United States Department of Agriculture

Agricultural Marketing Service 

Federal Grain Inspection Service

Directive 9180.83 June 13, 2013

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

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in its programs on the basis of race, color, 

national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, and marital or familial status. (Not all prohibited 

bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternate means for communication of program 

information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and 

TDD).

To file a complaint, write to the USDA, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, 

Washington, DC 20250-9410, or call (202) 720-5964 (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal employment opportunity 

employer.

INSPECTION FOR RAGWEED SEEDS IN LOTS OF WHEAT

Contents

INSPECTION FOR RAGWEED SEEDS IN LOTS OF WHEAT ����������������������������������������1

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

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

3. REQUEST FOR SERVICE���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������

4. PROCEDURE�����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������

5. CERTIFICATION ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������

6. QUESTIONS ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������
FGIS Directive 9180.83 June 13, 2013

Page 2

1. PURPOSE

This directive establishes procedures for examining export wheat shiplots to Egypt for 

common (a.k.a. annual) ragweed seeds (Ambrosia artemisiifolia L.) and giant 

great) ragweed seeds (Ambrosia trifida L.). The analysis of this inspection factor is 

provided under the authority of the United States Grain Standards Act, as amended

2. REPLACEMENT HIGHLIGHTS

Wheat merchandisers originating wheat for export to Egypt may request Agricultural 

Marketing Service (AMS) field offices or official agencies to determine ragweed seed 

presence in wheat lots inspected at export port locations. Commonly the load order

would state “Free from Ambrosia Seeds”

3. REQUEST FOR SERVICE

The inspection of wheat lots for ragweed (a.k.a. Ambrosia) seeds is provided by A

as a quantitative examination. Interested parties wishing to receive ragweed inspections

should contact their local AMS field office, or delegated official agency. Please note that 

this determination is not required for most wheat shipments; ragweed inspections shall 

only be provided upon request

4. PROCEDURE

For identification purposes, refer to the official line print “Common and Giant Ragweed 

(Ambrosia) Seed.” The basis of determination is on a1000-gram representative portion

before the removal of dockage

For export sublots inspected using the CuSum loading program, record the count on 

the inspection log (factor name in APS is “Ragweed (Ambrosia) Seeds”; abbreviation 

AMBS). “Free from Ambrosia seeds” is defined to mean that any Ambrosia (Giant 

Ragweed) seed found in the 1000-gram analysis portion would constitute a material 

portion. Review inspections will follow the basic rules in Grain Inspection Handbook

3, Chapter 1. Review inspection results will be averaged with the previous inspection

results for material portion(s) occurring during the original inspection

5. CERTIFICATION

If an export shiplot does not contain any Ambrosia seeds, record “Free from Ambrosia 

seeds” in the “Remarks” section of the inspection certificate.

6. QUESTIONS

Direct any questions regarding this directive to the Policies, Procedures, and Market 

Analysis Branch (PPMAB) at (202) 20-0228