🌾USDA Designation Award Notice for Grain Inspection Agencies
The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is announcing the designations of Keokuk Grain Inspection Service and Ohio Valley Grain Inspection to provide official services under the United States Grain Standards Act (USGSA) in the geographic areas listed in Table 1, below.
Learn More🌾Designation Opportunities Under the US Grain Standards Act
The United States Grain Standards Act (USGSA) designations for seven official agencies, Champaign-Danville Grain Inspection Departments, Inc. (Champaign-Danville Grain Inspection), Eastern Iowa Grain Inspection and Weighing Service, Inc. (Eastern Iowa Grain Inspection), Enid Grain Inspection Company, Inc. (Enid Grain Inspection), Fremont Grain Inspection Department, Inc. (Fremont Grain Inspection), Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry, Maryland Department of Agriculture, Omaha Grain Inspection Service, Inc. (Omaha Grain Inspection), will end on the dates listed in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section below. The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is requesting designation applications from private entities or state governmental agencies that would like to provide official inspection and weighing services for the areas presently served by these seven agencies. In addition to this request for applications, AMS seeks comments on the quality of services provided by the official agencies mentioned above.
Learn More🌾Impact of 2025/2026 Grain Inspection and Weighing Service Fees
The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS or the Agency) is announcing the 2025/2026 rates it will charge for official grain inspection and weighing services, supervision of official grain inspection and weighing services, and miscellaneous fees for other services performed under the United States Grain Standards Act (USGSA), as amended. This action publishes the resulting fees from the annual review of fees. The 2025/2026 hourly, unit, and tonnage rates will be applied at the beginning of the fiscal year. This action establishes the rates for user-funded services based on costs incurred by AMS. This year, cost-based analyses indicated the need to increase certain user fee rates when current rates are insufficient to cover the costs of providing the service. While cost-saving measures have and will continue to be implemented, user fee rate increases are necessary to offset rising operational costs and rebuild the user fee reserve. Prospective customers can find the fee schedule posted on the Agency's public website: https://www.ams.usda.gov/about-ams/fgis-program- directives.
Learn More🌾Geographic Area Updates for Official Grain Inspection Services
The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is announcing updates to the boundaries of the geographic areas in which official service providers (OSP) perform official inspection and weighing services under a United States Grain Standards Act (USGSA) designation or delegation, and for purposes of cooperative service agreements under the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (AMA). The updates are necessary due to changes in natural and man-made landmarks, railroad lines, roads, and signs that were used in historical boundary descriptions.
Learn More🌾Notice of Grain Inspection Advisory Committee Meeting - 2025
Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act, this notice announces an upcoming meeting of the Grain Inspection Advisory Committee (Committee). The Committee meets no less than once annually to advise the Secretary of Agriculture on the programs and services delivered by the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) under the U.S. Grain Standards Act. Recommendations by the Committee help AMS meet the needs of its customers, who operate in a dynamic and changing marketplace.
Learn More🌾Proposed Updates to Grain Inspection Geographic Areas and Compliance
The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is issuing this notice to announce proposed updates to the boundaries of the geographic areas in which official service providers (OSP) perform official inspection and weighing services under a United States Grain Standards Act (USGSA) designation or delegation, and for purposes of cooperative service agreements under the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (AMA). The proposed updates are necessary due to changes in natural and man- made landmarks, railroad lines, roads, and signs that were used in historical boundary descriptions.
Learn More🌾Notice for Grain Standards Act Designation in Indiana & North Dakota
The United States Grain Standards Act (USGSA) designations for two official agencies, Ohio Valley Grain Inspection, Inc. (Ohio Valley Grain Inspection) and North Dakota Grain Inspection Service, Inc. (North Dakota Grain Inspection Service), will end on the dates listed in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section below. The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is requesting designation applications from private entities or state governmental agencies that would like to provide official inspection and weighing services for the areas presently served by these two agencies. In addition to this request for applications, AMS seeks comments on the quality of services provided by Ohio Valley Grain Inspection and North Dakota Grain Inspection Service. AMS is also amending the description of the Fargo, North Dakota area that was offered for designation in the July 18, 2024 edition of the Federal Register.
Learn More📊USDA FGIS Final Rule on User Fee Regulations for Grain Services
The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), Federal Grain Inspection Service (FGIS or Service) is amending its user fee regulations to establish standardized formulas the agency will use to calculate hourly and unit fees. The changes allow FGIS to charge reasonable fees sufficient to cover the costs of providing official services and re-establish a 3-to 6-month operating reserve, as required by the United States Grain Standards Act (USGSA). This final rule also makes specified conforming changes and minor technical changes to correct two typographical errors.
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