The Dickinson press., 1917-02-24
STARK COUNTY MEN
ACTIVE AT FEDERAL
GRADING HEARING

Norman Malcolm, secretary the
Stark County Grain Growers Asso-
citation and delegate to hearings of the
Federal Grain Standards Committee
at Fargo, has submitted the follow
ing report to the Dickinson Press,
which Is published with pleasure. Mr..
Malcolm is an enthusiastic worker in
the best interests of the farmers Of
North Dakota, and those Of the Mis-
souri, Slope especially, and his good
work is highly appreciated by. his
fellow farmers. He was ably assisted
lat Fargo by Ormanzo A. Brown,
chairman Of the county organization.
To Dickinson Press:
I submit the following account of
the Fargo hearings of the United
States Grain Standards Committee on
wheat grades. This will, / think, be
of especial interest to the large num-
Der Of your readers, particularly
Those who are members Of the Stark
County Grain Growers Association.
The hearing was held on February
goth, in the Little Country Theatre at
the Agricultural College and was
well attended. Mr.. Brand; chief of
the office Of Markets and Rural
Organization for the department of
agriculture, is chairman Of the Grain
Standards Committee, and assisted by
Dr.. Duval and others set forth the
tentative grades which serve as a
basis OF. discussion at the hearings.
These grades are not finally fixed
until all evidence gathered at the pub
lie hearings has been considered and
the grades proposed may therefore be
considerably changed from present
form. The Standards Committee has
for many months past been gathering
information regarding various classes
of wheat and marketing conditions
and upon this information has pro-
posed United States Standards for
five grades and a sample grade i, for
each class Of wheat. The two classes
in which North Dakota farmers are
particularly interested are for Hard
Red Spring and for Durum wheats.
The weight proposed for grade No. 1
is SO pounds for spring and 81 pounds
for Durum. There would be a de-
crease of 2 pounds in the test weight
for each of the lower grades. No. 5
Spring would weigh 81 pounds and
No. 5 Durum So pounds. Sample
grade would include all grain lighter
than grade No. 5 or that which on
account of moisture, impurities or
damage is not admissible in higher
grades.
The present No. / Hard would be-
come u. S. Standard No. 1, while pres
ent No. 1 Northern would become No.
2 Hard, No. 2 Northern would become
No. 8, etc.&
In general the. tentative standards
would appear rather complicated.
Mr.. Brand, in response to my direct
inquiries, assured the meeting that
the standards were based upon the
milling values of wheat and chat the
tests of these values had been made
principally at the North Dakota Agri-
cultural College. He stated that there
Twas some difference in conclusions
reached by the Department of Agri-
culture and by President E.. F. Ladd
due to different methods Of taking
samples and of compiling results but
that in general the two agreed very
well. The principal difference seemed
six grades while President Ladd
Thought four grades sufficient. Pres:
|Ladd's Recommendations were based
upon his conclusions that there is not
sufficient difference in the, milling
value of wheat weighing in excess Of
55 pounds to warrant it being put into
two grades and similarly with regard
to that weighing 80 to IS pounds, etc.
He did, however, provide that wheat
heavier than the minimum weight re-
quired for any grade should be paid
for at premiums over the prevailing
price Of the grade, such premiums to