On Jan. 7, 2020, a group of AMS employees made an informational presentation in Pharr, Texas, to about 150 wholesalers and producers of tomatoes grown in Mexico regarding the upcoming inspection requirements of the 2019 Mexican Tomato Suspension Agreement (TSA) . The group consisted of Associate Deputy Administrator of the Specialty Crops Program Charles Stephens; Specialty Crops Inspection Division Director Chip Taylor, Federal State Inspection Management Branch Chief Nate Tickner, PACA Division Director Judy Rudman and PACA Division Central Regional Director Jeff Spradlin. Before the meeting, the group was given a tour of the Pharr-Reynosa International Bridge crossing facility by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The meeting was hosted at the Pharr Research and Development Center by the Texas International Produce Association and covered by local Channel 4 TV station KGBT and streamed live by the City of Pharr.

During a Tomato Suspension Agreement USDA Inspection Compliance Meeting, Charles Stephens presented an overview highlighting USDA services, the inspection requirements of TSA and best practices for the delivery of inspection services. AMS answered questions from those in attendance and the meeting was very well received. Charles added, “These meetings are important for both USDA and the industry. We want to address their Tomato Suspension Agreement questions and ensure all of our customers know we will be ready to conduct timely and efficient inspections.” Further industry outreach was delivered by AMS in Nogales, Ariz., and Otay Mesa, Calif., on Jan. 28 and 30, 2020.

Review the latest TSA FAQs

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has approved 13 plans submitted by states and Indian tribes for the domestic production of hemp under the U.S. Domestic Hemp Production Program. The approved plans are for the states of Delaware, Louisiana, Nebraska, New Jersey, Ohio, and Texas, and the Colorado River Indian Tribes, the Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe, the Fort Belknap Indian Community, the Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska, the La Jolla Band of Luiseno Indian Tribes, the Santa Rosa Cahuilla Indian Tribe, and the Yurok Tribe.

The Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (2018 Farm Bill) directed USDA to develop a regulatory oversight program for hemp and includes provisions for USDA to approve hemp production plans submitted by states and Indian tribes. Accordingly, on October 31, 2019, USDA issued an interim final rule establishing the U.S. Domestic Hemp Production Program and the provisions for USDA to approve submitted plans. State and tribal plans provide details on practices and procedures that enable hemp producers in their jurisdiction to operate according to their individual plan and in compliance with federal laws.

To produce hemp, growers must be licensed or authorized under a state, tribal, or USDA Domestic Hemp Production Program. The program a grower is licensed under depends on the location of the hemp growing facility. If a state or tribe has an approved plan or is in the process of developing a plan, growers must apply and be licensed or authorized under its hemp program. If a state or tribe does not have a plan nor intend to have a plan, growers can apply for a license under the USDA Hemp Production Program.

USDA continues to receive and review plans from states and tribes and maintains a list of state and tribal plans on our website, along with approved plans.

For additional information about the program and the provisions of the interim final rule, visit: U.S. Domestic Hemp Production Program web page.

To check the status of a plan or to review approved plans, visit: Status of State and Tribal Hemp Production Plans.

The web page includes a list of DEA-registered testing laboratories. Use it to locate the facility closest to you for easy access!

Nathaniel “Chip” Taylor is the new Director of the Specialty Crops Inspection Division.  As Director, Chip is responsible for leading and managing the Division’s delivery of grading, auditing, certification, quality control, and other services for fresh and processed fruits, vegetables, and related products across the country. As Director, Chip oversees the operations of the Division’s more than 660 highly trained, expert employees, and a $71 million annual budget, of which $68 million is derived from user fees.

Prior to being selected as Director, Chip had served as SCI’s Associate Director of Inspection Operations since 2014.  Chip began his specialty crops inspection career as a peach inspector for the State of South Carolina. While with the state, he expanded his expertise to inspect a wide variety of fruits and vegetables in various locations from Florida to New York. In 1988, he joined USDA as a terminal market inspector at AMS’ Philadelphia, Pa., Terminal Market office.  He later became officer in charge of the AMS Baltimore-Washington Terminal Market office in Jessup, Md.  Chip transitioned from the field to headquarters, serving in a variety of positions, including as Assistant Section Head of the former Fresh Products Branch’s standardization unit, a Federal Program Manager overseeing state cooperators, and Chief of SCI's Inspection Branch. 

Agriculture has always been in Chip’s DNA – he grew up on small family farms in Dover, Del., and Marion, N.C., and is a second-generation inspector. “I am very honored to have been selected for this opportunity. I look forward to leading SCI into the future with the division’s exceptional team, providing the highest quality customer service to our industry, and to implementing SCION, the division’s new and innovative business platform.”