United States Department of Agriculture

Agricultural Marketing Service

Federal Grain Inspection Service

U.S. Standards June 2008

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

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Subpart I -- United States Standards for Sorghum

Contents

Subpart I -- United States Standards for Sorghum 1

Terms Defined 2

Principles Governing the Application of Standards 3

Sorghum Grades and Grade Requirements 4

Special Grades and Special Grade Requirements 4
Official US Standards for Grain

Sorghum

June 2008

Page 2

Terms Defined

§ 810.1401 Definition of sorghum.

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 10.0 percent of other grains for which standards have been established 

under the United States Grain Standards Act.

§ 810.1402 Definitions of other terms.

(a) Broken kernels. All matter which passes through a 5/64 triangular-hole sieve and 

over a 2.5/64 round-hole sieve according to procedures prescribed in FGIS instructions.

(b) Broken kernels and foreign material. The combination of broken kernels and foreign

material as defined in paragraphs (a) and (f) of this section.

(c) Classes. There are four classes of sorghum: Sorghum, Tannin sorghum, White

sorghum, and Mixed sorghum.

(1) Sorghum. Sorghum which lacks a pigmented testa (subcoat) and contains less than

98.0 percent White sorghum and not more than 3.0 percent Tannin sorghum. The 

pericarp color of this class may appear white, yellow, pink, orange, red, or bronze.\

(2) Tannin sorghum. Sorghum which has a pigmented testa (subcoat) and contains not

more than 10.0 percent non-Tannin sorghum. The pericarp color of this class is usually

brown but may also be white, yellow, pink, orange, red, or bronze.

(3) White sorghum. Sorghum which lacks a pigmented testa (subcoat) and contains not

more than 2.0 percent sorghum of other classes. The pericarp color of this class is white

or translucent and includes sorghum containing spots that, singly or in combination,

cover 25.0 percent or less of the kernel.

(4) Mixed sorghum. Sorghum which does not meet the requirements for any of the 

classes Sorghum, Tannin sorghum, or White sorghum.

(d) Damaged kernels. Kernels, pieces of sorghum kernels, and other grains that are 

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

materially damaged.

(e) Dockage. All matter other than sorghum that can be removed from the original 

sample by use of an approved device according to procedures prescribed in FGIS 

instructions. Also, underdeveloped, shriveled, and small pieces of sorghum kernels 

removed in properly separating the material other than sorghum.
Official US Standards for Grain

Sorghum

June 2008

Page 3

(f) Foreign material. All matter, except sorghum, which passes over the number 6 riddle

and all matter other than sorghum that remains on the top of the 5/64 triangular-hole

sieve according to procedures prescribed in FGIS instructions.

(g) Heat-damaged kernels. Kernels, pieces of sorghum kernels, and other grains that 

are materially discolored and damaged by heat.

(h) Nongrain sorghum. Seeds of broomcorn, Johnson-grass, Sorghum almum Parodi, 

and sudangrass; and seeds of Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench that appear atypical of 

grain sorghum.

(i) Pericarp. The pericarp is the outer layers of the sorghum grain and is fused to the

seedcoat.

(j) Sieves.

(1) 1.98 mm (5/64 (0.0781) inches) triangular-hole sieve. A metal sieve 0.81 mm (0.032

inches) thick with equilateral triangular perforations the inscribed circles of which are

1.98 mm (0.0781 inches) in diameter.

(2) 0.99 mm (2 1/2/64 (0.0391) inches) round-hole sieve. A metal sieve 0.81 mm (0.032

inch) thick with round holes 0.99 mm (0.0391 inches) in diameter.

Principles Governing the Application of Standards

810.1403 Basis of determination.

Each determination of broken kernels and foreign material is made on the basis of the

grain when free from dockage. Each determination of class, damaged kernels, 

heatdamaged kernels, and stones is made on the basis of the grain when free 

from dockage and that portion of the broken kernels, and foreign material that will 

pass through a 1.98 mm (5/64 inch) triangular-hole sieve. Other determinations not 

specifically provided for in the general provisions are made on the basis of the grain 

as a whole except the determination of odor is made on either the basis of the grain 

as a whole or the grain when free from dockage, broken kernels, and foreign material 

removed by the 1.98 mm (5/64 inch) triangular-hole sieve.
Official US Standards for Grain

Sorghum

June 2008

Page 4

Sorghum Grades and Grade Requirements

§ 810.1404 - Grades and grade requirements for sorghum.

Grading factors Grades U.S. Nos. 1

1 2 3 4

Minimum pound limits of

Test weight per bushel: 57.0 55.0 53.0 51.0

Maximum percent limits of

Damaged kernels:

Heat (part of total)

Total

Broken kernels and foreign material:

Foreign material (part of total)

Total

0.2

2.0

1.0

3.0

0.5

5.0

2.0

6.0

1.0

10.0

3.0

8.0

3.0

15.0

4.0

10.0

Maximum count limits of

Other material:

Animal filth

Castor beans

Crotalaria seeds

Glass

Stones 2

Unknown foreign substance

Cockleburs

Total 3

9

1

2

1

7

3

7

10

9

1

2

1

7

3

7

10

9

1

2

1

7

3

7

10

9

1

2

1

7

3

7

10

U.S. Sample grade is sorghum that:

(a) Does not meet the requirements for U.S. Nos. 1, 2, 3, or 4; or

(b) Has a musty, sour or commercially objectionable foreign odor (except smut odor); or

(c) Is badly weathered, heating or distinctly low quality.

__________

1

 Sorghum which is distinctly discolored shall not grade higher than U.S. No. 3.

2

 Aggregate weight of stones must also exceed 0.2 percent of the sample weight.

3

 Includes any combination of animal filth, castor beans, crotalaria seeds, glass, stones, unknown 

foreign substances or cockleburs.

Special Grades and Special Grade Requirements

§ 810.1405 Special grades and special grade requirements.

Smutty sorghum. Sorghum that has kernels covered with smut spores to give a smutty

appearance in mass, or that contains 20 or more smut balls in 100 grams of sorghum.