USDA Marketing and Regulatory Programs has announced that they are making organizational improvements within the Agricultural Marketing Service. According to the department, “to enhance efficiency and better align with USDA priorities, AMS will reduce siloing in its Fair Trade Practice Program by moving commodity-specific functions to the appropriate AMS commodity or service programs. For example, oversight of the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act will shift to the Specialty Crops Program, and the Packers and Stockyards Division will move to the Livestock and Poultry Program.”
This realignment will deepen collaboration, streamline communication, and provide industry stakeholders with a single, clear point of contact for AMS-related issues. The department is also making targeted changes to its Plant Protection and Quarantine Program, which would, “strengthen national plant health leadership and unify policy and operational functions, enabling faster, more consistent responses to plant health issues and emerging threats.” All PPQ programs will continue without interruption and with no reduction in force or movement of staff.
Additionally, USDA announced the appointment of Kelly Moore as APHIS Administrator. Moore has been serving in the role as Interim Administrator prior to the appointment. Undersecretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Dudley Hoskins said, “Administrator Moore’s appointment provides APHIS with strong and steady leadership.”
Her commitment to service, accountability, and partnership will help ensure APHIS continues delivering exceptional support to U.S. agriculture.
Audio Reporting by Dale Sandlin for Southeast AgNet.