United States Department of Agriculture

Agricultural Marketing Service

Federal Grain Inspection Service

Directive 9180.70 March 14, 2022

Distribution: FGIS, OSP, Industry Originating Office: FMD PPMAB

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employer.

INSPECTION OF CRACKED CORN

Contents

INSPECTION OF CRACKED CORN ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������1

1. PURPOSE����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������

2. REPLACEMENT HIGHLIGHTS��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������

3. GENERAL INFORMATION���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������

4. DEFINITION OF CRACKED CORN�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������

5. ODOR�����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������

7. TEST WEIGHT PER BUSHEL ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������

8. MOISTURE���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������

9. DAMAGED AND HEAT-DAMAGED KERNELS��������������������������������������������������������������������

10. WHOLE KERNELS, CRACKED CORN, AND OTHER MATERIAL������������������������������������

11. AFLATOXIN TESTING��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������

12. STARLINK TESTING ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������

13. OTHER FACTORS/CONDITION����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������

14. LOADING REQUIREMENTS ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������

15. CERTIFICATION ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������

16. QUESTIONS ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������
FGIS Directive 9180.70 March 14, 2022

Page 2

1. PURPOSE

This directive establishes uniform procedures for the analysis of cracked corn as “Not 

Standardized Grain” under the U.S. Grain Standards Act (USGS

2. REPLACEMENT HIGHLIGHTS

This directive is revised to specify that any moisture meter listed as approved in 

the Moisture Handbook can be used to determine moisture content. This directive

supersedes FGIS Directive 9180.70, “Inspection of Cracked Corn” dated 5/01/1

3. GENERAL INFORMATION

a. Inspection of cracked corn is upon request and on a factor only basi

b. The instructions included in this directive are for cracked corn only. Cracked cor

inspection criteria is not applicable to corn screenings

c. All quantities referenced in this directive are approximate unless otherwise

	 specified.

d. There are no classes, subclasses, or numerical grades for cracked cor

e. In addition to the whole kernel and cracked corn analysis described in this

directive, an applicant may request an analysis for other quality factors such as 

moisture, test weight per bushel, damaged kernels, heat-damaged kernels, and 

aflatoxin.

f. Odor analysis is required on all cracked cor

g. Use an approved divider to obtain sub portions of a sample for analysis unless

	 otherwise specified.

h. 	 Official inspection personnel shall document inspection information during

sampling and inspection

i. Four inspection levels (original, reinspection, appeal, and board appeal) are

available under USGSA regulations for single lot and composite lot inspections

For shiplots and unit trains loaded to specific contract requirements, only three

levels of inspection (original, review (reinspection or appeal inspection), and board 

appeal inspection are available
FGIS Directive 9180.70 March 14, 2022

Page 3

4. DEFINITION OF CRACKED CORN

a. Cracked corn, as described in this directive, is Not Standardized Grain that

consists of broken kernels of shelled dent corn and/or shelled flint corn. Cracked

corn kernels are kernels that are chipped or broken and not 100 percent intact from 

their original shape and size

b. 	 The sample must not meet the definition of corn (i.e., grain consisting of 50 percent

or more of whole kernels of shelled dent corn and/or shelled flint corn and not more

than 10 percent of other standardized grains) to be considered as cracked corn

c. 	 Visually examine the sample to determine if it meets the definition of corn or

cracked corn. If an analysis is necessary, make the determination on a 250-gram

representative portion on the basis of the sample as a whole. From the 250-gram

portion remove all whole kernels (i.e., kernels with less than one fourth broken off)

of corn and, if necessary, other standardized grains and calculate the percentage 

of whole kernels of corn and other standardized grains

5. ODOR

a. Determine odor on evidence obtained from the sample or lot as a whole using

	 classification examples as listed below.

Sour Musty Commercially Objectionable

Foreign Odors

Boot

Fermenting

Insect (acrid)

Pigpen

Ground

Insect

Moldy

Animal hides

Decaying animal and vegetable matter

Fertilizer

Fumigant

Insecticide

Oil products

Skunk

Smoke

Strong weed

b. Record the words “Musty,” “Sour”, or “Commercially Objectionable Foreign Odor”

in the “Remarks” section of the certificate. If samples have no odor, enter “OK” on

the work record
FGIS Directive 9180.70 March 14, 2022

Page 4

7. TEST WEIGHT PER BUSHEL

a. Test weight per Winchester bushel (2,150.42 cubic inches) is determined using a

approved device according to procedures prescribed in FGIS instructions

b. Determine test weight on a representative portion of the original sample with a

quantity sufficient to overflow the kettle. Record test weight results on the work

record as displayed on the electronic scale or in whole and tenth pounds to the 

nearest tenth pound. Record the test weight on the certificate in whole and tenth

pounds

c. If requested, convert the pounds per bushel (lbs./Bu) result to kilograms pe

hectoliter (kg/hl) using the following formula: lbs./Bu x 1.287 = kg/hl and record i

the “Remarks” section in whole and tenths

8. MOISTURE

a. Moisture is the water content in cracked corn and is determined by approved

moisture instruments listed in the Moisture Handbook utilizing the corn calibrations 

(see FGIS Directive 9180.61

b. Determine moisture on a representative portion of approximately 650 gram and

	 record the percentage of moisture on the certificate to the nearest tenth percent.

9. DAMAGED AND HEAT-DAMAGED KERNELS

a. Damaged kernels are whole kernels or pieces of corn kernels that are badly

ground-damaged, badly weather-damaged, diseased, frost-damaged, germdamaged, heat-damaged, insect-bored, mold-damaged, sprout-damaged, or 

otherwise materially damaged

b. Heat-damaged kernels are whole kernels or pieces of corn kernels that are

materially discolored and damaged by heat

c. Determine damaged kernels and heat-damaged kernels on the basis of a

250-gram portion. Using an approved sizer or hand sieve, sieve (5 strokes) the

250-gram portion with a 12/64 round-hole sieve. Analyze the portion (whole kernels

and pieces of kernels) that remains on top of the sieve for damaged kernels and 

heat-damaged kernels

Note: A dockage tester equipped with a #3 corn sieve (12/64 round-hole) may

be used in lieu of the sizer or hand sieve method.

d. Report the percentage of damaged kernels and heat-damaged kernels to the

	 nearest tenth percent on the work record and certificate.
FGIS Directive 9180.70 March 14, 2022

Page 5

10. WHOLE KERNELS, CRACKED CORN, AND OTHER MATERIAL

a. Determine the percentage of whole kernels, cracked corn, and other material in a

sample using a 250-gram portion of the original sample. Determine all whole

kernels of corn. For this instruction consider only kernels that are 100 percent

intact

b. Remove all recognizable pieces of corn from the remainder of the work portio

This material functions as cracked corn. The material remaining in the sample after

the removal of whole corn kernels and cracked corn is “other material.

c. Calculate the percentage of whole kernels, cracked corn, and other material to th

	 nearest tenth percent on the work record and certificate.

Note: A hand sieve or dockage tester equipped with a corn sieve may be

used to help separate whole kernels, cracked corn, and other material.

Weight of Sample 

Portion

(grams)

Weight of 

Separation

(grams) Actual % Certified %

Whole Kernels

Cracked Corn

Other Material

250

250

250

32.1

210

7.9

12.8

84.0

3.2

12.

84.

3.

11. AFLATOXIN TESTING

a. 	 Samples may be tested for aflatoxin using only FGIS-approved quantitative or

qualitative test kits

b. The minimum sample size is based on the type of lot. Applicants may request 

sample size larger than the minimum sample size

Lot Type Minimum Sample Size (lbs.)/ grams

Trucks 2 pounds / approximately 908 grams

Railcars 3 pounds / approximately 1,362 grams

Barges/Sublots 10 pounds / approximately 4,540 grams

Note: A 10-pound sample size is also recommended, but not required, for 

submitted samples.

c. 	 Perform aflatoxin testing and certification in accordance with the applicable

	 instructions in the Aflatoxin Handbook.
FGIS Directive 9180.70 March 14, 2022

Page 6

12. STARLINK TESTING

a. Samples may be tested for the presence of StarLinkTM corn using FGIS-approved

lateral flow test kits. The applicant must state the sample size (e.g., 400 kernels,

800 kernels) for the basis of testing

b. Testing is based on the gram weight that is equivalent to the test portion size (e.g

400 kernels is equal to 115 grams) as shown in the table on the next page

Sample Size (Kernels) Sample Size (Grams)

100 kernels 29 (+ 5 grams)

200 kernels 58 (+ 5 grams)

300 kernels 86 (+ 5 grams)

400 kernels 115 (+ 5 grams)

500 kernels 143 (+ 5 grams)

600 kernels 172 (+ 5 grams)

700 kernels 200 (+ 5 grams)

800 kernels 229 (+ 10 grams)

1600 kernels 458 (+ 5 grams)

2400 kernels 687 (+ 15 grams)

c. 	 Follow the testing and certification procedures as found in FGIS Directive 9181.1,

“Testing for StarLinkTM Corn - Lateral Flow Test Strip Method.

13. OTHER FACTORS/CONDITION

Examine samples for other factors or conditions (e.g., insect infestation) that may hav

an effect on the overall quality of the cracked corn. Make the determination(s) on a

1,000-gram portion if an analysis is necessary. When a condition/factor exists that may

not appear in the representative sample, the determination may be made on the basis 

of the lot as a whole at the time of sampling according to procedures prescribed in 

FGIS instructions. Note any of these factors/conditions in the “Remarks” section of the

certificate.
FGIS Directive 9180.70 March 14, 2022

Page 7

14. LOADING REQUIREMENTS

a. Unit Train

(1) The inspection for cracked corn factors (whole kernels, cracked corn, and 

other material), other factors (e.g., moisture, test weight per bushel), an

official criteria (e.g., aflatoxin) can be performed on either an individual

carrier basis, a 5-car composite basis, or a sublot basis using uniform loading 

requirements when inspected as a single lot unit train

(2) The maximum size sublot is 5 railcars [less than 50 cars per train] or 

10 railcars [50 cars or more per train]

(3) The minimum number of sublots per unit train is 2 for 5-car sublots, or 5 for 

10-car sublots

(4) Individual railcars that are combined to form a sublot or composite sample 

must be checked for odor, insects, and condition

b. Shiplot

(1) 	 Sublots must conform to the number and size limitations as specified in Book

III of the Grain Inspection Handbook

(2) Component analysis is available for one or more factors

c. Uniform Loading Requirement

(1) CuSum plan tolerances (e.g., breakpoints, starting values) are not applicabl

to these shipments

(2) Limits placed on individual factors (e.g., maximum moisture 14.5%) a

interpreted as “no sublot to exceed” limits. A material portion will occur if the

individual sublot result exceeds the specified limit.

(3)	 If the shipper specifies a minimum or maximum limit on the load order for

any factor (e.g., moisture) and the individual sublot result exceeds the limit

the applicant may request a field review inspection (reinspection or appeal)

of the sublot. If the sublot remains a “material portion” after the field review

analysis the applicant can request a Board appeal of the sublot

(4) For factors analyzed on a component basis, minimum/maximum limits do not 

apply to individual component analysis. A material portion occurs when the

sublot average of the component results exceed the specified limit for the

sublot

(5) Review inspection results replace results of the previous inspection
FGIS Directive 9180.70 March 14, 2022

Page 8

(6) If component analysis is utilized and a material portion occurs because the 

sublot result exceeds the specified limit, the review inspection for the

component factor can be performed on the composite sample representing 

the sublot, or on each individual component sample analyzed within the 

sublot

(7) If a review inspection is requested on a sublot that meets the load order 

requirements, the reviewed sublot is certified separately (at the review

inspection level) from the remainder of the shiplot/unit train

(8) 	 To certify the final shiplot/unit train average (weighted/mathematical, as

applicable), consider all acceptable sublots included in the shipment. Certify

results as an original inspection unless all sublots are reviewed

15. CERTIFICATION

a. 	 Cracked corn is certified as “Not Standardized Grain” on Official Grain Inspection

Certificates. To certify cracked corn, cross out the words “Grade and Kind” on the

grade line of the certificate and write/type the words “Not Standardized Grain.”

b. 	 For certificates that have preprinted factor result blocks (e.g., test weight per

bushel, moisture, damage, heat-damage) enter the appropriate test results

c. For all other determined factors without preprinted results blocks (whole/cracked

kernels, other material, aflatoxin, StarLinkTM), enter the test results in the

“Remarks” section of the certificate. The percentages of cracked corn, whole

kernels, and other material are certified to the nearest tenth percent.

d. 	 The applicant for service has the option of requesting certification of one individual

factor (e.g., cracked corn), two factors (e.g., cracked corn, whole kernels), or 

factors (i.e., cracked corn, whole kernels, other materia

e. 	 List the applicable result(s) on the certificate using the example listed below as a

guideline

Cracked corn ( )%, Whole kernels ( )%, Other Material ( )%

f. At the request of the applicant for service, the percentages of cracked corn and

other material can be combined and reported as a single factor using the following 

statement

Cracked corn and other material ( )%, Whole kernels ( )%
FGIS Directive 9180.70 March 14, 2022

Page 9

16. QUESTIONS

Direct any questions concerning this directive to the Policies, Procedures, and 

Market Analysis Branch at (202) 720-0228