ARLINGTON, Va., June 26, 2025 – The National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA) today reiterated its strong support for timely, bipartisan reauthorization of the U.S. Grain Standards Act (USGSA) during testimony before the House Agriculture Committee.
Testifying on behalf of NGFA and its more than 700 member companies, Nick Friant, Director of Raw Material Quality at Cargill and Chairman of NGFA’s Grain Grades and Weights Committee, stressed the importance of the USGSA in maintaining America’s reputation as a reliable supplier of quality grain.
“We urge Congress to reauthorize the U.S. Grain Standards Act in a timely and bipartisan manner,” Friant said. “Doing so will provide certainty to farmers, grain handlers, and international customers who depend on the integrity of the U.S. Official grain inspection system.”
Friant’s testimony highlighted two core recommendations for improving the Act:
1. Modernizing Grain Grading Technology: “FGIS (Federal Grain Inspection Service) must prioritize research, development, and validation of modern grain grading technologies that improve accuracy, speed, and consistency,” he said.
NGFA supports providing USDA with the resources and authority to collaborate with industry and academia on tools like enhanced visual imaging, chemical analysis, and machine learning to strengthen export competitiveness and help the FGIS “drive efficiencies, reduce costs, and address the staffing challenges it faces.”
2. Enhancing Emergency Waiver Authority: The Act must allow for pragmatic flexibility during natural disasters or other service disruptions, Friant testified. Specifically, he proposed clarifying the definition of “emergency” and enabling temporary waivers when buyers and sellers agree and the objectives of the Act are not undermined.
Friant also called for additional reforms, including improved transparency in user fee calculations, clarifying eligibility for Advisory Committee appointments, and limiting the industry fee cap to USGSA-covered commodities.
“The U.S. grain inspection system is a foundation of our country’s reputation as a reliable agricultural supplier,” Friant concluded. “Timely reauthorization of the U.S. Grain Standards Act, combined with the enhancements we’ve outlined today, will ensure that our inspection system continues to meet the high expectations of U.S. producers and global customers.”
For more information about NGFA’s priorities for USGSA reauthorization, visit www.ngfa.org.
