Grain Inspection Advisory Committee 

FGIS Field Management Division Updates
Field Management Division Updates

• Market Update

• Prior GIAC Recommendations

• Stowage exams using drones

• Consolidation of instrucitons

• Staffing

• COVID/Continuity of Service 

• Grand Forks Closure

• Portland Office Status
2022, The Year of Black Swan Events

-Ukraine/Russia Conflict

-Drought in Brazil

-China COVID-19 Lockdown

-Planting Delays Due to Flooding in Northern Corn Belt

-Drought in U.S. Wheat Belt

-France Drought

-Commodity and Consumer Price inflation
Have these impacted U.S. Grain 

Exports?

• Thus far we haven’t seen measurable impacts on export grain 

inspection tonnage.

• However...

• USDA increased 2021/22 soybean export sales estimates in 

June WASDE due to ‘reduced export forecast for Brazil’.

• Ukraine/Russia conflict created port closures and shipping 

channel disruption in the Black Sea region. 

• Global grain buyers are starting to source its grain purchases from other 

reliable suppliers. 

• Many analysts believes that if Ukraine doesn’t have grain 

export capabilities back by fall, the U.S. will increasingly be 

sought after as the residual supplier of grain.
0

20,000

40,000

60,000

80,000

100,000

120,000

140,000

160,000

Thousand Metric Tons

FGIS States and Agencies Projected

Fiscal Year Total Export Grain 

Inspections
Fiscal Year Total Export Grain Inspections

-Overall export grain inspection 

tonnage for FY 2022 is 11.5% below 

last year’s record year.

-However, if we stay on the current 

trajectory, we could wind up ranking 

3rd in all time tonnage!
Export Corn: FGIS, States & Agencies

 -

 10,000

 20,000

 30,000

 40,000

 50,000

 60,000

 70,000

3-Sep

17-Sep

1-Oct

15-Oct29-Oct

12-Nov26-Nov10-Dec24-Dec

7-Jan

21-Jan

4-Feb

18-Feb

4-Mar

18-Mar

1-Apr

15-Apr29-Apr

13-May27-May

10-Jun24-Jun

8-Jul

22-Jul

5-Aug

19-Aug

Cumulative: Thousand Metric Tons

5-yr Avg 2020/21 2021/22
Export Corn: FGIS, States & Agencies

-Corn exports are currently down 17% 

compared to last year however they 

are up 5% compared to the 5-year 

average. 

-Mexico is the number one 

destination totaling 28% of all corn 

exports with China at 24% and Japan 

at 18%.

-U.S. corn exports to Mexico is at an 

all-time record pace. 
Export Soybean: FGIS, States & 

Agencies

 -

 10,000

 20,000

 30,000

 40,000

 50,000

 60,000

 70,000

3-Sep

17-Sep

1-Oct

15-Oct29-Oct

12-Nov26-Nov10-Dec24-Dec

7-Jan

21-Jan

4-Feb

18-Feb

4-Mar

18-Mar

1-Apr

15-Apr29-Apr

13-May27-May

10-Jun24-Jun

8-Jul

22-Jul

5-Aug

19-Aug

Cumulative: Thousand Metric Tons

5-yr Avg 2020/21 2021/22
Export Soybean: FGIS, States & 

Agencies

-Soybean exports are currently down 

14% compared to last year however 

they are up 9% compared to the 5-

year average. 

-China is the number one destination 

totaling 56% of all soybean exports 

with Mexico at 8% and Egypt at 7%.

-U.S. soybeans exports to Mexico are 

also at an all-time record pace. 
Export Sorghum: FGIS, States & 

Agencies

 -

 1,000

 2,000

 3,000

 4,000

 5,000

 6,000

 7,000

 8,000

 9,000

3-Sep

17-Sep

1-Oct

15-Oct29-Oct

12-Nov26-Nov10-Dec24-Dec

7-Jan

21-Jan

4-Feb

18-Feb

4-Mar

18-Mar

1-Apr

15-Apr29-Apr

13-May27-May

10-Jun24-Jun

8-Jul

22-Jul

5-Aug

19-Aug

Cumulative: Thousand Metric Tons

5-yr Avg 2020/21 2021/22
Export Sorghum: FGIS, States & 

Agencies

-Sorghum exports are currently 1% higher 

than last year and they are up 53% 

compared to the 5-year average. 

-China is the number one destination 

totaling 90% of all sorghum exports with 

Mexico at 3% and Spain at 2%.

-March of 2022 was an all-time record for 

the most amount of sorghum exported to 

China in a single month at 1.2 million metric 

tons. To put that in perspective the 

historical monthly average of Sorghum to 

China is 460,000 metric tons. 
Export Wheat: FGIS, States & 

Agencies

 -

 5,000

 10,000

 15,000

 20,000

 25,000

 30,000

 35,000

 40,000

3-Sep

17-Sep

1-Oct

15-Oct29-Oct

12-Nov26-Nov10-Dec24-Dec

7-Jan

21-Jan

4-Feb

18-Feb

4-Mar

18-Mar

1-Apr

15-Apr29-Apr

13-May27-May

10-Jun24-Jun

8-Jul

22-Jul

5-Aug

19-Aug

Cumulative: Thousand Metric Tons

5-yr Avg 2020/21 2021/22
Export Wheat: FGIS, States & 

Agencies

-Wheat exports are currently down 

26% compared to last year and down 

25% compared to the 5-year average. 

-Mexico is the number one 

destination totaling 18% of all wheat 

exports with Philippines at 13% and 

Japan at 12%.
Stowage Exams via Remote Cameras

• Project to review current market and regulations

• Considering how we can leverage technology

• Costs technology vs. Injuries/OWCP claims

• Fixed cameras (railcars, barges)

• Drones

• Regulatory requirements

• Line of sight

• Pilot licenses

• Port restrictions

• Use of cameras in railcars and barges

• Looking to engage with industry to determine interest 
Consolidation

Create one webpage with links to all handbooks, program directives & 

notices, policy bulletins, Bar Q&A, PPMAB Q&A, container school 

presentations, container Q&A, et al. 

• Incorporated or removed 9 Program Notices; 2 will expire this FY

• Policy notices: ~30 to public web,~5-10 behind firewall;~30 to archive

• Factor-only Inspection of Non-Standardized Grains and Commodities

• Consolidates 14 directives into one single handbook source
Handbooks

• Handbooks posted in FY22: 

• Near Infrared Transmittance

• Moisture

• Revised handbooks in final review: 

• Hops

• Processed Commodities 

• Revised existing handbooks in draft 

stage:

• Mycotoxin 

• NMR

• Weighing

• Equipment*

• New handbooks in draft stage:

• Licensing

• Certification

• Factor-only Inspection of NonStandardized Grains and 

Commodities

*Equipment handbook revised FY22 to include 

LED lighting
COVID/Continuity of Service

• Testing Programs

• Areas of Medium or High CDC 

County Community Levels

• Hurricane Recovery
Staffing & Office Updates

• Field Office Managers

• Quality Assurance Specialists

• Onboarding technicians

• Licensing 

• Industry Perspectives 

• Grader Position announcement closes today

• PNW Field Office

• Portland, Olympia, Moscow

• Grand Forks closure

• Most functions here to National Grain Center in 

KC