Longtime USDA employee Arthur Neal to serve as deputy administrator of AMS Federal Grain Inspection Service.

March 21, 2019

2 Min Read
Arthur Neal USDA.jpg
USDA photo by Lance Cheung

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced the appointment of Arthur Neal as deputy administrator of the Agricultural Marketing Service's (AMS) Federal Grain Inspection Service (FGIS), part of the Marketing & Regulatory Programs mission area.

Since 2011, Neal has served as deputy administrator of the AMS Transportation & Marketing Program, where he led a team responsible for providing economic and insightful analysis on the transportation of bulk agricultural products via rail, barge, truck and ocean vessel. He also managed more than $120 million in federal grants and cooperative partnerships supporting the development of local and regional food systems. In 2017-18, he led the development of the National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard, regulating how manufacturers must disclose bioengineered food information to retail consumers.

“During his time as deputy administrator of the Transportation & Marketing Program, Arthur Neal encouraged innovation and pursued new approaches to market research and technical assistance for local food systems,” AMS administrator Bruce Summers said. “I am grateful AMS will continue to benefit from Arthur’s leadership as he transitions to the Federal Grain Inspection Service. I have no doubt the employees, partners and stakeholders of FGIS will benefit from his dedication and experience leading organizations to exceed customer expectations and find new ways to deliver services efficiently and effectively.”

During his tenure at USDA, Neal spent more than 10 years at the National Organic Program as associate deputy administrator, playing a leading role in the development and enforcement of regulations for the organic industry. He also worked several years with the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, strengthening relationships with historically black land-grant universities and resolving farm cases related to the Equal Credit Opportunity Act.

Neal earned a bachelor's degree in agricultural economics at Southern University & A&M College in Baton Rouge, La., and a master’s degree from the Dale Bumpers College of Agriculture, Food & Life Sciences at University of Arkansas-Fayetteville. 

FGIS facilitates the marketing of U.S. grain and related products by establishing standards for quality assessments, regulating handling practices and managing a network of federal, state and private laboratories that provide impartial official inspection and weighing services. Learn more at https://www.ams.usda.gov/about-ams/programs-offices/federal-grain-inspection-service.

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