By David Fairfield, Senior Vice President, Feed The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on May 20 provided additional information on the agency’s sampling and testing of retail dairy products for viable Highly Pathogenic H5N1 Avian Influenza (H5N1 HPAI) virus. In a previous update on May 10, FDA had announced that all 297 samples from […]
The Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works unanimously advanced the Thomas R. Carper Water Resource Development Act of 2024 (WRDA) on May 22, authorizing navigation and ecosystem restoration projects for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps). “Today’s markup demonstrates the dedication of Chairman Tom Carper, D-Del., and Ranking Member Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., […]
The deadline to register for the June 2024 leadership program hosted by People Spark Consulting is May 24. NGFA and People Spark Consulting have partnered to further the mission to provide education and training to members at all levels in the agriculture industry. The People Spark Leadership Transformation Program® is a year-long course that focuses […]
NGFA and 19 other Agricultural Transportation Working Group members urged Canadian leaders to take action to avoid a rail strike that could begin as soon as May 22. The Teamsters Canada union, which represents 9,000 workers at Canadian National Railway (CN) and Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC), has threatened to strike as they negotiate labor […]
Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kan., and House Agriculture Livestock, Dairy and Poultry Subcommittee Chairman Tracey Mann, R-Kan., and Ranking Member Jim Costa, D-Calif., led a May 3 letter to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack asking him to reinstate county crop reports recently discontinued by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). NGFA worked with other agricultural groups to […]
The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced additional actions to further protect the U.S. livestock industry from the threat posed by highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza (HPAI). As detailed in a Federal Order, APHIS will require the following measures, effective Monday, April 29: While taking additional actions, USDA’s announcement also emphasized the […]
U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai testified before the House Ways and Means and the Senate Finance Committee this week about President Biden’s trade policy. Before the hearings, NGFA urged the administration to “recommit to an aggressive trade agenda to meaningfully expand export opportunities for U.S. food and agricultural products.” In the April 15 letter to […]
By David Fairfield, Senior Vice President, Feed The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) this week made a revised Frequently Asked Questions document available related to detections of highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1) in dairy cows. Among other topics, the document provides information on potential vectors for virus transmission, […]
The recording of NGFA’s safety webinar on “Accountability” with Joe Mlynek, founder of Progressive Safety Services, LLC, and partner at Safety Made Simple, is available here. Mlynek discussed several strategies for getting employees to take responsibility for their personal safety and overall team performance. The discussion touched on defining safe behaviors, performance evaluations, and progressive […]
NGFA joined 33 other agriculture groups to urge Senate leaders to take up the Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act, which includes provisions for business expenses and bonus depreciation. “Producers and businesses throughout the food and agriculture industry are facing tax increases today and cannot wait a year or more for relief,” the […]
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Coordinator, Legal and Commercial Affairs
Courtney works on arbitration and commercial matters for NGFA. She has extensive experience in legal case management. Prior to joining NGFA in 2025, she was the Senior Paralegal at the Tenenbaum Law Group, where she helped incorporate more than 100 new nonprofit entities nationwide and facilitated their IRS tax-exemption applications.
Courtney holds a B.A. in politics from Converse University (formerly known as Converse College) in Spartanburg S.C.
Associate Director, Systems & Office Operations
Trent manages NGFA’s database systems, oversees member invoicing, and coordinates event registration and logistics. He also handles the association’s accounting functions and ensures the smooth operation of office processes. With a focus on efficiency and attention to detail, Trent plays a vital role in supporting NGFA’s organizational and member service goals.
Prior to joining NGFA in 2023, Trent gained extensive experience in member services, accounting, and operations with the Food Production Solutions Association. He also held accounting and operations roles in the nonprofit education sector. He served in various operational capacities within the banking industry, building a diverse skill set in organizational management and financial operations.
Director of Membership
Sam is responsible for the overall management and execution of NGFA’s membership activities, including dues collection, new member recruitment, and member retention. She is also the staff liaison to NGFA’s Business, Merchandising and Operations Committee.
Sam joined NGFA in 2025 with an extensive background in the agriculture industry and experience in farmer grain marketing and origination, CIF barge sector, and production agriculture. She is a proud alum of Iowa State University, with a degree in agriculture business. Sam resides in southern Iowa on a farm and cattle operation.
Vice President, Government and Legislative Affairs
Allison Rivera brings extensive experience in agricultural policy and advocacy, most recently serving for nine years as Executive Director of Government Affairs at the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. In that role, she managed a robust portfolio of legislative priorities and built strong relationships on Capitol Hill, particularly with the House and Senate Agriculture Committees, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, the Senate Commerce Committee, and the Appropriations Committees – all critical to NGFA’s policy priorities.
Before joining NCBA, Rivera spent nine years working on Capitol Hill in various legislative roles, including serving as Legislative Director for Congressman David Rouzer (R-N.C.), Senior Policy Director for Congressman Doug LaMalfa (R-Calif.), Legislative Assistant for Congresswoman Renee Ellmers (R-N.C.), and Legislative Correspondent for Congressman Walter B. Jones (R-N.C.).
Rivera is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and holds degrees in Political Science and International Studies. She is also a graduate of the U.S. Air Force’s Air Command and Staff College.
Vice President, Systems and Office Operations
Mary is responsible for overseeing all office operating systems, human resources, and benefits. Mary also works closely with Charlie Delacruz and Courtney Tucker in administering NGFA’s arbitration system.
Mary also serves as Secretary and Treasurer for National Grain and Feed Digital Solutions (NGFDS), NGFA’s affiliated organization that oversees the Barge Digital Transformation (BDT) platform.
Mary joined NGFA in 2013 as an Executive Administrative Assistant. In 2014, she was promoted to Manager, Arbitration and Mediation Services. Since then, she has continued to grow within NGFA, holding positions of Director, Commercial and Arbitration Services and Director, Commercial/Arbitration Services and Project Management.
Vice President, Marketing and Member Services
Rebecca oversees the NGFA’s membership operations and the strategic planning, financial management, marketing, and execution for all the association’s in-person and online events and member programs, including the Annual Convention, CEC, and the Committee Apprentice Program (CAP). Rebecca also manages the association’s business development initiatives, event sponsorships, exhibit sales, and corporate partnerships.
Rebecca is the staff liaison for the Communications, Membership, and Marketing Committee and the National Grain and Feed Foundation. Rebecca earned the distinguished Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) designation in 2023.
Rebecca joined the NGFA staff in 2010 as Manager, Meetings and Events. Prior to joining NGFA, Rebecca held event management positions at several catering companies and hotels in the Washington, D.C., area. Rebecca graduated from Bucknell University with a B.A. in English and political science.
Vice President, Feed and Sustainability
Berit leads NGFA’s efforts in feed policy, regulatory advocacy, industry best practices, and sustainability, furthering the association’s mission to advance a safe, sustainable, and innovative feed and grain industry. She is the principal staff contact with federal and state departments and agencies that affect animal food regulatory and industry sustainability issues. She leads the selected NGFA committees, including the Feed Committee and Sustainability Committee.
Prior to joining NGFA in 2024, Berit was the Director of Sustainability at POET, LLC, where she developed and implemented sustainability programming, regulatory compliance strategies, and industry collaboration initiatives. In addition to her sustainability work, she also worked in leadership roles focused on feed, regulatory affairs, and quality control.
Berit holds a Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering from the University of South Dakota and a B.S. in Biochemistry from Baylor University. She has authored multiple research publications and has been recognized for her work in regulatory compliance and feed safety programs.
Senior Vice President, Safety and Regulatory
Jess is responsible for directing and managing the NGFA’s wide-ranging operations programs for grain elevators, feed mills, and grain processing plants.
This includes NGFA’s activities regarding employee safety and industrial health, environmental issues, grain-handling facility design and equipment, grain inspection and weighing issues, grain and feed quality, crop technology, trade, agroterrorism/facility security-related issues, and sanitary/phytosanitary issues.
Jess also serves as Chairman of the Department of Homeland Security, Food and Drug Administration, and the US Department of Agriculture’s Food and Agriculture Sector Coordinating Council and represents NGFA on the USDA’s Agricultural Trade Advisory Committee for Trade in Grains, Feed, Oilseeds, and Planting Seeds. The Journal of Agromedicine selected Jess as its 2021 “Leader in the Field.” The annual award is for those who have made significant contributions in agricultural safety and health practice, policy, and research.
Jess received his undergraduate degree from Texas A&M University and his M.A. from George Washington University.
Chief Exonomist and Treasurer
Max serves as the NGFA’s principal interface with federal departments and agencies for rail and truck transportation, risk management, and grain warehousing. Max is NGFA’s lead staff policy liaison to its Rail Shipper/Receiver Subcommittee, Motor Carrier Subcommittee, Risk Management Committee, and Business, Merchandising and Operations Committee. He also serves as NGFA’s Treasurer and Economist.
Prior to joining NGFA in 2013, Max was the Chief Economist for the Senate Agriculture Committee. He also worked as an economist for the U.S. Department of Agriculture. He holds a B.S. in agricultural business from Kansas State University and a M.S. in agricultural economics from Texas A&M University.
Executive Vice President,
General Counsel
and Secretary
Charlie’s role includes management of legal affairs and the NGFA Arbitration and Trade Rules System. Charlie also serves as principal staff liaison to the Trade Rules Committee, Arbitration Appeals Panel, Rail Arbitration Rules Committee, and the NGFA Legal Council. He also serves as Executive Director for National Grain and Feed Digital Solutions, which administers the Barge Digital Transformation (BDT) trading platform.
Charlie had an extensive business and legal background before joining NGFA in 2002, including 10 years in private practice with a major international law firm and three years with a Washington-based consulting firm, advising and representing corporate clients on business, contractual, and litigation matters.
A Virginia native, Charlie received his law degree from the University of Virginia, where, among other things, he served on the Board of the Virginia Journal of International Law. He is also a magna cum laude graduate of James Madison University with degrees in history and political science.
President and CEO
Mike is the President and CEO. Immediately before joining NGFA in March 2021, Mike served seven years with FMC Corporation as the Director of Government and Industry Affairs North America.
Prior to FMC, he served 16 years working on Capitol Hill for former U.S. Senator Pat Roberts (R-Kans.), including two years as the Staff Director of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry.
He is a graduate of Kansas State University and George Washington University. Mr. Seyfert was the fourth generation raised on his family farm in Kansas. He and his family remain active in the farm today with crops including hay, soybeans, sorghum, and wheat.
Second Vice Chairman: Brian Schouvieller
Second Vice Chairman: Augusto Bassanini
First Vice Chairman: Chris Boerm