2020

Annua

Repor

Agricultural Marketing Service

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Each year, pursuant to Section 17B (7 U.S.C. § 87f-2) of the U.S. Grain Standards 

Act (USGSA), the Federal Grain Inspection Service (FGIS) respectfully submits an 

annual report to the U.S. Congress. Activities described in this report cover Fiscal 

Year (FY) 2020 (October 1, 2019, through September 30, 2020). 

This report is divided into four sections. After the Overview, Section I, Sections II 

through IV represent program updates. 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. 

About 

this 

Report

Table of Contents

For inspection and weighing program data and financial information, 

go to: www.ams.usda.gov/reports/fgis-annual-reports

This document is available in an electronic 508 PDF version on our 

website at: www.ams.usda.gov/about-ams/accessibility

SECTION I OVERVIEW 4

PROGRAM MISSION............................................................................................................................................4

THE FEDERAL GRAIN INSPECTION SERVICE .................................................................................................4

KEY ACTIVITIES ...................................................................................................................................................5

EMPLOYEES AND LOCATIONS ..........................................................................................................................6

FGIS OVERSIGHT OF OFFICIAL SERVICE PROVIDERS ..................................................................................7

FGIS'S RESPONSE TO CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) .......................................................................................10

SECTION II STANDARDS DEVELOPMENT 14

SECTION III THE NATIONAL GRAIN CENTER 15

PROVIDING THE MARKET WITH TERMS AND METHODS FOR QUALITY ASSESSMENT ...........................15

BOARD OF APPEALS AND REVIEW .................................................................................................................16

PESTICIDE RESIDUE TESTING AND METHOD DEVELOPMENT ...................................................................18

MYCOTOXIN AND BIOTECHNOLOGY RAPID TEST KIT EVALUATIONS ........................................................19

REFERENCE METHOD ANALYSES ..................................................................................................................21

BIOTECHNOLOGY PROFICIENCY PROGRAM ................................................................................................22

STANDARDIZING COMMERCIAL GRAIN INSPECTION EQUIPMENT ............................................................23

SECTION IV PROMOTING U.S. GRAIN TO INTERNATIONAL CUSTOMERS 24

FY 2020 INTERNATIONAL OUTREACH ............................................................................................................25

COMPLAINTS FROM U.S. GRAIN IMPORTERS ...............................................................................................26
4 

Annual Report FY 2020 5 Annual Report FY 2020 • Establishes and maintains official U.S. grain 

standards for barley, canola, corn, flaxseed, 

oats, rye, sorghum, soybeans, sunflower seed, 

triticale, wheat, and mixed grain.

• Promotes the uniform application of official 

U.S. grain standards by official inspection 

personnel.

• Establishes methods and procedures and 

approves equipment for the official inspection 

and weighing of grain.

• 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.

• Delegates qualified State agencies to inspect 

and weigh grain at certain U.S. export port 

locations

• Designates and licenses qualified State and 

private agencies to inspect and weigh grain, 

as well as perform other official services, at 

interior locations.

• Provides Federal oversight of the official 

inspection and weighing of grain by delegated 

States and designated agencies.

• Monitors the quality and weight of U.S. 

grain as received at destination ports and 

investigates complaints or discrepancies 

reported by international buyers.

• Investigates, in cooperation with the USDA’s 

Office of the Inspector General, alleged 

violations of the USGSA and initiates 

appropriate corrective action.

• Helps U.S. trading partners develop and 

improve their grain inspection and weighing 

programs through education and outreach to 

international buyers.

KEY ACTIVITIES

In administering and enforcing the USGSA, FGIS: The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA), 

Agricultural Marketing Service (AMA), 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 

FGIS's 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

Section I

Overview
6 Annual Report FY 2020 7 Annual Report FY 2020

FGIS oversees 43 State and private agencies that provide official services under the USGSA. Of the 43, 33 are 

private agencies and 6 are State agencies designated to provide official inspection and/or 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. 

These private and State agencies represent a unique network of approximately 2,500 staff members who conduct 

official inspection and weighing services for grain producers, handlers, processors, and exporters across the 

country.

EMPLOYEES AND LOCATIONS FGIS OVERSIGHT OF OFFICIAL SERVICE PROVIDERS

FGIS is Composed of

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.

FGIS is headquartered in Washington, DC, with the bulk of employees located at the National Grain Center in 

Kansas City, Missouri.

There are seven field offices and one Federal/State office. Field offices are located in Grand Forks, North 

Dakota; Domestic Inspection Operations Office (DIOO), Kansas City, Missouri; League City, Texas; New 

Orleans, Louisiana; Portland, Oregon; Stuttgart, Arkansas; and Toledo, Ohio. FGIS has one Federal/State office 

in Olympia, Washington. 

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

TT Titus

TS Tri-State

Designated Private Agencies

NOTE: The Official Agency Geographic Areas and FGIS Field Office Map located on Pages 8-9.

2

Delegated States 1Designated States Designated States and 

Delegated States

64

Temporary

 Employees

393

Permanent

 Employees

39

Intermittent

 Employees
8 Annual Report FY 2020 9 Annual Report FY 2020

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

Official Agency Geographic Areas and FGIS Field Office Map
10 Annual Report FY 2020 11 Annual Report FY 2020

At interior offices, FGIS staggered work schedules to ensure fewer people in tight spaces. FGIS also expanded 

a video proctoring program, whereby all licensing activities could still be conducted without the necessity to 

travel to a field office to take exams in person. 

Preparations began early, since FGIS conducts exams on foreign vessels and interacts with crews from around 

the world. FGIS was proactive in January and February, before the virus appeared on U.S. shores, to procure 

personal protective equipment (PPE) and ensure staff did not board vessels under quarantine. Once the national 

emergency was declared in March, FGIS and official agencies changed work procedures to maintain operations. 

FGIS reduced crew sizes where possible, implemented distancing measures, telework flexibilities, and extra 

cleaning. All staff was provided PPE, and labs have been modified to allow for appropriate distancing. 

FGIS'S RESPONSE 

TO CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19)

Faced with an unprecedented global pandemic, FGIS and official agencies rose to the challenge and provided 

service safely without fail in 2020. FGIS and official agencies perform official grain inspection and weighing, 

much of which is required by law. With a value of over $30 billion annually, grain exports cannot stop moving, 

as customers in the United States and around the world rely on FGIS certificates to make these transactions.
12 Annual Report FY 2020 13 Annual Report FY 2020

Amidst the nationwide shortages of hand 

sanitizer and face masks due to COVID-19, 

FGIS, Technology and Science Division (TSD) 

produced hand sanitizer and 3D-printed face 

masks for distribution to support the health 

and safety of its employees. Using U.S. Food 

and Drug Administration guidelines, TSD 

produced 388 liters (equivalent to 3,280 fourounce bottles) of hand sanitizer from April 3 

until June 12. The hand sanitizer was produced 

and shipped or distributed to eight FGIS field 

offices, the National Grain Center, five other 

AMS programs including Livestock and 

Poultry, Specialty Crops, Dairy, Cotton and 

Tobacco, Science and Technology, and the 

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service’s 

Veterinary Services. TSD produced 320 masks 

and shipped or distributed them to ten FGIS 

field offices. FGIS was assisted by the AMS 

Livestock and Poultry program in setting up its 

3D printer to efficiently print the masks.

To protect the integrity of the official system, the USGSA requires FGIS to confirm Official Service Providers 

(OSP) are meeting established criteria. Typically, FGIS conducts onsite audits to check compliance. In a 

proactive effort to protect the best interest of the grain inspection program and our stakeholders during the 

Covid-19 pandemic, FGIS designed a new process by which it can accomplish this requirement remotely, via 

desk audit. This enables the OSPs and FGIS to gather the information and associated documents without the 

risk of exposure to the virus. Most of the OSPs are small companies and their ability to provide grain inspection 

is essential to the grain industry. Due to the time frame between requesting and receiving documentation, the 

lifecycle of individual audits is expanded and multiple audits may overlap. At a minimum, these desk audits will 

continue through the end of the calendar year. 

To date, no grain inspection or 

weighing services have been 

interrupted by the pandemic. 

FGIS sends thanks to our 

fantastic employees and 

official agencies for working 

safely, and to our industry 

partners for resolving issues as 

they arose locally.
14 Annual Report FY 2020 15 Annual Report FY 2020

The National Grain Center (NGC), located in Kansas City, 

Missouri, hosts numerous events/tours each year to educate 

various stakeholder groups and customers about various 

aspects of the official inspection and weighing system. 

In FY 2020, NGC hosted 11 events, of which 3 engaged 

international trade teams. USDA cooperators, such as 

the U.S. Grains Council and the U.S. Wheat Associates, 

sponsor many of the groups that participate in these events. 

NGC staff provided technical training and delivered indepth presentations on quality control methods for visual 

inspections, as well as mycotoxin, pesticide residue, and 

biotechnology testing services. These sessions provide 

stakeholders the opportunity to interact with subject matter 

experts and develop better understanding/confidence in the 

U.S. grain inspection system.

FGIS regularly reviews the official standards and 

inspection instructions for grain and commodities 

to ensure the standards remain relevant to the 

marketplace. In FY 2020, FGIS: published six 

updated handbooks of instructions for inspection of 

commodities, namely Grain Inspection Handbook 

1, Grain Inspection Handbook 2, Grain Inspection 

Handbook 3, Fumigation Handbook, Sanitation 

and Food Defense Handbook, completed drafting a 

new Certification Handbook, and completed draft 

language updating Regulations at 7 C.F.R. 800, 

801, 802, and 868. 

In FY 2021, FGIS will publish Requests for 

Comments, opening the U.S. Standards for 

Sorghum and the U.S. Standards for Wheat 

for review; prepare draft Notices of Proposed 

Rulemaking pertaining to the Regulations at 7 

C.F.R. 800, 801, 802, and 868.

PROVIDING THE 

MARKET WITH 

TERMS AND 

METHODS FOR 

QUALITY 

ASSESSMENT

Section III

The National Grain Center

Section II

Standards Development
16 Annual Report FY 2020 17 Annual Report FY 2020

The Board of Appeals and Review (BAR) is a team of six senior-level 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 other FGIS field offices. In FY 2020, the BAR rendered 

230 appeal decisions, which was a decline of 54 percent, as compared to FY 2019 (the BAR rendered 484 

grain appeals decisions). This difference could be attributed to improved grain quality and the results of grain 

inspections coincidentally aligning more closely to expectations of customers.

BOARD OF APPEALS AND REVIEW In addition to sensory oversight, the BAR manages 

a national equipment checktesting program. FGIS's 

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 2020, the BAR checktested over 1400 unique 

pieces of equipment.

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 

annual 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.

2020 Sorghum Odor Alignment Project. In FY 2020, 

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 2020, inspectors at 

domestic and export service points have been able to 

achieve an alignment accuracy rate of 87 percent with the BAR.
18 

Annual Report FY 2020 19 Annual Report FY 2020

MYCOTOXIN AND 

BIOTECHNOLOGY RAPID 

TEST KIT EVALUATIONS

PESTICIDE RESIDUE 

TESTING AND METHOD 

DEVELOPMENT

In FY 2020, FGIS received, analyzed, and issued 

certificates for 56 applicant-submitted samples, as 

compared to 25 applicant-submitted samples in FY 2019, 

resulting in a 124 percent increase in samples submitted 

for analysis. These samples consisted of 22 applicantsubmitted corn samples for 56 pesticide residues, 3 

applicant-submitted soybean samples for 62 pesticide 

residues, and 31 applicant-submitted wheat samples for 

75 pesticide residues, yielding a total of 3,743 pesticides 

results. Combining the grain surveys and applicant 

submissions, FGIS provided over 65,873 pesticide results, 

validating the quality of U.S. grain and providing data 

that helps convey value, compliance with food safety 

requirements, and adherence to the U.S. and international 

regulatory limits for facilitating trade.

In addition to the survey work, FGIS will have analyzed 

22 applicant-submitted corn samples for 56 pesticide 

residues, 3 applicant-submitted soybean samples for 62 

pesticide residues, and analyzed 31 applicant-submitted 

wheat samples for 75 pesticide residues for a total of 

3,743 pesticides results. A FGIS certificate was issued 

to the customer for each of the submitted samples. In 

FY 2020 FGIS received 56 applicant-submitted samples 

as compared to 25 applicant-submitted samples in 

FY 2019 equating to a 124 percent increase in FGIS 

applicant-submitted certificates. Combining the surveys 

and applicant submissions, FGIS provided over 65,873 

pesticide results, validating the quality of U.S. grain as it 

relates to food safety, value, and adherence to the U.S. and 

international regulatory limits for facilitating trade.

To bolster its efforts, in FY 2020, FGIS expanded 

its capability by modifying an existing method to 

test for glyphosate, glufosinate-ammonium, and 

aminomethylphosphonic acid (which is a degradation 

product of glyphosate). FGIS also revalidated two 

existing methods for 56 pesticide residues in corn and 72 

pesticides residues in soybeans.

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 2020, 17 rapid test 

kits were evaluated for the analysis of mycotoxins 

(aflatoxins, deoxynivalenol, fumonisins, ochratoxin 

A, and zearalenone). Of the 17 test kits, 13 met the 

FGIS performance criteria and were certified.

Technology has been developed using water, 

instead of more hazardous organic solvents, for the 

extraction of aflatoxins, deoxynivalenol, fumonisins, 

and zearalenone. The use of water eliminates the 

need for special handling of waste from hazardous 

organic solvents and reduces costs for conducting 

tests. It, also, reduces risk of exposing operators to 

hazardous chemicals when performing these tests. 

Of the 31 kits currently approved for use by FGIS 

for analysis of mycotoxins, 21 use water-based 

extraction technologies.

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 2020, FGIS analyzed 1,207 

samples, from 52 official testing locations, for 

DON and 1,464 samples, from 85 official testing 

locations, for aflatoxins. Weekly reports showing a 

comparison of the results obtained from the original 

inspections, to those obtained by the FGIS reference 

method, 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. 
20 

Annual Report FY 2020 21 Annual Report FY 2020

Wheat Functionality. The intrinsic qualities of wheat 

affects 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. In May 2019, FGIS implemented a new 

barometric pressure correction for the falling number 

test. 

In FY 2020, FGIS completed two rounds of check 

sample distributions and continued falling number 

inspection monitoring to evaluate accuracy of official 

testing. Reports that summarized testing performance 

were issued for both the check sample and inspection 

monitoring programs. Through these programs, FGIS 

determined that the barometric pressure correction 

significantly reduced bias in official falling number 

test results. In addition, the FGIS, TSD visited two 

field offices and three official agencies prior to the 

COVID-19 pandemic to provide training, evaluate 

analyst performance, and validate instruments used 

for official falling number testing. In FY 2020, also 

performed a large increase in the number of falling 

number appeal tests in support of the domestic and 

export trade of wheat. 

FGIS establishes and performs reference 

method analyses for protein, moisture, oil, 

and mycotoxins. These methods are used to: 

(1) maintain the accuracy of current testing in 

the official inspection system; and (2) support 

development of new rapid field tests. The protein, 

moisture, oil, and fatty acid reference analyses 

support the near infrared spectroscopic, dielectric, 

and nuclear magnetic resonance instruments used 

for rapid inspection at field locations that perform 

official testing. The mycotoxin reference analyses 

support the evaluation and standardization of rapid 

tests for official and commercial grain inspection, 

and support quality assurance programs ensuring 

consistent and reliable testing results. 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 second year 

of analyses in FY 2020.

REFERENCE 

METHOD 

ANALYSES
22 Annual Report FY 2020 23 Annual Report FY 2020

FGIS's Biotechnology Proficiency Program, which 

was initiated in 2002, enables organizations to 

assess and improve their accuracy and precision in 

identifying GE events in grains and oilseeds and gives 

grain buyers and sellers confidence in the results 

produced by GE testing laboratories: www.ams.usda.

gov/services/fgis/standardization/proficiency. The 

program involves 330 registered 

organizations (an addition of 

6 compared to 2019) on five 

continents– Africa, Asia, Europe, 

and North and South America, 

with more than 80 percent of the 

participants from organizations 

outside the United States. FGIS 

biannually distributes blind 

test samples to participants and 

compiles and disseminates the 

results of tests.

Response to Inadvertent 

Release of Unapproved Traits 

into the Marketplace. In recent 

years, there have been rare 

occasions when unapproved GE 

events entered into the U.S. grain 

handling system. When such 

an inadvertent release occurs, a 

rapid response is necessary to 

identify and validate methods 

to detect the trait and thereby 

protect the integrity of U.S. 

grain markets. FGIS validated 

eight polymerase chain reaction 

(PCR) based methods for 

the detection of the Roundup 

ReadyTM trait in wheat that was 

inadvertently released into the 

marketplace in 2019. In 2020, 

the PCR based methods were 

provided to Asian trade partners 

to re-open U.S. Wheat markets. 

The testing methods must be 

highly specific and sensitive to 

effectively maintain confidence 

in U.S. grain marketing systems. 

Current detection methods within 

FGIS's Biotechnology Laboratory 

focus on high-throughput DNA 

extraction, methodologies, which 

enables FGIS to more effectively 

respond to inadvertently released 

products. FGIS has completed 

the development of high-throughput DNA extraction 

methods for corn, soybeans, wheat, and rice. FGIS 

assists government and private laboratories that use 

protein and DNA- based technologies by performing 

impartial third-party verification of their methods 

for both qualitative and quantitative detection of 

transgenic events in GE crops. FGIS involvement 

in responding to such incidents 

facilitates harmonization 

of sampling plans and of 

international testing for GE grains 

and oilseeds. FGIS provides 

expertise to USDA’s Animal and 

Plant Health Inspection Service 

(APHIS) when responding 

to inadvertent releases of 

unapproved GE events.

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 intra-laboratory 

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 participated 

on a scientific panel of experts 

engaging U.S. stakeholders and 

influencing outcomes on issues 

related to testing of GE traits in 

grains with the goal of developing 

global scientific consensus 

regarding the analysis of 

transgenic events. 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. 

BIOTECHNOLOGY PROFICIENCY PROGRAM

In FY 2020, 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 the majority of moisture meters used for 

commercial grain transactions throughout the United States.

STANDARDIZING COMMERCIAL 

GRAIN INSPECTION EQUIPMENT

In FY 2020, FGIS and NIST entered into its sixth five-year Interagency Agreement to support the ongoing 

calibration program that is funded primarily by the participating manufacturers in addition to funding from 

FGIS and NIST as specified in the Interagency Agreement. 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 USDA air oven 

method (AACC standard reference method) within 0.15 percent moisture for corn, durum wheat, sorghum, and 

long grain rough rice, and within 0.1 percent moisture for all other grain types covering the primary market 

moisture ranges. Over the same time period, the NTEP models have consistently maintained that level of 

accuracy, deviating by no more than 0.4 percent moisture for corn and sunflower seeds, and no more than 0.3 

percent moisture for all other grain types in any given year for some models when unusual crop conditions are 

encountered. 

In FY 2020, FGIS's NTEP laboratory coordinated its issuance of Certificates of Conformance with FGIS's 

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 2017, the NTEP laboratory began an evaluation of a near-infrared analyzer for moisture, oil, and protein. 

In FY 2019, the NTEP laboratory began an evaluation of a near-infrared analyzer for moisture, oil, protein, 

and test weight per bushel. The evaluations of these devices are ongoing. In FY 2020, FGIS will collect grain 

moisture meter calibration data for eight NTEP models and will conduct NTEP testing for new grain inspection 

equipment models upon request.
24 Annual Report FY 2020 25 Annual Report FY 2020

FGIS responded to customers’ needs for technical assistance in foreign markets. Exporters, importers, and 

end-users of U.S. grains and oilseeds, as well as other USDA agencies, USDA cooperator organizations, and 

other governments, occasionally asked for FGIS’s technical expertise to address their quality concerns. FY 2020 

outreach highlights include:

• Working with APHIS to make changes to our container fumigation procedures to meet the specific 

requirements of the importing countries. This was necessary to keep U.S. grain markets open as well as 

expand market access in new markets for U.S. grain. 

• At the request of USDA, Foreign Agricultural Service, FGIS with approval from APHIS, will provide 

letterhead statements for U.S. food aid shipments, stating the commodity does not contain any biotech 

derived products. Many countries that receive USDA food aid shipments of grain and grain products now 

require such documentation to allow much needed food aid to enter their country.

• Traveling to Dubai to meet with the Iraqi Grain Board at the request of U.S. Wheat Associates and the USA 

Rice Federation to discuss its role in sampling and inspecting wheat and milled rice exports. FGIS discussed 

representative sampling methods that could be used at destination to eliminate discrepant results due to 

difference in sampling methods. FGIS also offered technical assistance to set up multiple wheat labs in Iraq 

and sent a list of needed sampling and laboratory equipment to the Iraqi Grain Board. 

• Participating in a virtual conference in Singapore, at the request of the U.S. Soybean Export Council 

(USSEC), to explain the role of FGIS in inspecting export soybean shipments. The conference hosted 

attendees from the Southeast Asia region, giving FGIS the opportunity to reach many current and 

prospective customers. In response to participant questions, USSEC referenced FGIS data from the export 

soybean sample survey.

• Joining in several U.S. Wheat Associates-sponsored virtual seminars with flour millers from several 

countries, including Mexico, Venezuela, and the Caribbean. FGIS gave presentations on its role in exporting 

grain and conducting wheat inspections. Participants asked many questions about specific quality factors of 

the past wheat and current wheat crops so they could contract for the exact quality they desired. To answer 

many of their questions, U.S. Wheat Associates used the annual FGIS wheat export quality survey data 

published in U.S. Wheat Associates' annual crop quality publication. 

• Collaborating with U.S. Wheat Associates to update its “Overview of U.S. Wheat Inspection” which is 

used as a marketing tool to promote the procedures used by FGIS in sampling, weighing, inspecting, and 

certifying the quality of U.S. wheat exports. U.S. Wheat Associates publishes this valuable marketing tool 

in different languages and distributes it to wheat buyers around the world in addition to posting it on U.S. 

Wheat Associates' website. 

FY 2020 INTERNATIONAL OUTREACH

FGIS personnel frequently meets with delegations visiting from other countries to brief them on the U.S. grain 

marketing system, our national inspection and weighing system, U.S. grain standards, and FGIS's mission. 

Many of these delegations are sponsored by USDA Cooperator organizations like U.S. Wheat Associates and 

U.S. Grains Council, which arrange visits to grain production areas, FGIS field offices, onsite laboratories at 

export grain elevators, and the FGIS, NGC in Kansas City, Missouri. At the NGC, delegations often receive 

technical training on analytical testing procedures and grain inspection methods and procedures.

Starting in March, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, FGIS could no longer travel internationally to meet with 

importers and end users of U.S. grain in person to provide them with briefings about FGIS and hands-on grain 

inspection training as FGIS had done in the past. 

• To improve the effectiveness of a virtual conference, FGIS updated its presentation materials, inserting short 

videos to demonstrate FGIS's technical inspection procedures. 

• FGIS's Digital Media Group produced inspection procedure videos and printed wheat grading mats 

displaying the visual reference images of wheat damage used in the training sessions. 

• Virtual meetings were conducted using video conferencing software so the audience could see the presenter 

and the presentations live, but in the safety of their own homes. These virtual training sessions enabled the 

organizing cooperators to efficiently reach more people from different countries in one conference rather 

than host multiple sessions in different countries. This saved time and travel costs for the cooperators, FGIS 

and the participants. 

• Outreach materials, virtual briefings, and training sessions foster a better understanding of the entire U.S. 

grain marketing system and serve to enhance purchasers’ confidence in U.S. grain. Ultimately, these efforts 

help move our nation’s harvest to end-users around the globe.

Section IV 

Promoting U.S. Grain to 

International Customers
26 Annual Report FY 2020 27 Annual Report FY 2020

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and 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 at www.ams.usda.gov

December 2020

Corn, Soybean and Wheat Quality Surveys. FGIS coordinated with the U.S. Grains Council, the United 

Soybean Board, and U.S. Wheat Associates to conduct export corn, soybean and wheat quality surveys. FGIS 

assisted with the surveys by collecting, grading, and testing samples, and providing export inspection data. 

The surveys are conducted annually. U.S. Wheat Associates and the U.S. Grains Council use the survey data to 

create annual harvest quality reports which are expected every year by international customers. The customers 

use the data to make purchasing decisions for the coming year. The cooperator organizations use the survey 

data, to respond to trade issues that may arise due to changes in the importing country or changes to the buyer’s 

quality specifications. 

U.S. Wheat Associates referenced the FGIS annual survey data in U.S. Wheat Associates' Annual Wheat Crop 

Quality Report booklet during the FGIS meeting with Iraqi Grain Board in Dubai and in the virtual wheat 

seminars held in Mexico and other Central American countries. This data proved very valuable to buyers to 

know the quality and help them specify quality factors in their contracts to get the quality they want. This 

publication is helping the U.S. maintain our wheat markets and is now being used to open wheat markets in 

South American countries.

The U.S. Grains Council uses the FGIS corn survey data in their annual Corn Crop Quality publication to help 

them market U.S. corn around the globe. 

COMPLAINTS FROM U.S. GRAIN IMPORTERS

FGIS administers a formal process for investigating grain quality and weight discrepancies. When an importer 

of U.S. grain submits a claim regarding quality or weight, FGIS analyzes samples retained on file from the 

original inspection and analyzes samples submitted from the complainant (if the buyer chooses to submit them) 

and evaluates the accuracy of the initial inspection. This process allows FGIS to verify whether the original 

inspection and weighing service provided at the time of loading was correct, based on all available information. 

FGIS then issues a report outlining its findings.

Occasionally, a particular buyer or importing country reports repeated discrepancies which cannot be resolved 

by a shipment-by-shipment review under this process. In such cases, FGIS may conduct collaborative sample 

studies or joint monitoring activities to address the discrepancy in a more comprehensive manner. 

In FY 2020, FGIS received two quality complaints from importers on grains inspected under the USGSA, as 

amended. 

SUMMARY OF COMPLAINTS REPORTED BY IMPORTERS ON

 INSPECTION AND WEIGHING IN FISCAL YEAR 2020

Complainant Grain/Commodity Number of Complaints Nature of Complaint

Mexico Wheat 1 Infestation

Vietnam Soybeans 1 High foreign material and 

damaged shipping containers

TOTAL 2