitations, contract awards, and other information, subscribe online by visiting: “Stay up to date on USDA Food Purchases” available on the AMS Commodity Procurement website.

Inquiries may be directed to the Contracting Officer, Jeffrey F. Jackson, via email, at jeffreyf.jackson@usda.gov.

April 16, 2019

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced $1.5 million in competitive grant funding is available for the Dairy Business Innovation (DBI) Initiatives. DBI is authorized through the 2018 Farm Bill. This program supports USDA’s efforts to reduce risk and develop higher-value uses for dairy products, diversify farmer income through processing and marketing innovation, and encourage the use of regional milk production.

The DBI Initiatives are expected to provide direct technical assistance and make grants to dairy businesses. Initiatives must be positioned to draw on existing dairy industry resources, including dairy farm density and farmland suitability for dairying, as well as activities conducted by dairy promotion and research programs, research organizations, dairy businesses, or academic and industry stakeholders. Initiatives may serve a certain product niche, such as specialty cheese, or serve dairy businesses with dairy products derived from the milk of a specific type of dairy animal, including products made from cow, sheep and goat milk.

Applications must be submitted electronically through www.grants.gov by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on June 17, 2019. For more information about grant eligibility, visit DBI Initiatives or contact AMSGrants@usda.gov.

Date: Friday, December 22, 2017 - 12:00pm

Contact Info: Michelle Person

WASHINGTON, Dec 22, 2017 – Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue today announced the appointment of 13 individuals, including 12 dairy producers and one importer, to serve three-year terms on the National Dairy Promotion and Research Board. Their terms begin immediately and end on Oct. 31, 2020.

Newly appointed producers are:
Region 1 (Alaska, Oregon, and Washington)
Dolores J. Werkhoven, Monroe, Wash.

Region 4 (Arkansas, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas)
Orville D. Miller, Hutchinson, Kan.

Region 6 (Wisconsin)
Stacy Eberle, Monroe, Wis.
Becky L. Levzow, Rio, Wis.

Region 7 (Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, and Nebraska)
Alex D. Peterson, Trenton, Mo.

Region 9 (Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia)
Gregory A. Gibson, Bruceton Mills, W.Va.

Region 10 (Alabama, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia)
John M. Larson, Okeechobee, Fla.

Region 12 (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont)
Melissa C. Dziurgot, Durham, Conn.

Reappointed Producers are:
Region 3 (Arizona, Colorado, Montana, Nevada, Utah, and Wyoming)
James E. Webb, Delta, Colo.

Region 4 (Arkansas, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas)
William R. Anglin, Bentonville, Ark.

Region 5 (Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota)
Kathleen A. Skiba, North Branch, Minn.

Region 8 (Idaho)
John S. Ballard, Gooding, Idaho

Newly appointed Dairy Importer:
Ralph B. Hofman, Basking Ridge, N.J.

“These appointees will be valuable assets for the National Dairy Board as it carries out its coordinated program of promotion designed to strengthen the dairy industry’s position in the marketplace and to maintain and expand domestic and international markets for dairy products. They represent a cross section of the dairy industry and I know that it will be well served by them," said Perdue.

USDA established the 37-member Board under the Dairy Production Stabilization Act of 1983. Since 1966, Congress has authorized the establishment of 22 research and promotion boards that are industry-funded and empower agricultural industries with a framework to pool resources and combine efforts to develop new markets, strengthen existing markets, and conduct important research and promotion activities. AMS provides oversight, paid for by industry assessments, which helps ensure fiscal accountability and program integrity.

More information about the board is available on the National Dairy Promotion and Research Board page on the AMS website, including a link to the Board’s membership under the heading Organizational Structure.

More information about research and promotion programs is available on the Research and Promotion Programs page on the AMS website.

Get the latest Agricultural Marketing Service news at www.ams.usda.gov/news or follow us on Twitter @USDA_AMS. You can also read about us on the USDA blog.

Date:  June 3, 2019

Contact Info:  Michelle Person

USDA Appoints Members to National Fluid Milk Processor Promotion Board

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today announced the appointment of seven members to serve on the National Fluid Milk Processor Promotion Board. Six appointees will serve three-year terms, July 1, 2019, through June 30, 2022. One appointee will serve the remaining two-year portion of a vacant position, effective immediately, and expiring June 30, 2021.

Newly appointed members are:

Robert D. Knodle, Lynnfield, Mass. (Region 1);

Joseph R. DePetrillo, Dallas, Texas (Region 4);

William H. Kelly, Chicago, Ill. (Region 7);

Timothy K. Kelly, Phoenix, Ariz.  (Region 8), (2-year term);

Joseph D. Reske, Dallas, Texas (Region 10); and

J. Everett Williams, Madison, Ga. (At-large, general public).

Newly reappointed are:

Rachel A. Kyllo, St. Paul, Minn. (At-large, processor).

The National Fluid Milk Processor Promotion Board is composed of 15 fluid milk processors from 15 geographic regions and five at-large members. At least three at-large members must be fluid milk processors and at least one must be from the general public. The remaining at-large seat may be filled by a fluid milk processor or a member from the general public. The board was established by the Fluid Milk Promotion Act of 1990 to develop and administer a coordinated program of advertising and promotion to increase the demand for fluid milk products.

The National Fluid Milk Program is financed by a mandatory 20-cent per hundredweight assessment on all fluid milk processed and marketed commercially in consumer-type packages in the contiguous 48 states and the District of Columbia. Processors who commercially process and market three million pounds or less per month, excluding those fluid milk products delivered to the residence of a consumer, are exempt from assessments.

Since 1966, Congress has authorized the establishment of 22 industry-funded research and promotion boards. They empower farmers and ranchers to leverage their own resources to develop new markets, strengthen existing markets, and conduct important research and promotion activities. USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service provides oversight, paid for by industry assessments, which ensures fiscal accountability and program integrity. Information about these programs is available on the Research and Promotion Programs page on the AMS website.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender

Get the latest Agricultural Marketing Service news at www.ams.usda.gov/news or follow us on Twitter @USDA_AMS. You can also read about us on the USDA blog.

Date: Thursday, December 7, 2017 - 3:00pm

Contact Info: Michelle Person

Release No.:  134-17

WASHINGTON, Dec. 7, 2017 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will hold a public hearing beginning Dec. 12, 2017, through Dec. 14, 2017, to consider a proposal seeking to provide emergency reimbursement to Florida milk handlers and dairy producers for costs incurred as a result of market disruptions stemming from Hurricane Irma. The hearing will begin on Dec. 12 at 9 a.m. at the Embassy Suites, 513 S Florida Ave, Tampa, FL 33602.

In September 2017, Hurricane Irma caused widespread devastation throughout the entire state of Florida, resulting in dairy processing and manufacturing plant closures, store closures, and extensive road closures.

USDA is holding the hearing on an emergency basis to consider a proposal submitted by Southeast Milk, Inc., Dairy Farmers of America, Inc., Premier Milk, Inc., Maryland and Virginia Milk Producers Cooperative Association, Inc., and Lone Star Milk Producers, L.C. At the hearing, USDA will take testimony and receive evidence regarding the proposal.

The proposal seeks to amend the Florida Federal Milk Marketing Order through a temporary supplemental charge on Class I milk to provide financial relief to milk handlers and dairy producers for financial losses incurred as a result of Hurricane Irma. Under the proposal, milk handlers and dairy producers could receive limited reimbursement for demonstrated financial losses.

The hearing notice and a supplemental hearing notice will appear in the Dec. 11, 2017, Federal Register. Those interested in participating in the hearing should notify a USDA official upon arrival at the hearing.

For a copy of the hearing notice and additional information, contact Erin Taylor, Acting Director, Order Formulation and Enforcement Division, USDA/AMS/Dairy Program, Stop 0231-Room 2973-S, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-0231; (202) 720-7311; e-mail address: erin.taylor@ams.usda.gov.

Persons requiring a sign language interpreter or other reasonable accommodations should contact Sherry Swanson, AMS Dairy Program, at (470) 767-5084, e-mail: sswanson@fmmatlanta.com, before the hearing begins.

Get the latest Agricultural Marketing Service news at www.ams.usda.gov/news or follow us on Twitter @USDA_AMS. You can also read about us on the USDA blog.

Date: Thursday, October 1, 2020 - 2:00pm

Contact Info:

Public Affairs

PA@usda.gov

(202) 720-8998

Release No.:164-20

WASHINGTON, Oct. 1, 2020 - Today, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) outlining strengthened coordination between the FDA and the USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) and Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) to facilitate the export of milk and milk products from the United States. U.S. dairy exports are valued at nearly $6 billion annually.

“The rising trend by trading partners requesting additional information and assurances from dairy exporters requires an exceptional level of coordination by government authorities to address and facilitate requests,” said Frank Yiannas, FDA Deputy Commissioner for Food Policy and Response. “This MOU reflects a concerted, modern approach to leverage our collective strengths as we move into a New Era of Smarter Food Safety.”

“Signing the MOU is an important milestone in the continued collaboration between USDA and FDA,” stated USDA Under Secretary Greg Ibach, Marketing and Regulatory Programs. “With the MOU in place, USDA and FDA have clearly defined the critical functions needed to assist the dairy industry to improve efficiency and effectiveness by focusing on the core competencies of each agency to engage on certain issues.”

USDA Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Ted McKinney said, “This MOU will help USDA and FDA address the challenges faced by U.S. dairy exporters and keep them competitive in the global marketplace. I’m confident that it will help facilitate trade and help expand exports of wholesome, high-quality, U.S. dairy products.”

The FDA is the competent authority providing regulatory oversight of programs that cover U.S. dairy facilities, ensuring the safety of milk and milk products, while the USDA, through its dairy grading service, is the lead agency on issuing dairy sanitary certificates, coordinating interagency collaboration related to U.S. exports of milk and milk products, and negotiating with foreign countries on certifications to meet their importing requirements.

Background:

Under the MOU, USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is the lead agency providing export-related services for milk and milk products and the issuance of more than 55,000 dairy sanitary export certificates annually to more than 125 countries. FAS remains the lead authority for international negotiations on trade of milk and milk products. USDA will manage foreign country facility-specific questionnaires.

USDA and FDA will collaborate on specific country certificate requirements with FDA maintaining the listing of facilities eligible to export and working with USDA to assess opportunities to develop an electronic platform for sharing information more efficiently.