USDA Announces Revised Performance Measures for AMS Grant Programs

Trouble viewing this email? View it as a webpage.

Agricultural Marketing Service header

USDA Announces Revised Performance Measures for AMS Grant Programs

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) announced updated performance measures for the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program, the Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion Program, the Acer Access and Development Program, and the Dairy Business Innovation Initiatives. The updates will apply to the fiscal year 2022 grant cycle and beyond.

“These improvements will make it easier for USDA AMS’ grant programs recipients to report their accomplishments.” AMS Administrator Bruce Summers said. “We are continuously trying to improve our customer service by making grant funding opportunities more accessible. These revised performance measures were developed from thorough stakeholder feedback  and in close coordination with state departments of agriculture.”

The updated performance measures satisfy the 2018 Farm Bill directive for AMS to examine and develop new SCBGP performance measures in consultation with the State Departments of Agriculture and specialty crop stakeholders. AMS took this as an opportunity to update performance measures across multiple grant programs and plans to develop performance measures for its remaining grant programs in the coming months.

The new performance measures will:

  • More accurately reflect grant recipients’ accomplishments.
  • Reduce burden on grant applicants and recipients.
  • Improve AMS’ ability to report on the impact of its grant programs.
  • Standardize measures across programs where appropriate.

AMS will provide tools and resources to help grant applicants and recipients use the new measures into their work, beginning with the FY 2022 Requests for Applications.

Funding will be available to grantees to conduct program evaluations as part of future Requests for Application. 

For more information, visit the Grant Performance Measures webpage.

The AMS Grants Division works to improve opportunities for U.S. growers and producers. AMS works with a variety of organizations to support rural America and the nation’s agricultural sector. For additional information, visit the AMS Grants & Opportunities web page.

USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. In the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit www.usda.gov.