Colleagues,
As an agency, one of our strategic focus areas for FY24-25 is retention. As a key part of this, I’m very excited to announce the launch of the 2025 AMS Mentoring Program. Applications will be accepted starting now through February 14.
A priority of the AMS leadership team is continued investment in and development of our dedicated workforce through knowledge transfer, employee engagement, and professional growth. The AMS Mentoring Program provides experienced professionals the opportunity to develop others and contribute to the future success of the agency and allows mentees to learn from those with unique knowledge and depth of experience. Mentoring can assist mentees in understanding and fulfilling their career potential and enhance interpersonal skills.
I invite anyone interested in participating as either a mentor or mentee to apply using this link: AMS Mentoring Application.
Please make note of the following important dates:
Now – February 14: Application Open
February 15 – February 28: Matching and Notifications
March 11: Kick-Off Event
December: End of this year’s program
Erin Morris
Associate Administrator
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Here are a few testimonials from recent mentorship program participants:
“This was my first year participating as a mentor in the program. Originally when I was asked, I was apprehensive because I kept second guessing what I could bring to the table. However, knowing that I had personally benefitted from some wonderful mentors in my own life I realized I could pass on what they had shared with me at least as a start. I am glad I let my fears go and decided to join in.
I was pleasantly surprised with how much personal satisfaction I received from being able to see my mentee grow in so many ways. Just being able to share some of my life experiences and knowledge to someone who was very eager to learn was super rewarding. I highly recommend participating in the program and I plan on signing up again in the future.”
—Laura Grisel, Federal-State Supervisor • Livestock and Poultry Program
“Being a new employee within USDA- AMS, my mentor was able to help me understand the structures within USDA and how I could excel in my new job. I learned how other divisions/branches work across AMS and how I could build off previous work they had started instead of starting something from scratch. My mentor was very supportive in helping me lay out my goals and find ways to make an impact in my work. I would recommend the AMS mentoring program to anyone that is looking for new ways to think about their work and find someone who can support them in their overall career goals.”
—Cristina Jopling, Agricultural Marketing Specialist • Transportation and Marketing Program
“My mentor helped me find my path as a career federal employee. The federal workforce is gigantic and was overwhelming for me at the beginning, but they helped me relax and better understand the different directions I could go, and which would best suit me. I’m grateful for this program – it helped me make sense (of the possibilities) of this new world in which I found myself.”
—Chris Bond, Agricultural Commodity Grader • Livestock and Poultry Program
“Being a mentor during the last 2-years and a mentee 2-years ago in the AMS Mentorship Program has allowed me to work with people from different areas of AMS, create lasting and mutually beneficial relationships, provide or steer my mentee towards career and professional networking and developmental opportunities, work with motivated early and late career mentees and develop skills for dealing with people at different stages of their careers, and set and accomplish reasonable but challenging goals and milestones that we could celebrate reaching together. The experiences have been so fulfilling that I can’t recommend the program strongly enough.”
—Peter Scarabelli, Compliance and Enforcement Branch Chief • Specialty Crops Program
 More details coming soon!
Join us in-person or virtually
Feb. 27-28, 2025
Crystal Gateway Marriott, Arlington, VA
For more information about USDA’s Agricultural Outlook Forum and to view past programs, visit the Forum's website.
L&P Market News Visits Bison Contacts
by Livestock and Poultry Program Staff
Photo: Livestock and Poultry Market News staff visit bison farms in South Dakota, Nebraska and Wyoming.
These days, it’s less common to see a herd of bison grazing as you drive though the U.S. plains, but Livestock & Poultry Market News was hoping to do just that when they traveled through several states to visit bison industry contacts late this fall. They began their trip in Denver, where they visited a bison processor, before working their way through Western Nebraska, visiting different ranches and feedlots along the way. Next, they journeyed to Rapid City, South Dakota, and continued to visit with contacts, including the largest auction marketer in the bison world, before finally ending up on a bison ranch in Wyoming.
Bison industry members are passionate about North America’s largest land mammal. The National Bison Association states their goal is to, “strive to consistently supply the market with nutrient dense, quality meat from humanely and naturally raised animals.” Market News currently releases a monthly bison report that includes information on carcass and cut meat prices and looking to improve the information provided for stakeholders. Trips such as this one offer Market News an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of this unique meat source and ideas for continuing to innovatively supply information to industry.
2024 W-2 Distribution
The National Finance Center (NFC) is in the process of printing and mailing calendar year 2024 Wage and Tax Statement W-2(s). The mailing process will continue through Jan. 31.
2024 W-2s are available online via NFC’s Employee Personal Page (EPP) as of Jan. 17. If an employee’s W-2 is not on EPP, the W-2 is among those that are in suspense and require manual intervention by NFC. As the W-2s are released from suspense, they will be mailed and updated on EPP. This process will continue Jan. 17 - 31. NFC requests that agencies not contact them about W-2s not available on EPP until after Feb. 2. If you receive your W-2 by mail, we (HR) are asking that employees wait until COB Feb. 15, to allow the US Postal Service time to deliver W-2s before contacting Leave and Compensation.
How do I read my W-2
Reading your W-2 can be confusing so here is some guidance on how this can be done. When doing this you’ll need two things. Your current W-2 and the last Statement of Earnings and Leave (SEL) that falls within that tax year. For the 2024 tax year that is pay period 24.
Please note: Tax years do not go by the pay period year; they go by the official payday. For example, PP26 extends through Dec. but official payday isn’t until Jan.
Wages, tips, other compensation (Block 1):
- Look at your PP24 SEL gross earnings (year-to-date).
- Deduct any non-taxable benefits, for example non-taxable parking benefits, non-taxable uniform allowances, etc.
- Then look at the total health benefits (FEHB, vision and dental) deducted (year-to-date). The total amount of these deductions is included in block 14 (NT (Non-Taxable) Health Benefits) on your W-2.
- If you have any Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA), Dependent Care or Health Savings Account (HSA) contributions, those will also need to be deducted to come up with the “Medicare wages and tips”.
- The Dependent Care amount is indicated in block 10.
- The HSA amount is indicated in block 12 with a “W” in front of the amount.
- FSA amount is indicated in block 14 and included with any health, dental and vision premiums.
- Subtract the YTD health benefits (indicated in Block 14) from the YTD earnings, and you should come up with the "Medicare wages and tips" that are on the W-2 (block 5).
- Deduct Traditional Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) is shown on the W-2 in block 12 with a “D” in front of the amount.
Social Security wages and Medicare wages and tips (Block 3 and 5):
- Complete steps 1-5 above.
- In general, block 3 will mirror block 5 on the W-2, unless the employee hits the maximum Social Security wages in a tax year. If an employee hits the maximum Social Security wages, block 3 will be capped at the tax year’s maximum Social Security wages. Please note that the maximum Social Security wages change each tax year.
ROTH Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) is shown on the W-2 as indicated in block 12 with an “AA” in front of the amount. This amount is not factored into blocks 1, 3 or 5 on your W-2, but is required to be reported when filing your taxes.
Taxes withheld:
- In general, blocks 2, 4, and 6 should accurately match the YTD corresponding deduction on the employees PP24 SEL.
- If an employee has state or local tax withheld, their state wages and state income tax will be listed in boxes 15-20.
Please refer to the instruction pages included with your W-2 for more information.
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Information Request for Life Cycle Replacement Workstations
There have been some recent changes in the process by which life cycle replacements (LCR) are being deployed. Once your respective program has identified an employee for an LCR, the CEC will initiate an email to the receiving employee from the email address OCIO.CEC.DCAMDeployment@usda.gov to validate the shipping address for the replacement workstation. The CEC is reporting that many of these email requests are not being responded to. It is important to respond to the email requesting address validation quickly to ensure there are no delays in receiving the LCR equipment.
As a reminder, employees must return their old equipment within 30 days. A return label and instructions will be provided with the new device in the pouch on the exterior of the box that was used to ship your new computer. Follow the instructions to return the equipment. Returning your old equipment to the CEC in person does not guarantee that the equipment will annotate as returned.
Equipment that was originally provided with the computer, such as docking station, power cord, etc. must be returned with the computer. Questions regarding which equipment must be returned should be directed to your local IT specialist.
If there are any questions, please contact the MRP IT Asset and Inventory Management Team at MRPITD.ITAG@usda.gov.
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New Anti-Harassment Program Guides
AMS is dedicated to ensuring a workplace free of all forms of harassment and discrimination. To ensure all reports of harassment are promptly received and addressed, the Compliance, Audit, Risk & Safety Division (CARS) has prepared a new one-page guide for AMS employees outlining four ways to report harassment in the workplace. Employees should report harassment as soon as possible, so action can be taken to resolve conflict.
Guidance for AMS Employees on Reporting Harassment
A second new guide summarizes supervisor responsibilities under Departmental Regulation 4200-003, Anti-Harassment Program. This document includes clear descriptions of the steps to take when an employee makes a report of harassment and the required timelines for action.
Supervisor Responsibilities Under the USDA Anti-Harassment Program
Monthly Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Training
The AMS Office of Civil Rights offers Alternative Dispute Resolution training on the first Monday of every month. These meetings are virtual and will be held via Zoom. Feel free to join more than one meeting. No need to register, just click the link below.
Dates and times:
- Feb. 3 at 1 p.m. ET
- March 3 at 1 p.m. ET
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Safeguarding Animal Health Virtual Training
Safeguarding Animal Health introduces participants to basic concepts in animal biology, veterinary medicine, infectious disease, as well as Veterinary Services (VS) Program and transboundary animal diseases. The training places special emphasis on the role VS plays in safeguarding the health of our nation’s production animals. By focusing on basic concepts, participants obtain a functional knowledge of animal health and disease, and how this relates directly to their duties. Register by Feb. 7.
Date: March 11 - 13
Time: 1 - 3:30 p.m. CT
TARGET AUDIENCE:
Open to anyone who has not received extensive training in animal biology or veterinary sciences or would like to better understand VS’ role within APHIS.
CTOD Training Calendar for 2025
It's that time of year to set new intentions and resolutions. Jumpstart your New Year by enrolling in live, virtual development opportunities through MRP’s Center for Training and Organization Development (CTOD) where you will meet other Mission Area colleagues and work directly with CTOD facilitators.
CTOD is committed to ensuring all participants have a comfortable and productive learning experience. If you require an interpreter, or any other type of accommodation for the course, please contact the specific instructor and technician listed for your course at least two weeks before the start date.
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* Submissions for The Voice are due by COB Monday in order to publish the same week. All submissions should be sent to AMSVoice@usda.gov for consideration.
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