Federal Grain Inspection Service

2021 Annual Report to Congress
Each year, pursuant to section 17B (7 U.S.C. § 87f-2) of the U.S. Grain Standards 

Act (USGSA), the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Federal Grain Inspection Service 

(FGIS) respectfully submits an annual report to the U.S. Congress. Activities described 

in this report cover Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 (October 1, 2020, through September 30, 

2021). 

Any mention of firm names or trade products does not imply that they are endorsed 

or recommended directly or indirectly by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Inspection and weighing program data and financial information is available at:

www.ams.usda.gov/reports/fgis-annual-reports

The 508 Compliant version of this report is available on our website at: 

www.ams.usda.gov/reports/fgis-annual-reports

Table of Contents

About This Report

SECTION I OVERVIEW 4

The Federal Grain Inspection Service............................................................................................................. 4

Program Mission.............................................................................................................................................. 4

Key Activities ................................................................................................................................................... 6

Employees and Locations ............................................................................................................................... 7

FGIS Oversight of Official Service Providers................................................................................................... 8

Official Agencies Provide Uninterrupted Service Through the COVID-19 Pandemic.................................... 12

Record Grain Exports .................................................................................................................................... 14

Grain Inspection Advisory Committee ........................................................................................................... 15

SECTION II STANDARDS DEVELOPMENT 16

Revising Criteria that Facilitates Decisions Around Exceptions to Geographic Boundaries ......................... 16

U.S. Standards for Grain ............................................................................................................................... 17

Tilletia Controversa Kühn ............................................................................................................................. 17

SECTION III THE NATIONAL GRAIN CENTER 18

Inspection Technology Evaluation................................................................................................................. 18

Board of Appeals and Review ....................................................................................................................... 19

Pesticide Residue Testing and Method Development................................................................................... 22

Mycotoxin and Biotechnology Rapid Test Kit Evaluations............................................................................. 22

Reference Method Analyses ......................................................................................................................... 25

Standardizing Commercial Grain Inspection Equipment............................................................................... 27

SECTION IV PROMOTING U.S. GRAIN TO INTERNATIONAL CUSTOMERS 28

Leveraging Technology for Outreach ............................................................................................................ 28

Exporter Registration List and Waivers ......................................................................................................... 30

Complaints from U.S. Grain importers........................................................................................................... 31
FGIS' primary mission is twofold: (1) promote the marketing of high-quality grain to 

domestic and international buyers, and (2) maintain objective standards for grain to 

certify its quality as accurately as practicable. These standards define uniform and 

descriptive terms to facilitate the grain trade, help determine grain storability, offer 

users the best possible information to determine end-product yield and quality, provide 

market incentive frameworks, reflect the economic value-based characteristics to 

end-users, and accommodate scientific advances in testing.

PROGRAM MISSION

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA), Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), 

FGIS establishes quality standards for grains, oilseeds, pulses, and rice; provides 

impartial inspection and weighing services through a network of Federal, State, and 

private entities; and monitors marketing practices to enforce compliance with the 

USGSA, as amended. Through these activities, FGIS facilitates the marketing of grains, 

oilseeds, and related products. FGIS administers uniform national grain inspection 

and weighing programs established by the USGSA. Services under the USGSA are 

performed on a fee basis for both export and domestic grain shipments. The USGSA 

requires that export grain be inspected and weighed, prohibits deceptive practices with 

respect to the inspection and weighing of grain, and provides penalties for violations. 

The USGSA also requires that all corn exported from the United States be tested 

for aflatoxin, prior to shipment, unless the contract stipulates that the testing is not 

required.

THE FEDERAL GRAIN INSPECTION SERVICE

Section I 

Overview

4 | FY 2021 FGIS Annual Report to Congress | 5 
•	 Establishes and maintains official U.S. grain standards for barley, 

canola, corn, flaxseed, oats, rye, sorghum, soybeans, sunflower 

seed, triticale, wheat, and mixed grain.

•	 Establishes methods and procedures and approves equipment for the 

official inspection and weighing of grain. 

•	 Delegates qualified State agencies to inspect and weigh grain at 

certain U.S. export port locations.

•	 Provides Federal oversight of the official inspection and weighing of 

grain by delegated States and designated agencies. 

•	 Investigates, in cooperation with the USDA’s Office of the Inspector 

General, alleged violations of the USGSA and initiates appropriate 

corrective action. 

•	 Promotes the uniform application of official U.S. grain standards by 

official inspection personnel.

•	 Provides official inspection and weighing services at certain U.S. 

export port locations as well as official inspection of U.S. grain at 

certain export port locations along the St. Lawrence Seaway in 

eastern Canada. 

•	 Designates and licenses qualified State and private agencies to 

inspect and weigh grain, as well as perform other official services, at 

interior locations.

•	 Monitors the quality and weight of U.S. grain as received at 

destination ports and investigates complaints or discrepancies 

reported by international buyers.

•	 Helps U.S. trading partners develop and improve their grain 

inspection and weighing programs through education and outreach to 

international buyers. 

KEY ACTIVITIES

FGIS is composed of:

EMPLOYEES AND LOCATIONS

FGIS is headquartered in Washington, DC, 

with the bulk of those employees located at the 

National Grain Center in Kansas City, MO.

There are seven field offices and one Federal/

State office. Field offices are located in Grand 

Forks, ND; Domestic Inspection Operations 

Office (DIOO), Kansas City, MO; League City, 

TX; New Orleans, LA; Portland, OR; Stuttgart, 

AR; and Toledo, OH. The Federal/State office is 

in Olympia, WA.

In administering 

and enforcing the 

USGSA, FGIS: 386 

Permanent 

Employees

31 

Intermittent 

Employees

79 

Temporary 

Employees

6 | FY 2021 FGIS Annual Report to Congress | 7 
1

 Designated State agencies and designated private agencies (i.e., official agencies) may perform permissive official grain 

inspection and/or weighing services at domestic locations under designations awarded up to a 5-year period.

2

 Delegated States may provide mandatory official grain inspection, weighing, and scale testing services at export port locations 

within their respective State. Delegated States are reevaluated and recertified every 5 years in accordance with the Act.

AB Aberdeen

AM Amarillo

JB Barton

CI Cairo

CG California Agri

CD Champaign

DB Detroit

EI Eastern Iowa

EN Enid

FS Farwell Southwest

FE Fremont

HA Hastings

ID Idaho

JA Jamestown

KA Kankakee

KS Kansas

KE Keokuk

LN Lincoln

MH Michigan

CR Mid-Iowa

MM Midsouth

MP Minot

NR North Dakota

NE Northeast Indiana

NP Northern Plains

EV Ohio Valley

OM Omaha

PL Plainview

SH Schaal

SI Sioux City

SG State Grain

TS Tri-State

LA Louisiana

MD Maryland

MO Missouri

MT Montana

NC North Carolina

UT Utah

1

Designated Private Agencies

Designated State Agencies

AL Alabama 

VA Virginia 

WA Washington

WI Wisconsin

2

Delegated State Agency

Delegated and Designated State Agencies

NOTE: The Official Agency Geographic Areas and Field Office Map located on Pages 10-11.

FGIS oversees 42 State and private agencies that provide official services under the 

USGSA. Of the 42:

•	 32 are private agencies and 6 are State agencies designated to provide official 

inspection and/or sampling and weighing services in domestic markets;

•	 3 are State agencies delegated to provide mandatory official export inspection and 

weighing services, as well as designated to provide official domestic inspection and 

weighing services within the State; and 

•	 1 is a State agency delegated to provide mandatory official export inspection and 

weighing services within the State. 

In addition, FGIS oversees 35 of these entities and 4 additional State cooperators for 

inspection services under the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1946.

These private and State agencies represent a unique network of approximately 2,300 

staff members who conduct official inspection and weighing services for grain producers, 

handlers, processors, and exporters across the country.

FGIS OVERSIGHT OF OFFICIAL SERVICE PROVIDERS

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Official Agency Geographic Areas and FGIS Field Office Map

Field Office Areas of Responsibility

DIOO (Grain/Pulses/Processed Commodities)

Stuttgart (Rice)

League City

New Orleans

Olympia

Toledo

FGIS Field Office

Federal/State Office

FGIS Duty Point

Official Agency Boundaries

Unassigned Areas

State Boundaries

10 | FY 2021 FGIS Annual Report to Congress | 11 
OFFICIAL AGENCIES PROVIDE UNINTERRUPTED 

SERVICE THROUGH THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

With the tremendously large crop and export demand, FGIS’ network of delegated and designated 

official agencies faced major challenges in Fiscal Year (FY) 2021. Despite hardships imposed by the 

Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, uninterrupted and uniform service was provided throughout the 

grain industry due to the preparation and dedication of FGIS’ official agencies. 

To address any staffing concerns due to COVID-19, several agencies established partnerships with 

other agencies to ensure that uninterrupted service would be provided. They also modified operations 

to ensure the safety of personnel and consistency in service delivery. 

To estimate the volume of service provided by official agencies, FGIS tracks the average monthly 

number of railcars and barges weighed and inspected by the agencies. In FY 2021, official agencies 

averaged 149,565 railcar inspections per month compared to 140,340 inspections per month in FY 

2020, which is an increase of 6.6 percent. Barge inspections decreased slightly, but still averaged 

6,858 barge inspections per month compared to 8,067 inspections per month in FY 2020, a 10.4 

percent decrease.

Overall, agencies inspected nearly 1.8 million railcars in FY 2021. To give an example, if those railcars 

were placed end-to-end, they would stretch 14,000 miles, or far enough to connect the North Pole to 

the South Pole. 

FGIS thanks our Official Agency partners for their collaboration in ensuring timely, accurate, and 

consistent service despite the unprecedented strains of the pandemic and record export volumes.

Railcar Inspections per Month 

(Fiscal Year Comparison)

FY 2020 140,340

FY 2021 149,565 6.6%

FY 2020 8,067

FY 2021 6,858 10.4%

Barge Inspections per Month 

(Fiscal Year Comparison)

12 | FY 2021 FGIS Annual Report to Congress | 13 
The Grain Inspection Advisory Committee meets no less than once a year to advise 

FGIS on the programs and services it delivers under the USGSA. Recommendations 

by the Committee help FGIS better meet the needs of its customers who operate in a 

dynamic and changing marketplace.

The Committee is comprised of 15 members appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture 

who represent all segments of the grain industry. They include grain producers, 

processors, merchandisers, handlers, exporters, consumers, grain inspection agencies, 

and scientists. Committee members serve without compensation but are reimbursed for 

travel expenses.

On May 12-13, 2021, the Committee held a virtual meeting. The meeting focused on 

four topics, Corn Borer, Average Inspection Flexibilities, Falling Number Testing, and 

the FGIS and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Memorandum of Understanding 

on actionable items. The Committee approved one recommendation which created a 

Sub-Committee to focus on FDA actionable items and their remediation processes. The 

meeting’s minutes, presentation, agenda, and other meeting documents can be found 

on the AMS public website. (https://www.ams.usda.gov/about-ams/giac-may-2021-

meeting)

GRAIN INSPECTION ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Fiscal Year 2021 was both a challenging and 

rewarding year for FGIS. In addition to working 

uninterrupted, FGIS began to see a surge 

in demand for our services. Less than ideal 

worldwide crop conditions, new trade deals, and 

tremendous yield and quality in the 2020 U.S. 

harvest led to unprecedented interest in U.S. 

grain exports. The fiscal year started strong in 

October and never let up. Facilities in Louisiana, 

Texas, Washington, Oregon, and Ohio had such 

a huge need for services. Many operations that 

normally run 8 or 16 hours per day ended up 

running 24 hours a day. That meant staff who 

were accustomed to working 8-hour shifts stepped 

up and worked extra long days, sometimes for 

weeks in a row. 

When COVID-19 continued to surge in the winter 

of 2020-21, exports hit their peak, with the United 

States consistently exporting over 4 million metric 

tons per week. That’s about 150 million bushels, 

or roughly 75 panamax vessels worth of grain 

every 7 days.

When the dust settled, FGIS and delegated and 

designated agencies inspected and weighed 

the most grain exports of all time: 150,780,946 

metric tons, nearly 23 percent higher than the 

previous fiscal year, and 3.2 percent higher than 

the previous record of 16/17.

China led the demand for U.S. grain, importing 

a record amount of total U.S. grain in FY 2021, 

a whopping 42 percent more than the previous 

record set in 2016/17. In addition to the third 

most tonnage all time of soybeans and sorghum 

shipments to China, the United States exported a 

record amount of corn to China, smashing the old 

record by 276 percent. In total, China accounted 

for nearly 41 percent of all FY 2021 grain exports. 

FGIS and delegated and 

designated agencies inspected 

and weighed the most 

grain exports of all time:

150,780,946 metric tons, 

nearly 23 percent higher than 

the previous fiscal year. 

RECORD GRAIN EXPORTS

14 | FY 2021 FGIS Annual Report to Congress | 15 
TILLETIA CONTROVERSA KÜHN 

Tilletia controversa Kühn (TCK), a fungal pathogen, 

is the causal agent of Dwarf bunt in wheat. Wheat 

plants infected with TCK are smaller than healthy 

plants and the kernels are replaced with brown 

masses of spores known as smut balls. The 

spores are not harmful to humans or livestock. 

Wheat exports from the Pacific Northwest of the 

United States were embargoed by the Peoples 

Republic of China (PRC) from 1974 until 1999, 

when an agreement between the United States 

and the PRC established a testing protocol for 

the PRC. FGIS offered TCK testing through the 

Wheat Marketing Center in Portland, Oregon, for 

all wheat bound for the PRC. 

In FY 2021, the wheat export industry asked FGIS 

to expand TCK testing to south Texas in anticipation 

of loading PRC-bound wheat shipments from the 

gulf region. FGIS collaborated with the USDA’s 

Agricultural Research Service (ARS) to provide 

the service. After FGIS procured equipment and 

supplies, ARS provided working instructions and 

training for FGIS personnel. Within 6 months, 

TCK testing was being performed by FGIS staff 

and was made available at the League City, Texas 

Field Office. Following that, the National Grain 

Center, Kansas City, Missouri, established TCK 

testing capacity. While TCK testing is required on 

all wheat exported to China, it is also available for 

any sample of wheat (rail, submits, bin samples, 

other destinations, etc.). 

Accordingly, FGIS is now providing TCK testing 

services to customers in the south Texas gulf 

with same day results. Further, the National Grain 

Center is able to deliver Board appeal testing 

services and proficiency testing. 

FGIS regularly reviews the official standards and 

inspection instructions for grain and commodities 

to ensure the standards remain relevant to 

the marketplace. In FY 2021, FGIS published 

three updated handbooks of instructions for 

inspection of commodities, namely Pea and 

Lentil Handbook, Bean Handbook, and the Near 

InfraRed Transmission Handbook. FGIS revised 

the draft Certification Handbook, and pending 

updates to the FGISonline portfolio of online 

business applications, will publish the revised 

Equipment Handbook, Weighing Handbook, and 

a new Licensing Handbook. 

In FY 2021, FGIS published Requests for 

Comments pertaining to the U.S. Standards for 

Beans (Blackeye beans), U.S. Standards for 

Lentils, U.S. Standards for Peas, U.S Standards for 

Sorghum, U.S. Standards for Beans (Garbanzo), 

and U.S. Standards for Wheat. 

FGIS published Final Notices pertaining to the 

U.S. Standards for Beans (Blackeye beans), U.S. 

Standards for Lentils, and U.S. Standards for Peas. 

Final Notices pertaining to the U.S Standards for 

Sorghum, U.S. Standards for Beans (Garbanzo), 

and U.S. Standards for Canola (from a previous 

Notice for Comment) are nearing publication in the 

Federal Register. In FY 2022, FGIS will prepare a 

Final Notice pertaining to the U.S. Standards for 

Wheat.

The 2018 Farm Bill required FGIS to 

revise its regulations, under the U.S. 

Grain Standards Act (USGSA), to 

allow designated Official Agencies 

(OA) to perform grain inspections 

outside of their assigned geographic 

areas, under certain conditions. AMS 

sought industry input in an advanced 

notice of proposed rulemaking. 

AMS then incorporated the public 

feedback received to create a clear, 

consistent, and fair framework for 

considering and granting requested 

exceptions. Finally, AMS issued a 

proposed rule for public comment 

on August 19, 2021. The proposal 

sought to provide additional flexibility 

to the industry in accordance with 

congressional intent. 

Under the USGSA, the Secretary 

may allow OAs to cross assigned 

geographic boundaries to provide 

services to requesting customers 

under certain conditions: (1) the 

assigned OA is unable to provide 

necessary services on a timely 

basis; (2) the customer has not 

been receiving official inspection 

services from the assigned OA; 

(3) the customer requests probe 

inspection on barge-lot basis; or (4) 

the assigned OA agrees in writing 

with the adjacent OA to waive the 

current geographic restriction at 

the customer’s request (7 U.S.C. 

79(f)(2)(B)). These allowances 

are considered exceptions to the 

USGSA’s standard requirements 

regarding the use of designated 

OAs to perform inspection services 

within specified geographic areas. 

The proposed amendments to the 

exceptions program would modify 

the criteria for receiving an exception 

under the “timely service” provision 

and reinstate the exception criteria 

for the “nonuse of service” provision. 

The proposed rule defines and 

differentiates between timely service 

and nonuse of service exceptions 

and their associated requirements. 

AMS plans to issue a final rule by 

Spring 2022. 

REVISING CRITERIA THAT FACILITATES 

DECISIONS AROUND EXCEPTIONS 

TO GEOGRAPHIC BOUNDARIES

U.S. STANDARDS FOR GRAIN

Section II 

Standards Development

16 | FY 2021 FGIS Annual Report to Congress | 17 
BOARD OF APPEALS AND REVIEW

The Board of Appeals and Review (BAR) is a team of six seniorlevel grain inspectors, led by a Chairman and an Assistant 

Chairman. The BAR is the final adjudication body for all 

disputes involving subjective grain quality issues raised 

by any interested party in a grain transaction. The BAR 

performs appeal inspections after the issue has been 

reviewed and addressed by FGIS field offices. In FY 

2021, the BAR rendered 130 appeal decisions.

The BAR is also responsible for ensuring alignment 

of sensory inspections throughout the entire official 

inspection system. This is accomplished through a 

network of Quality Assurance Specialists (QAS) at 

both Federal and official agency inspection points. To 

maintain inspection alignment, the BAR holds annual 

QAS seminars for Federal and official agency QAS. Due 

to COVID-19 restrictions, the BAR was unable to hold 

in-person QAS seminars. In lieu of this, the BAR created 

training material that was sent to agency QASs that allowed 

them to train their inspection staff.

In FY 2021, the BAR issued two new Visual 

Reference Images (VRI) for pulses. The new 

images were created for whole peas in split peas, 

and Cotyledon damage in garbanzo beans. The 

new VRIs were issued in response to standard 

changes initiated by the pulse industry. VRIs are 

an illustration of a type of damage or condition 

that also includes a written description. FGIS 

uses VRIs to ensure consistent and uniform 

application of grading interpretations throughout 

the official inspection system.

INSPECTION 

TECHNOLOGY 

EVALUATION

In FY 2021, FGIS developed a draft process 

for evaluating technology for official grain 

inspection. Technology refers to all equipment, 

instrumentation, and associated methods 

for measuring grain quality attributes. A key 

goal is to provide a transparent process 

that promotes the adoption of technology 

that provides accurate and efficient grain 

inspection results. A first step in the process 

is to review technology proposals from 

manufacturers to assess the need and 

suitability for official grain inspection. If 

accepted, the technology is evaluated to 

confirm that the accuracy requirements are 

met. The draft process will be shared with 

the Grain Inspection Advisory Committee to 

obtain feedback from stakeholders.

Section III 

The National Grain Center

Located in Kansas City, Missouri, staff from 

the four organizational components of FGIS 

are located at the National Grain Center: 

the Technology and Science Division; 

portions of the Field Management Division; 

portions of the Quality Assurance and 

Compliance Division; and portions of the 

Deputy Administrator’s Office. Individually 

and collectively, these Divisions and Staff 

provide professional and knowledgeable 

technical and subjective support for the 

grain inspection system both domestically 

and internationally.

18 | FY 2021 FGIS Annual Report to Congress | 19 
2021 Sorghum Odor Alignment Project. In 

FY 2021, FGIS continued work on the sorghum 

odor alignment project, which is a collaboration 

with FGIS, official agencies and the sorghum 

industry. Because sorghum odor determination 

is inherently difficult, FGIS developed a program 

to strengthen alignment between origin and 

destination odor results. The sorghum alignment 

project is a three-way calibration procedure used 

to confirm alignment between origin inspectors in 

the interior and inspectors at FGIS export facilities 

with the BAR. The project helped build cohesion 

between all three groups, which led to consistent 

and reliable results for U.S. exporters. In FY 2021, 

inspectors at domestic and export service points 

have been able to achieve an alignment accuracy 

rate of 90 percent with the BAR.

Equipment Checktesting. In addition to sensory oversight, 

the BAR manages a national equipment checktesting 

program. FGIS' equipment checktesting program is 

mandated by the USGSA to ensure that equipment such 

as dockage machines, rice millers, hand sieves, and 

barley pearlers are within specified tolerances. The BAR 

accomplishes this requirement by creating and distributing 

checktest samples to FGIS and official agencies with the 

purpose of detecting if any differences exist between field 

equipment and the “Standard” equipment maintained by 

the BAR. In FY 2021, the BAR checktested over 1,400 

unique pieces of equipment.

20 | FY 2021 FGIS Annual Report to Congress | 21 
To facilitate trade, FGIS provides pesticide residue testing services, including export surveys, to validate 

the quality of U.S. grain as it relates to food safety, value, and adherence to U.S. and international 

regulatory limits. In FY 2021, FGIS analyzed 100 soybean samples, 306 wheat samples, and 130 corn 

samples for a total of 41,530 pesticide residue results. FGIS’ role is critically important as an independent 

third party and can get samples from the export system to ensure U.S. competitiveness in the global 

market.

In addition, FGIS develops analytical methods to support these activities. FGIS expanded its capability 

in FY 2021 by modifying existing methods to include the pesticides atrazine, carfentrazone ethyl, 

chlorpyriphos methyl, and clethodim. FGIS also modified and re-validated five existing methods using 

new extraction equipment and instrumentation to increase efficiency and sample throughput.

PESTICIDE RESIDUE TESTING 

AND METHOD DEVELOPMENT

The grain industry needs fast, reliable tests to detect and quantify the incidence of fungal-produced 

mycotoxins in grain, as well as to accurately identify genetically engineered (GE) traits in grains. To 

ensure that commercially available tests provide reliable results, FGIS offers a performance evaluation 

and certification program. In FY 2021, 20 rapid test kits were evaluated for the analysis of mycotoxins 

(aflatoxins, deoxynivalenol, fumonisins, ochratoxin A, and zearalenone). Of the 20 test kits, 13 met the 

FGIS performance criteria and were certified.

Industry stakeholders had expressed to FGIS the need for a higher degree of precision and accuracy in 

mycotoxin test kit results. In response to this need, FGIS proposed changes to the test kit criteria through 

the Federal Register and solicited comments in FY 2021. FGIS received comments from 13 stakeholders. 

FGIS is in the process of developing and issuing a decisional notice in response to these comments.

Mycotoxin Monitoring Programs. FGIS administers monitoring programs for deoxynivalenol (DON) 

and aflatoxins as part of an overall mycotoxin quality assurance program. In these programs, official 

service providers across the United States submit samples for reanalysis by FGIS reference methods, 

which utilize highly sensitive and selective instrumentation. In FY 2021, FGIS analyzed 970 samples, 

from 45 official testing locations, for DON. FGIS also analyzed 1,156 samples, from 60 official testing 

locations, for aflatoxins. Weekly reports showing a comparison of the results were provided to testing 

locations to assess their performance. Routine correspondence between official service providers and 

FGIS chemists was maintained to aid in report interpretation, quality control, and resolution of testing 

issues indicated by test results. These monitoring programs play a critical role in evaluating and improving 

the accuracy of official mycotoxin tests.

MYCOTOXIN AND BIOTECHNOLOGY 

RAPID TEST KIT EVALUATIONS

Results

22 | FY 2021 FGIS Annual Report to Congress | 23 
REFERENCE METHOD ANALYSES

Wheat Functionality. The intrinsic qualities of wheat 

affect the quality of end products. To best determine the 

ability of wheat to meet specific end-use needs, accurate 

test methods are needed to differentiate functional 

qualities. These methods should also be practical, rapid, 

and reproducible among different laboratories to provide 

value transparency from the producer to the processor, 

thereby enhancing the marketability of U.S. wheat. 

The falling number test is an important measure of the 

effect of sprout damage on wheat and an indicator of the 

performance of wheat during the processing of flour for 

making various food products. FGIS administers a national 

quality assurance and control program for official falling 

number testing it provides. In FY 2021, FGIS continued 

to evaluate the accuracy of official falling number testing 

through sample monitoring and check sample distributions 

for 55 falling number instruments located across five field 

offices and thirteen official agencies. In FY 2021, 1,666 

samples were tested for the monitoring program and two 

rounds of check sample distributions were completed.

FGIS establishes and performs reference method analyses for protein, moisture, 

oil, and mycotoxins. These methods are used to: 

•	 Maintain the accuracy of current testing in the official inspection system.

•	 Support the development of new rapid field tests. 

The protein, moisture, oil, and fatty acid reference analyses support the nearinfrared spectroscopic, dielectric, and nuclear magnetic resonance instruments 

used for rapid inspection at field locations that perform official testing. The 

mycotoxin reference analyses serve as the benchmark in the evaluation of test 

kits and accuracy of official mycotoxin tests across the United States. Reference 

method analysis is available upon request for Board Appeals of mycotoxins – 

aflatoxins, deoxynivalenol, fumonisin, ochratoxin A, and zearalenone.

The Japan Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) is considering 

new regulations for ochratoxin A (OTA) in wheat and barley. At the request of 

MAFF, FGIS agreed to participate in a 4-year study with MAFF for comparison 

of results from origin and destination testing of OTA in wheat and barley. FGIS 

completed the third year of analyses in FY 2021.

24 | FY 2021 FGIS Annual Report to Congress | 25 
STANDARDIZING COMMERCIAL 

GRAIN INSPECTION EQUIPMENT

In FY 2021, FGIS continued the 

cooperative effort with the National 

Conference on Weights and Measures 

(NCWM) and the National Institute for 

Standards and Technology (NIST) to 

standardize commercial inspection 

equipment. The commercial inspection 

equipment includes moisture meters and 

any test weight modules contained within 

moisture meters, as well as near-infrared 

analyzers for protein, oil, and starch. FGIS 

served as the sole evaluation laboratory 

for grain inspection equipment under 

the NCWM National Type Evaluation 

Program (NTEP) to determine if the 

equipment meets the requirements as 

legal for trade for States that regulate 

commercial grain transactions. 

FGIS collected grain moisture meter 

calibration data for eight instrument 

models as part of the NTEP ongoing 

calibration program. Calibrations 

developed in this program provide 

traceability throughout the official FGIS 

moisture program, including the air 

oven reference method, and they are 

used in most moisture meters used 

for commercial grain transactions 

throughout the United States. The NTEP 

ongoing calibration program certified 

moisture calibrations for hard red winter 

wheat, hard red spring wheat, hard white 

wheat, soft red winter wheat, soft white 

wheat, durum wheat, corn, soybeans, 

six-row barley, two-row barley, long 

grain rough rice, medium grain rough 

rice, oats, sorghum, and sunflower 

seeds (oil-type) grain types. Over the 

past 5 years, NTEP has maintained an 

accuracy level among all participating 

instrument models that agrees with the 

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) 

air oven method (American Association 

of Cereal Chemists (AACC) standard 

reference method) within 0.2 percent 

moisture, on average, all grain types 

covering the primary market moisture 

ranges. In FY 2021, FGIS will collect 

grain moisture meter calibration data for 

seven NTEP models and will conduct 

NTEP testing for new grain inspection 

equipment models upon request. 

In FY 2021, FGIS’ NTEP laboratory 

coordinated its issuance of Certificates of 

Conformance with FGIS’ implementation 

of calibrations for the official moisture 

meter models for use with the major 

grains. This close coordination ensured 

that State-regulated commercial moisture 

meter users could use the same meters 

and calibrations as those used in official 

inspection. 

In FY 2021, FGIS began analyzing 

samples from the 2021 crop. This data 

and reports will be provided for the NTEP 

ongoing calibration program to certify 

Near-Infrared Transmittance (NIRT) 

protein calibration for various classes of 

wheat and barley as well as certifying 

NIRT protein and oil calibrations for 

soybeans and corn. This program 

will reduce variability among NTEPapproved instruments used for State 

regulated inspections.

Harmonizing Biotech Reference Methods.

There is a need for highly specific and accurate 

tests for the various GE crops grown in the 

United States. FGIS has developed intralaboratory validated real- time polymerase 

chain reaction methods and has evaluated 

the accuracy, reliability, and proficiency of 

publicly available methods used to detect 

and identify GE grains and oilseeds. FGIS 

continues to collaborate with international 

organizations such as Analytical Excellence 

through Industry Collaboration, International 

Organization for Standardization, American 

Association of Cereal Chemists International, 

The Global Low-level Presence Initiative, 

and the Canadian Grain Commission to 

harmonize testing technologies for GE grains 

and oilseeds.

26 | FY 2021 FGIS Annual Report to Congress | 27 
To make further use of technology, USWA 

asked FGIS to produce two videos. The first 

video demonstrates how wheat samples 

are broken down in a laboratory using 

FGIS-approved equipment to determine 

various quality factor results. The second 

video highlights an FGIS inspector grading 

various portions. The video includes closeups of individual types of damaged kernels. 

FGIS produced the videos in both English 

and Spanish. The videos will allow USWA 

to reduce the seminar time from 3 to 4 hours down to just 1 hour. The videos also allow the audience to 

virtually experience an actual FGIS inspection lab in operation. A Spanish speaking inspector from FGIS’ 

Board of Appeals and Review will give an opening PowerPoint presentation on the role of FGIS and 

answer questions after showing the two videos. 

FGIS gave a virtual presentation to the USDA, Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) Junior Professionals 

Advisory Committee (JPAC) for recently hired employees to learn about how FGIS’ International Affairs 

Division (IAD) works together with USDA Cooperators and other USDA Agencies, particularly with FAS on 

addressing and resolving grain trade issues. This recorded seminar is being shared with FAS’ overseas 

posts to provide new officers with better understanding about FGIS. 

Leveraging technology enables FGIS to connect virtually with a larger audience to maintain and expand 

U.S. grain exports.

LEVERAGING TECHNOLOGY 

FOR OUTREACH

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, FGIS would travel to other countries 

to give in-person presentations explaining the U.S. grain standards, 

convey the role of FGIS, and conduct grain grading workshops at the 

request of USDA Cooperator Organizations. All travel and in-person 

conferences stopped when the pandemic hit. However, the need 

remained to educate foreign buyers and answer their questions through 

seminars and conferences. FGIS and the cooperators began to leverage 

existing technology like Microsoft Teams and ZOOM to support continued 

outreach activities. This technology enabled us to reach a wider audience 

than in-person conferences and reduced costs to the organizers by 

eliminating travel expenses. FGIS has been using this technology 

since to hold meetings internally and externally with our stakeholders.

The U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) was the first cooperator 

organization to request FGIS to speak at a virtual 2-day conference in 

Europe. Several hundred international participants attended virtually. 

Other cooperator organizations like U.S. Grains Council and U.S. Wheat 

Associates (USWA) also began holding virtual seminars.

Section IV 

Promoting U.S. Grain to 

International Customers

China’s Revised Soybean and Wheat Standards. FGIS partnered with USDA’s FAS to reply to China’s 

two notifications to the World Trade Organization (WTO) proposing new quality standard parameters for 

soybeans and wheat. The notifications identified terms and definitions, classification, quality requirements, 

test methods, inspection rules, labelling, packaging, storage and transportation requirements for soybeans 

and wheat. 

FGIS took the lead in drafting the technical response to China, expressing U.S. concerns with their 

proposed standards. If China were to restrict commodity quality standards to the terms proposed in these 

notifications, exports of U.S. soybean and wheat to China could be impacted. FGIS worked with FAS 

to finalize the U.S. response to China through the WTO. The response expressed U.S. concerns and 

requested China provide the science behind these changes. China responded that contractual agreements 

made for soybeans and wheat shipments to China must cite or comply with Chinese standards. 

28 | FY 2021 FGIS Annual Report to Congress | 29 
EXPORTER REGISTRATION LIST AND WAIVERS

FGIS partnered with the North American Export 

Grain Association (NAEGA) and National Grain 

and Feed Association (NGFA) to promote exporter 

registration requirements under the U.S. Grain 

Standards Act and implementing regulations. 

To enhance outreach to grain exporters, FGIS, 

NAEGA, and NGFA drafted and shared a notice 

to stakeholders explaining the need to comply 

with these requirements. 

The USGSA, 7 U.S.C. 87f-1, requires the 

registration of all persons engaged in the business 

of buying grain for sale in foreign commerce. In 

addition, those individuals who handle, weigh, or 

transport grain for sale in foreign commerce must 

register.

The USGSA waives official inspection and 

weighing for exporters who export less than 

15,000 Metric Tons (MT) of grain on an individual 

elevator basis during the preceding calendar year 

and plan to export less than 15,000 MT of grain 

during the current calendar year. Exporters and 

individual elevator operators planning to operate 

under the waiver must send a written notification to 

the Quality Assurance and Compliance Division. 

Because registration and waiver requests are 

required annually, entities must actively renew 

each fall for inclusion in the export registration 

and waiver lists for the following year, which 

commences January 1. 

In FY 2021, FGIS processed 104 certificates for 

export registration and 11 waivers (15,000MT). 

Registered exporters can be found at the AMS 

public website.

Complainant Grain/Commodity

Number of 

Complaints Nature of Complaint

Algeria Corn 1 Broken Corn and Foreign Material; 

Damaged Kernels Total; and

Heat Damage

China Corn 1 Damaged Kernels Total

Soybeans 1 Treated Seeds

Mexico Wheat 1 Wheat of Other Class

1 Infestation

Vietnam Wheat 1 Canadian Thistle Seed

TOTAL COMPLAINTS 6

COMPLAINTS FROM U.S. GRAIN IMPORTERS

In FY 2021, FGIS received six quality complaints from importers on grains inspected under the USGSA.

SUMMARY OF COMPLAINTS REPORTED BY

IMPORTERS ON INSPECTION AND WEIGHING IN FY 2021

30 | FY 2021 FGIS Annual Report to Congress | 31 
In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations 

and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering 

USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender 

identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, 

income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil 

rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). 

Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., 

Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible Agency or 

USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay 

Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than 

English.

To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD3027, found online at How to File a Program Discrimination Complaint and at any USDA office or write a letter 

addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy 

of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: (1) mail: U.S. 

Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, 

SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: program.intake@usda.gov

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender. 

Learn more about the Federal Grain Inspection Service www.ams.usda.gov

December 2021