Inside this Issue

Determining Reference Test Weight

per Bushel Value of Grains 1

Retail Motor Fuel Training Video 6

Calendar 2

This Month in 

History

October 1, 1908 - The Model T, a car designed

for the mass population by Henry Ford, appeared for sale.

October 5, 1882 - Robert Goddard (1882 - 1945)

was born in Worcester, Massachusetts. He is

thought of as the “Father of the Space Age.” He

is credited with launching the world’s first liquid-fueled rocket and developed other apparatus for rocket machines. 

October 13, 1775 - The U.S. Navy’s birthday. 

October 13, 1792 - George Washington laid the

cornerstone for the White House originally it

was known as the “Presidental Palace.” The

building was designed by James Hoban to be

three stories high with over 100 rooms. President John Adams and family moved in when it

was completed in November of 1800. 

Ocober 14, 1947 - Chuck Yeager, a U.S. Air Force

pilot, broke the sound barrier while he was testing a research plane.

October 20, 1818 - The United States and Brittan agreed to set the Canadian borders at the

49th parallel. 

October 21, 1915 - The American Telephone

and Telegraph Company sent the first transatlantic radio voice message from Virgina to Paris.

1

Volume 4 Issue 6

September 26, 2013

Determining Reference Test

Weight per Bushel Value of

Grains

By G. Diane Lee

“Test weight per bushel” is a measurement of the weight of a volume of grain

required to fill level a Winchester bushel measure of 2 150.42 cubic inches

(equivalent to 32 quarts) in capacity1

. Test weight per bushel is one of the

measurements used by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Grain Inspection Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) in grain grading. For

example, USDA No. 1 hard red spring wheat has a minimum limit for test

F

A

L

L

NIST welcomes the cool fall

weather. The picture above is

of the Administration building

and a few of the trees showing

their fall wardrobe. The picture

on the right is one of the campus residents posing for his

photograph. There are a few of

his friends in the background.
W&M Connection 2 Volume 4 Issue 6

Calendar 2013

Registration for training in the NIST Office of

Weights and Measures is handled by Yvonne

Branden at yvonne.branden@nist.gov.

Course descriptions can be viewed on the Office of Weights and Measures website by

clicking on the name of the course. 

http://www.nist.gov/pml/wmd/calendar.cfm

October 6 - 9 (4 days)

Southern Weights and Measures Association

(SWMA)

Embassy Suites Charleston

Charleston, WV

Contact: Richard McComas at 

rich.d.mccomas@wv.gov

October 9 - 10 (2 days)

NTEP Measuring Sector Meeting

Embassy Suites Hotel

Charleston, WV

Contact: NCWM at info@ncwm.net

October 10 

Webinar - Internal Auditing Best Practices

2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Class No. 5251

October 16 - 17 (2 days)

Northeastern Weights and Measures Association (NEWMA) Interim Meeting 

Holiday Inn Norwich

Norwich, CT

Contact: James Cassidy at 

jcassidy@cambridgema.gov

October 17

Webinar - State Laboratory Annual Submission Process**

2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Class No. 5249

October 21 - October 25 (5 days)

Handbook 130 - Packaging and Labeling 

Glendale, AZ

Class No. 5269

October 21 - November 1 (2 weeks)

Mass Metrology Seminar

Class No. 5250

NIST/Gaithersburg, MD

November 4 - 7 (4 days)

Handbook 133 - Checking the Net Contents

of Packaged Goods, Volumetric

Class No. 5289

NIST/Gaithersburg, MD

Novenber 18 - 20 (3 days)

Vehicle and Axle-load Scales

Class No. 5287

Las Cruces, NM

(continued on page 3)

weight per bushel of 58.0 pounds per bushel. In the market place, test weight

per bushel is a commercial measurement because it affects the market value

of grain. When a farmer sells grain, the grain price may be “discounted.” If

“discounted” for test weight, the farmer receives less money for the grain if

the test weight per bushel measurement is under a certain specified target

weight per bushel, such as 58.0 pounds per bushel. Many grain moisture

meters, currently in commercial use, that are covered by a National Type Evaluation Program (NTEP) Certificate of Conformance, provide grain test weight

per bushel measurements that are used to assess the amount of money a

farmer will receive for grain. As such, the “test weight per bushel” measurement must be verified for accuracy. The process used to verify the accuracy

of a meter’s test weight per bushel measurement begins in the laboratory.

Both the NTEP laboratory and state weights and measures laboratories use a

reference test weight per bushel measurement procedure, and specific equipment to determine the reference test weight per bushel values of various

grains. Once a reference test weight per bushel value is determined for the

grains, the grains are used to verify the accuracy of the test weight per bushel

feature on meters. Both the NTEP laboratory and State Weights and Measures field inspectors verify the accuracy of the weight per bushel measurement of meters by comparing the results of the weight per bushel

measurement on the meter to the reference “test weight per bushel” value

of the grain samples that are placed in the meter for measurement. This article addresses the laboratory equipment, equipment maintenance, and reference procedures for test weight per bushel because of its importance in

determining the accuracy of the test weight per bushel measurement of meters. 

Equipment 

To determine reference test weight per bushel measurements of grain, use

test weight per bushel equipment approved by USDA, GIPSA. The USDA,

GIPSA Equipment Handbook includes two lists of GIPSA approved equipment:

active and inactive. The active equipment list includes GIPSA approved equipment that is commercially available. The inactive equipment list contains

GIPSA approved equipment no longer manufactured or widely marketed, but

Figure 1. Test Weight per Bushel Equipment - Active Approved Equipment

Stoker

Test Stand

Overflow Pan

Quart Kettle

Filling Hopper

Scale
W&M Connection 3 Volume 4 Issue 6

November 18 - 22 (5 days)

Volume Metrology Seminar

Class No. 5252

NIST/Gaithersburg, MD

December 4 - 6 (3 days)

Train the Trainer

Class No. 5288

NIST/Gaithersburg, MD 

2014

January 13 - 17 (5 days)

Fundamentals of Metrology Seminar

Class No. 5276

NIST/Gaithersburg, MD

January 19 - 22 (4 days)

National Conference on Weights and Measures

(NCWM) Interim Meeting

Albuquerque, NM

info@ncwm.net

February 6

Webinar - Conducting an Effective Management

Review

2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Class No. 5255

February 20

Webinar - Internal Auditing Best Practices

2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Class No. 5256

February 24 - March 7 (2 weeks)

Mass Metrology Seminar

Class No. 5285

NIST/Gaithersburg, MD

March 31 - April 4 (5 days)

Fundamental of Metrology

Class No. 5290

NIST/Gaithersburg, MD

April 11 - May 8 (2 weeks)

Mass Metrology Seminar

Class No. 5285

NIST/Gaithersburg, MD

May 5 - 8 (4 days)

Northeastern Weights and Measures Association

(NEWMA) - Annual Meeting

Manchester, NH

Contact: James Cassidy at

jcassidy@cambridgema.gov

June 19 - 13 (5 days)

Laboratory Administration

Class No. 5291

NIST/Gaithersburg, MD

July 12 - 17

National Conference on Weights and Measures -

Annual Meeting

Detroit, MI

Contact: info@ncwm.net (continued on page 4)

is still approved for use. The equipment used to determine reference test

weight per bushel values for grain are:

• a quart kettle, 

• a scale specifically designed to measure test weight per bushel, 

• a filling hopper, 

• an over flow pan, and 

• a stroker. 

Figure 1 includes test weight per bushel equipment from GIPSA’s active approved equipment list and currently in use at the USDA, GIPSA in Kansas City,

Missouri. 

Equipment Maintenance

The test weight per bushel equipment must be checked and adjusted prior

to initial use; and periodically, thereafter, as needed. A maintenance schedule

of the checks and adjustments made to the equipment must be documented.

The specifications and maintenance for test weight per bushel equipment are

included in GIPSA’s Equipment Handbook, which can be downloaded from

the USDA, GIPSA Website at http://www.gipsa.usda.gov/Publications/fgis/handbooks/equip_insphb.html.

Procedure for Determining the Reference Test Weight per Bushel

Value of Grains 

In general, the procedure used to determine the reference test weight per

bushel of grain is to weigh one dry quart of the grain on a suitable scale that

is designed to multiply the weight by 32, since there are exactly 32 quarts to

a dry bushel. These specially designed scales provide a direct reading of test

weight per bushel. Since these scales indicate 32 times the weight of the content in the dry quart, it is very important to follow procedures for determining

the reference test weight per bushel values of grain. 

The following is a step by step procedure to determine the reference test

weight per bushel values of grain samples that are used to test meters or

other equipment used to provide test weight per bushel measurements to

customers in the marketplace. 

1. Before starting the procedure, ensure that the equipment is positioned

correctly by placing a level on top of the quart

kettle to ensure that it is in a level condition

on the test stand and position the filling hopper two inches above the top of the quart

kettle. Procedures for measuring this distance are included in Chapter 5 of the USDA

GIPSA Equipment Handbook.

2. Place the empty quart kettle on the scale; then

zero the scale (Figure 2). 

3. Close the bottom of the fill hopper; place

about 11

/8 quart of grain in the filling hopper,

and place the quart kettle on the test stand. Figure 2. Zero weight of

the empty quart kettle.
The Office of Weights

and Measures

will glady include your weights

and measures related events in

our 

calendar.

Contact the Editor:

Linda.Crown@nist.gov

W&M Connection 4 Volume 4 Issue 6

4. Position the fill hopper over the quart kettle

by swiveling the fill hopper and fill the kettle

from the hopper (Figure 3). Do not move the

kettle while it is being filled.

5. Once the quart kettle is full, move the fill hopper away from the quart kettle being careful

not to move the kettle.

6. Hold the stroker on

each end with your fingers

so that the sides are in a vertical position and place

it lightly on the edge of the kettle without moving

the kettle (Figure 3a). 

7. Stroke the excess grain from the top of the

quart kettle in a zigzag motion with three full

strokes. Each stroke should cover 1

/3 of the top of

the kettle (Figure 3b). 

Important Note: Scales used to measure test

weight per bushel are specially designed to

provide an indication that is 32 times the

weight of the grain in the quart kettle. So, if the

quart kettle contains 1 pound, then the scale

will show a weight per bushel indication of 32

pounds per bushel (1 to 32 ratio). It is extremely important to follow the procedure for

step 6, stroking excess grain from the quart

kettle because too much or too little grain removed, will impact the measurement by a

multiple of 32 (e.g., if 1 ounce of grain is removed that should have been part

of the measurement there will be a 2.0 pouinds per bushel error in the test

weight per bushel measurement). 

Example of calculation:

1 lb = 16 oz

1 oz/16 oz = 0.0625 lb,

so, 0.0625 lb x 32 = 2.0 lb

8. Carefully remove the quart kettle from the stand

and weigh the kettle and grain on the scale and record

your results. (See figure 4.)

In accordance with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)

Handbook (HB) 44, Specifications, Tolerances, and Other Technical Requirements for Weighing and Measuring Devices, Section 5.56.(a) Grain Moisture

Meters, paragraph N.1.1. Air Oven Reference Method Transfer Standards,

repeat steps 1 through 8, 10 times and average the results for each grain

type. The test weight per bushel value assigned to the grain samples is the

average of 10 measurements. When assigning this value, it must be noted

that when a standard is used without correction, the combined error and uncertainty in your measurement must be less than one-third of the applicable

Figure 3. Filling the

quart kettle from the

filling hopper.

Figure 3a. Remove excess

grain.

Figure 3b. Stroke pattern:

Start with the stroker at the

edge of the quart kettle and

follow a zigzag pattern.

Figure 4. Weighing the

quart kettle and grain.

August 14

Webinar - Calibration Certificate Evaluation

2:00 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Class No. 5292

August 18

Webinar - Contract Review

2:00 p.m. - 4 p.m.

Class No. 5293

August 25 - 29 (5 days)

Fundamentals of Metrology

Class No. 5277

NIST/Gaitersburg, MD

August 25

Webinar - Document Control and Record Keeping

2 p.m. - 4 p.m.

Class No. 5294

September 8

Webinar - Conducting an Effective Management

Review

Class No. 5295

September 14 - 18

Western Weights and Measures Association

(WWMA)

Contact: Brett Saum at bsaum@co.slo.ca.us

September 15

Webinar - Internal Auditing Best Practices

2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Class No. 5296

October 19 - 24 (6 days)

Combined Regional Measurement Assurance Program

Class No. 5157

St. Louis, MO

*Invitation Only

**Limited to State Laboratory Program Participants

The Official Start of

Autumn

September 23
W&M Connection 5 Volume 4 Issue 6

tolerances, in accordance with NIST HB 44, Appendix A. Fundamental Considerations, Section 3.2. Tolerances for Standards. 

The consistent use of proper techniques and proper equipment are key to successfully determining the reference values

for test weight per bushel.

Using the prescribed test procedures and correct equipment, as provided in this article along with maintaining your equipment in accordance with the USDA, GIPSA Equipment Handbook will reduce the variability and error in your reference test

weight per bushel measurements made in the laboratory. Practice removing the excess grain from the quart kettle will result in better measurement repeatability. Additionally, grain samples with accurate weight per bushel values will help to

ensure proper testing of meter weight per bushel measurements. 

RESOURCES FOR TEST WEIGHT PER BUSHEL REFERENCE MEASUREMENTS

• USDA, GIPSA Equipment Handbook at:

http://www.gipsa.usda.gov/Publications/fgis/handbooks/equip_insphb.html.

• Circular No. 921 “The Test Weight per Bushel of Grain: Methods of Use and Calibration of the Apparatus,” June 1953,

United States Department of Agriculture.

For additional information concerning this article you may contact Diane Lee of the NIST, Office of Weights and Measures

(OWM) by e-mail at diane.lee@nist.gov.

_____________________

1 Circular No. 921 U.S. Department of Agriculture, June 1953

Note: It is policy of the National Institute of Standards and Technology to use metric units of measurement in all of its publications. However, in this newsletter the references to inch-pound units are used as they are commonly used in industry

practice and in source documentation. 

A Little Fall Color

Employees at NIST are

blessed with a beautiful

park-like campus full of

wildlife. The campussetting is home to numerous inhabitents

such as deer, geese,

and groundhogs. Occasionally we see foxes,

and in the past bears

and wild cats have been

sited. 

We gladly share the

meadows and lightly

forested areas with

them. If you have had

the opportunity to visit

us here in Gaithersburg,

you have shared our

pleasure. 
COMING SOON!

HANDBOOKS WILL BE ARRIVING AT A

MAILBOX NEAR YOU.

NIST Handbook 130 (2014), Uniform Laws and

Regulations in the Areas of Legal Metrology

and Engine Fuel Quality.

NIST Handbook 133 (2014), Checking the Net

Contents of Packaged Goods.

NIST Handbook 44 (2014), Specifications, Tolerances and Other Technical Requirements for

Weighing and Measuring Devices.

Handbooks will be shipped based on the information provided by the National Conference on Weights and Measures (NCWM).

Membership who have requested handbooks

should receive them by the end of October.

However, please note there will be more than

one mailing of each document. Those that renewed their memberships early will receive

their copies first. If you have any questions,

you can contact NCWM at info@ncwm.net.

W&M Connection 6 Volume 4 Issue 6

Retail Motor Fuel Device Training Video 

By G. Diane Lee

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Office of Weights

and Measures (OWM) is nearing completion of a Retail Motor Fuel Dispenser

(RMFD) training video. The video shows a weights and measures official performing the minimum tests of a RMFD at a typical gas station and includes

the following tests: 

• checking security seals on test measures and provers, 

• wetting and draining test measures and provers,

• normal and slow flow tests,

• reading the meniscus, and

• the anti-drain test.

The tests demonstrated in the video are performed using both hand held test

measures and provers. The video will be posted on the OWM website and

will also be used in webinars and other instructor led RMFD training. One of

the webinars planned for 2014, is a one-hour webinar on “Draining Test Measures and Provers.” Participants interested in this webinar must request training using the NIST, Office of Weights and Measures Contacts System. After

you receive notice that your request has been received, you will be notified

of specific dates for this training. Instruction for requesting training in our

Contacts System is available at: http://www.nist.gov/pml/wmd/upload/howto-request-training1.pdf

For additional information concerning the webinar “Draining Test Measures

and Provers” or other RMFD training, please contact G. Diane Lee by phone

at 301-975-4405 or by email at diane.lee@nist.

HAVE YOU CHECKED OUT THE

TRAINING CALENDAR?

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES

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