Legal Definitions - Agricultural Marketing Service

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is an agency within the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) that is responsible for various tasks related to agricultural marketing. These tasks include compiling and publishing marketing information, establishing and enforcing quality standards for agricultural products, testing those products, and making grants to states and farmers. The AMS was established by the Secretary of Agriculture in 1972.

• The AMS publishes reports on the prices of various agricultural products, such as corn and soybeans, to help farmers make informed decisions about when to sell their crops.
• The AMS sets quality standards for beef, pork, and poultry to ensure that consumers are getting safe and high-quality meat products.
• The AMS provides grants to states and farmers to support the development of local and regional food systems, which can help small farmers access new markets and increase their income.

These examples illustrate how the AMS works to support the agricultural industry by providing information, setting standards, and offering financial support. By doing so, the AMS helps to ensure that farmers can sell their products at fair prices, that consumers can trust the quality of the food they buy, and that local food systems can thrive.