USDA to Shut Down Master Scale Program by September – Low Usage Ends It
Published Date: 8/19/2025
Notice
Summary
The USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service plans to end its master scale testing program by September 30, 2025, because not enough people are using it to cover costs. Farmers, businesses, and anyone relying on this service should prepare for the change and share their thoughts before the deadline. This means the program will stop, and no more fees will be collected after that date.
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Master Scale Testing Program Ends
The USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service will end its master scale testing program effective September 30, 2025. Farmers, businesses, and anyone who relies on this testing should prepare because the program will stop and no more user fees will be collected after that date.
Your PRIA Score
Personalized for You
How does this regulation affect your finances?
Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this federal register document and every other regulation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Key Dates
Department and Agencies
Related Federal Register Documents
2026-12846 — United States Standards for Grades of Orange Juice
The USDA just updated the rules for grading orange juice, especially how sweet Grade B pasteurized orange juice needs to be, matching FDA’s standards. This change affects juice makers and sellers by making grading clearer and more consistent, with no big cost impacts expected. The new standards are official as of June 25, 2026, so the juice world can sip with confidence!
2026-12563 — Cotton Board Rules and Regulations: Adjusting Supplemental Assessment on Imports (2025 Amendments)
The USDA is proposing to lower the value used to calculate extra fees on imported cotton, so importers pay the same as U.S. cotton growers. This update keeps the fees fair and reflects changes since 2024. Importers and businesses dealing with cotton products should weigh in by July 23, 2026, before the new rules take effect.
2026-12341 — Domestic Dates Produced or Packed in Riverside County, California; Increased Assessment Rate
If you grow or pack dates in Riverside County, California, get ready! The fee you pay per hundredweight of dates is proposed to jump from 5 cents to 25 cents starting with the 2025-2026 crop year. This change helps support the date industry and will stay in place until something new comes along. Don’t forget to share your thoughts by July 20, 2026!
2026-11883 — Pecans Grown in the States of Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Texas; Continuance Referendum
Pecan growers in 16 states will vote from July 6 to August 3, 2026, on whether to keep the current rules that help manage pecan marketing. Only growers who produce a lot of pecans or own enough pecan acres can vote. This decision affects how pecans are handled and could impact growers’ costs and sales in the future.
2026-11847 — Pecans Grown in the States of Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Texas; Notice of Request for Extension and Revision of a Currently Approved Information Collection
The USDA wants to keep collecting info from pecan growers in 16 states and update how they do it. This affects farmers in places like Texas, Georgia, and California, helping the government keep pecan marketing smooth and fair. If you grow pecans, you’ve got until August 11, 2026, to share your thoughts—no extra costs, just a little paperwork refresh!
2026-10880 — Poultry Grower Payment Systems and Capital Improvement Systems; Delay of Effective Date
The USDA is pushing back the start date for new rules about how poultry growers get paid and how capital improvements are handled. Instead of starting July 1, 2026, these rules won’t take effect until December 31, 2027. This delay gives everyone more time to think through the changes and what they mean for growers and poultry dealers.
Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 2025-15755 — Notice of the First Meeting of the Federal Advisory Committee Known as the Western Water Cooperative Committee
The Western Water Cooperative Committee is kicking off its first meeting online on September 4, 2025. This group helps the Army Corps and Western States work together on water projects and laws, making sure everyone’s voice is heard. If you care about water in the West, this meeting is your chance to join the conversation—no cost, just log in!
Next: 2025-15757 — Natural Gas Pipeline Company of America LLC; Notice of Availability of the Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Gulf Coast Storage Expansion Project
Natural Gas Pipeline Company of America wants to expand its gas storage in Texas by adding new pipeline and compressor equipment. This upgrade will let them store and deliver more natural gas to meet growing demand in the Gulf Coast area. The government reviewed the project and found it won’t harm the environment, so it’s moving forward soon.