Agricultural 

Marketing 

Service

2 0 1 5 

ACHIEVEMENTS
$90

MILLION IN 

GRANTS

AWARDED TO SUPPORT 

FARMERS MARKETS, 

LOCAL FOOD & 

SPECIALTY CROPS

4,000 AUDITS

OF FARMS, PACKINGHOUSES, & WHOLESALE DISTRIBUTION 

CENTERS PERFORMED BY AMS AS PART OF USDA’S 

GOOD AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES (GAP) & 

GOOD HANDLING PRACTICES (GHP)

2 Agricultural Marketing Service 2015 Achievements 3

ABOUT 3,700 

PERISHABLE AGRICULTURAL 

COMMODITIES ACT CLAIMS

RESOLVED IN THE PAST 3 

YEARS, INVOLVING MORE THAN 

$66 MILLION

5ORGANIC 

EQUIVALENCY 

ARRANGEMENTS 

SIGNED

OVER 250,000 REPORTS

ISSUED BY USDA MARKET 

NEWS EACH YEAR WITH MORE 

THAN 53 MILLION VIEWS

2015 AMS STATISTICS

THE PESTICIDE DATA 

PROGRAM TESTED

112 COMMODITIES 

& TESTED FOR MORE THAN 

450 DIFFERENT 

PESTICIDES 

IN PRODUCTS MAINLY 

CONSUMED BY CHILDREN 

EVOLVE

COLLABORATE,

INNOVATE,

EVERY DAY, AGRICULTURAL MARKETING SERVICE (AMS) EMPLOYEES SUPPORT THE 

COUNTRY’S DIVERSE AGRICULTURAL LANDSCAPE, RANGING FROM INDIVIDUAL FARMERS TO 

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESSES. WITH OVER 4,000 DEDICATED AND SKILLED PROFESSIONALS, 

WE HAVE A LONG TRADITION OF COLLABORATING, INNOVATING, AND EVOLVING TO KEEP 

AMERICAN AGRICULTURE COMPETITIVE IN THE GLOBAL MARKETPLACE. 

RIBBON CUTTING OPENING THE USDA FARMERS MARKET FOR ITS 20TH SEASON – (FROM LEFT TO RIGHT) UNDER SECRETARY KEVIN 

CONCANNON, AMS DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR ARTHUR NEAL, AMS ADMINISTRATOR ANNE ALONZO, MARKET MANAGER ANNIE CECCARINI, 

AGRICULTURE SECRETARY TOM VILSACK, AND UNDER SECRETARY ED AVALOS.

In 2015, we cultivated strategic partnerships and built a stronger, 

more efficient AMS. Our voluntary grading, inspection, laboratory 

analysis, audit verification, and certification services helped market 

more than $150 billion worth of agricultural products worldwide. 

These services ensured the quality and consistency of American 

products available within the marketplace.

Moving agricultural products from the farm to the table takes 

collaboration throughout the supply chain. In 2015, AMS worked 

with sister agencies, domestic vendors, and contractors to purchase 

more than 2.3 billion pounds of food for schools, food banks, and 

other assistance programs. We also awarded $90 million in grants to 

support local food and specialty crop growers. 

We also opened international markets for U.S. agriculture. In 2015, 

we signed a new organic equivalency arrangement between the 

United States and Switzerland. This was the fifth trade arrangement 

designed to streamline access for American producers, connecting 

them to international organic markets valued at over $35 billion. 

AMS continued to adapt its services to meet evolving market 

demands. With a focus on improving transparency and 

accountability, we revamped our Process Verified Program (PVP) and 

offered a GroupGAP pilot that made food safety certification more 

accessible to small and mid-sized businesses.

Most importantly, we listened to our stakeholders and worked with 

them to ensure that AMS programs and services are responsive, 

effective, and valuable to the businesses and consumers we serve. 
4 Agricultural Marketing Service 2015 Achievements 5

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MARKET NEWS!

If you search for agricultural pricing information, you 

find a lot of options from private companies and other 

sources. But did you know that most—if not all—of the 

underlying data is collected, analyzed, and offered by 

USDA Market News for free?

USDA Market News has been a vital source for objective 

market information for over 100 years and it remains an 

invaluable, single source for businesses, farms, insurance 

companies, and the financial sector. Without our 

nationwide network of data reporters, local and global 

markets wouldn’t have the latest pricing information 

at their fingertips. That’s why we took time in 2015 to 

celebrate a century of market experience and analysis, 

and to map out a technologically rich plan for the future.

NEW AMS WEBSITE

In 2015, we launched a new, mobile-ready website so 

users can view information on the go. The new website 

illustrates just how much AMS has evolved over the past 

decade, responding to industry need for value-added 

services and consumer need to better understand the 

products they buy.

INCREASING TRANSPARENCY 

FROM FARM TO MARKET

AMS made significant improvements to our 

auditing services by improving processes, increasing 

transparency, and retooling them for small- and midsized producers. One of the most significant changes 

was moving our Process Verified Program (PVP) under a 

single management structure.

This creates more consistency and accountability for 

program requirements and auditors. It also ensures that 

the USDA Process Verified shield represents the same 

level of transparency and objectivity across all product 

types.

We also laid the groundwork for launching our 

GroupGAP program, which will enable small and midsized producers to pool their resources for a group 

certification under the Good Agricultural Practices 

(GAP) auditing program. The added food safety 

assurances that GroupGAP offers will open sales 

opportunities in new, larger retail markets.

MARKET NEWS REPORTS ARE REALLY IMPORTANT TO US BECAUSE 

THEY REPRESENT...TRULY THIRD-PARTY, OBJECTIVE NUMBERS THAT 

MARKET PARTICIPANTS CAN USE.

-TIMOTHY ANDERSON, CHICAGO MERCANTILE EXCHANGE (CME)

“

”

WE BELIEVE THE USDA-AMS PROCESS VERIFIED PROGRAM ASSURES OUR 

CUSTOMERS THAT WE ARE DELIVERING EXACTLY WHAT THE PACKAGE SAYS 

WHEN BUYING OUR TURKEY PRODUCTS OR CERTIFIED TENDER BEEF.

-JAN HOOD, CARGILL TURKEY & COOKED MEATS MARKETING DIRECTOR, CARGILL MEAT SOLUTIONS CORP

“

”

HIGHLIGHTS

BIG CHANGE FOR SMALL STARTUP

It all started with one truck—one truck and the idea that bringing fresh, healthy foods into Philly 

communities was just a question of finding the right logistics. For Haile Johnston and his wife, Tatiana 

Garcia-Granados, founding Common Market was the logical solution to solve the food access issues they saw 

in the communities around them.

Last year, Common Market was one of 191 projects funded through our Local Food Promotion Program, 

a grant program created by the 2014 Farm Bill. With this grant, Common Market was able to add a fourth 

truck and purchase coolers that will streamline its delivery system. 

“THE BIG OPPORTUNITY 

WITH THIS GRANT IS 

HELPING LOCAL FAMILY 

FARMS AND COMMUNITIES 

THRIVE TOGETHER. EVERYTHING 

COMMON MARKET DOES IS ABOUT IMPROVING THE 

HEALTH AND WEALTH OF THE COMMUNITY. THIS 

PROJECT REALLY HELPS US PRESERVE ALL OF THE 

VALUES THAT MAKE LOCAL FOODS SPECIAL.”

HAILE JOHNSTON & TATIANA GARCIA-GRANADOS
AMS IS COMMITTED TO ENSURING EQUAL ACCESS AND EQUAL 

OPPORTUNITIES TO INDUSTRY MEMBERS, STAKEHOLDERS, AND THE 

PUBLIC TO ITS DIVERSE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES

6 Agricultural Marketing Service 2015 Achievements 7

GOAL 1

Enhance Communication between Stakeholders and 

AMS Programs (COMMUNICATION)

 FOOD SAFETY: Partnered with the U.S. Food and Drug 

Administration (FDA) to provide critical data and economic analysis 

for rulemaking related to FDA’s Food Safety Modernization Act. 

Participated in 20 outreach and education activities, 10 listening 

sessions with various stakeholder groups, and more than 35 webinars 

and other events regarding implementation. 

 BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES: Collaborated with the Produce Safety 

Alliance, State Departments of Agriculture, the Wallace Center, and 

the Agribusiness Alliance to present Good Agriculture Practices (GAP) 

training for small farmers.

 LOCAL FOOD: Led several roundtables and stakeholder meetings 

across the country, sharing resources, learning about challenges, and 

seeing first-hand the impact of USDA’s work in the local food sector.

 BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES: Conducted 127 grant-writing 

workshops in all 50 States, the District of Columbia, and two U.S. 

Territories (Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands). 

 FOOD SAFETY: Created a model of successful partnership, working 

seamlessly with 10 States and 5 Federal agencies to produce the 

Nation’s most comprehensive pesticide residue data, assuring the 

safety of U.S. agricultural products domestically and globally.

 BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES: Held three public education and 

outreach meetings with dairy producers throughout the southeastern 

U.S. to provide information to industry stakeholders on the specific 

provisions impacting farmers. Of the more than 200 people attending, 

approximately 90 percentwere small businesses. 

 A STRONGER AMS: Developed a Workforce and Succession Plan to 

manage, grow, and increase our talent, making sure that we have topnotch employees providing quality services for years to come.

 SCIENCE and DATA: Developed and executed extensive social media 

coverage of the 2015 Outlook Forum, bringing live coverage of 

research, data, and market forecasts shared at the event to thousands of 

followers around the globe.

BETTER SERVICE: Developed 

a Process Verified Program (PVP) 

to support School Food FOCUS 

and PEW Charitable Trusts’ 

standard for Certified Responsible 

Antibiotic Use (CRAU), which 

allows school districts to buy 

CRAU-verified chicken products 

for school lunches.

LOCAL FOOD: Developed 

national online directories of 

food hubs, community supported 

agriculture enterprises, and onfarm markets to connect local 

food sellers to buyers and expand 

market opportunities for smalland mid-sized farms.

 MINORITIES AND 

WOMEN LIKE LAURA 

FOELL (PICTURED) WHO FARMS 

SOYBEANS AND CORN IN IOWA, BRING 

DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES TO THE BOARDS 

AND THE INDUSTRIES THEY SERVE. THIS YEAR, 

AMS CONTINUED TO IMPROVE DIVERSITY ON 

THE AGRICULTURAL BOARDS, COUNCILS, AND 

COMMITTEES WE OVERSEE. TO GET RESULTS, WE 

PROVIDED TRAINING TO RESEARCH AND PROMOTION 

PROGRAM STAFF TO IMPROVE AND SYNCHRONIZE 

OUR OVERSIGHT ACTIVITIES BY PROVIDING 

COMMON STRATEGIES AND TOOLS. WE ALSO 

INTRODUCED A COMMON APPROACH AND 

THEORY TO HELP BRING MORE DIVERSITY TO 

FUTURE BOARD NOMINATION PROCESSES. 
8 Agricultural Marketing Service 2015 Achievements 9

GOAL 2

Provide Market Intelligence and Support Developing 

Markets (MARKET INFORMATION and INNOVATION)

THIS YEAR WE EXPANDED OUR DAIRY 

RETAIL REPORT COVERAGE AND COMPLETED 

ANALYSIS ON TWO DAIRY COMMODITIES—BROKER WHEY AND 

PROTEIN-STANDARDIZED SKIM MILK POWDER. AND, BASED ON 

STAKEHOLDER INPUT, WE INCORPORATED MARKET DATA INTO 

OUR CURRENT USDA MARKET NEWS REPORTS. 

OUR CORE MISSION 

IS TO FACILITATE 

THE MARKETING 

OF AMERICAN 

AGRICULTURAL 

PRODUCTS. 

THAT MEANS 

PROVIDING TIMELY, 

ACCURATE, AND 

RELEVANT DATA 

TO THE MARKETS 

WE SERVE, AND 

DEVELOPING 

OPPORTUNITIES 

FROM FARM TO 

TABLE.

 LOCAL FOOD: Partnered with the U.S. 

Department of Defense and Wholesome Wave 

to release A Guide for Farmers Markets on 

Military Installations to help market managers 

and military leaders successfully establish 

and operate farmers markets on military 

installations.

 TRADE STANDARDS: Served as the U.S. 

delegates for several Codex Committees, 

representing American interests on initiatives 

that set international standards for meat, dairy, 

organics, produce, and more.

 ORGANIC: Led discussions on potential 

equivalency arrangements with Mexico, 

Taiwan, Costa Rica, Peru, and Chile. This 

resulted in the negotiation of an organicequivalency arrangement with Switzerland, 

resulting in a signed agreement that went into 

effect on July 9, 2015.

 SCIENCE and DATA: Developed and launched 

new market news reports focusing on: global 

dairy trade, underserved national markets of 

grass-fed lamb and goats, pasture-raised pork, 

non-Genetically Engineered (GE)/Genetically 

Modified Organisms (GMO) grains, and Tribalgrown bison and rice, plus expanded coverage to 

85 farmers markets across the country.

 TRADE STANDARDS: Reviewed the 

effectiveness of current product standards and 

worked with industry, academia, and other 

organizations to develop new standards for 

maple syrup, onions, honey, beef products 

with mushrooms, corn meal (with blue corn), 

chicken breasts, fruit jelly, meat and poultry 

snacks, pasta, fruit preserves, pasta, prune juice, 

pudding, and sugar.

 LOCAL FOOD: Created three new online local 

food directories, providing public listings of 

food hubs, on-farm markets, and community 

supported agriculture (CSAs). These directories 

are added to our existing National Farmers 

Market Directory.

 BETTER SERVICE: Partnered with industry 

to develop several groundbreaking consumer 

marketing programs, including origin 

verification supplier certification program 

to provide independent verification and 

transparency to issues of increasing importance 

to consumers.

 SCIENCE and DATA: Began using the 

Market Analysis and Reporting Services 

(MARS) System that includes the capture and 

publication of feeder cattle reports and new 

reporter contact management services to better 

document operational contact points. 

 LOCAL FOOD: Doubled the number of 

vendors at the USDA Farmers Market for our 

20th season, creating partnerships within the 

Washington, D.C. metro community to increase 

opportunities for local food businesses. 

THE U.S. ORGANIC INDUSTRY CONTINUES TO SHOW 

REMARKABLE GROWTH. THERE ARE NOW MORE 

THAN 19,500 CERTIFIED ORGANIC OPERATIONS IN THE 

UNITED STATES, AN INCREASE OF MORE THAN 5% 

SINCE LAST YEAR.

MORE THAN

27,800

CERTIFIED ORGANIC

OPERATIONS 

WORLDWIDE
$150 

BILLION

WORTH OF AGRICULTURAL 

PRODUCTS GRADED, 

CERTIFIED, 

& AUDITED ANNUALLY

Agricultural Marketing Service 2015 Achievements 10 11

GOAL 3

Provide Quality Claims 

and Analyses (GRADING, 

AUDIT VERIFICATION, 

TESTING, and EXAMINING)

BETTER SERVICE: Increased our quality grading of cotton and tobacco products by 775 percent 

to support new grading requirements for crop insurance. This collaboration with the USDA Risk 

Management Agency (RMA) contributed to a savings of about $63.5 million in paid claims.

SINCE 1939, AMS HAS USED TECHNOLOGY, RESEARCH, STAKEHOLDER 

FEEDBACK, AND SCIENCE-BASED DATA TO HELP CREATE GLOBAL 

OPPORTUNITIES FOR AMERICAN PRODUCERS. 

 BETTER SERVICE: Developed a unified user fee formula allowing for timely fee implementation, cost recovery, and industry planning, so our 

clients can better anticipate costs.

 SCIENCE and DATA: Launched the Shell Egg Export Library to provide real-time tracking data of trade restrictions during the Highly 

Pathogenic Avian Influenza outbreak. 

 BETTER SERVICE: Exceeded our 2015 goal for accuracy in cotton classification, achieving a reproducibility level of 86 percent for instrument 

testing and visual determination of extraneous matter.

 BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES: Expanded and improved our Process Verified Program (PVP) to include PVPs for Non-GMO/GE product 

standards and Certified Responsible Antibiotic Use (CRAU). Improvements in the auditing program increased transparency and consumer 

access to information regarding related food labels.

 BETTER SERVICE: Reduced the Plant Variety Protection Office (PVPO) average processing time from 2.3 to 1.8 years, a reduction in application 

processing time of 22 percent. Exceeded the established goal of 2 years, achieving the shortest turnaround time in program history and further 

improving service to the seed industry.

BUSINESS 

OPPORTUNITIES: 

Negotiated export 

certificates with officials 

from Morocco, Trinidad, 

Tobago, and Barbados 

to ensure over $37 

million worth of dairy 

products were imported 

successfully.

 BETTER SERVICE: 

Conducted a pilot 

program at three plants 

to accommodate highvolume shell egg operations 

by modifying grading 

procedures in a way that 

maintained the accuracy 

and level of service while 

resulting in a greater-thanexpected cost savings to 

customers ($250,000).

IN 

PARTNERSHIP 

WITH THE 

ALMOND 

INDUSTRY,

AMS ESTABLISHED 

A VERIFICATION 

PROGRAM THAT 

FACILITATES THE 

EXPORT OF U.S. 

ALMONDS TO THE 

EUROPEAN UNION 

(EU). THE UNITED 

STATES EXPORTS 

MORE THAN $3.4 

BILLION WORTH 

OF ALMONDS EACH 

YEAR, WITH THE EU 

AS THE TOP MARKET.
Agricultural Marketing Service 2015 Achievements 12 13

 A STRONGER AMS: Conducted an internal audit necessary 

for ANSI accreditation and completed integration of our Fresh 

Electronic Inspection Reporting System (FEIRS).

 TRADE STANDARDS : Represented the United States as part of 

the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development 

(OECD) Seed Schemes division to help develop and enforce 

standards that certify and label seeds for international trade.

 ORGANIC: Facilitated the training of new National Organic 

Standards Board (NOSB) members and conducted two 

public NOSB meetings where we accepted hundreds of 

public comments, and for the first time offered two webinar 

opportunities for stakeholders to provide comments. 

 A STRONGER AMS: Resolved around 3,700 Perishable 

Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA) claims worth $66 million 

over the last 3 years.

 SCIENCE and DATA: Developed and implemented a 

Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) between USDA and the 

California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) to enable 

access to data representing over $7 billion in California farmlevel milk production. 

BETTER SERVICE: Met with 

over 95 percent of California’s 

dairy industry stakeholders 

to discuss a new, prospective 

Federal milk marketing order 

and the rulemaking process. 

Throughout the hearing 

process, we provided live 

audio streaming and increased 

transparency by making hearing 

materials available online as 

quickly as possible.

Provide Effective Oversight of Markets and Entities

(REGULATORY OVERSIGHT)

GOAL 4

AMS OVERSEES

23 congressionally authorized 

RESEARCH & 

PROMOTION 

BOARDS WHICH ENABLE 

INDUSTRY STAKEHOLDERS 

TO POOL THEIR RESOURCES 

TO MAINTAIN & EXPAND 

COMMODITY MARKETS.

AMS ALSO OVERSEES 

38 FEDERAL MARKETING 

ORDERS FOR SPECIALTY 

CROPS AND MILK.

ORGANIC: Conducted an inperson certifier training session 

to address key issues in sound 

and sensible certification, 

enforcement, appeals, and 

mediation.

WE PROVIDE REGULATORY OVERSIGHT FOR OVER 20 RESEARCH AND 

PROMOTION PROGRAMS, AND ENFORCE OTHER FEDERAL REGULATIONS 

SUCH AS THE PERISHABLE AGRICULTURAL COMMODITIES ACT (PACA) 

AND THE FEDERAL SEED ACT. 
Agricultural Marketing Service 2015 Achievements 14 15

GOAL 5

 BETTER SERVICE: Consolidated all USDA domestic commodity procurement 

activities within AMS, bringing 21 commodity procurement staff members on 

board from the USDA Farm Service Agency.

 LOCAL FOOD: Increased procurement of traditional foods for the Food 

Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR), including awarding 

contracts to two Native American-owned companies for ground bison.

 BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES: Developed and implemented the Unprocessed Fruit 

and Vegetable Pilot Program, identifying areas for improvement along the way. 

As a direct result, made changes to requirements in order to remove barriers for 

prospective vendors. 

 FOOD SAFETY: Performed microbiological testing to ensure that the 506 million 

pounds of meat, poultry, and egg products purchased for school lunches in 2015 

were wholesome and safe.

 BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES: Offered six webinars, eight conference calls, and 

two presentations at grower meetings to encourage vendor participation in the 

Unprocessed Fruit and Vegetable Pilot Program.

 SCIENCE and DATA: Reported on and implemented an economic model to evaluate 

the effectiveness of surplus purchases and their stabilizing effect on markets.

 BETTER SERVICE: Updated our ground beef purchasing standards according 

to recommendations made by the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing 

Federation (NACMF).

 A STRONGER AMS: Completed technical upgrades and enhancements to the 

purchase system software and hardware to current versions, resulting in a reduced 

infrastructure footprint. 

Deliver Premier Procurement 

Solutions to Support Food 

Assistance, Agricultural, and 

Other Programs (COMMODITY 

PROCUREMENT)

52,000

TRUCKLOADS OF FOOD 

DELIVERED

ENOUGH TRUCKS TO SPAN FLORIDA 

FROM TIP TO TIP

& PROVIDING

930 

MILLION LBS OF FOOD

FOR FOOD BANKS, DISASTER 

RELIEF, AND SOUP KITCHENS

2

BILLION LBS.

OF DOMESTIC FOODS 

PURCHASED ANNUALLY,

FEEDING

31 MILLION

SCHOOL CHILDREN DAILY

THROUGH THE NATIONAL 

SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAM

USDA’S AGRICULTURAL MARKETING SERVICE (AMS) PURCHASES 

A VARIETY OF DOMESTICALLY PRODUCED AND PROCESSED 

FOOD PRODUCTS, PROVIDING AN OUTLET FOR SURPLUS 

PRODUCTS AND SUPPORTING AMERICAN AGRICULTURE.

GOAL 6

Cultivate a Diverse and Dynamic 

Environment (ORGANIZATION)

 A STRONGER AMS: Recognized as a top place to work within the Federal 

Government.

 BETTER SERVICE: Improved our ability to recruit, hire, and develop a highly 

talented and diverse workforce by increasing the operational effectiveness of 

human resources and deepening engagement between employees and their 

leaders at all levels.

 A STRONGER AMS: Created a “blue ribbon” task force of field employees. 

Twenty-two employees from 16 States represent all AMS programs and provide 

recommendations for improving communications and connections between 

headquarters and field staff.

 BETTER SERVICE: Developed an onboarding handbook and video to ensure new 

employees are onboarded quickly and efficiently. 

 A STRONGER AMS: Participated in multiple direct-hire and on-site application 

acceptance events, and special hiring authority recruitment fairs, to fill missioncritical positions.

66 persons with disabilities

44 new veterans 

139 Latinos

223 African Americans

WOMEN COMPRISE 

56.7%OF AMS’ PERMANENT 

WORKFORCE

MINORITIES COMPRISE

52.1%OF AMS’ PERMANENT 

WORKFORCE 

EMPLOYMENT OF VETERANS AND 

INDIVIDUALS WITH A DISABILITY IS AT 

AN ALL-TIME HIGH

549 NEW EMPLOYEES

HIRED IN 2015

OUR COMMITMENT TO QUALITY AND SERVICE EXTENDS TO 

OUR EMPLOYEES. AMS FOSTERS A WORKING ENVIRONMENT 

THAT PROMOTES DIVERSITY AND EQUALITY, AS WELL AS 

CUSTOMER SERVICE.

3,807TOTAL 

EMPLOYEES, 1,977 OF WHOM 

ARE PERMANENT. 

3,304 ARE FIELD-BASED.

AMS WAS RECOGNIZED 

WITH A CULTURAL 

TRANSFORMER AWARD

FROM THE SECRETARY OF 

AGRICULTURE, FOR DEVELOPING 

A WORKFORCE AND SUCCESSION 

PLAN TO EFFECTIVELY MANAGE 

AND INCREASE OUR TALENT 

THROUGH RECRUITMENT, RETENTION, 

AND TRAINING.

AMS VALUES A DIVERSE 

WORKFORCE THAT REFLECTS 

THE AGRICULTURAL 

COMMUNITY WE SERVE.
Agricultural Marketing Service 2015 Achievements 16 17

INANCIALS

Our National Science Laboratory 

(NSL) implemented 19 strategies 

from its 3-year business plan, 

resulting in over 

$550,000 in savings. 

The NSL also increased 

revenue by 

$350,000.

Mandatory 

Appropriations 

(Commodity Purchases w/ 

Section 32/ Surplus Funds)

27%

Industry Board & Marketing 

Order Assessments (nonfederal 

monies)

21%

User Fees (Grading, Inspection, 

Audits, Laboratory Testing & PACA)

6%

Farm Bill Grants (Farmers Market & Local Food Promotion 

Grants, Specialty Crop Block Grants & Organic Cost Share)

3%

Discretionary Appropriations (Grants)

2%

Commodity Purchases for Food & 

Nutrition Services Programs

41%

AMS 

PROGRAM 

AREAS

1. SPECIALTY CROPS

2. LIVESTOCK, POULTRY, & SEED

3. COTTON & TOBACCO

4. DAIRY

5. NATIONAL ORGANIC PROGRAM

6. TRANSPORTATION & MARKETING

7. SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

8. INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERVICE

9. COMPLIANCE & ANALYSIS

AMS FINANCIAL PICTURE

FY 2015

PURCHASED $306.3 

MILLION WORTH OF 

SURPLUS PRODUCTS, 

HELPING TO STABILIZE 

AGRICULTURAL 

COMMODITY 

PROCESS BY 

BALANCING 

SUPPLY & 

DEMAND.

F ESOURCES

AMS offers a wealth of online resources to meet evolving stakeholder and public needs. Our new website provides access to a 

comprehensive array of publications; site visitors can view, download, and print infographics, forms, reports, and more. 

FACT SHEETS

www.ams.usda.gov/publications/Fact_Sheets

AMS fact sheets condense complex information into useful 

one-page handouts which can be shared at meetings and public 

events. 

REPORTS 

www.ams.usda.gov/resources

This section hosts in-depth reports and 

presentations on relevant data, including 

organic production, marketing and economic 

analysis, meat grading, and much more. 

INFOGRAPHICS AND DATA VISUALIZATIONS

www.ams.usda.gov/resources/infographics-data-visualizations

Our engaging infographics cover a range of topics, from tips on buying meat and 

eggs to current data on farmers markets and food hubs. 

R

PRESENTATIONS

www.ams.usda.gov/presentations

This archive of video, webinar and Power-Point 

presentations covers many of our programs 

and services. 

AMS HAS OVER

400 OFFICES

THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES 

& PUERTO RICO
Agricultural Marketing Service 2015 Achievements 18 19

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, 

and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, 

religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from 

a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA 

(not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign 

Language, etc.) should contact the responsible Agency or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the 

Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at How to File a Program 

Discrimination Complaint and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. 

To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: (1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, 

Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: 

program.intake@usda.gov.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

127GRANT WRITING WORKSHOPS CONDUCTED

324 PROJECTS FUNDED

THROUGH THE FARMERS MARKET & 

LOCAL FOOD PROMOTION PROGRAM

ACROSS ALL 50 U.S. STATES & TERRITORIES
CONTACT INFO

www.ams.usda.gov 

202-720-2791

1400 Independence Ave SW

Room 3071-S

Washington, DC 20250

January 2016