USDA Appoints Four Members to Grain Inspection Committee

USDA strengthens grain industry oversight with new members

• Bonnie Johnson
• August 06, 2026
• Media Article

USDA has appointed three new members and reappointed one member to the AMS Grain Inspection Advisory Committee, where they will serve three-year terms through Aug. 5, 2029.

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The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has appointed four members to the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) Grain Inspection Advisory Committee. The appointments are effective immediately, with each member serving a three-year term through Aug. 5, 2029.
 

Newly appointed members include Danny Beyer, a sorghum and corn producer from Odem, Texas; Raquel Hansen, a soybean and corn producer from Owatonna, Minnesota; and Cary Sifferath, Vice President of the U.S. Grains and BioProducts Council in Alexandria, Virginia. Mark Heil, Senior Advisor at Prairie Central Co-Op in Bloomington, Illinois, has been reappointed to the committee.
 

The Grain Inspection Advisory Committee advises the USDA on issues related to grain inspection, weighing services, and quality standards. Its recommendations help support transparency, consistency, and confidence across the U.S. grain market.
 

Established under the U.S. Grain Standards Act on Sept. 29, 1981, the committee represents a wide range of interests within the grain industry. Members are selected from sectors including grain production, processing, merchandising, handling, exporting, inspection agencies, scientific organizations, and consumer groups.
 

The 15-member committee serves as a forum for industry stakeholders to provide expertise on grain quality and inspection programs. Its work helps the USDA address industry needs while promoting fair and efficient grain marketing practices.
 

More information about the Grain Inspection Advisory Committee is available on the AMS website.
 

Photo Credit: usda