USDA Announces 2026/2027 Agricultural Service Rates

You might care about this because the United States Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Marketing Service, or AMS, recently announced its fees for certain services for the 2026 and 2027 period. These services include things like grading, inspecting, certifying, auditing, and laboratory testing for a wide range of farm products. This covers items such as meat, poultry, fruits, vegetables, eggs, dairy products, rice, cotton, and tobacco. If you are involved in producing, processing, or selling any of these products, these fees could affect your business operations. The notice explains that some of these fees will go up. This is happening because AMS needs to cover its increasing costs to provide these services. However, if the current fees are already enough to cover expenses, those rates will stay the same. It is important to remember that these services are voluntary. Businesses choose to use them and then pay for them. The legal basis for AMS to charge these fees comes from several laws, including the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946. These laws allow the agency to recover the costs for the services it provides. Additionally, the notice also includes the fees for warehouse operators who store agricultural products under the United States Warehouse Act. Good news for them: these specific fees are not changing from last year. The new rates will become active on different dates, starting as early as July 1, 2026, depending on the specific commodity and service. Most other rates will begin on October 1, 2026. This announcement helps ensure that the quality and safety standards for agricultural products continue to be met. What makes this announcement particularly interesting is how it reflects the careful balance the government maintains in supporting agricultural markets. AMS provides services that help ensure product quality and fair trade across many agricultural sectors. By announcing these rates yearly, AMS shows its commitment to transparency. The agency uses standard formulas to calculate these fees. This means businesses can understand how the rates are determined. The fact that some rates are increasing highlights the reality of rising operational costs, just like in any other industry. Even with efforts to save money, adjustments are sometimes needed to keep services running effectively. This document is a clear example of a user-funded program, where the people who benefit from the services pay for them. This approach is rooted in specific laws that require AMS to recover its costs. It ensures that taxpayers do not bear the full expense of these voluntary services. The notice also details different fee structures for regular hours, overtime, and holidays, and even specific per-unit costs for some cotton services. This shows a very detailed and thoughtful approach to managing these essential programs. It assures that critical quality control and inspection services remain available to the agricultural community. Many different groups will find this legal document highly relevant. First and foremost, anyone directly involved in the agricultural industry, especially those who use AMS's voluntary services, should pay close attention. This includes farmers, ranchers, and producers of products like cotton, dairy, meat, poultry, fruits, and vegetables. Businesses that process, package, or distribute these agricultural goods will also be directly impacted. For example, cotton ginners, dairy processors, and companies that ship fresh produce will need to know these updated rates. Warehouse operators who store agricultural products and are licensed under the United States Warehouse Act are another key audience, even though their specific fees are not changing this year. Beyond these direct users, legal professionals specializing in agricultural law or regulatory compliance would find this notice important for advising their clients. Academic researchers and economists who study agricultural policy, market dynamics, or government cost recovery models might also be interested. Finally, industry associations and trade groups representing various agricultural sectors will likely review these changes to inform their members and advocate for their interests. This ensures that everyone involved in the agricultural supply chain remains informed about the costs of maintaining quality and market standards.