USDA Seeks Members for Grain Inspection Advisory Committee
(10-25-04)
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently announced it
is seeking nominations for its Grain Inspection Advisory Committee.
Nominations are being sought for five members and five alternate
members. Appointees will serve three-year terms beginning in March
2005.
Pat Dumoulin, a member of the National Corn Growers Association
(NCGA) Production and Stewardship Action Team, currently sits on
the committee, while NCGA member Greg Guenther is an alternate.
The committee, which represents all facets of the
grain industry, is comprised of 15 members and 15 alternates
appointed by the secretary
of agriculture. The committee meets twice annually to advise USDA’s
Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA)
on the programs and services it delivers under the U.S. Grain Standard
Act.
Recommendations by the committee also help GIPSA to better understand
the needs of its customers. Members of the committee serve without
compensation, but are reimbursed for travel expenses.
The committee addresses a variety of technical and program issues
related to grain inspection programs and systems. During past meetings,
the committee has provided guidance on the agency's strategic plan
and performance measures and various programs related to grain
quality, including proposed changes to the U.S. Grain Standards;
financial management; objective testing programs such as oil, protein,
and starch content in corn; and technical issues ranging from whole-grain
moisture measurements to aflatoxin to pesticide residue testing.
Interested individuals should contact GIPSA by
phone, (202) 205-8281; fax, (202) 205-4714; or by e-mail, Terri.L.Henry@usda.gov.
Nomination
forms may also be obtained at the GIPSA Web site by clicking here.