INSPECTING 

GRAIN

Practical 

Procedures for 

Grain Handlers

Marketing and

Regulatory

Programs

Agricultural

Marketing

Service

Federal Grain

Inspection

Service

Washington, D.C.

September 2016
Inspecting Grain

Practical Procedures for Grain Handlers

Forward

September 2016

Page ii

INSPECTING GRAIN: Practical Procedures for Grain Handlers

Foreword

Preface

Table of Contents

INSPECTING GRAIN: Practical Procedures for Grain Handlers

Foreword

This guide is not designed for the official inspection system. Consequently, many of the 

procedures contained herein are not appropriate for use by official inspection personnel.

Published July 1991

Revised

May 1993

October 1999

December 2006

February 2009

May 2015

September2016

United States Department of Agriculture

Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration

Federal Grain Inspection Service

Informational Resource September 2016

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.
Inspecting Grain

Practical Procedures for Grain Handlers

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Page iii

Preface

Across America, U.S. grain flows from farm to elevator to destinations around the world. 

The Federal Grain Inspection Service (FGIS), an agency of the United States Department of 

Agriculture (USDA), helps move that grain into the marketplace by providing farmers, grain 

handlers, processors, exporters, and international buyers with information that accurately and 

consistently describes the quality and quantity of grain being bought and sold.

The official inspection and weighing system is a unique public-private partnership overseen by 

FGIS. The system includes Federal offices and States and private agencies authorized by FGIS 

to provide official inspection and weighing service to the domestic and export grain trade. While 

the composition of the official system is diverse, the results are not. Every customer, whether on 

the East Coast, the Gulf of Mexico, the Midwest, or the Pacific Northwest receives consistent and 

accurate service. That’s because every official service provider operates under uniform, official 

U.S. grain standards and procedures.

Private companies and in-house inspectors can provide grain quality analyses. Only the partners 

of the official system FGIS field offices and State and local agencies authorized by FGIS, however, 

can provide an official grain inspection certificate. The official system provides more than just 

information regarding the quality and quantity of grain inspected. It also assures the following:

Consistency - Official inspections are based on established standards, and on sound, proven and 

standardized procedures, techniques, and equipment.

Verifiable Accuracy - The work of official personnel is reviewed and monitored by an extensive 

quality assurance program where every official State and private agency is backed by the 

resources and expertise of the FGIS Technical Center in Kansas City, Missouri.

Information - Official tests provide a wealth of information about sanitary, physical, food safety, 

and intrinsic quality characteristics. 

Responsiveness - New tests and procedures are continually being developed.

Professionalism and Integrity - Official personnel pass rigorous tests and undergo extensive 

and continuous training.

Credibility - U.S. and international buyers rely on official inspection certificates to provide 

accurate descriptions of the grade, class, and condition of grain.

Not everyone can or should always have their grain officially inspected. For this reason, FGIS 

wrote this guide which is specifically designed for producers, warehouse managers, elevator 

operators, and all others who market or store grain at country points, and who want to learn more 

about inspecting grain.
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Practical Procedures for Grain Handlers

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The guide was developed to: 

Identify and encourage the use of practical, cost-effective procedures for conducting 

commercial grain inspections. It provides grain handlers with simple, inexpensive, and easy to 

use procedures for inspecting grain that can be used at country elevators and other first point of 

delivery points.

Provide the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) with approved procedures for inspecting 

grain acquired from producers. CCC utilizes these procedures to inspect and evaluate the 

condition of grain acquired from producers at country/terminal elevators and other facilities 

operating under Uniform Grain Storage Agreement (UGSA) contract. For USGSA purposes, 

“authorized grain evaluation procedures” are considered to be the procedures identified in this 

guide or any other procedures that will provide comparable results.

This guide was not designed for the official inspection system. Consequently, many of the 

procedures contained in this document are not appropriate for use by official inspection 

personnel. 
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Practical Procedures for Grain Handlers

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Page v

Table of Contents

Introduction page 01

Section I. Sampling Grain page 06

Section II. Inspecting Grain page 18

Section III. Grading Grain page 46

Section IV. Not Standardized Grain and Commodities page 66

Appendix I. Selected References page 80

Appendix II. Grades and Grade Requirements page 82
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Introduction

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INTRODUCTION

INSPECTING GRAIN IN THE UNITED STATES 2

OFFICIAL UNITED STATES STANDARDS FOR GRAIN 3

FEDERAL GRAIN INSPECTION SERVICE 4

OFFICIAL GRAIN INSPECTIONS 5
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INTRODUCTION

INSPECTING GRAIN IN THE UNITED STATES

Nationally accepted grain standards and inspection procedures provide 

producers, elevator operators, and others who trade grain with common terms 

for describing grain; a means for determining storability and end-product yield; 

and a framework for improving grain quality.

Grain traders in the United States have not always had the benefit of 

established standards and procedures. In 1856, the Chicago Board of Trade 

enacted the first grain grading rules for U.S. grain. In the following years, grain 

trading organizations in Detroit, Milwaukee, St. Louis, Cleveland, Toledo, and 

New Orleans followed Chicago’s lead and developed their own grading

standards.

By 1871, 73 different grain inspection systems were being used in the United 

States, each with its own grades and grading rules. This led to chaotic market 

conditions. Traders buying grain under the standards in one area could not 

depend on the grain being designated an equivalent grade in any other area.

Around the turn of the century, the Grain Dealers National Association (now 

known as the National Grain and Feed Association) and several other trade 

groups vigorously campaigned for the adoption of voluntary, national grade 

standards. In response, Congress authorized the Secretary of Agriculture to 

organize the Division of Grain Standardization to establish uniform grades.

Finally, in 1916, the 64th Congress passed the United States Grain Standards 

Act (Act) “to provide for the establishment of Official United States Standards 

for Grain, to promote the uniform application thereof by official inspection 

personnel with the objectives that grain may be marketed in an orderly and 

timely manner and that trading in grain may be facilitated.”

Over the years, a number of minor amendments made the Act and standards 

more meaningful. In 1968, Congress significantly broadened the scope of the 

Act and eliminated the mandatory interstate inspection requirement. Then, in 

1976, the Act was strengthened by an amendment which established a new 

USDA agency, the Federal Grain Inspection Service (FGIS), to oversee
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Introduction

June 2016

Page 3

the national grain inspection and weighing system.

In October 1994, President Clinton signed the Department of Agriculture 

Reorganization Act of 1994 into law. As a result, FGIS was merged with the 

Packers and Stockyards Administration to form a new agency, the Grain 

Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA). This merger 

combined many administrative functions, but FGIS has continued to deliver its 

services as a separate program within GIPSA.

OFFICIAL UNITED STATES STANDARDS FOR GRAIN

The Official United States Standards for Grain provide the criteria for 

determining the kind, class, and condition of grain. The standards also 

define quality and condition factors and set grade limits based on factor 

determinations. Quality factors, which vary by grain, include test

weight, damaged kernels, and foreign material. Condition factors include 

heating, objectionable odor, and insect infestation. It is important to note that 

the Official United States Standards for Grain are not seasonally adjusted, 

regardless of average new crop quality.

Presently, there are Official United States Standards for Grain for:

BARLEY MIXED GRAIN SOYBEANS

CANOLA OATS SUNFLOWER SEED

CORN RYE TRITICALE

FLAXSEED SORGHUM WHEAT

Refer to Appendix II, Grades and Grade Requirements, for a complete listing 

of the grades, factor requirements, and other related information for each 

grain.
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Introduction

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FEDERAL GRAIN INSPECTION SERVICE

FGIS was established to facilitate the marketing of U.S. grain by ensuring 

consistency in the U.S. grain inspection system. To fulfill this mandate, FGIS:

• Provides official inspection and weighing services through its field offices 

and FGIS designated/delegated agencies located across the United 

States;

• Continuously evaluates and updates the procedures and equipment used 

to officially inspect and weigh grain;

• Monitors the performance of FGIS licensed and authorized inspectors;

• Investigates complaints about official inspections; and

• Works closely with other USDA agencies, congressional offices, industry 

groups, and land-grant colleges and universities to improve grain quality 

and develop new grain inspection methodology.

For more information about FGIS, visit an FGIS field office or contact:

USDA-AMS

STOP 3601

1400 Independence Ave., S.W.

Washington, DC 20250-3601

Phone (202)720-0219

Webpage: www.ams.usda.gov

FGIS offices are located in the following cities:

Beaumont, Texas League City, Texas Portland, Oregon 

Crowley, Louisiana Moscow, Idaho Stuttgart, Arkansas

Grand Forks, North Dakota New Orleans, Louisiana Toledo, Ohio

Kansas City, Missouri Olympia, Washington
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OFFICIAL GRAIN INSPECTIONS

Those who do not have the skills, resources, or time needed to inspect 

grain, may for a nominal fee request that the grain be officially inspected by 

a State or privately owned official agency. Official grain inspection services 

are available nationwide to all segments of the grain industry, from farmer to 

exporter.

Official Agencies

Only official agencies that have been designated or delegated by FGIS may 

provide official inspection services. To ensure that the agencies provide 

reliable service, all inspection personnel must be licensed by FGIS. In 

addition, official agencies may use only FGIS approved equipment and 

inspection procedures.

Inspection Services

Official agencies offer many different types of inspection services. The most 

common is the official sample-lot inspection service. When this service is 

requested, a licensed sampler draws a representative sample from the grain 

and then takes it to an FGIS-approved laboratory for analysis by a licensed 

inspector. Another service offered by official agencies, the submitted sample 

inspection service, allows producers and grain handlers to draw their own 

samples and submit them to the nearest official agency. Many official agencies 

also test grain for end-use qualities, such as protein and oil content.

Review Inspections

If you question the grade or factor results assigned to a lot of grain, you may 

either request that the official agency reinspect the grain or ask FGIS to 

perform an appeal inspection. 

For further information about official inspection services, contact the FGIS field 

office or official agency nearest you.
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Section I: Sampling Grain

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Section I: Sampling Grain

THE IMPORTANCE OF PROPER SAMPLING 7

SAMPLING GRAIN AT REST 8

Hand Probes 8

Mechanical Probes 11

SAMPLING MOVING GRAIN 12

Diverter-Type Mechanical Samplers 12

Woodside-Type Mechanical Samplers 13

Pelican Samplers 14

Truck (Tailgate) Samplers 15

Ellis Cup Samplers 16
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Section I: Sampling Grain 

THE IMPORTANCE OF PROPER SAMPLING

Sampling is an essential part of the inspection process and one that is critical 

to the accuracy of the final inspection results. If a sample is not representative 

of the lot, the inspector’s final grade will not reflect the true grade of the lot.

To ensure that a sample is representative:

1. Use appropriate equipment. When grain is sampled at rest in a carrier or

container, use a hand probe or a mechanical probe to draw the sample. For

sampling moving grain, use a diverter-type or Woodside-type mechanical 

sampler, a pelican, a truck (tailgate) sampler, or an Ellis cup.

2. Take two or more samples at random locations or at random intervals. Grain

is nonhomogeneous. That is, the whole kernels, broken kernels, and foreign

material that are present in any lot of grain, segregate whenever grain is 

handled or transported. Fine particles tend to concentrate in a region near the 

center of the container and coarse particles in the outer perimeter. For this 

reason, avoid probing in the “spout-line” (i.e., that area of the container directly 

below the loading spout where fines accumulate).

3. Handle samples carefully. Make sure the sample containers are completely

clean. Do not drop samples and do not allow them to become wet.

4. Never take a hand-grab or scoop sample.
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Section I: Sampling Grain

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SAMPLING GRAIN AT REST

Grain shipped in trucks, railcars, and barges, and grain stored in bins, must 

often be sampled while it is at rest in the carrier or bin. The only effective 

method of obtaining representative samples from stationary grain is with either 

a hand probe (sometimes referred to as a trier) or a mechanical probe.

Hand Probes

Hand probes are made of brass or aluminum and consist of two tubes, one 

inside the other. There are two types of hand probes:

Compartmented probes. These have an inner tube that is divided into 

compartments. The outer tube has slots which match the compartment 

openings of the inner tube. When the tubes are aligned, grain flows 

into the compartments.

Open-throat probes. These have an inner tube that is open as is the 

probe handle. This feature allows the sample to be poured from the 

probe directly into the sample container.

NOTE: Open-throat probes tend to draw more of their sample from the 

top portion of the grain in the lot than compartmented probes. 

Therefore, the composition of a sample obtained with an openthroat probe may differ slightly from that of a sample drawn with 

a compartmented probe.

Hand probes come in 5-, 6-, 8-, 10-, and 12-foot lengths. Use a probe long 

enough to reach the bottom of the carrier. The better access you have to all 

portions of the grain, the better sample you will obtain.

Carrier Probe Length 

Barges and Lash Barges 12-foot

Bins 12-foot

Boxcars and Containers 6-foot

Flat-Bottom Trucks, Trailers, and Wagons 5- or 6-foot (as needed)

Hopper-Bottom Trucks, Trailers, and Wagons 6- to 10-foot (as needed)

Hopper Cars 10- or 12-foot (as needed)
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To draw a sample with a hand probe:

1.First, determine the specific locations in the carrier that must be probed. 

Figures 1-3 show the locations for drawing probe samples (manual and 

mechanical) from barges, bay boats, hopper cars, trailers, trucks, and 

wagons.

2.At each probe location, insert the probe into the grain at a slight angle with 

the slots closed. 

3.Then, with the slots facing upward, open the probe and move it up and down 

in two short motions.

4.Next, close the probe, withdraw it from the grain, and empty the sample onto 

a canvas sheet or pour it into a sample container.

While drawing the sample, observe the general condition of the grain and 

check it for objectionable odors, insect infestation, large stones, pieces of 

metal or glass, and any other potentially harmful condition.

Draw at least two probe samples from any point in the blue shaded area for 

lots that are 600 bushels or less. For larger lots, draw at least three probe 

samples.

Figure 1. Probe Pattern for Sampling Trucks, Trailers, and Wagons.

 (Courtesy: Charles R. Hurburgh, Jr., Iowa State University)

Front
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Draw probe samples from the points marked with an X. Avoid probing in the 

spout-lines.

Figure 2. Probe Pattern for Sampling Hopper Cars.

X X X

Figure 3. Probe Pattern for Sampling Barges and Lash Barges.

X X X X X X X X X X

X X X X X X X X X X
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Mechanical Probes

Mechanical probes, like hand probes, are used to sample stationary lots 

of grain in trucks and in other open-top carriers. There are two types of 

mechanical probes that may be used: (1) the gravity-fill probe and (2) the core 

probe. A third type, the in-load suction probe, has a tendency to overestimate 

foreign material and should not be used for trade.

Figure 4. Types of Mechanical Probes

Before using a mechanical probe,

1. Make sure that it is working properly and does not contain grain from a 

previous carrier in its system.

2. Use Figures 1 - 3 to determine the specific locations that must be probed.

3. At each probe location, insert the probe vertically into the grain and draw 

a sample.

IN-LOAD SUCTION

(AIR PROBE)

[NOT APPROVED

GRAVITY-FILL PROBE CORE PROBE

AIR AND

SAMPLE

FLOW

NEGATIVE

PRESSURE

INSIDE

TUBE

OPENING

SIZE

ADJUSTING

COLLAR

SAMPLE

AND AIR

ENTER HERE

INNER REVOLVING

TUBE TO OPEN

AND CLOSE

SAMPLE

COMPARTMENT

SAMPLE

COMPARTMENT

(PARTIALLY OPEN)

SAMPLE ENTERS

COMPARTMENTS

BY GRAVITY

SAMPLE AND

AIR UP

10o

AIR FLOWS DOWN

SAMPLE

AND AIR

UP

AIR 

FLOWS

DOWN

SAMPLE ENTERS PROBE

AS PROBE IS PUSHED 

INTO LOAD

AIR
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SAMPLING MOVING GRAIN

Diverter-Type Mechanical Samplers

Diverter-type (D/T) mechanical samplers are used to sample grain moving 

through grain spouts or off of the end of conveyor belts. D/T’s draw their 

sample by periodically moving a pelican-like device through the entire grain 

stream. The movement of this device is electrically timed and powered by an 

air cylinder or electric motor.

Figure 5. Cross-Section of a D/T Mechanical Sampler.

SPOUT

PELICAN STREAM

DELIVERY

TUBE SAMPLE

Before using a D/T, be sure that:

1.It is working properly and not clogged with old grain or dust. 

2.The timer is correctly set. If the flow-rate is 4,000 bushels or less per hour, 

set the timer so that the diverter crosses the sampling area at least once 

every 3 minutes. If the flow-rate is more than 4,000 bushels per hour, set the 

timer for one diverter cut for every 200 bushels loaded.
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Woodside-Type Mechanical Samplers

Woodside samplers are used to sample grain moving along conveyor belts. A 

Woodside sampler is comprised of small sample buckets attached to chains 

which are connected between an upper and a lower sprocket. A metal frame 

supports the upper and lower shafts on which the sprockets turn. The sampler 

has a special roller, located approximately 10 inches upstream from the lower

sprocket, which serves as the machine’s drive shaft.

Figure 6. Woodside-Type Mechanical Sampler.

Before using a Woodside sampler, be sure that:

1.The apparatus is clean and the area around it is well lighted and free of 

spilled grain or other debris.

2.Each chain contains the same number of sample buckets and that they 

are evenly spaced on the chain. Examine the sample buckets for wear. 

Any bucket worn in excess of 3/16 inch (in the center) should be replaced. 

When the bucket is in the extreme downward position, the clearance 

between it and the belt should be approximately 3/8 inch. Make sure the 

tension of the chains is snug, but not tight.
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Pelican Samplers

Pelican samplers are used to sample grain in a falling stream. A pelican is a 

leather pouch, approximately 6 inches deep, 2 inches wide, and 18 inches 

long, attached to a long pole. A metal band along the edge of the pouch holds 

it open. The number of samples that should be drawn with a pelican depends 

on the amount of sample that is needed and the amount of grain being

loaded into the carrier. Regardless, draw at least two samples from each 

carrier.

Figure 7. Pelican Sampler.

Take samples at random intervals in the following manner:

1.Make sure the loading spout is positioned so that the pelican will swing easily 

through the entire falling stream.

2.Hold the pelican so that the high edge of its pouch is next to the stream.

3.Grasping the pelican firmly, swing it completely through the stream in one

4.continuous motion. Do not allow it to overflow.

5.Pour the contents of the pelican into a sample container.
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Truck (Tailgate) Samplers

Figure 8. Truck Sampler.

Truck samplers, which are simple metal containers attached to wooden 

handles, are used to sample grain being unloaded from trucks. A truck sampler 

is used in the same manner as a pelican sampler (i.e., pulled or swung 

through the falling stream of grain). And, like pelicans, truck samplers work 

best when the grain is falling at a moderate rate. The number of samples

that should be drawn with the truck sampler depends on the amount of sample 

that is needed and the amount of grain being discharged from the truck. 

Regardless, draw at least two samples from each truck.

Take samples at random intervals in the following manner:

1.Hold the truck sampler so that it is next to one side of the falling stream.

2.Pull it through the grain stream in one continuous motion.

3.Pour the contents of the sampler into a container.

OPENING

12” 34”

WOOD HANDLE

SIDE VIEW RIGHT END VIEW
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Ellis Cup Samplers

Ellis cup samplers, which are manual sampling devices made of light-weight 

aluminum, are used to sample grain moving on conveyor belts. The number

of samples that should be drawn with an Ellis cup depends on the amount of 

sample needed and the amount of grain being loaded into or unloaded from

the carrier. Regardless, draw at least two samples from each carrier.

Figure 9. Ellis Cup Sampler

Take samples at random intervals in the following manner:

1.Grasp the Ellis cup firmly in both hands and stand as close as possible 

to the point where the grain is delivered to the conveyor belt. Face 

“upstream” holding the Ellis cup over the grain.

2.Insert the heel (curved part) of the cup, with the opening facing in the 

opposite direction from the flow, into the center of the grain stream. Push 

the open end downward through the grain until the bottom of the cup is 

parallel to the belt. (Avoid catching the cup on the belt splice that connects 

the belt ends. Ripples usually occur in the grain stream over the belt 

lacing.)

3.When the cup is full, move the open end of the cup upward and remove 

the cup from the stream. Pour the contents into a sample collection 

container.

4.Draw two more portions, one from halfway between the center and the 

right-hand edge of the stream and the other from halfway between the 

center and left-hand edge. Pour each cup into the sample container.

AIR VENTS HANDLE

CUP OPENING

3/4” MINIMUM

7/8” MAXIMUM
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Section II: Inspecting Grain

THE INSPECTION PROCESS 18

PORTION SIZES 19

HARMFUL SUBSTANCES 20

OBJECTIONABLE ODORS 24

HEATING 24

INSECT INFESTATION 25

MOISTURE 25

TEST WEIGHT 26

DOCKAGE 27

FOREIGN MATERIAL4 29

DAMAGED KERNELS 33

PROTEIN, OIL, AND OTHER INTRINSIC CHARACTERISTICS 36

STRESS CRACK ANALYSIS IN CORN 37

AFLATOXIN 38

DON 39

FUMONISIN 40

ZEARALENONE 40

OCHRATOXIN A 41

OTHER FACTORS 42
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Section II: Inspecting Grain

THE INSPECTION PROCESS

The process of inspecting grain begins when the sample is drawn and usually 

follows a prescribed path whether the grain is being inspected for grade or 

for factors only. First, the sample is examined for objectionable odor, insect 

infestation, and other harmful or unusual conditions. Then, a portion of grain is 

divided out from the sample and its moisture content determined. The sample 

may next be tested for dockage, followed by a test weight determination. For 

some grains, test weight is determined before dockage. After this, the sample

is divided into small portions which are examined for other factors, such as 

damaged kernels and foreign material.

To ensure the accuracy of inspections, always use dependable, wellmaintained equipment. Install, align, standardize, calibrate, and maintain 

inspection equipment according to the manufacturer’s recommendation. 

Test all equipment at least twice a year against a known standard and make 

adjustments as needed.

In addition, scales used to weigh samples and factor portions should be 

National Type Evaluation Program (NTEP) certified and tested by the local 

State weights and measures agency. Also, use only scales that have the 

proper division size for the size of the portion being weighed. The scale 

division for grain-test scales should not exceed 0.2 grams for loads through 

500 grams, and should not exceed 1 gram for loads above 500 grams and 

through 1,000 grams.

It is also important that factor portions be adequate in size. The portion size 

needed to determine a particular factor depends on the nature of that factor, 

the equipment that is required, and the degree of accuracy that is desired. For 

most factor determinations, the larger the portion analyzed, the more accurate 

the results.

Always use a Boerner divider or any other device that gives equivalent results 

when reducing samples in size or dividing out factor portions from samples.
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Section II: Inspecting Grain

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PORTION SIZES

The recommended minimum portion sizes (in grams) are as follows:

 

 Barley Corn Oats Sorghum Soybeans Wheat 

Damage 15 125 30 15 125 15 

Dockage 250 NA NA 250 NA 250 

Foreign Material 30 250 30 250 125 30 

Heating The lot as a whole.

Infestation The original sample or lot as a whole.

Moisture The amount recommended by the instrument manufacturer.

Objectionable

odors The original sample or lot as a whole.

Oil The amount recommended by the instrument manufacturer.

Other Factors Refer to the “Other Factors” Section.

Protein The amount recommended by the instrument manufacturer.

Test Weight An amount sufficient to cause grain to overflow the kettle.

NOTE: For other kinds of grain, use the portion sizes recommended for a 

grain of similar size
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HARMFUL SUBSTANCES

Grain that is contaminated by harmful substances grades “U.S. Sample 

grade.” To be considered “contaminated,” the original sample must contain:

Substance Grain Amount

Animal Filth Corn Animal filth in excess of 0.20 

(e.g., excreta) percent.

Barley, Flaxseed, 10 or more rodent pellets, 

Mixed Grain, Oats, bird droppings, or an equal 

and Sunflower seed quantity of other animal filth.

Sorghum & Soybeans 9 or more rodent pellets, bird

droppings, or an equal 

quantity of other animal filth.

Rye and Triticale 2 or more rodent pellets, bird

droppings, or an equal 

quantity of other animal filth.

Wheat 1 or more rodent pellets, bird

droppings, or an equal 

quantity of other animal filth.

Canola 3 or more rodent pellets, bird

droppings, or an equal 

quantity of other animal filth.

Castor Beans Barley, Corn, 2 or more castor beans.

Flaxseed, Mixed Grain, 

Oats, Triticale, and

Sunflower seed

Sorghum, Soybeans 1 or more castor beans

and Wheat
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Substance Grain Amount

Cockleburs Barley, Corn, and 8 or more cockleburs or 

Flaxseed similar seeds.

Sorghum 7 or more cockleburs or 

similar seeds.

Crotalaria Seeds Barley, Corn, 3 or more crotalaria seeds.

Flaxseed, Mixed Grain, 

Oats , Triticale, and

Sunflower seed

Sorghum, Soybeans, 2 or more crotalaria seeds.

and Wheat

Distinctly Low Quality All Grains When a lot of grain is of 

inferior quality because of 

unusual state/condition and it

cannot be graded properly 

using the grading factors in 

the standards.

Glass Barley, Corn, 2 or more pieces of glass.

Flaxseed, Mixed Grain, 

Oats, Triticale and 

Sunflower seed.

Sorghum 1 or more pieces of glass.

Wheat, Soybeans, 0 pieces of glass.

and Canola 
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Substance Grain Amount

Stones Barley, Rye, 8 or more stones or any

Mixed Grain and number of stones which have

Triticale an aggregate weight in 

excess of 0.2 percent of

the sample weight.

Flaxseed, Oats, and 8 or more stones which have

Sunflower seed an aggregate weight in 

excess of 0.2 percent of the 

 sample weight.

Sorghum 7 or more stones which have 

an aggregate weight in 

excess of 0.2 percent of the 

sample weight.

Canola Any number of stones which 

 have an aggregate weight in

 excess of 0.05 percent of the 

sample weight.

Corn 1 or more stones which have

 an aggregate weight in 

excess of 0.1 percent of the 

sample weight.

Soybeans 3 or more stones which have

an aggregate weight in 

excess of 0.1 percent of the 

sample weight.

Wheat 3 or more stones or any 

number of stones which have

an aggregate weight in 

excess of 0.1 percent of the 

sample weight.
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Substance Grain Amount

Unknown Foreign All Grains, except 4 or more particles of

Substance Canola,Sorghum unknown foreign substance,

and Soybeans including rock salt or

crystalline substances, or a 

commonly recognized 

harmful or toxic substance,

including so-called “pink 

wheat”.

Canola 1 or more particles of 

unknown foreign substance, 

as described above.

Sorghum and 3 or more particles of

Soybeans unknown foreign substance, 

as described above.

NOTE: Wheat that contains a total of 5 or more particles of any harmful 

substances and soybeans that contain 10 or more particles of 

any harmful substance (i.e., animal filth, castor beans, crotalaria 

seeds, glass, stones, or unknown foreign substances) should be 

considered “contaminated” and graded “U.S. Sample grade.”
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OBJECTIONABLE ODORS

Grain that has a musty, sour, or commercially objectionable foreign odor 

(except smut or garlic) shall grade “U.S. Sample grade.” Determine whether 

grain has an objectionable odor on the basis of an examination of the original 

sample or the lot as a whole.

Odor Characteristics 

Musty Earthy, moldy, and ground-like (not to be

confused with a burlap bag odor).

Sour Rancid, sharp, or acrid, e.g., elevator boot,

insect waste, and fermenting grain odor.

Commercially Any odor not normal to grain which, because of

Objectionable its presence, renders the grain unfit for

Foreign Odor normal commercial usage, e.g., odor of

fertilizer, hides, oil products, skunks, smoke,

burnt grain, and decaying animal and vegetable

matter.

Fumigant and insecticide odors are not

considered commercially objectionable foreign

odors, unless they are caused by fumigant or

insecticide that does not dissipate quickly. If a

grain sample contains a very strong fumigant

or insecticide odor, allow the sample to aerate

for up to 4 hours before making the odor

determination.

HEATING

Heating is a condition common to grain that is spoiling. It may be caused by 

insect infestation or, more usually, by the action of micro-organisms in grain 

with a high moisture content. In addition to its high temperature, heating grain 

often gives off a sour odor. Grain that is heating grades “U.S. Sample grade.”

Be careful not to confuse grain that is heating with sound grain that is warm 

due to storage in bins or other containers during hot weather.
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INSECT INFESTATION

The presence of live weevils or other live insects injurious to stored grain1

indicates probable infestation. Apply the special grade “Infested” if the 

inspection of the original sample or the lot as a whole reveals:

Grain Number and Type of Insects 

Wheat, Triticale, and Rye Two or more live weevils, one live weevil and one

other live insect injurious to stored grain, or two

other live insects injurious to stored grain.

All other Grains Two or more live weevils, one live weevil and five

other live insects injurious to stored grain, or ten

other live insects injurious to stored grain.

MOISTURE

Moisture is an essential measure of a grain’s storability and value. It is usually 

determined on all grain at the time of inspection.

Determine moisture on the sample as a whole (i.e., before the removal of 

dockage and/or foreign material). Use any device that has been tested and 

approved by the local State weights and measures agency.

Regardless of the device used, it is essential that it be adjusted, maintained, 

and operated in strict adherence to the manufacturer’s recommendation.

 

 

1

 “Live weevils” include broadnosed grain weevils, rice weevils, granary weevils, and lesser grain 

borers. “Other live insects injurious to stored grain” include grain beetles, moths, meal worms, and 

larvae, except for sunflower seed weevil larvae.
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TEST WEIGHT

Test weight is the weight of the volume of grain that is required to fill a 

Winchester bushel (2,150.42 cubic inches) to capacity. Since test weight tends 

to increase as moisture content decreases, determine it as quickly as possible 

after the grain is sampled.

For the following grains, determine test

weight before the removal of dockage and/

or foreign material:

Corn

Mixed

Grain

Oats

Sorghum 

Soybeans2

For the following grains, determine test 

weight after the removal of dockage and/or 

foreign material:

Barley

Canola3

Flaxseed

Rye

Sunflower Seed

Triticale

Wheat

Several devices may be used to determine test weight; all of these devices 

operate in a similar manner.

Step 1. Pour the sample through a funnel into a kettle until the grain overflows

the kettle.

Step 2. After pouring the grain into the kettle, level it off by making three, 

full-length, zigzag motions with a stroker.

Step 3. Then weigh the filled kettle on either (1) a special beam scale attached

to the funnel stand, (2) an electronic scale programmed to convert 

gram weight to test weight per bushel, or (3) a standard laboratory 

scale. If a standard laboratory scale is used, the gram weight must 

be manually converted to test weight per bushel by using a special 

conversion chart.

 

2

 On September 1, 2007, test weight was eliminated as a grading factor in soybeans. Test weight 

will be determined and reported, unless the applicant requests that test weight not be determined.

3 Test weight is not a grading factor in canola. It is only determined and reported upon the request 

of the applicant.
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DOCKAGE

Dockage is material other than the predominant grain that can be easily 

removed with sieves and cleaning devices. Determine dockage using either a 

mechanical dockage tester or hand sieves.

Determining Dockage with a Mechanical Dockage Tester 

Step 1. Thoroughly clean the dockage tester. Insert the appropriate sieves 

and riddles and make the adjustments recommended by the 

manufacturer which give results comparable to FGIS standard 

equipment.

Step 2. Turn on the tester and pour the sample into the hopper.

Step 3. After the sample has cleared the last sieve, turn the tester off.

Step 4. Remove the dockage.

For barley, rye, safflower seed, triticale, and wheat, consider dockage to be all 

material--other than the predominant grain--that was removed by the aspirator, 

all coarse material (e.g., sticks) that passed over the riddle or top sieve, and all 

material that passed through the bottom sieve.

For sorghum, consider dockage to be all material that passed through the 

bottom sieve.

For canola, rapeseed, and mustard seed, consider dockage to be all material-

-other than the predominant grain--that was removed by the aspirator, all 

coarse material that passed over the riddle or top sieve, and all material that 

passed through the bottom sieve, except for small whole and broken pieces of 

the predominant grain that can be reclaimed by handsieving and handpicking.
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Determining Dockage with Hand Sieves

Step 1. Nest the appropriate sieve(s) on top of a bottom pan.

Barley Use a 5/64-inch triangular-hole sieve.

Canola, Mustard Seed, Place a 0.064-inch x 3/8-inch oblong-hole sieve

and Rapeseed on top of a 3/64-inch x 3/8-inch oblong-hole

sieve.

Safflower Seed Place a 0.089-inch inscribed circle triangular-hole

sieve on top of a 4.5/64-inch round-hole sieve.

Sorghum Use a 2.5/64-inch round-hole sieve.

Wheat, Rye, and Triticale Place a 12/64-inch round-hole sieve op top of a

5/64-inch or 4.5/64-inch round-hole sieve.

Step 2. Pour the sample into the center of the top sieve, place the sieve(s) in a 

mechanical grain sizer, set the sizer’s timer to 20, and turn it on.

If a mechanical sizer is not available, hold the sieves and bottom pan level. 

Then, using a steady motion, move the sieve from right to left approximately 

10 inches and then return from left to right. Repeat this operation 20 times.

Step 3. Remove the dockage.

For barley, rye, safflower seed, triticale, and wheat, consider dockage to be all 

coarse material that remains on top of the sieves and all material that passed 

through the bottom sieve.

For sorghum, consider dockage to be all material that passed through the 

sieve. 

For canola, rapeseed, and mustard seed, consider dockage to be all coarse 

material that remains on top of the sieves and all material that passed 

through the bottom sieve, except for small whole and broken pieces of the 

predominant grain that can be reclaimed by resieving with smaller holed 

sieves and handpicking.
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FOREIGN MATERIAL4

Barley All matter other than barley, other grains, and wild oats that 

remains in the sample after the removal of dockage. Determine 

the amount of foreign material in barley by handpicking.

Corn All matter that passes readily through a 12/64-inch round-hole 

sieve and all matter other than corn that remains in the sample 

after sieving. Determine the amount of broken corn and foreign 

material in corn by using either a mechanical dockage tester or a 

hand sieve.

Oats All matter other than oats, wild oats, and other grains. Determine 

the amount of foreign material in oats by using a hand sieve and

handpicking.

Rye and All matter other than rye (or triticale) that remains in the sample 

Triticale after the removal of dockage. Determine the amount of foreign 

material in rye or triticale by handpicking.

Sorghum All matter, other than dockage that passes through a 5/64-inch

triangular-hole sieve (i.e., broken kernels) and all matter other 

than sorghum that remains in the sample after sieving (i.e., foreign

material). Determine the amount of broken kernels and foreign

material in sorghum by using either a mechanical dockage tester 

or hand sieves, and handpicking.

Soybeans All matter that passes through an 8/64-inch round-hole sieve, and 

all matter other than soybeans that remains in the sample after 

sieving. Determine the amount of foreign material in soybeans by 

using a mechanical tester (kicker) or hand sieves and 

handpicking.

Sunflower All matter other than whole sunflower seed containing kernels.

Seed Determine the amount of foreign material in sunflower seed by 

using a mechanical dockage tester and handpicking.

 

4

 Includes “broken corn and foreign material” (BCFM) in corn and “broken kernels and foreign 

material” (BNFM) in sorghum. The amount of foreign material in canola, flaxseed, mixed grain, 

mustard seed, rapeseed, or safflower seed is not usually determined.
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Wheat All matter other than wheat that remains in the sample after the

removal of dockage and shrunken and broken kernels. Determine 

the amount of foreign material in wheat by hand-picking.

Determining Foreign Material with a Mechanical Dockage Tester

Step 1. Thoroughly clean the dockage tester. Then, insert the appropriate 

sieves and riddles and make the adjustments recommended by 

the manufacturer which give results comparable to FGIS standard 

equipment.

Step 2. Turn the tester on and pour the sample into the hopper.

Step 3. After the sample has cleared the last sieve, turn tester off.

Step 4. Remove the foreign material.

For corn, consider BCFM to be all matter that passes readily through a 12/64 

round-hole sieve and all matter other than corn that remains in the sieved 

sample after sieving.

For sorghum, consider “foreign material” to be all coarse material that passed 

over the riddle and all material--other than sorghum--handpicked from 

the mechanically cleaned sample; and consider “broken kernels” to be all 

material-- other than dockage--that passed through a 5/64-inch triangular-hole 

sieve.

For sunflower seed, consider foreign material to be all material--other than 

sunflower seed--that was removed by the aspirator, all coarse material that 

passed over the riddle or top sieve, all material that passed through the 

bottom sieve, and all matter--other than sunflower seed-- handpicked from the 

mechanically cleaned sample.
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Determining Foreign Material with Hand Sieves

Step 1. Nest the appropriate sieve(s) on top of a bottom pan.

Corn Use a 12/64-inch round-hole sieve.

Oats Use a 5/64-inch triangular-hole sieve.

Sorghum Place a 12/64-inch round-hole sieve on top of a 5/64-inch

triangular-hole sieve.

Soybeans Place a 10/64-inch x 3/4-inch slotted-hole sieve on top of

an 8/64-inch round-hole sieve.

Step 2. Pour a sample portion into the center of the top sieve.

Corn 250 grams

Oats 30 grams

Sorghum 250 grams

Soybeans 125 grams

Step 3. Place the sieve(s) in a mechanical grain sizer, set the sizer’s timer (20 

for corn and sorghum, and 5 for oats and soybeans), and then turn it on.

If a mechanical sizer is not available, hold the sieves and bottom pan level, 

and, using a steady motion, move the sieve from right to left approximately 10 

inches. Return from left to right to complete one sieving operation. Repeat this 

operation 20 times for corn and sorghum, and 5 for oats and soybeans.

Step 4. Remove the foreign material.

For corn, consider BCFM to be all matter that passes readily through a 12/64 

round-hole sieve and all matter other than corn that remains in the sieved 

sample after sieving.

For oats, consider foreign material to be all material other than oats, other 

grains, and wild oats that passed through the 5/64-inch triangular-hole sieve 

and all coarse material (e.g., sticks) that remains on top of the sieve.
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For sorghum, consider foreign material to be all material other than sorghum 

that remains on top of the 5/64-inch triangular-hole sieve and all coarse 

material that remains on top of the 12/64-inch round-hole sieve; consider 

“broken kernels” to be all material that passed through the 5/64-inch triangularhole sieve.

For soybeans, consider foreign material to be all material which passed 

through the 8/64-inch round-hole sieve, all material other than soybeans that 

remains on top of the 8/64-inch round-hole sieve, and all coarse material that 

remains on top of the 10/64-inch x 3/4-inch slotted-hole sieve.
Inspecting Grain

Practical Procedures for Grain Handlers

Section II: Inspecting Grain

June 2016

Page 33

DAMAGED KERNELS

The most common types of kernel damage are germ, frost, immature, heat, 

mold, scab, sprout, insect, ground, and cob rot damage. Most of these types of 

damage result in some sort of discoloration or change in kernel texture.

Determine the percent of damaged kernels in the sample by hand picking 

a dockage, foreign material, and/or shrunken and broken-free portion. To 

determine whether an individual kernel is damaged, examine the entire 

surface of the kernel.

Visual Reference Images have been developed to help inspectors with this 

determination. Each image is produced digitally on the official ‘wheat’ colored 

background. These are images are found on the FGIS website. Each image 

shows the minimum amount of discoloration or deterioration necessary for a 

kernel to be considered damaged. In addition, several land grant universities 

have prepared brochures that provide color photographs depicting the various 

types of kernel damage.

Figure 11. Visual Reference Image from FGIS website.
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Type of Damage Grain Characteristics 

Bee’s Wings Flaxseed Kernels that are very thin, whitish, and paperlike.

 

Black Tip Fungus Wheat Kernels with black tip fungus growth on the germ

and in the crease of the kernel.

Blue-Eye Mold Corn Kernels with blue mold in the germ. Blue-eye mold 

should not be confused with purple plumule, which

 is not a type of damage. Purple plumule is 

generally purple in color and is always found in the

center of the germ.

Cob Rot Corn Kernels that are distinctly discolored or rotting as a

result of a fungus that attacks corn ears.

Drier All Grains Kernels that are discolored, wrinkled, and blistered;

or are puffed or swollen and slightly discolored, 

and often have damaged germs; or whose seed

coats are peeling off or appear fractured.

Frost All Grains Kernels that are discolored, blistered, or have a 

slightly flaked off bran coat; or kernels with a

distinctly wax-like or candied appearance due to 

frost.

Germ All Grains Kernels that are discolored by heat or mold 

resulting from microbial activity (fermentation), 

insect infestation, or sprouting.

Ground or Weather All Grains Kernels with dark stains or discolorations and 

rough cake-like appearance caused by ground

and/or weather conditions.

Heat All Grains Kernels that are materially discolored and 

damaged by external heat or as the result of

microbial activity (fermentation), insect infestation,

 or sprouting.

Immature or Green All Grains Kernels that are intensely green in color.
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Type of Damage Grain Characteristics 

Insect5 All Grains Kernels which have been bored or tunneled by

except insects.

Sunflower

 seed 

Mold (External) All Grains Kernels that have considerable evidence of mold.

Mold (Internal) All Grains Kernels that have any evidence of mold.

Purple Pigment Sorghum Kernels materially discolored by purple pigment.

Scab Wheat Kernels having a dull, lifeless, and chalky 

appearance.

Sprout All Grains Kernels that are sprouted.

Stinkbug Stung Soybeans Kernels that, in cross-section, show damage 

caused by stinkbugs. Score stinkbug stung 

damaged kernels at the rate of one-fourth of

the actual percentage.

 

5

 If two or more insect-damaged kernels are found in a 15-gram portion of wheat, examine a 

second 15-gram portion. If two or more insect- damaged kernels are found in the second portion, 

examine a 70-gram portion and then combine the number of insect-damaged kernels found in all 

three portions. If 32 or more insect-damaged kernels are found in the combined portions (i.e., 100 

grams), grade the wheat “U.S. Sample grade.” If fewer than two insect-damaged kernels are found 

in either the first or second portion, discontinue the examination.
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PROTEIN, OIL, AND OTHER INTRINSIC CHARACTERISTICS

Determine the percent of protein, oil, and other intrinsic characteristics by 

using American Oil Chemists’ Society (AOCS), American Association of Cereal 

Chemists (AACC), or FGIS approved methods, or by using any other methods 

which yield comparable results.

Factor Grain 

Oil Content Canola, Corn, Flaxseed, Rapeseed, Safflower Seed, Soybeans, 

and Sunflower Seed.

Protein Barley, Corn, Soybeans, and Wheat.

Starch Corn.

Free Fatty Acid Safflower Seed, Soybeans, and Sunflower Seed.

Iodine Value Safflower Seed, Soybeans, and Sunflower Seed.

Erucic Acid Canola and Rapeseed.

Glucosinolates Canola and Rapeseed.

Wet Gluten Hard Red Spring and Hard Red Winter Wheat
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STRESS CRACK ANALYSIS IN CORN

Stress cracks are internal narrow cracks in the endosperm of the kernels. 

Typically, they are induced by excessive heat during drying. Stress cracks are 

an undesirable physical attribute in corn. Kernels of corn having stress cracks 

are more susceptible to breakage and quality degradation during handling and 

also indicate potential processing problems to corn millers.

Stress crack analysis involves a visual inspection of whole corn kernels on 

a backlighted lightboard. This “candling” inspection process transmits lights 

through the kernel, which makes internal cracks in the endosperm visible for 

detection.

Step 1. Using a divider, obtain an approximately 25-gram portion of corn. 

Select 50 whole kernels from the portion for analysis.

Do not select kernels that are broken, chipped, cracked, or those 

which would limit the inspector’s ability to identify stress cracks, e.g., 

waxy or discolored kernels.

Step 2. Place the kernels on a light board with the germ side down. Visually 

inspect each kernel for stress cracks and separate out stressed 

kernels.

Step 3. Turn the remaining kernels germ side up. Visually inspect each kernel 

for stress cracks and separate out stressed kernels.

Upon request, sort the stress cracked kernels into three categories: 

single, double, and multiple stress cracks.

Step 4. Count the total number of stress cracked kernels. Multiply the number

of stressed kernels by two before reporting. Then, calculate the 

percentage of stress cracks to the nearest whole percent.
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AFLATOXIN

Aflatoxin is a naturally occurring mycotoxin produced by two types of mold: 

Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus. Aspergillus flavus is common 

and widespread in nature and is most often found in corn and sorghum grown 

under stressful conditions, such as drought. While the presence of Aspergillus 

flavus does not always indicate harmful levels of aflatoxin, it does mean

that the potential for aflatoxin production is present.

Aflatoxin, unlike most other factors, may concentrate in only a few kernels, 

and the contaminated kernels are not likely to be evenly distributed throughout 

the lot. Additionally, some contaminated kernels may contain many times 

the aflatoxin level of other contaminated kernels. Therefore, samples must 

be representative and sufficiently large (recommended size - 10 pounds) to 

compensate for the uneven distribution of the contaminant.

Methods of Analysis

Corn and some other grains and processed commodities may be tested for 

aflatoxin using FGIS approved methods. Some of these methods provide 

screening information; others provide quantitative data.

Test Kits. Several types of test kits have been developed for the analysis of 

aflatoxin. There are a number of aflatoxin test kits and systems commercially 

available that use enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), immunoaffinity, or fluorescence technology. These tests are highly specific, sensitive, 

and simple to perform. FGIS has approved quantitative and qualitative

test kits for use in the official system. For a complete list of approved test kits 

please refer to the Aflatoxin Handbook.

HPLC Method. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) is the most 

sensitive and technologically advanced quantitative method available for 

aflatoxin analysis. As the name indicates, aflatoxins are separated from each 

other and from interfering compounds chromatographically. In this case, the 

separation takes place as a liquid flows through a column that is packed with 

a material similar to that which is applied in a thin layer to a TLC plate. It then 

passes through a fluorescence detector.
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DON

Deoxynivalenol (DON), also referred to as vomitoxin, is a naturally occurring 

mycotoxin produced by several species of Fusarium. Wet and cool weather 

from flowering time on to maturity promotes infection, resulting in scab or head 

blight in barley, wheat, oats, and rye. Wheat infected with scab has a tendency 

to have lighter weight kernels, some of which are removed during normal 

harvesting and some during normal cleaning operations.

Some grains and commodities may be tested officially for DON using FGIS 

approved methods.

Test Kits. Several types of test kits have been developed for the analysis 

of DON. The test kits and systems that are currently approved by FGIS 

use either enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) or fluorescence 

technology. These tests are highly specific, sensitive, and simple to

perform. FGIS has approved quantitative and qualitative test kits for use in 

the official system. For a complete list of approved test kits please refer to the 

DON Handbook.

HPLC Method. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) is the most 

sensitive and technologically advanced quantitative method available for DON 

analysis.
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FUMONISIN

Fumonisins are environmental toxins produced by molds that grow on 

agricultural commodities in the field or during storage. Fusarium moniliforme is 

the parent fungi species that causes Fusarium Ear Rot, the most common corn 

disease in the Midwestern United States. More than ten types of fumonisins 

have been isolated and characterized. Of these, fumonisin B1 (FB1), B2

(FB2), and B3 (FB3) are the major fumonisins produced in nature. The most 

prevalent of these mycotoxins in contaminated corn is FB1, which is believed 

to be the most toxic. Since the fumonisin toxin can grow in corn kernels 

without any outward signs of mold, testing of the grain is the only positive 

means of verifying whether fumonisin is present.

Some grains and commodities can be officially tested for fumonisin using an 

FGIS approved test method: Refer to FGIS Directive 9180.71 “Fumonisin 

Testing Services”, for a complete list of grains, commodities and approved test 

methods.

ZEARALENONE

Zearalenone is the generic name for a mycotoxin that is produced by several 

species of fungus (Fusarium), the most notable of which is the Fusarium 

roseum. Species of fusarium are common and widespread in nature, and are 

found worldwide on most economic crops. Fusarium infection and production 

of zearalenone are most notable on corn, wheat, sorghum, oats, and barley.

Historically, zearalenone has been found at low levels in corn, barley, oats, 

sorghum, corn meal, hay, silage, and commercial animal rations in the United 

States. A combination of the fungus strain, high moisture content, and a period 

of relatively high temperature (as in ears of corn before harvest) followed by 

a period of low temperature (as in corn stored on the ear in cribs) favor the 

production of the toxin.

Some grains and commodities can be officially tested using an approved FGIS 

test kit. Refer to FGIS Directive 9180.66 “Zearalenone Testing”, for a complete 

list of grains, commodities and approved test methods.
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OCHRATOXIN A

Ochratoxin A is a toxin produced by Aspergillus ochraceus, and Penicillium 

verrucosum, and is one of the most abundant food-contaminating mycotoxins 

in the world. Aspergillus species proliferate in warm humid conditions, while 

the Penicillium verrucosum species is generally associated with moderate 

climates.

Historically, Ochratoxin has been found at low levels in corn, wheat, oats, 

peanuts, and other commodities in the United States. Human exposure occurs 

mainly through consumption of improperly stored food products, contaminated 

grains, pork products, and some dried fruits.

Some grains and commodities can be officially tested using an approved FGIS 

test kit. Refer to FGIS Directive 9180.77 “Ochratoxin A Testing”, for a complete 

list of grains, commodities and approved test methods.
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OTHER FACTORS

Determine the percentage of “other factors” in the sample by hand-picking or 

hand-sieving a dockage-free portion, as required.

Factor Grain Characteristics 

Admixture Sunflower seed All foreign material, except whole and broken 

sunflower seed hulls. (Minimum portion size = 60 

grams.)

Badly Stained Oats Kernel discoloration due to weather has

or Materially progressed to a point where many kernels are

Weathered badly discolored or materially weathered. 

(Minimum portion size = 350 grams.)

Broken Kernels Barley Barley with more than 1⁄4 of the kernel removed. 

(Minimum portion size = 25 grams.)

Conspicuous Canola, All matter other than the predominant grain which

Admixture Mustard seed, is readily distinguishable. (Minimum portion size = 

 and Rapeseed 10 grams.)

Defects (Total) Wheat Computed total amount of damaged kernels, 

foreign material, and shrunken and broken kernels.

Dehulled Seed Sunflower seed Hull has been completely removed from the kernel. 

 (Minimum portion size = 30 

Distinctly Green Canola, Mustard Kernels and pieces of kernels which, after being

seed, and crushed, are a distinct green throughout. 

Rapeseed (Minimum portion size = 5 grams.) 

Ergot Canola, Mustard Hard, reddish-brown or black grain-like mass of

seed, and parasitic fungi. (Minimum portion size = 10 grams.)

Rapeseed

Inconspicuous Canola, Mustard Any seed which is difficult to distinguish from the 

Admixture seed, and grain. (Minimum portion size = 5 grams.)

Rapeseed
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Factor Grain Characteristics 

Other Grains Barley Kernels and pieces of kernels of black barley, corn, 

cultivated buckwheat, einkorn, emmer, flaxseed, 

guar, hull-less barley, nongrain sorghum, oats, 

polish wheat, popcorn, poulard wheat, rice, rye,

safflower seed, sweet corn, triticale, and/or wheat. 

(Minimum portion size = 250 grams.)

Plump Barley Barley that remains on top of a 6/64- inch x 3⁄4-inch

slotted- hole sieve after sieving. (Minimum portion 

size = 250grams.)

Purple Mottled Soybeans Soybeans that are discolored by the growth of a

or Stained fungus; dirt; a dirt-like substance(s), including 

nontoxic inoculant; or other nontoxic substances.

(Minimum portion size = 400 grams.)

Sclerotinia Canola, Dark-colored or black resting bodies of the fungi

Mustard seed, Sclerotinia and Claviceps.

and Rapeseed (Minimum portion size = 10 grams.)

Shrunken Triticale and All matter that passes through a 0.064-inch x 3/8-

and Broken Wheat inch oblong-hole sieve. (Minimum portion size 

Kernels = 250 grams.)

Skinned and Barley Barley kernels with one-third or more of the hull

Broken Kernels removed; with a loose or missing hull over the 

germ; that are broken; or that are missing all or 

part of the germ. (Minimum portion size = 

25 grams.)

Slightly Oats Condition where all kernels have a slightly

Weathered weathered appearance or a sufficient number of 

kernels have a severely weathered appearance.

(Minimum portion size = 350 grams.)

Sound Barley and Oats Kernels and pieces of kernels that are not 

damaged. The percentage of sound grain in any 

sample is 100 percent minus the sum of the 

percentage (if any) of wild oats, foreign material, all 

damaged grains other than the predominant grain.

(Minimum portion size = 25 grams.)
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Factor Grain Characteristics 

Soybeans of Soybeans Soybeans with green, black, brown, or bicolored

Other Colors seed coats. (Minimum portion size = 125 grams.)

Splits Soybeans Undamaged soybeans with more than 1⁄4 of the 

bean removed. (Minimum portion size = 125 

grams.)

Stones Canola Concreted earthy or mineral matter and other

Mustard seed, substances of similar hardness that do not

Rapeseed, and disintegrate in water. (Minimum portion size= 10 

Safflower seed grams in canola/rapeseed; 250 grams in

mustard/safflower seed.)

Suitable Barley Varieties of barley that are recommended by the

Malting Type American Malting Barley Association and other 

malting types used by the malting and brewing

industry. (Minimum portion size = 25 grams.)

Thin Barley Six-rowed Malting barley (and barley in the class 

“Barley”) which passes through a 5/64-inch x 3⁄4-in 

slotted hole sieve. (Minimum portion size = 250

grams.)

Rye Rye and other matter that passes through a 0.064-

inch x 3/8-inch oblong-hole sieve. (Minimum 

portion size = 250 grams.)

Total Dockage Canola, Computed total amount of conspicuous

Rapeseed, and admixture and mechanically separated dockage. 

Safflower seed (Minimum portion size = 250 grams.)

Wild Oats Barley and Oats Seeds of Avena Fatua L. and A. Sterilis L. 

(Minimum portion size = 30 grams.)
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Section III: Grading Grain

GRADES AND GRADE DESIGNATIONS 46

SPECIAL GRADES AND SPECIAL GRADE DESIGNATIONS 47

BARLEY 51

CANOLA 53

CORN 54

FLAXSEED 55

MIXED GRAIN 56

OATS 57

RYE 58

SORGHUM 59

SUNFLOWER SEED (OIL-TYPE) 61

TRITICALE 62

WHEAT 63
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Section III: Grading Grain

GRADES AND GRADE DESIGNATIONS

A grade is assigned to grain based on its factor results. The grade assigned 

equals the lowest grade determined for any of the factors. For example, if all of 

the factors were at the U.S. No. 1 level, except for one at the U.S. No. 3 level, 

then the lot would grade U.S. No. 3.

The Official United States Standards for Grain describe the numerical grades 

for barley, canola, corn, flaxseed, mixed grain, oats, rye, sorghum, soybeans, 

sunflower seed, triticale, and wheat. The lowest grade that may be assigned to 

any of these grains is “U.S. Sample grade.” This grade is applied to grain that:

1.Does not come within the grade requirements of any of the numerical 

grades;

2.Has a musty, sour, or commercially objectionable foreign odor;

3.Is heating;

4.Contains 32 or more insect-damaged kernels per 100 grams (wheat only);

5.Is contaminated with stones, pieces of glass, toxic seeds, unknown or toxic 

substances, animal filth, crotalaria seeds, or castor beans; or

6.Is otherwise of distinctly low quality.
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SPECIAL GRADES AND SPECIAL GRADE DESIGNATIONS

The commercial value of grain is not always reflected in its numerical grade. 

Therefore, the Official United States Standards for Grain also define special 

grades for most grains. 

Special grades denoting grain of superior quality, such as “heavy” and 

“bright,” usually appear in the complete grade designation immediately after 

the numerical grade, e.g., U.S. No. 1 Extra-Heavy Bright Oats. Other special 

grades usually are shown following the name of the class or subclass, e.g., 

U.S. No. 1 Amber Durum Wheat, Smutty, Dockage 0.7 percent.

Special Grade Grain Characteristics 

Bleached Oats Treated with sulfurous acid or any other 

bleaching agent.

Blighted Barley and Mixed grain ( primarily barley) or

Mixed Grain barley that contains more than 4.0 percent of 

fungus and/or mold damaged kernels.

Bright Oats Has a good natural color. Has a good natural 

color.

Ergoty Barley, Barley, mixed grain (not predominantly rye,

Mixed Grain, or wheat), oats or triticale that contains more

Oats, and than 0.10 percent ergot.

Triticale

Mixed Grain Mixed grain (predominantly rye or wheat), or

and Rye rye that contains more than 0.30 percent 

ergot.

Wheat Wheat that contains more than 0.05 percent 

ergot.

Extra-Heavy Oats Test weight of 40 pounds or more.
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Special Grade Grain Characteristics 

Flint Corn Consists of 95 percent or more of flint corn.

Flint and Dent Corn Consists of a mixture of flint and dent corn 

which contains 5 to 95 percent of flint corn.

Garlicky Barley Contains three or more green garlic bulblets, 

or an equivalent quantity of dry or partly dry

bulblets1, in 500 grams.

Mixed Grain Mixed grain (predominantly rye, triticale, or 

wheat) that contains two or more green garlic

bulblets, or an equivalent quantity of dry or

partly dry bulblets, in 1,000 grams.

Mixed Grain Mixed grain (not predominantly rye, triticale, 

or wheat) that contains four or more green 

garlic bulblets, or an equivalent quantity

of dry or partly dry bulblets, in 500 grams.

Oats Contains four or more green garlic bulblets, or

an equivalent quantity of dry or partly dry 

bulblets, in 500 grams.

Soybeans Contains five or more green garlic bulblets, or 

an equivalent quantity of dry or partly dry 

bulblets, in 1,000 grams. 

Rye or Triticale Contains seven or more green garlic bulblets,

or an equivalent quantity of dry or partly dry

bulblets, in 1,000 grams.

Wheat Contains more than 2 green garlic bulblets, or 

an equivalent quantity of dry or partly dry 

bulblets, in 1,000 grams.

 

1

 Three dry or partly dry garlic bulblets are equal to one green bulblet.
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Special Grade Grain Characteristics 

Garlicky Canola Contains more than two green garlic bulblets,

or an equivalent quantity of dry or partly dry 

bulblets2, in 500 grams.

Heavy Oats Test weight of between 38 and 40 pounds.

Infested All Grain, Contains live weevils or other live insects

except injurious to stored grain.

Flaxseed

Light Garlicky Rye or Contains two or more, but not more than six, 

Triticale green garlic bulblets, or an equivalent quantity

of dry or partly dry bulblets, in 1,000 grams.

Light Smutty Rye or Triticale Contains an unmistakable odor of smut, or

contains more than 14 average size smut 

balls, or an equivalent quantity of smut spores

in 250 grams, but less than 30 smut balls or 

an equivalent quantity of smut spores.

Wheat Contains an unmistakable odor of smut, or 

contains more than 5 average size smut balls, 

or an equivalent quantity of smut spores in 

250 grams, but less than 30 smut balls or an 

equivalent quantity of smut spores.

Plump Rye Contains not more than 5 percent of rye or 

other matter that passes through a 0.064-inch

 x 3/8-inch oblong-hole sieve.

Purple Mottled Soybeans Soybeans with pink or purple seed coats.

or Stained
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Special Grade Grain Characteristics 

Smutty Barley, Mixed Barley, mixed grain (not predominantly rye, 

Grain, and triticale, or wheat), or oats whose kernels are

Oats so covered with smut spores as to appear 

smutty in mass, or which contains more than 

0.20 percent smut balls.

Sorghum Sorghum that contains 20 or more average 

size smut balls, or an equivalent quantity of 

smut spores in 10 grams.

Rye, Triticale, Rye, triticale, or wheat that contains 30 or

or Wheat more average size smut balls, or an 

equivalent quantity of smut spores in 250

grams.

Thin Oats Contains more than 20.0 percent of oats and 

other matter, except fine seeds, that pass 

through a 0.064- inch x 3/8-inch oblong-hole 

sieve but remain on top of a 5/64-inch

triangular-hole sieve after sieving.

Treated Mixed Grain Scoured, limed, washed, sulfured, or treated

or Wheat so that its grade designation does not reflect 

its true quality.

Waxy Corn Consists of 95 percent or more waxy corn.
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BARLEY

Barley is grain that, before the removal of dockage, consists of 50 percent or 

more of whole kernels of cultivated barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) and not more 

than 25 percent of other grains for which standards have been established 

under the United States Grain Standards Act. The term “barley,” as used in this 

context, does not include hull-less barley or black barley.

Barley is divided into two classes based on kernel characteristics: Malting 

barley and Barley. The class Malting barley is divided into three subclasses: 

Six-rowed Malting barley, Six-rowed Blue Malting barley, and Two-rowed 

Malting barley. The class Barley is divided into three subclasses: Six-rowed 

barley, Two-rowed barley, and Barley.

All subclasses of the class Malting barley are divided into four numerical 

grades. All subclasses of the class Barley are divided into five numerical 

grades and U.S. Sample grade. Refer to Appendix II and the U.S. Standards 

for Barley for specific grade requirements.

Grade barley as follows:

Step 1. Examine the sample for heating, odor, animal filth, castor beans, 

crotalaria seeds, garlic, glass, insect infestation, unknown foreign 

substances, and other unusual conditions.

Step 2. Divide out a representative portion from the sample and determine its 

moisture content.

Step 3. Determine the percentage of dockage in the sample.

Step 4. Examine the dockage-free sample for ergot, smut, stained barley, and

stones.

Step 5. Determine the test weight of the dockage free sample.

Step 6. When deemed necessary, divide out representative portions from the 

dockage-free sample. Pearl one portion and determine its percentage 

of heat-damaged kernels. Partially pearl another portion and 

determine its percentage of injured-by-heat kernels.
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Step 7. Also, when deemed necessary, divide out representative portions from

the dockage-free sample and determine the percentage of blighted 

kernels, broken kernels or skinned and broken kernels, class, 

damaged kernels, foreign material, injured-by-frost, injured-by-mold, 

other grains, plump, sound barley, subclass, suitable malting types, 

thin barley, and wild oats.
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CANOLA

Canola is a defined as seeds of the genus Brassica from which the oil shall 

contain less than 2 percent erucic acid in its fatty acid profile and the solid 

component shall contain less that 30.0 micromoles of any one or any mixture 

of 3-butenyl glucosinolate, 4-pentenyl glucosinolate, 2-hydroxy-3-butenyl, or 

2-hydroxy-4-pentenyl glucosinolate, per gram of air dried, oil free solid.

Before the removal of dockage, the seed shall contain not more than 10.0 

percent of other grain for which standards have been established under the 

USGSA.

There are no classes or subclasses of canola. Canola is divided into three 

numerical grades and U.S. Sample Grade. Refer to Appendix II and the U.S. 

Standards for Canola for specific grade requirements. Grade canola as follows: 

Step 1. Examine the sample for heating, odor, animal filth, garlic, glass, insect

infestation, unknown foreign substances, and other unusual 

conditions.

Step 2. Divide out a representative portion from the sample and determine its 

moisture content.

Step 3. Divide out another representative portion from the sample and 

determine the percentage of mechanically separated dockage.

Step 4. When deemed necessary, divide out representative portions from the

mechanically separated dockage free portion and determine 

the percentage of conspicuous admixture, ergot, erucic acid, 

glucosinolates, oil content, sclerotinia, and stones. Then, compute 

the percent of total dockage (mechanically separated dockage and 

conspicuous admixture). 

Step 5. When deemed necessary, examine the mechanically separated 

dockage-free and conspicuous admixture free portion and determine 

the percentage of other-damaged kernels.

Step 6. When deemed necessary, divide out representative portions from the

mechanically separated dockage free and conspicuous admixture free 

portion and determine the percent of heat-damaged kernels, distinctly 

green kernels, and inconspicuous admixture.

Then, compute the percentage of total damaged kernels (other-damaged 

kernels, heat-damaged kernels, and distinctly green kernels).
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CORN

Corn is grain that consists of 50 percent or more of whole kernels of shelled 

dent corn and/or shelled flint corn (Zea mays L.) and not more than 10.0 

percent of other grains for which standards have been established under the 

United States Grain Standards Act.

Corn is divided into three classes based on color: Yellow corn, White corn, and 

Mixed corn. There are no subclasses of corn.

Each class is divided into five numerical grades and U.S. Sample grade. 

Refer to Appendix II and the U.S. Standards for Corn for specific grade 

requirements.

Grade corn as follows:

Step 1. Examine the sample for heating, odor, animal filth, castor beans, 

crotalaria seeds, glass, insect infestation, stones, unknown foreign 

substances, and other unusual conditions.

Step 2. Divide out a representative portion from the sample and determine its 

moisture content. 

Step 3. Determine the test weight of the sample.

Step 4. Determine the percentage of broken corn and foreign material (BCFM)

in the sample.

Step 5. When deemed necessary, divide out representative portions from 

the BCFM free sample and determine the percentage of class, 

damaged kernels, flint corn, flint and dent corn, heat-damaged 

kernels, and waxy corn.
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FLAXSEED

Flaxseed is a grain that, before the removal of dockage, consists of 50 percent 

or more of common flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum L.) and not more than 20 

percent of other grains for which standards have been established under the 

United States Grain Standards Act and which, after the removal of dockage, 

contains 50 percent or more of whole flaxseed.

There are no classes or subclasses of flaxseed.

Flaxseed is divided into two numerical grades and U.S. Sample grade. 

Refer to Appendix II and the U.S. Standards for Flaxseed for specific grade 

requirements.

Grade flaxseed as follows:

Step 1. Examine the sample for heating, odor, animal filth, castor beans, 

crotalaria seeds, glass, unknown foreign substances, and other 

unusual conditions.

Step 2. Determine the percentage of dockage in the sample.

Step 3. Examine the dockage free sample for stones.

Step 4. Divide out a representative portion from the dockage free sample and

 determine its moisture content.

Step 5. Determine the test weight of the dockage free sample.

Step 6. When deemed necessary, divide out representative portions from the 

dockage-free sample and determine the percentage of damaged 

kernels, and heat-damaged kernels.
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MIXED GRAIN

Mixed Grain is any mixture of grains for which standards have been 

established under the United States Grain Standards Act, provided that such 

mixture does not come within the requirements of any of the standards for 

such grains; and that such mixture consists of 50 percent or more of whole 

kernels of grain and/or whole or broken soybeans which will not pass through

a 5/64-inch triangular hole sieve and/or whole flaxseed that passes through 

such a sieve after sieving.

There are no classes or subclasses of mixed grain. The standards for mixed 

grain provide two grades for mixtures of grain: U.S. Mixed grain and U.S. 

Sample grade Mixed Grain. Refer to Appendix II and the U.S. Standards for 

Mixed Grain for specific grade requirements. Grade mixed grain as follows:

Step 1. Examine the sample for heating, odor, animal filth, castor beans, 

crotalaria seeds, ergot, garlic, glass, insect infestation, smut, stones, 

treated seeds, unknown foreign substances, and other unusual 

conditions.

Step 2. Divide out a representative portion from the sample and determine its 

moisture content.

Step 3. Determine the test weight of the sample.

Step 4. When deemed necessary, divide out a representative portion from the

sample and examine it for blighted barley kernels.

Step 5. Determine the percentage of foreign material (FM) and fines.

Step 6. When deemed necessary, divide out representative portions from the 

FM and fines-free sample and determine the percentage of damaged 

kernels,

heat-damaged kernels, and kinds of grain.
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OATS

Oats are grain that consists of 50 percent or more of oats (Avena sativa L. 

and A. byzantina C. Koch) and may contain, singly or in combination, no 

more than 25 percent of wild oats and other grains for which standards have 

been established under the United States Grain Standards Act. There are no 

classes or subclasses of oats.

Oats are divided into four numerical grades and U.S. Sample grade. Refer to 

Appendix II and the U.S. Standards for Oats for specific grade requirements.

Grade oats as follows:

Step 1. Examine the sample for heating, odor, animal filth, castor beans, 

crotalaria seeds, ergot, garlic, general appearance, glass, insect 

infestation, smut, unknown foreign substances, and other unusual 

conditions.

Step 2. Determine the test weight of the sample.

Step 3. Divide out a representative portion from the sample and determine its 

moisture content.

Step 4. Determine the percentage of coarse foreign material and coarse other 

grains in the sample.

Step 5. When deemed necessary, divide out representative portions from the 

coarse foreign material and coarse other grain-free sample and 

determine the percentage of fine foreign material, fine other grains, 

heat-damaged kernels, other damaged kernels, sound oats, and wild 

oats.

Step 6. Compute the percentage of total foreign material (coarse foreign 

material and fine foreign material) and the percentage of total other 

grains (coarse other grains and fine other grains).
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RYE

Rye is a grain that, before the removal of dockage, consists of 50 percent 

or more of common rye (Secale cereale L.) and not more than 10 percent 

of other grains for which standards have been established under the United 

States Grain Standards Act, and that, after removal of dockage, contains 50 

percent or more of whole rye.

There are no classes or subclasses of rye.

Rye is divided into four numerical grades and U.S. Sample grade. Refer to 

Appendix II and the U.S. Standards for Rye for specific grade requirements.

Grade rye as follows:

Step 1. Examine the sample for heating, odor, animal filth, castor beans, 

crotalaria seeds, garlic, glass, insect infestation, unknown foreign 

substances, and other unusual conditions.

Step 2. Divide out a representative portion from the sample and determine its

moisture content.

Step 3. Determine the percentage of dockage in the sample.

Step 4. Examine the dockage-free sample for ergot, smut, and stones.

Step 5. Determine the test weight of the dockage free sample.

Step 6. When deemed necessary, divide out representative portions from the 

dockage free sample and determine the percentage of damaged 

kernels, heat-damaged kernels, foreign material, plump kernels, and 

thin kernels.
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SORGHUM

Sorghum is grain that, before the removal of dockage, consists of 50 percent 

or more of whole kernels of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench), 

excluding nongrain sorghum, and not more than 10 percent of other grains 

for which standards have been established under the United States Grain 

Standards Act.

Sorghum is divided into four classes based on color: Sorghum, Tannin 

sorghum, White sorghum, and Mixed sorghum. There are no subclasses of 

sorghum.

Each class is divided into four numerical grades and U.S. Sample grade. 

Refer to Appendix II and the U.S. Standards for Sorghum for specific grade 

requirements. Grade sorghum as follows:

Step 1. Examine the sample for heating, odor, animal filth, castor beans, 

crotalaria seeds, garlic, glass, insect infestation, smut, unknown 

foreign substances, and other unusual conditions.

Step 2. Divide out a representative portion from the sample and determine its 

moisture content.

Step 3. Determine the test weight of the sample.

Step 4. Determine the percentage of dockage and the percentage of 

mechanically separated broken kernels and foreign material (BNFM) 

in the sample.

Step 5. When deemed necessary, divide the mechanically separated BNFM 

and dockage free sample into representative portions and determine 

the percentage of class, handpicked FM (add to mechanically 

separated FM to determine total), heat-damaged, damaged kernels, 

and stones.
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SOYBEANS

Soybeans are a grain that consists of 50 percent or more of whole or broken 

soybeans (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) that will not pass through an 8/64-inch 

round-hole sieve and not more than 10 percent of other grains for which 

standards have been established under the United States Grain Standards 

Act.

Soybeans are divided into two classes based on color: Yellow soybeans and 

Mixed soybeans. There are no subclasses in soybeans. Each class is divided 

into four numerical grades and U.S. Sample grade. Refer to Appendix II

and the U.S. Standards for Soybeans for specific grade requirements. Grade 

soybeans as follows:

Step 1. Examine the sample for heating, odor, animal filth, castor beans, 

crotalaria seeds, garlic, glass, insect infestation, purple mottled and 

stained, smut, stones, unknown foreign substances, and other 

unusual conditions.

Step 2. Divide out a representative portion from the sample and determine its 

moisture content. 

Step 3. Determine the test weight of the sample.3

Step 4. When deemed necessary, divide the sample into representative 

portions and determine the percentage of class, damaged kernels, 

heat-damaged kernels, foreign material, oil, protein, soybeans of other 

colors, and splits.

 

3

 On September 1, 2007, test weight was eliminated as a grading factor in soybeans. Test weight 

will be determined and reported, unless the applicant requests that test weight not be determined.
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SUNFLOWER SEED (OIL-TYPE)

Sunflower seed is a grain that, before the removal of foreign material, consists 

of 50 percent or more of cultivated sunflower seed (Helianthus annuus L.) 

and not more than 10 percent of other grains for which standards have been 

established under the United States Grain Standards Act. There are no 

classes or subclasses of sunflower seed.

Sunflower seed is divided into two numerical grades and U.S. Sample grade. 

Refer to Appendix II and the U.S. Standards for Sunflower Seed for specific 

grade requirements. Grade sunflower seed (oil-type) as follows:

Step 1. Examine the sample for heating, odor, animal filth, castor beans, 

crotalaria seeds, glass, insect infestation, stones, unknown foreign 

substances, and other unusual conditions.

Step 2. Divide out a representative portion from the sample and determine its 

moisture content.

Step 3. When deemed necessary, divide out a representative portion from the 

sample and determine the percentage of admixture.

Step 4. Determine the percentage of mechanically separated foreign material 

(FM) in the sample.

Step 5. Determine the test weight of the mechanically separated FM-free 

sample.

Step 6. When deemed necessary, divide out representative portions from the

mechanically separated FM-free sample and deter-mine the 

percentage of dehulled kernels, damaged kernels, handpicked FM 

(add to mechanically separated FM to determine total FM), heatdamaged kernels, and oil content.
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TRITICALE

Triticale is a grain that, before the removal of dockage, consists of 50 percent 

or more of triticale (X. triticosecale Wittmack) and not more than 10 percent 

of other grains for which standards have been established under the United 

States Grain Standards Act, and that, after removal of dockage contains 50 

percent or more of whole triticale.

There are no classes or subclasses of triticale. Triticale is divided into four 

numerical grades and U.S. Sample grade. Refer to Appendix II and the U.S. 

Standards for Triticale for specific grade requirements. 

Grade triticale as follows:

Step 1. Examine the sample for heating, odor, animal filth, castor beans, 

crotalaria seeds, garlic, glass, insect infestation, unknown foreign 

substances, and other unusual conditions.

Step 2. Divide out a representative portion from the sample and determine its 

moisture content.

Step 3. Determine the percentage of dockage in the sample.

Step 4. Examine the dockage-free sample for ergot, smut, and stones.

Step 5. Determine the test weight of the dockage free sample.

Step 6. Divide out a representative portion from the dockage free sample and 

determine the percentage of shrunken and broken kernels (SHBN).

Step 7. When deemed necessary, divide out representative portions from 

the SHBN free sample and determine the percentage of damaged 

kernels, heat-damaged kernels, foreign material (other than wheat or 

rye), and foreign material (total).
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WHEAT

Wheat is a grain that, before the removal of dockage, consists of 50 percent 

or more of common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), club wheat (T. compactum

Host.), and durum wheat (T. durum Desf.), and not more than 10 percent of 

other grains for which standards have been established under the United 

States Grain Standards Act and that, after removal of dockage, contains 50

percent or more of whole kernels of one or more of these wheats.

Wheat is divided into eight classes based on color and kernel and varietal 

characteristics: Hard Red Spring wheat, Hard Red Winter wheat, Soft Red 

Winter wheat, Durum wheat, Hard White wheat, Soft White wheat, Unclasssed 

wheat, and Mixed wheat. The classes Hard Red Spring wheat, Durum wheat, 

and Soft White wheat are further divided into subclasses:

Class Subclass

Hard Red Spring Dark Northern Spring

Northern Spring

Red Spring

Durum Hard Amber Durum

Amber Durum

Durum

Soft White Soft White

White Club

Western White

Each class and subclass is divided into five numerical grades and U.S. 

Sample grade. Refer to Appendix II and the U.S. Standards for Wheat for 

specific grade requirements. Grade wheat as follows:

Step 1. Examine the sample for heating, odor, animal filth, castor beans, 

crotalaria seeds, garlic, glass, insect infestation, unknown foreign 

substances, and other unusual conditions.

Step 2. Divide out a representative portion from the sample and determine its 

moisture content.
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Step 3. Determine the percentage of dockage in the sample.

Step 4. Examine the dockage free sample for ergot, smut, stones, and treated

seeds.

Step 5. Determine the test weight of the dockage free sample.

Step 6. When deemed necessary, divide out a representative portion from the 

dockage free sample and determine the percentage of protein.

Step 7. Divide out a representative portion from the dockage free sample and 

determine the percentage of shrunken and broken kernels (SHBN).

Step 8. When deemed necessary, divide out representative portions from 

the SHBN free sample and determine the percentage of class, 

contrasting classes, damaged kernels, heat- damaged kernels, foreign 

material, subclass, and wheat of other classes.
Inspecting Grain

Practical Procedures for Grain Handlers

Section III: Grading Grain

June 2016

Page 65

Section IV: 

Not Standardized Grain and Commodities

Definition 66

Buckwheat 67

Confectionary Sunflower Seed 68

Cracked Corn 69

Crambe Seed 70

Hulless Barley 71

Hulless Oats 72

Khorasan Seed 73

Millet Seed 74

Mustard Seed and Rapeseed 75

Popcorn 76

Safflower Seed 77

Whole Buckwheat Groats 79
Inspecting Grain

Practical Procedures for Grain Handlers

Section III: Grading Grain

June 2016

Page 66

Section IV: Not Standardized Grain and Commodities

Definition

Grains for which standards have not been established under the USGSA.

Uniform inspection procedures have been established for a number of other 

grains normally identified as Not Standardized Grain under the USGSA. 

Hulless barley, hulless oats, specialty type corn, and cracked corn are 

commodities for which factor analysis procedures were established under the 

USGSA. Additionally, uniform inspection procedures have been established for 

buckwheat, confectionary sunflower seed, crambe seed, khorasan seed, millet

seed, mustard seed, rapeseed, popcorn, safflower, and whole buckwheat 

groats under the authority of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (AMA) as 

amended. Inspection of these commodities is on a factor analysis only basis. 

There are no numerical grades assigned.

Factor Analysis

“Factor analysis only” service is available under both the USGSA and AMA. 

Only those factors deemed necessary are determined and reported.
Inspecting Grain

Practical Procedures for Grain Handlers

Section III: Grading Grain

June 2016

Page 67

Buckwheat

Buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench) or (Fagopyrum sagittatum

(Gilib.) is a commodity inspected under the AMA, and consists of 50.0 percent 

or more of whole or broken buckwheat kernels before the removal of dockage.

There are no classes, subclasses, or grades for buckwheat. Inspection of 

buckwheat is on a factor analysis only basis. Refer to Program Directive 

9180.76 for specific inspections requirements.

Inspect buckwheat as follows:

Step 1. Examine the sample for heating, odor, animal filth, castor beans, 

crotalaria seeds, garlic, glass, insect infestation, unknown foreign 

substances, and other unusual conditions.

Step 2. Divide out a representative portion from the sample and determine its 

moisture content.

Step 3. Determine the percentage of dockage in the sample.

Step 4. Examine the dockage-free sample for ergot and stones.

Step 5. Determine the test weight of the dockage-free sample.

Step 6. Divide out representative portions from the dockage-free sample and 

determine the percentage of shrunken and broken kernels (SHBN) 

and smut.

Step 7. When deemed necessary, divide out representative portions from the 

SHBN-free sample and determine the percentage of foreign material, 

heat-damaged kernels, and damaged kernels.
Inspecting Grain

Practical Procedures for Grain Handlers

Section III: Grading Grain

June 2016

Page 68

Confectionary Sunflower Seed

Confectionary sunflower seed is a commodity inspected under the AMA, 

that consists of 50 percent or more of whole confectionary sunflower seed 

(Helianthus annuus L.) before the removal of dockage.

Confectionary sunflower seed is grown for non-oil purposes. It includes 

samples of lots composed of mixtures of confectionary and oil-type seeds, or 

pure oil-type seeds, provided the sample or the lot is presented for inspection 

as sunflower seed to be marketed for non-oil purposes. Refer to Program 

Directive 9180.51 for specific inspection requirements.

There are no classes, subclasses, or grades of confectionary sunflower seed. 

Inspection of confectionary sunflower seed is on a factor analysis only basis.

Inspect confectionary sunflower seed as follows:

Step 1. Examine the sample for heating, odor, animal filth, glass, insect 

infestation, stones, unknown foreign substances, and other unusual 

conditions.

Step 2. Divide out a representative portion from the sample and determine its

 moisture content.

Step 3. When deemed necessary, divide out representative portions from the 

sample and determine the percentage of admixture, purity, and 

sclerotinia.

Step 4. Divide out another representative portion from the sample and 

determine the percentage of mechanically separated dockage and 

handpicked dockage.

Step 5. When deemed necessary, divide out representative portions from the

mechanically separated dockage-free portion and determine the 

percentage of dehulled kernels, damaged kernels, off-colored seeds, 

and seed size.
Inspecting Grain

Practical Procedures for Grain Handlers

Section III: Grading Grain

June 2016

Page 69

Cracked Corn

Cracked corn is considered “not standardized grain” inspected under the 

USGSA 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% intact from their original shape and size. The sample must not meet the 

definition of corn to be considered cracked corn.

There are no classes, subclasses, or grades for cracked corn. Inspection of 

cracked corn is on a factor analysis only basis. Refer to Program Directive 

9180.70 for specific inspection requirements.

Inspect cracked corn as follows:

Step 1. Examine the sample for heating, odor, animal filth, castor beans, 

crotalaria seeds, garlic, glass, insect infestation, unknown foreign 

substances, and other unusual conditions.

Step 2. Determine the test weight of the sample.

Step 3. Divide out a representative portion from the sample and determine its 

moisture content. Note: Use the calibration setting for corn.

Step 4. Divide out representative portions from the sample and determine the 

percentage of damaged kernels, heat damaged kernels and whole 

kernels, cracked corn and other material.
Inspecting Grain

Practical Procedures for Grain Handlers

Section III: Grading Grain

June 2016

Page 70

Crambe Seed

Crambe seed (Crambe abyssinicia Hochst), a commodity inspected under the 

AMA, is an oil seed that consists of 50.0 percent or more of whole crambe 

seed before the removal of foreign material.

There are no classes, subclasses, or grades for crambe seed. Inspection of 

crambe seed is on a factor analysis only basis. Refer to Program Directive 

9180.76 for specific inspection requirements.

Inspect crambe seed as follows:

Step 1. Examine the sample for heating, odor, animal filth, castor beans, 

crotalaria seeds, garlic, glass, insect infestation, unknown foreign 

substances, and other unusual conditions.

Step 2. Divide out a representative portion to determine the percentage of 

foreign material in the sample.

Step 3. Determine test weight after the removal of mechanically separated 

foreign material on a portion of sufficient quantity to overflow the kettle 

and before the removal of handpicked foreign material.
Inspecting Grain

Practical Procedures for Grain Handlers

Section III: Grading Grain

June 2016

Page 71

Hulless Barley

Hulless barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) is considered “not standardized grain” 

inspected under the USGSA that, before the removal of dockage consists of 

80 percent or more of whole kernels of hulless barley and not more than 20 

percent of other grains for which standards have been established. It includes 

all varieties of hulless barley and is recognized by a non-adhering hull that is 

normally removed in the threshing process or can be removed easily by hand.

There are no classes, subclasses, or grades for hulless barley. Inspection of 

hulless barley is on a factor analysis only basis. Refer to Program Directive 

9180.65 for specific inspection requirements. Inspect hulless barley as follows:

Step 1. Examine the sample for heating, odor, animal filth, castor beans, 

crotalaria seeds, glass, insect infestation, unknown foreign 

substances, and other unusual conditions.

Step 2. Divide out a representative portion from the sample and determine its 

moisture content and examine a representative portion for garlic.

Step 3. Determine the percentage of dockage in the sample.

Step 4. Examine the dockage-free sample for ergot and stones.

Step 5. Determine the test weight of the dockage-free sample.

Step 6. When deemed necessary divide out representative portions from 

the dockage-free sample and determine the percentage of damage, 

foreign material, wild oats, thin, smut, ergot, and broken kernels.
Inspecting Grain

Practical Procedures for Grain Handlers

Section III: Grading Grain

June 2016

Page 72

Hulless Oats

Hulless oats is considered “not standardized grain” inspected under the 

USGSA that, before the removal of foreign material and other grains, consists 

of 95 percent or more of whole kernels of hulless oats (Avena nuda L.) and not 

more than 5 percent of other grains. It is recognized by a non-adhering hull 

that is normally removed in the threshing process or can be removed easily by

hand.

There are no classes, subclasses, or grades for hulless oats. Inspection of 

hulless oats is on a factor analysis only basis. Refer to Program Directive 

9180.63 for specific inspection requirements.

Step 1. Examine the sample for heating, odor, animal filth, castor beans, 

crotalaria seeds, glass, insect infestation, unknown foreign 

substances, and other unusual conditions.

Step 2. Divide out a representative portion from the sample and determine its 

moisture content and examine a representative portion for garlic, 

ergot, and smut.

Step 3. Determine the percentage of foreign material in the sample.

Step 4. Determine the test weight of the foreign material-free sample

Step 5. When deemed necessary divide out representative portions from the 

foreign material-free sample and determine the percentage of 

damage, other grains, wild oats, heat-damaged, and sound.
Inspecting Grain

Practical Procedures for Grain Handlers

Section III: Grading Grain

June 2016

Page 73

Khorasan Seed

Khorasan seed, a commodity inspected under the AMA, is an organically 

grown wheat-like grain that before the removal of dockage consists of 50.0 

percent or more of whole khorasan seed (Triticum turanicum).

There are no classes, subclasses, or grades for khorasan seed. Inspection of 

khorasan seed is on a factor analysis only basis. Refer to Program Directive 

9180.60 for specific inspection requirements.

Inspect khorasan seed as follows:

Step 1. Examine the sample for heating, odor, animal filth, castor beans, 

crotalaria seeds, garlic, glass, insect infestation, unknown foreign 

substances, and other unusual conditions.

Step 2. Divide out a representative portion from the sample and determine its 

moisture content. Note: Use the calibration setting for durum wheat.

Step 3. Determine the percentage of dockage in the sample.

Step 4. Examine the dockage-free sample for ergot and stones.

Step 5. Determine the test weight of the dockage-free sample.

Step 6. Divide out representative portions from the dockage-free sample and 

determine the percentage of shrunken and broken kernels (SHBN) 

and smut.

Step 7. When deemed necessary, divide out representative portions from the 

SHBN-free sample and determine the percentage of foreign material, 

heat-damaged kernels, and damaged kernels.
Inspecting Grain

Practical Procedures for Grain Handlers

Section III: Grading Grain

June 2016

Page 74

Millet Seed

Millet seed, a commodity inspected under the AMA, consists of 50.0 percent 

or more of whole millet seed before the removal of foreign material. Whole 

kernels are kernels with more than three-fourths of the kernel present.

There are no classes, subclasses, or grades for millet seed. Inspection of 

millet seed is on a factor analysis only basis. Refer to Program Directive 

9180.72 for specific inspection requirements.

Inspect millet seed as follows:

Step 1. Examine the sample for heating, odor, animal filth, castor beans, 

crotalaria seeds,garlic, glass, insect infestation, unknown foreign 

substances, and other unusual conditions.

Step 2. Divide out a representative portion to determine the percentage of 

foreign material in the sample.

Step 3. Determine test weight after removing mechanically separated foreign 

material on a portion of sufficient quantity to overflow kettle and before 

removal of handpicked foreign material.
Inspecting Grain

Practical Procedures for Grain Handlers

Section III: Grading Grain

June 2016

Page 75

Mustard Seed and Rapeseed

Mustard seed (Brassica hirta and B. juncea), and rapeseed (Brassica 

campestris and B. napus), commodities inspected under the AMA, are 

oilseeds that consists of 50.0 percent or more of whole mustard seed, or 

rapeseed, as applicable, before the removal of dockage. Inspect mustard seed 

and rapeseed as follows:

Step 1. Examine the sample for heating, odor, animal filth, garlic, glass, insect

infestation, unknown foreign substances, and other unusual 

conditions.

Step 2. Divide out a representative portion from the sample and determine its 

moisture content.

Step 3. Divide out another representative portion from the sample and 

determine the percentage of mechanically separated dockage.

Step 4. (Rapeseed only.) When deemed necessary, divide out representative 

portions from the mechanically separated dockage-free portion and 

determine the percentage of conspicuous admixture, ergot, erucic 

acid, glucosinolates (canola only), oil content, sclerotinia, and stones. 

Then, compute the percent of total dockage (mechanically separated 

dockage and conspicuous admixture).

(Mustard seed only.) When deemed necessary, divide out 

representative portions from the mechanically separated dockage-free 

portion and determine the percentage of class (Oriental, Yellow, and 

Brown mustard seed), conspicuous admixture (buckwheat, other weed 

seed, and other material), ergot, sclerotinia, and stones.

Step 5. When deemed necessary, examine the mechanically separated 

dockage-free and conspicuous admixture-free portion and determine 

the percentage of other-damaged kernels.
Inspecting Grain

Practical Procedures for Grain Handlers

Section III: Grading Grain

June 2016

Page 76

Step 6. When deemed necessary, divide out representative portions from the

mechanically separated dockage free and conspicuous admixture-free 

portion and determine the percent of heat-damaged kernels, distinctly 

green kernels, and inconspicuous admixture.

Step 7. Then, compute the percentage of total damaged kernels (otherdamaged kernels, heat-damaged kernels, and distinctly green 

kernels).

Popcorn

Popcorn (Zea mays Everta), a commodity inspected under the AMA, is grain 

that before the removal of foreign material consists of 80.0 percent or more of 

whole or broken popcorn.

There are no classes, subclasses, or grades for popcorn. Inspection of 

popcorn is on a factor analysis only basis. Refer to Program Directive 9180.64 

for specific inspection requirements.

Inspect popcorn as follows:

Step 1. Examine the sample for heating, odor, animal filth, castor beans, 

crotalaria seeds, glass, insect infestation, stones, unknown foreign 

substances, and other unusual conditions.

Step 2. Divide out a representative portion from the sample and determine its 

moisture content.

Step 3. Determine the percentage of foreign material (FM) in the sample.

Step 4. When deemed necessary, divide out representative portion from the 

BCFM-free sample and determine the percentage of damaged kernels 

and heat-damaged kernels.
Inspecting Grain

Practical Procedures for Grain Handlers

Section III: Grading Grain

June 2016

Page 77

Safflower Seed

Safflower seed, a commodity inspected under the AMA, is an oilseed 

that consists of 50.0 percent or more of whole or broken safflower seed 

(Carthamus tinctorius) before the removal of dockage.

There are no classes, subclasses, or grades in safflower seed. The inspection 

of safflower seed is on a factor only basis. Refer to Program Directive 9180.53 

for specific inspection requirements.

Inspect safflower seed as follows:

Step 1. Examine the sample for heating, odor, animal filth, glass, insect 

infestation, unknown foreign substances, and other unusual 

conditions.

Step 2. Divide out a representative portion from the sample and determine its 

moisture content.

Step 3. Divide out another representative portion from the sample and 

determine its percentage of mechanically separated dockage.

Step 4. When deemed necessary, divide out a representative portion from the

mechanically separated dockage-free portion and determine the 

percentage of handpicked dockage and stones.

Step 5. Compute the percentage of total dockage (mechanically separated 

dockage and handpicked dockage).

Step 6. When deemed necessary, divide out representative portions from the

mechanically separated dockage-free portion and determine the 

percentage of damaged kernels (total), heat-damaged kernels, sproutdamaged kernels, other-damaged kernels, oil content, free fatty acid, 

and iodine value.
Inspecting Grain

Practical Procedures for Grain Handlers

Section III: Grading Grain

June 2016

Page 78

Specialty Type Corn

Specialty Type Corn, is a grain that before the removal of broken corn and 

foreign material consists of 50% or more shelled whole kernels of the species 

Zea mays L. subsp. Amylacea (Sturtev.) Zhuk. Specialty Type Corn typically 

has floury endosperm, but may include hard endosperm kernels, and the 

pericarp color of this subspecies may include blue, red, and purple.

There are no classes, subclasses, or grades for specialty type corn. Inspection 

of specialty type corn is on a factor analysis only basis. Refer to Program 

Directive 9180.82 “Inspection of Specialty Type Corn” for specific inspection 

requirements.

Inspect specialty type corn as follows:

Step 1. Examine the sample for heating, odor, animal filth, castor beans, 

crotalaria seeds, glass, insect infestation, stones, unknown foreign 

substances, and other unusual conditions.

Step 2. Determine the test weight of the sample.

Step 3. Divide out a representative portion from the sample and determine its 

moisture content.

Step 4. Determine the percentage of broken corn and foreign material (BCFM)

 in the sample.

Step 5. When deemed necessary, divide out representative portion from the 

BCFM-free sample and determine the percentage of damaged kernels 

and heat-damaged kernels.

Step 6. When deemed necessary, divide out representative portions from the 

BCFM-free sample and determine the percentage of damaged kernels 

(total), and heat-damaged kernels.

Step 7. Determine the purity of the sample.

Step 8. Determine the color of the sample.
Inspecting Grain

Practical Procedures for Grain Handlers

Section III: Grading Grain

June 2016

Page 79

Whole Buckwheat Groats

Whole buckwheat groats are the raw buckwheat with their inedible black hull 

removed. Whole buckwheat groats are either white (unroasted) or brown 

(roasted).

There are no classes, subclasses or grades for whole buckwheat groats. 

Inspection of whole buckwheat groats in on a factor only basis.

Grade whole buckwheat groats as follows:

Step 1. Examine the sample for heating, odor, animal filth, castor beans, 

crotalaria seeds, garlic, glass, insect infestation, unknown foreign 

substances, and other unusual conditions.

Step 2. Divide out a representative portion from the sample and determine 

stones and insects (live and dead) before the removal of foreign 

material.

Step 3. Divide out a representative portion from the sample and determine its 

moisture content. Note: Before determining the moisture on whole 

buckwheat groats, install the calibration constants as explained in the 

Operators Manual for the GAC 2100.

Step 4. Determine the percentage of whole buckwheat groats and unhulled 

buckwheat in the sample.

Step 5. Determine the percentage of admixture and foreign material.

Step 6. Determine the percentage of purity.
Inspecting Grain

Practical Procedures for Grain Handlers

Appendix I: Selected References

June 2016

Page 80

Selected References

For additional information about inspecting grain, refer to one of the following 

FGIS publications:

FGIS Aflatoxin Handbook.

FGIS DON Handbook.

FGIS Equipment Handbook.

FGIS Grain Inspection Handbook, Book I, Grain Sampling.

FGIS Grain Inspection Handbook, Book II, Grain Grading.

FGIS Mechanical Sampling Systems Handbook.

FGIS Program Directive 9181.1, “Testing for StarlinkTM Corn.”

FGIS Program Directive 9180.66, “Zearalenone Testing.”

FGIS Program Directive 9180.71, “Fumonisin Testing.”

FGIS Program Directive 9180.76, “Inspection of Buckwheat.”

FGIS Program Directive 9180.51, “Inspection of Confectionary Sunflower Seed.”

FGIS Program Directive 9180.70, “Inspection of Cracked Corn.”

FGIS Program Directive 9180.73, “Inspection of Crambe Seed.”

FGIS Program Directive 9180.65, “Inspection of Hulless Barley.”

FGIS Program Directive 9180.63, “Inspection of Hulless Oats.”

FGIS Program Directive 9180.60, “Inspection of Khorasan.”

FGIS Program Directive 9180.72, “Inspection of Millet Seed.”
Inspecting Grain

Practical Procedures for Grain Handlers

Appendix I: Selected References

June 2016

Page 81

FGIS Program Directive 9180.52, “Inspection of Mustard Seed.”

FGIS Program Directive 9180.77, “Ochratoxin A.”

FGIS Program Directive 9180.82, “Inspection of Specialty Type Corn.”

FGIS Program Directive 9180.64, “Inspection of Popcorn.”

FGIS Program Directive 9180.42, “Inspection of Rapeseed.”

FGIS Program Directive 9180.53, “Inspection of Safflower Seed.”

FGIS Program Directive 9180.69, “Inspection of Whole Buckwheat Groats.”

Official United States Standards for Grain.

These publications may be viewed, downloaded, or copied from the following 

internet address: http://www.gipsa.usda.gov
Inspecting Grain

Practical Procedures for Grain Handlers

Appendix II: Grades and Grade Requirements

June 2016

Page 82

GRADE REQUIREMENTS 

GRADE REQUIREMENTS FOR SIX-ROWED MALTING AND BLUE MALTING BARLEY 83

GRADE REQUIREMENTS FOR TWO-ROWED MALTING BARLEY 84

GRADE REQUIREMENTS FOR BARLEY 85

GRADE REQUIREMENTS FOR CANOLA 86

GRADE REQUIREMENTS FOR CORN 87

GRADE REQUIREMENTS FOR FLAXSEED 88

GRADE REQUIREMENTS FOR MIXED GRAIN 89

GRADE REQUIREMENTS FOR OATS 90

GRADE REQUIREMENTS FOR RYE 91

GRADE REQUIREMENTS FOR SORGHUM 92

GRADE REQUIREMENTS FOR SOYBEANS 93

GRADE REQUIREMENTS FOR SUNFLOWER SEED 94

GRADE REQUIREMENTS FOR TRITICALE 95

GRADE REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL CLASSES OF WHEAT, 96

EXCEPT MIXED WHEAT 96
Inspecting Grain

Practical Procedures for Grain Handlers

Appendix II: Grades and Grade Requirements

June 2016

Page 83

GRADE REQUIREMENTS FOR SIX-ROWED MALTING BARLEY

AND SIX-ROWED BLUE MALTING BARLEY

SIX-ROWED MALTING BARLEY AND SIX-ROWED BLUE MALTING BARLEY

Grade

 Minimum Limits of - Maximum Limits of -

Test 

weight per 

bushel 

(pounds)

Suitable 

malting 

type 

(percent)

Sound 

barley1

(percent)

Damaged 

kernels1

(percent)

Foreign 

material

(percent)

Other 

grains 

(percent)

Skinned 

broken 

kernels 

(percent)

Thin

barley*

(percent)

U.S. No. 1 47.0 95.0 97.0 2.0 0.5 2.0 4.0 7.0

U.S. No. 2 45.0 95.0 94.0 3.0 1.0 3.0 6.0 10.0

U.S. No. 3 43.0 95.0 90.0 4.0 2.0 5.0 8.0 15.0

U.S. No. 4 43.0 95.0 87.0 5.0 3.0 5.0 10.0 15.0

1

 Injured-by-frost kernels and injured-by-mold kernels are not considered damaged kernels or 

 considered against sound barley.

NOTES: Malting barley shall not be infested, blighted, ergoty, garlicky, smutty, or contain 

any special grades. Upon request, malting barley varieties may be inspected and graded in 

accordance with standards established for the class Barley.

Six-rowed Malting and Six-rowed Blue Malting barley that does not meet the requirements for 

U.S. Nos. 1, 2, 3, or 4 Malting shall be graded under the Barley standards (see table 3).

* Use the 5/64 x 3/4 slotted-hole sieve.
Inspecting Grain

Practical Procedures for Grain Handlers

Appendix II: Grades and Grade Requirements

June 2016

Page 84

GRADE REQUIREMENTS FOR TWO-ROWED MALTING BARLEY

TWO-ROWED MALTING BARLEY

Grade

 Minimum Limits of - Maximum Limits of -

Test 

weight per 

bushel 

(pounds)

Suitable 

malting 

type 

(percent)

Sound 

barley1

(percent)

Wild

Oats

(percent)

Foreign 

material

(percent)

Skinned 

broken 

kernels 

(percent)

Thin

barley*

(percent)

U.S. No. 1 50.0 97.0 98.0 1.0 0.5 5.0 5.0

U.S. No. 2 48.0 97.0 98.0 1.0 1.0 7.0 7.0

U.S. No. 3 48.0 95.0 96.0 2.0 2.0 10.0 10.0

U.S. No. 4 48.0 95.0 93.0 3.0 3.0 10.0 10.0

1 Injured-by-frost kernels and injured-by-mold kernels are not considered damaged kernels or 

 considered against sound barley.

NOTES: Malting barley shall not be infested, blighted, ergoty, garlicky, smutty, or contain 

any special grades. Upon request, malting barley varieties may be inspected and graded in 

accordance with standards established for the class Barley.

Two-rowed Malting barley that does not meet the requirements for U.S. Nos. 1, 2, 3, or 4 

Malting shall be graded under the Barley standards (see table 3).

* Use the 5.5/64 x 3/4 slotted-hole sieve.
Inspecting Grain

Practical Procedures for Grain Handlers

Appendix II: Grades and Grade Requirements

June 2016

Page 85

GRADE REQUIREMENTS FOR BARLEY

BARLEY

Grade

Minimum Limits of - Maximum Limits of -

Test weight 

per bushel 

(pounds)

Sound 

barley1

(percent)

Damaged 

kernels1

(percent)

Heat 

Damaged

(percent)

Foreign 

material

(percent)

Broken 

kernels 

(percent)

Thin

barley*

(percent)

U.S. No. 1 47.0 97.0 2.0 0.2 1.0 4.0 10.0

U.S. No. 2 45.0 94.0 4.0 0.3 2.0 8.0 15.0

U.S. No. 3 43.0 90.0 6.0 0.5 3.0 12.0 25.0

U.S. No. 4 40.0 85.0 8.0 1.0 4.0 18.0 35.0

U.S. No. 5 36.0 75.0 10.0 3.0 5.0 28.0 75.0

U.S. Sample Grade:

U.S. Sample Grade shall be barley that:

(a) Does not meet the requirements for grades U.S. Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5; or

(b) Contains 8 or more stones or any number of stones which have an aggregate weight in 

excess of 0.2 percent of the sample weight, 2 or more pieces of glass, 3 or more crotalaria seeds 

(Crotalaria spp.), 2 or more castor beans (Ricinus communis L.), 4 or more particles of an unknown 

foreign substance(s) or a commonly recognized harmful or toxic substance(s), 8 or more cocklebur 

(Xanthium spp.) or similar seeds singly or in combination, 10 or more rodent pellets, bird droppings, or 

equivalent quantity of other animal filth per 1-1/8 to 1-1/4 quarts of barley; or

(c) Has a musty, sour, or commercially objectionable foreign odor (except smut or garlic odor); or

(d) Is heating or otherwise of distinctly low quality.

1 Includes heat-damaged kernels. Injured-by-frost kernels and injured-by-mold kernels are 

 not considered damaged kernels.

* Use the 5/64 x 3/4 slotted-hole sieve.
Inspecting Grain

Practical Procedures for Grain Handlers

Appendix II: Grades and Grade Requirements

June 2016

Page 86

GRADE REQUIREMENTS FOR CANOLA

CANOLA

Grade

Maximum Limits of -

 Damaged kernels Conspicuous Admixture

Inconspicuous

Admixture

(percent) 

Heat

damaged

(percent)

Distinctly

green 

(percent)

Total 

(percent)

Ergot

(percent)

Sclerotinia

(percent)

Stones

(percent)

Total

(percent) 

U.S. No. 1 0.1 2.0 3.0 0.05 0.05 0.05 1.0 5.0

U.S. No. 2 0.5 6.0 10.0 0.05 0.10 0.05 1.5 5.0

U.S. No. 3 2.0 20.0 20.0 0.05 0.15 0.05 2.0 5.0

U.S. Sample Grade: 

U.S. Sample Grade shall be canola that: 

(a) Does not meet the requirements for grades U.S. No. 1, 2, 3; or 

(b) Contains 1 or more pieces of glass, 2 or more particles of an unknown foreign 

substance(s) or a commonly recognized harmful or toxic substance(s), or 4 or more pieces 

of animal filth; or 

(c) Has a musty, sour, or commercially objectionable foreign odor; or 

(d) Is heating or otherwise of distinctly low quality.
Inspecting Grain

Practical Procedures for Grain Handlers

Appendix II: Grades and Grade Requirements

June 2016

Page 87

GRADE REQUIREMENTS FOR CORN

CORN

Grade

Minimum Limits 

of - Maximum Limits of -

Test weight per 

bushel

(pounds)

Heat-Damaged 

kernels

(percent)

Damaged kernels 

total

(percent)

Broken Corn and 

Foreign material 

(percent)

U.S. No. 1 56.0 0.1 3.0 2.0

U.S. No. 2 54.0 0.2 5.0 3.0

U.S. No. 3 52.0 0.5 7.0 4.0

U.S. No. 4 49.0 1.0 10.0 5.0

U.S. No. 5 46.0 3.0 15.0 7.0

U.S. Sample Grade: 

U.S. Sample Grade is corn that: 

(a) Does not meet the requirements for grades U.S. No.1, 2, 3, 4, or 5; or 

(b) Contains stones which have an aggregate weight in excess of 0.1 percent of the 

sample weight, 2 or more pieces of glass, 3 or more crotalaria seeds (Crotalaria spp.), 2 or more 

castor beans (Ricinus communis L.), 4 or more particles of an unknown foreign substance(s) 

or a commonly recognized harmful or toxic substance(s), 8 or more cockleburs (Xanthium spp.) or 

similar seeds singly or in combination, or animal filth in excess of 0.20 percent in 1,000 grams; or 

(c) Has a musty, sour, or commercially objectionable foreign odor; or 

(d) Is heating or otherwise of distinctly low quality. 
Inspecting Grain

Practical Procedures for Grain Handlers

Appendix II: Grades and Grade Requirements

June 2016

Page 88

GRADE REQUIREMENTS FOR FLAXSEED

FLAXSEED

Grade

Minimum Limits of - Maximum Limits of -

Test weight per bushel 

(pounds)

Heat-Damaged kernels

(percent)

Damaged kernels total

(percent)

U.S. No. 1 49.0 0.2 10.0

U.S. No. 2 47.0 0.5 15.0

U.S. Sample Grade is flaxseed that: 

(a) Does not meet the requirements for grades U.S. No. 1, or 2; or 

(b) Contains 8 or more stones which have an aggregate weight in excess of 0.2 percent of the 

sample weight, 2 or more pieces of glass, 3 or more crotalaria seeds (Crotalaria spp.), 2 or 

more castor beans (Ricinus communis L.), 4 or more particles of an unknown foreign 

substance(s) or a commonly recognized harmful or toxic substance(s), 10 or more rodent pellets, 

bird droppings, or equivalent quantity of other animal filth per 1 1/8 to 1 . quarts of flaxseed, or 

(c) Has a musty, sour, or commercially objectionable foreign odor (except smut or garlic); or 

(d) Is heating or otherwise of distinctly low quality.
Inspecting Grain

Practical Procedures for Grain Handlers

Appendix II: Grades and Grade Requirements

June 2016

Page 89

GRADE REQUIREMENTS FOR MIXED GRAIN

MIXED GRAIN

Grade

Maximum Limits of -

Moisture

(%) Damaged kernels total (%) Heat-Damaged kernels (%)

U.S. Mixed Grain 16.0 15.0 3.0

U.S. Sample Grade

U.S. Sample Grade is mixed grain that: 

(a) Does not meet the requirements for the grade U.S. Mixed Grain; or 

(b) Contains 8 or more stones which have an aggregate weight in excess of 0.2 percent of 

the sample weight, 2 or more pieces of glass, 3 or more crotalaria seeds (Crotalaria spp.), 2 or 

more castor beans (Ricinus communis L.), 8 or more cockleburs (Xanthium spp.) or similar seeds 

singly or in combination, 4 or more particles of an unknown foreign substance(s) or a commonly 

recognized harmful or toxic substance(s), 10 or more pieces of rodent pellets, bird droppings, or an 

equivalent quantity of other animal filth in 1-1/8 to 1-1/4quarts of grain; or 

(c) Has a musty, sour, or commercially objectionable foreign odor (except for smut or garlic); or 

(d) Is heating or otherwise of distinctly low quality.
Inspecting Grain

Practical Procedures for Grain Handlers

Appendix II: Grades and Grade Requirements

June 2016

Page 90

GRADE REQUIREMENTS FOR OATS

OATS

 Grade

Minimum Limits of - Maximum Limits of -

Test weight 

per bushel 

(pounds)

Sound Oats 

(percent)

Heat-Damaged 

kernels 

(percent)

Foreign 

material 

(percent)

Wild oats 

(percent)

U.S. No. 1 36.0 97.0 0.1 2.0 2.0

U.S. No. 2 33.0 94.0 0.3 3.0 3.0

U.S. No. 31 30.0 90.0 1.0 4.0 5.0

U.S. No. 42 27.0 80.0 3.0 5.0 10.0

U.S. Sample Grade

U.S. Sample Grade are oats that: 

(a) Does not meet the requirements for grades U.S. No.1, 2, 3, or 4; or 

(b) Contains 8 or more stones which have an aggregate weight in excess of 0.2 

percent of the sample weight, 2 or more pieces of glass, 3 or more crotalaria seeds (Crotalaria 

spp.), 2 or more castor beans (Ricinus communis L.), 4 or more particles of an unknown foreign 

substance(s) or a commonly recognized harmful or toxic substance(s), 8 or more cockleburs 

(Xanthium spp.) or similar seeds singly or in combination, 10 or more rodent pellets, bird droppings, 

or an equivalent quantity of other animal filth per 1 1/8 to 1 . quarts of oats; or 

(c) Have a musty, sour, or commercially objectionable foreign odor (except smut 

or garlic odor) ; or 

(d) Are heating or otherwise of distinctly low quality. 

1

 Oats that are slightly weathered shall be graded not higher than U.S. No. 3. 

2

 Oats that are badly stained or materially weathered shall be graded not higher than 

 U.S. No. 4. 
Inspecting Grain

Practical Procedures for Grain Handlers

Appendix II: Grades and Grade Requirements

June 2016

Page 91

GRADE REQUIREMENTS FOR RYE

RYE

Grade

Minimum Limits of - Maximum Limits of -

Test weight

per bushel

(pounds)

Foreign Material Damaged Kernels

Thin Rye

(percent)

Foreign 

matter

other than 

wheat 

(percent) 

Total 

(percent)

(percent) 

Heat 

Damaged 

(percent)

Total 

(percent)

U.S. No. 1 56.0 1.0 3.0 0.2 2.0 10.0

U.S. No. 2 54.0 2.0 6.0 0.2 4.0 15.0

U.S. No. 3 52.0 4.0 10.0 0.5 7.0 25.0

U.S. No. 4 49.0 6.0 10.0 3.0 15.0 - - -

U.S. Sample Grade 

U.S. Sample Grade is rye that: 

(a) Does not meet the requirements for grades U.S. No.1, 2, 3, or 4; or 

(b) Contains 8 or more or any number of stones which have an aggregate weight in excess of 

0.2 percent of the sample weight, 2 or more pieces of glass, 3 or more crotalaria seeds (Crotalaria 

spp.), 2 or more castor beans (Ricinus communis L.), 4 or more particles of an unknown foreign 

substance(s) or a commonly recognized harmful or toxic substance(s), 2 or more rodent pellets, 

bird droppings, or an equivalent quantity of other animal filth per 1 1/8 to 1 1/4 quarts of rye, or 

(c) Has a musty, sour, or commercially objectionable foreign odor (except smut or garlic odor); or 

(d) Is heating or otherwise of distinctly low quality.
Inspecting Grain

Practical Procedures for Grain Handlers

Appendix II: Grades and Grade Requirements

June 2016

Page 92

GRADE REQUIREMENTS FOR SORGHUM

SORGHUM

Grade

Minimum

Limits of - Maximum Limits of -

Test weight

per bushel

(pounds)

Damaged Kernels Broken Kernels and foreign material

Heat 

(percent)

Total 

(percent)

Foreign material 

(part of total) 

(percent)

Total 

(percent)

U.S. No. 1 57.0 0.2 2.0 1.0 3.0

U.S. No. 2 55.0 0.5 5.0 2.0 6.0

U.S. No. 31 53.0 1.0 10.0 3.0 8.0

U.S. No. 4 51.0 3.0 15.0 4.0 10.0

U.S. Sample Grade is sorghum that: 

(a) Does not meet the requirements for grades U.S. No.1, 2, 3, or 4; or 

(b) Contains 8 or more stones which have an aggregate weight in excess of 0.2 percent of the 

sample weight, 2 or more pieces of glass, 3 or more crotalaria seeds (Crotalaria spp.), 2 or more 

castor beans (Ricinus communis L.), 4 or more particles of an unknown foreign substance(s) or 

a commonly recognized harmful or toxic substance(s), 8 or more cockleburs Xanthium spp.) or 

similar seeds singly or in combination, 10 or more rodent pellets, bird droppings, or an equivalent 

quantity of other animal filth in 1,000 grams of sorghum, 11 or more pieces of other material from 

any combination of animal filth, castor beans, crotalaria seeds, glass, stones, unknown foreign 

substances, and cockleburs, or 

(c) Has a musty, sour, or commercially objectionable foreign odor (except smut odor); or 

(d) Is badly weathered, heating or otherwise of distinctly low quality. 

1

 Sorghum which is distinctly discolored shall not grade any higher than U.S. No. 3.
Inspecting Grain

Practical Procedures for Grain Handlers

Appendix II: Grades and Grade Requirements

June 2016

Page 93

GRADE REQUIREMENTS FOR SOYBEANS

SOYBEANS

Grade

Maximum Limits of -

Damaged Kernels Foreign 

Material

(percent)

Splits

(percent)

Soybeans of 

other colors1

(percent)

Heat

(part of total)

(percent)

Total

(percent)

 U.S. No. 1 0.2 2.0 1.0 10.0 1.0

 U.S. No. 2 0.5 3.0 2.0 20.0 2.0

 U.S. No. 3 1.0 5.0 3.0 30.0 5.0

 U.S. No. 4 3.0 8.0 5.0 40.0 10.0

U.S. Sample Grade:

U.S. Sample Grade is soybeans that:

(a) Do not meet the requirements for grades U.S. No.1, 2, 3, or 4; or

(b) Contains 4 or more stones which have an aggregate weight in excess of 0.1 percent of the 

sample weight, 1 or more pieces of glass, 3 or more crotalaria seeds (Crotalaria spp.), 2 or more 

castor beans (Ricinus communis L.), 4 or more particles of an unknown foreign substance(s) or a 

commonly recognized harmful or toxic substance(s), 10 or more rodent pellets, bird droppings, or 

an equivalent quantity of other animal filth in 1,000 grams of soybeans, or 

(c) Contain 11 or more animal filth, castor beans, crotalaria seeds, glass, stones, or unknown 

foreign substance(s) in any combination, or

(d) Have a musty, sour, or commercially objectionable foreign odor (except garlic odor); or

(e) Are heating or otherwise of distinctly low quality.

1 Disregard for Mixed Soybeans
Inspecting Grain

Practical Procedures for Grain Handlers

Appendix II: Grades and Grade Requirements

June 2016

Page 94

GRADE REQUIREMENTS FOR SUNFLOWER SEED

SUNFLOWER SE ED

Grade

Minimum Limits of - Maximum Limits of -

Test weight per 

bushel (pounds)

Damaged Kernels

Dehulled Seed 

(percent)

Heat

Damaged

(percent)

Total

(percent)

U.S. No. 1 25.0 0.5 5.0 5.0

U.S. No. 2 25.0 1.0 10.0 5.0

U.S. Sample Grade

U.S. Sample Grade is sunflower seed that:

(a) Does not meet the requirements for grades U.S. No.1 or 2; or

(b) Contains 8 or more stones which have an aggregate weight in excess of 0.20 percent of the 

sample weight, 2 or more pieces of glass, 3 or more crotalaria seeds (Crotalaria spp.), 2 or more 

castor beans (Ricinus communis L.), 4 or more particles of an unknown foreign substance(s) or a 

commonly recognized harmful or toxic substance(s), 10 or more rodent pellets, bird droppings, or 

an equivalent quantity of other animal filth per 600 grams of sunflower seed, or

(c) Has a musty, sour, or commercially objectionable foreign odor (except smut or garlic odor); or

(d) Is heating or otherwise of distinctly low quality.
Inspecting Grain

Practical Procedures for Grain Handlers

Appendix II: Grades and Grade Requirements

June 2016

Page 95

GRADE REQUIREMENTS FOR TRITICALE

TRITICALE

Grade

Minimum 

Limits of - Maximum Limits of -

Test 

weight per 

bushel 

(pounds)

Damaged Kernels Foreign Material

Shrunken 

and

broken 

kernels 

(percent)

Defects3

(percent)

Heat 

damaged 

(percent)

Total1

(percent)

Material 

other than 

wheat 

or rye 

(percent)

Total2

(percent)

U.S. No. 1 48.0 0.2 2.0 1.0 2.0 5.0 5.0

U.S. No. 2 45.0 0.2 4.0 2.0 4.0 8.0 8.0

U.S. No. 3 43.0 0.5 8.0 3.0 7.0 12.0 12.0

U.S. No. 4 41.0 3.0 15.0 4.0 10.0 20.0 20.0

U.S. Sample Grade

U.S. Sample Grade is triticale that:

(a) Does not meet the requirements for grades U.S. No.1, 2, 3, or 4; or

(b) Contains 8 or more stones or any number of stones which have an aggregate weight in 

excess of 0.2 percent of the sample weight, 2 or more pieces of glass, 3 or more crotalaria seeds 

(Crotalaria spp.), 2 or more castor beans (Ricinus communis L.), 4 or more particles of an unknown 

foreign substance(s) or a commonly recognized harmful or toxic substance(s), 2 or more rodent 

pellets, bird droppings, or an equivalent quantity of other animal filth per 1 1/8 to 1 1/4 quarts of 

triticale; or

(c) Has a musty, sour, or commercially objectionable foreign odor (except smut or garlic odor); or

(d) Is heating or otherwise of distinctly low quality.

1 Includes heat-damaged kernels

2 Includes material other than wheat or rye.

3 Defects include damaged kernels (total), foreign material (total), and shrunken and broken kernels. 

 The sum of these three factors may not exceed the limit for defects for each numerical grade.
Inspecting Grain

Practical Procedures for Grain Handlers

Appendix II: Grades and Grade Requirements

June 2016

Page 96

GRADE REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL CLASSES OF WHEAT,

EXCEPT MIXED WHEAT

WHEAT

Grade

Minimum 

Limits of - Maximum Limits of -

Test Weight per 

bushel

Damaged 

Kernels

Foreign 

material

(percent)

Shrunken 

and 

broken 

kernels

(percent)

Defects1

(percent)

Wheat of other 

classes2

Hard Red 

Spring 

Wheat 

or White 

Club 

Wheat

(pounds)

All other 

classes and 

subclasses

(pounds)

Heat 

damage

(part of 

total)

(percent)

Total

(percent)

Contrasting 

classes

(percent)

Total3

(percent)

U.S. No. 1 58.0 60.0 0.2 2.0 0.4 3.0 3.0 1.0 3.0

U.S. No. 2 57.0 58.0 0.2 4.0 0.7 5.0 5.0 2.0 5.0

U.S. No. 3 55.0 56.0 0.5 7.0 1.3 8.0 8.0 3.0 10.0

U.S. No. 4 53.0 54.0 1.0 10.0 3.0 12.0 12.0 10.0 10.0

U.S. No. 5 50.0 51.0 3.0 15.0 5.0 20.0 20.0 10.0 10.0

U.S. Sample Grade

U.S. Sample Grade is wheat that:

(a) Does not meet the requirements for grades U.S. No.1, 2, 3, 4, or 5; or

(b) Contains 4 or more stones or any number of stones which have an aggregate weight in excess of 

0.1 percent of the sample weight, 1 or more pieces of glass, 3 or more crotalaria seeds (Crotalaria 

spp.), 2 or more castor beans (Ricinus communis L.), 4 or more particles of an unknown foreign 

substance(s) or a commonly recognized harmful or toxic substance(s), 2 or more rodent pellets, 

bird droppings, or an equivalent quantity of other animal filth per 1,000 grams of wheat; or

(c) Contains 5 or more animal filth, castor beans, crotalaria seeds, glass, stones, or unknown foreign 

substance(s) in any combination; or

(d) Has a musty, sour, or commercially objectionable foreign odor (except smut or garlic odor); or

(e) Is heating or otherwise of distinctly low quality.

(f) Contains more than 31 insect-damaged kernels in 100 grams.

 1 Defects include damaged kernels (total), foreign material, and shrunken and broken kernels. The sum of these three 

 factors may not exceed the limit for defects for each numerical grade.

 2 Unclassed wheat of any grade may contain not more than 10.0 percent of wheat of other classes.

 3 Includes contrasting classes.