USDA Announces Grain Inspection Advisory Committee Appointments

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the appointment of six members to serve on the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) Grain Inspection Advisory Committee beginning April 1, 2025.

Members appointed for a three-year term include:

• Gang Guo, Senior Director of Grain Research and Quality, Ardent Mills LLC, Denver, Colo.
• Christopher Frederking, Director of Operations and Safety, Zen-Noh Grain Corporation, Convent, La.
• Charles Bird, Senior Director, Government Affairs, Neogen Corporation, Lansing, Mich.
• Tristan Bradford, Director, State Grain Laboratory, Montana Grain Inspection Service, Great Falls, Mont.
• Lyndsey Erb, Director of Industry Affairs, U.S Soybean Export Council, Chesterfield, Mo.
• Barbara Grove, Quality Systems Manager/Food Safety Director, Central Valley Ag, York, Neb.

Established under the U.S. Grain Standards Act on September 29, 1981, the advisory committee represents the interests of all segments of the U.S. grain industry from producer to exporter. The committee is comprised of 15 members representing grain processors, merchandisers, handlers, exporters, consumers, grain inspection agencies and scientists.

AMS seeks nominations annually via announcements in the Federal Register and news releases to industry, trade, academia, community and faith-based organizations.

AMS policy is that diversity of the boards, councils and committees it oversees should reflect the diversity of their industries in terms of the experience of members, methods of production and distribution, marketing strategies and other distinguishing factors, including but not limited to individuals from historically underserved communities, that will bring different perspectives and ideas to the table. Throughout the full nomination process, the industry must conduct extensive outreach, paying particular attention to reaching underserved communities, and consider the diversity of the population served and the knowledge, skills and abilities of the members to serve a diverse population.