USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service released an overview of the agency’s accomplishments in 2018 on Dec. 21.

“American consumers trust the USDA grade shields and quality labels they see on a variety of products in the grocery store, from beef, poultry, eggs, and fruits and vegetables to the USDA Organic Seal,” said AMS Administrator Bruce Summers. “Farmers, ranchers, packers and shippers also count on our work to stay profitable using data from our Market News Reports, selling food to USDA for distribution to schools and needy families, and benefitting from our enforcement of fair-trading practices that ensure transparency and integrity in agricultural markets.”

In 2018, USDA merged the Agricultural Marketing Service, Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration, and the Farm Service Agency’s Commodity Operations programs. The agency also expanded coordination with the Customs and Border Protection Service and federal food safety services.

AMS staff contributed to USDA’s efforts to break down barriers and pursue export opportunities that resulted in new or expanded market access for numerous U.S. farm products in 2018. These included dairy and poultry to Canada under the USMCA, as well as lamb and goat meat to Japan, poultry to India and Namibia, lamb to El Salvador, beef and poultry to Morocco and Argentina, and dairy to Turkey.

AMS collaborated across USDA agencies to develop and implement a program to purchase $1.2 billion in targeted commodities to assist farmers and ranchers affected by trade tariffs. The agency also increased transparency for American consumers by developing a national bioengineered food disclosure standard.

Read more about AMS’ successes in their end of year accomplishments report.

Source: USDA AMS