WASHINGTON, June 2, 2008 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) announces the following actions on designations to officially inspect and weigh grain in specified areas in Alabama, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, Texas and Washington.

GIPSA has designated the following entities to inspect and weigh grain based upon a comprehensive selection process. GIPSA designated the Georgia Department of Agriculture (Georgia); Montana Department of Agriculture (Montana) and Mid-Iowa Grain Inspection, Inc. (Mid-Iowa) to inspect or inspect and weigh grain effective July 1, 2008, through June 30, 2011 for Georgia and Montana, and effective July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2009 for Mid-Iowa. GIPSA determined that no qualified applicants were available to provide service in the southeast Texas region.

GIPSA is seeking applicants to provide official services in Alabama; Essex, Ill.; Springfield, Ill.; Savage, Minn.; and Washington State areas and is requesting comments on the official agencies currently serving these areas. Applications and comments about the current service providers are due by July 1, 2008.

For official grain inspection services, contact Georgia at 229-386-3129; Montana at 406-452-9561; Mid-Iowa at 319-363-0239 and the GIPSA League City, Texas, Field Office at 281-338-2787.

For further information contact Virginia Roseberry at 202-720-9803, fax 202-690-2755 or e-mail Virginia.V.Roseberry@usda.gov.

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GIPSA Release #10-08

Dana Stewart (202) 720-5091