To develop and apply standards of quality and condition
for agricultural commodities; to participate and assist in the development of
international agricultural standards; and to conduct quarterly inspections of
egg handlers and hatcheries.
TYPES OF ASSISTANCE:
Provision of Specialized Services. Place Cursor Here for Definition
USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS:
USDA grades are used by the owners of agricultural commodities and by dealers
in these commodities to Hatcheries and shell egg handlers, except for
producer-packers with an annual production from 3,000 hens or less packing for
the retail consumer are required to be checked quarterly to determine the
disposition of certain undergrade eggs.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:
Applicant Eligibility: Any owner of or dealer in
agricultural commodities who (a) has a financial interest in the commodity to
be graded and (b) is located within the United States and its Territories. All
hatcheries and shell egg handlers having an annual production from 3,000 or
more hens who pack for the retail consumer and are located within the U.S. or
its Territories.
Beneficiary Eligibility: Buyers and sellers of
agricultural commodities. Shell egg handlers having an annual production from
3,000 or more hens who pack for the retail consumer and are located in the
U.S. or its Territories.
Pre-application Coordination: None. This program is
excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.
Application Procedure: Request for grading of a
commodity must be submitted to local AMS grading office in writing. Eligible
hatcheries apply for registration by contacting: Chief, Poultry Grading
Branch, Agricultural Marketing Service, Department of Agriculture, Washington,
DC 20250.
Award Procedure: Eligible hatcheries and shell
egg handlers must complete registration forms.
Deadlines: None.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time: Not
applicable.
Appeals: In cases in which applicants do not
agree with the grade given, they may appeal for a review of the grade to the
local AMS office.
Renewals: Not applicable.
ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:
Formula and Matching Requirements: Not applicable.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance: Not
applicable.
POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:
Reports: None.
Audits: In accordance with the provisions of 7
CFR Part 3052, which implement OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 24,
1997), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit
Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of
$300,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific
audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than
$300,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements
for that year, except as noted in 7 CFR 3052.
Number of bales of cotton classed in (thousands) fiscal year 2001, 15,656;
fiscal year 2002, estimate 18,925; and fiscal year 2003 estimate, 15,589.
Number of tobacco auction markets inspected fiscal year 2001, 89; fiscal year
2002, estimate 89; and fiscal year 2003, estimate 89. Pounds of imported and
domestic tobacco inspected in (millions) fiscal year 2001, 1,242; fiscal year
2002, estimate 568; and fiscal year 2003, estimate 568. Pounds of poultry
products graded (in millions) fiscal year 2001, 14,536; fiscal year 2002,
14,875; and fiscal year 2003, 15,150. Pounds of meat graded or accepted (in
millions) fiscal year 2001, 39,822; fiscal year 2002, estimate 39,500; and
fiscal year 2003, estimate 40,000. Shell eggs grading (mil. dz.) fiscal year
2001, 2,327; fiscal year 2002, estimate 2,376; and fiscal year 2003, estimate
2,425. Processed fruit and vegetable grading (mil. lbs.) fiscal year 2001,
20,353; fiscal year 2002, estimate 20,000; and fiscal year 2003, estimate
20,000. Fresh fruit and vegetable grading (mil. lbs.) fiscal year 2001,
76,000; fiscal year 2002, estimate 76,000; and fiscal year 2003, estimate
76,000. Livestock grading (mil. lbs.) fiscal year 2001, 18; fiscal year 2002,
estimate 40; and fiscal year 2003, estimate 40. Dairy products grading (mil.
lbs.) fiscal year 2001, 1,610; fiscal year 2002, estimate 1,670; and fiscal
year 2003, estimate 1,840.
REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE:
7 CFR 26-32, 41-70, 160- 171, 205; AH-533, "USDA Standards for Food and
Farm Products;" Marketing Bulletin No. 37, "The Story of
Cotton;" "Annual Report on Tobacco Statistics, AH-566, The
Classification of Cotton;" Misc. Pub. No. 867, "Tobacco in the
U.S.;" quarterly report-- "Tobacco Stocks Reports as of Jan. 1,
April 1, July 1, and Oct. 1;" MS-82, "Cotton Testing Service;"
AMS-180 MB-41, "Market News Service on Cotton; " MB-43, 7 CFR 2851,
2852, 2853, 2855, 2856, 2858, 2870, 28171; AH-341, "USDA Standards for
Food and Farm Products." AH-31, "Poultry Grading Manual."
AH-75, "Egg Grading Manual." Egg and Egg Products Inspection
Regulations (7 CFR Part 2859); POB-FL-33, Tobacco Market Review for
Flue-cured; POB-LA-34, Tobacco Market Review for Burley; POB-LA-33, Tobacco
Market Review for Fire and Dark Air.
INFORMATION CONTACTS:
Regional or Local Office: Local Agricultural
Marketing Service inspection, grading, and classing offices are listed in
Appendix IV of the Catalog.
Headquarters Office: Associate Administrator,
Agricultural Marketing Service, Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC
20250. Telephone: (202) 720-4276. Contact: Dr. Ken Clayton.
