Bruce Summers

According to the head of USDA’s AMS, a pilot cattle contract library could be up and running by the first of next year. The $1 million pilot Congress funded in current year spending, is aimed at improving price transparency in cattle markets, thereby helping independent producers get a fairer price. USD ...

The USDA has approved the hemp plans for half of the states in the U.S. and nearly 40 tribes. However, the USDA is also in the process of reviewing public comments for the U.S. domestic hemp production program interim final rule. "We're interested to hear feedback on topics like disposal under mediation of non-compliant plants, interstate commerce, the provision and the interim final rule

The USDA has reopened the comment period for domestic hemp production under the interim final rule. "Last October, we published the interim final rules for the production of hemp," noted Agricultural Marketing Service Administrator, Bruce Summers ...

Under the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program, better known as CFAP, the USDA's AMS runs the Farmers to Families Food Box Program. "As of this week we will have delivered about 80 million boxes of food to 10,000 charities around the United States and the four territories," noted AMS administrator Bruce Summers ...

Many specialty crops are grown here in the Northwest. And if you're a specialty crop producer, and think your crop is not eligible for CFAP payments, you might want to check again.  "There are more than 130 speciality crops there are eligible for the program," said AMS Administrators Bruce Summers. "T ...

USDA’s Farmers to Families Food Box Program has been helpful to producers in states like Mississippi. "Our boxes contain sweet potatoes from Ponotoc, MS,  from Fury Eagles and NW Farms, chicken nuggets from Cook Foods in Morton, MS, ham and smoked sausage from Poke’s Meat in McGee, MS, and  Cook chicken strips from southern New Hands in Mosell MS," noted Andy Mercier from local partner

Agricultural Marketing Service Administrator, Bruce Summers, says public input is important as USDA continues to develop the nation's hemp industry.   “Interim final rule included a public comment period so we can hear from producers state departments of agriculture and all sectors of the industry,” Summers recently said.  “The public co...

One of the biggest questions facing those looking at growing hemp: Could the USDA raise the legal limit of permitted THC?   “To go from point three to one percent would have to be a statutory change in other words congress would have to take action,” said AMS Administrator, Bruce Summers. “We couldn't do...