United States Department of Agriculture

Agricultural Marketing Service

Federal Grain Inspection Service

Program Notice FGIS-PN-18-02 November 14, 2017

Distribution: FGIS, OSP Originating Office: FMD PPMAB

Cover

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employer.

NEAR INFRARED TRANSMITTANCE (NIRT) PROCEDURES FOR FOSS INFRATEC NOVA

Contents

NEAR INFRARED TRANSMITTANCE (NIRT) PROCEDURES FOR FOSS INFRATEC NOVA

1

1. PURPOSE 

2. BACKGROUND 

3. APPROVED INFRATEC NOVA CALIBRATION PACKAGES 

4. ENTERING INSTRUMENT IN FGISOnline Equipment Capability Testing (ECT) 

5. STANDARDIZATION AND OPERATING PROCEDURES 

6. EFFECTIVE DATE 

7. FILING INSTRUCTIONS 

8. QUESTIONS 
FGIS Notice PN-18-02 November 14, 2017

Page 2

1. PURPOSE

This program notice announces that the Federal Grain Inspection Service (FGIS) 

has updated procedures for the FOSS Model Infratec Nova NIRT instrument used for 

official testing services of barley protein; corn oil, protein, and starch; soybean protein 

and oil; and wheat protein and wet gluten under the United States Grain Standards Act 

(USGSA)

2. BACKGROUND

On September 11, 2017, FGIS announced that the FOSS Infratec Nova NIRT 

instrument was approved for official testing services of barley protein; corn oil, protein, 

and starch; soybean protein and oil; and wheat protein and wet gluten content as 

“official criteria” authorized under Section 7(b) of the USGSA, as amended. FGIS is 

responsible for officially determining and certificating, monitoring the accuracy, and 

approving the official equipment used for determining barley protein; corn oil, protein, 

and starch; soybean protein and oil; and wheat protein and wet gluten content.

3. APPROVED INFRATEC NOVA CALIBRATION PACKAGES

FGIS worked with FOSS to prepare official calibration packages for use on the Infratec 

Nova that contains all of the application models needed to test barley protein; corn 

oil, protein, and starch; soybean protein and oil; and wheat protein and wet gluten 

constituents

The packages include the FGIS approved calibrations with protein and/or oil and/or 

starch and/or wet gluten only beginning with FGIS. They also include the National Type 

Evaluation Program (NTEP) approved moisture and test weight (only available on units 

with the test weight module) calibrations that may be used under the provisions found in 

FGIS Directive 9180.55 for Official Commercial Inspection Services.

The following official calibration packages may be obtained from FOSS North America 

at (800) 547-6275. Each package is licensed to a specific instrument serial number. 
FGIS Notice PN-18-02 November 14, 2017

Page 3

FOSS Part number/ 

Package Name

Grain/Class Display Name Constituent Prediction Model Name

S900499 FGIS 

Wheat and Barley

Barley FGIS BARLEY Protein 0% BAPR0025-0

Two-Row Barley 2 ROW BARLEY Moisture

Protein 0%

Test Weight

Temperature

WBMO0032_BA

BAPR0025

Test Weight Barley Model 

(Pounds per Bushel)_B2

BATE0002

Six-Row Barley 6 ROW BARLEY Moisture

Protein 0%

Test Weight

Temperature

WBMO0032_BA

BAPR0025

Test Weight Barley Model 

(Pounds per Bushel)_B6

BATE0002

Wheat FGIS WHEAT Protein 12% WBPR0028-0

Wheat with Wet 

Gluten

FGIS WHEAT PRO & 

GLUTEN

Protein 12%

Wet Gluten 14%

WBPR0028-0

WHGL0028-0

Durum Wheat DURUM WHEAT Moisture

Protein 12%

Test Weight

Temperature

WBMO0032_WU

WBPR0028

Test Weight Wheat Model 

(Pounds per Bushel)_WU

WHTE0002

Hard White Wheat HARD WHITE

WHEAT

Moisture

Protein 12%

Test Weight

Temperature

WBMO0032_WH

WBPR0028

Test Weight Wheat Model 

(Pounds per Bushel)

WHTE0002

Hard Red Spring 

Wheat

HARD RED

SPRING WHEAT

Moisture

Protein 12%

Test Weight

Temperature

WBMO0032_WH

WBPR0028

Test Weight Wheat Model 

(Pounds per Bushel)

WHTE0002

Hard Red Winter 

Wheat

HARD RED WINTER 

WHEAT

Moisture

Protein 12%

Test Weight

Temperature

WBMO0032_WH

WBPR0028

Test Weight Wheat Model 

(Pounds per Bushel)_WW

WHTE0002

Soft Red Winter 

Wheat

SOFT RED WINTER 

WHEAT

Moisture

Protein 12%

Test Weight

Temperature

WBMO0032_WD

WBPR0028

Test Weight Wheat Model 

(Pounds per Bushel)

WHTE0002

Soft White Wheat SOFT WHITE

WHEAT

Moisture

Protein 12%

Test Weight

Temperature

WBMO0032_WT

WBPR0028

Test Weight Wheat Model 

(Pounds per Bushel)_WT

WHTE0002

S900540 FGIS Corn 

and Soybeans

Corn FGIS CORN Oil 0%

Protein 0%

Starch 0%

COOI0801-0

COPR0801-0

COST0801-0

Soybeans FGIS SOYBEANS Oil 13%

Protein 13%

SOOI0213-0

SOPR0016-0

Soybeans SOYBEANS Moisture

Oil 13%

Protein 13%

Test Weight

Temperature

SOMO0012

SOOI0213

SOPR0016

Test Weight Custom Model 

(Pounds per Bushel)_SO

SOTE0009
FGIS Notice PN-18-02 November 14, 2017

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4. ENTERING INSTRUMENT IN FGISOnline Equipment Capability Testing (ECT)

a. Log into the ECT application in FGISOnli

b. Select the Equipment Browse by Subject option.

c. Click on Create New Equipment.

d. Select NIRT from the Equipment Type drop down menu.

e. Select Foss from the Manufacturer drop down menu.

f. Click on Search.

g. Click on Select for the Infratec Nova.

h. Enter the following information into the Create Equipment page.

(1) Service Point code where the instrument is located.

(2) Serial Number of instrument

(3) Click on Yes if the instrument is Cross-utilized, otherwise click on No.

(4) Click on Save.

5. STANDARDIZATION AND OPERATING PROCEDURES

a. SET

Contact the Inspection Instrumentation Branch to obtain Standard Reference 

Samples (SRS) and instrument final settings worksheet.

b. REQUIRED SAMPLE SI

A larger sample size is required for testing purposes. The minimum size is 650 

grams for barley and wheat, and 825 grams for corn and soybeans.

Figure 1. FOSS Nova display showing the Care menu options.
FGIS Notice PN-18-02 November 14, 2017

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c. BIAS ADJUSTMENT FOR FGIS CALIBRATIONS ON

(1) Select the Care button to access the Care menu options (refer to Figure 1)

(2) Select the Slope & Intercept button

(3) Enter the PIN code

(4) Select the Product (calibration) that requires the adjustment from the drop 

down menu.

(5) Highlight the Intercept field by tapping the number itself.

(6) Enter the new intercept value from ECT.

(7) Select OK to save the change.

(8) Select OK to exit the Slope & Intercept menu

d. OFFICIAL COMMERCIAL INSPECTION SERVICES (OCIS) TESTI

(1) The NTEP calibrations, for example Hard Red Winter Wheat, have a 

signature associated with each prediction model that prevents the user from 

making a bias adjustment directly on the instrument for any parameter. The 

Mosaic network administrator is the only person who may make the bias 

adjustment via the Mosaic network. Currently, FGIS is not set up to either 

manage or provide guidance on managing instruments through the internet

(2) If the requirements for conducting OCIS are met for moisture and/or TW, then 

the sample must be tested twice. Once for protein and/or oil using the FGIS 

designated calibration models and a second time for moisture and/or TW 

using the NTEP calibration models

e. CUSTOMIZE DISPLAY OF CALIBRATION MODE

(1) Select the Care button to access the Care menu options (refer to Figure 1)

(2) Select the Configuration button.

(3) Click on the Import tab at the top of the window.

(4) Press Edit, and then press OK to launch Mosaic Solo.

(5) Enter the Admin password.

(6) Select the Products tab at the bottom left side of the screen

(7) Select the product you wish to hide on the upper left box.

(8) Select (check on to view)/ deselect (check off to hide) the Active checkbox 

above the description box

(9) Select the Save button in the upper left hand corner

(10) Exit the window by pressing the X on the upper right corner of the screen.

(11) Press OK on the Import/Edit window.
FGIS Notice PN-18-02 November 14, 2017

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f. CHANGE NUMBER OF DECIMALS DISPLAY

(1) Select the Care button to access the Care menu options (refer to Figure 1)

(2) Select the Configuration button.

(3) Click on the Import tab at the top of the window.

(4) Press Edit, and then press OK to launch Mosaic Solo.

(5) Enter the Admin password.

(6) Select the Parameter Profiles tab at the bottom left side of the screen.

(7) Change the number in the Number of Decimals field to the desired number of 

decimal places

(8) Select the Save button in the upper left hand corner

(9) Exit the window by pressing the X on the upper right corner of the screen.

(10) Press OK on the Import/Edit window.

g. OUTLIER INDICATIO

(1) The Infratec Nova is also designed to give an outlier indication warning that 

a result may be in error. If an outlier occurs, the instrument will not display a 

result and the result field will be highlighted in red. Any outlier information will 

be displayed to the right of the result field and below the results under Sample 

event, refer to figure 2. Outlier indications should rarely occur. 

Figure 2. FOSS Nova display showing an analysis with an outlier.
FGIS Notice PN-18-02 November 14, 2017

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(2) What to do when an outlier occurs?

(a) Verify that the correct calibration was used.

(b) Make sure the sample is cleaned per official procedures.

(c) Mix the sample thoroughly before retesting

(d) Rerun the sample through the instrument

(e) If the second run does not show an outlier indication, certify the results of 

the second run

(f) If the second run shows an outlier indication, contact TSD for guidance.

h. ERROR MESSAG

(1) Ambient Temperature outside range of 0 – 45 °C or 32 – 113 °F.

(a) Result fields will be blank and highlighted in red.

(b) The Sample event log at the bottom of the display will list messages like 

the following example.

Ambient temperature too low. 

 Increase ambient temperature

(2) Sample Temperature outside range of 0 – 40 °C or 32 – 104 °F for the NTEP 

only calibrations

(a) Result fields will be blank and highlighted in red.

(b) The Sample event log at the bottom of the display will list messages like 

the following example. (Refer to figure 2)

1 Ambient temperature too high

 Decrease ambient temperature

 Or

 2 Ambient temperature too low. 

 Increase ambient temperature

(3) Difference between Ambient and Sample Temperature exceeds 20 °C or 36 °F

for the NTEP only calibrations

(a) Result fields will be blank and highlighted in red.

(b) The Sample event log at the bottom of the display will list messages like 

the following examples.

1 All parameters are marked as error because difference between 

sample temperature and ambient exceeds action limit

2 Temperature difference for Temperature: 1.40 is above action limit 1.00
FGIS Notice PN-18-02 November 14, 2017

Page 8

Figure 3. FOSS Nova display showing a Temperature error message under Sample event.

(4) In the event one of the above messages appears, adjust either the ambient and/

or sample temperature to the appropriate limits

(5) For the FGIS calibrations, the user must ensure that the sample temperature is 

within 0 – 40 °C or 32 – 104 °F prior to testing the sample.

6. EFFECTIVE DATE

This program notice is effective upon receipt

7. FILING INSTRUCTIONS

File a copy of this program notice with the NIRT Handbook. The handbook will be revised 

at a later date to include these changes

8. QUESTIONS

Direct any questions concerning this program notice to the Inspection Instrumentation 

Branch at (816) 891-0401.