Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1918-09-13
FEDERAL GRAIN STANDARDS
(By Charles j. Brandt

(By Charles j. Brandt
The wheat crop of 1918 promises
to be abundant and it will be mar
keted by revised grain grades, effect
I've July 10, 1918, which in many re-
spects are more lenient than those in
effect since July l, 1917. The
changes in the grades will in many
cases enable the farmer to get high
er grade for the wheat which he
raises and should result in a CORES
pondingly higher price These
changes are resultant from sugges-
tons received by the United States
Department of Agriculture at more
than 20 public hearings held through
out the United States and through
the mail. The producers and their
representatives have been heard as
we'll as the millers and others en-
gagged in the grain trade.
The prime object of federal grain
supervision is that grain moving in
Interstate commerce may be graded
by the same standards and the same
methods of determination in all mar
kets, so that it may be sold by grade,
and buyer and seller knowing the
proper grade can more easily arrive
at fair price agreement. Bear in
mind that a grade assigned to any
grain is only classification and la
being of class and quality. The
various grades approximate as near
as possible relative milling value, as
determined by many tests performed
or reviewed by the Department of
Agriculture. The grading of wheat is
purely relative to value but not in
any way assigning value or price.
The grain standards act has no bear
ing on prices, but establishes stand
ards of grade and provides means for
uniform inspection.
Previous to the establishing OF fed
eral standards there was no uniform
ity between different markets. State
inspection departments had each
their own standards, and in some
states, grain exchanges in different
cities maintained different standards
in the same state. Some inspections
based grades on grain after cleaning
and gave dockage determination as
part of the grade, while in other mar
kets the grain was assigned a lower
grade on account of impurities, and
the definitions sound, sweet" and
dry" were variously interpreted in
| different markets. The grade as
signed to car in one market was no
| indication of the grade to be received
| in any other market. Under old in
| spection methods, where grades were
not standard or thoroughly under
stood. it was difficult to trade en-
tirely on grade without parties agree
ing on samples or having descriptive
| stipulations in contracts of sale. With
| indefinite or too broad classification
the value and objective of grading is
lost, and it was not unusual under
old state standards to see range OF
Is to 20 cents in sales the same day
of wheat with the same grade. These
conditions did not help shipper to
learn the value of grain unless he
was intimately familiar with all mar
kets, while with but one standard TO
learn he can better ascertain the
value of his grain. The federal
standards differentiate between the
grades so that wheat OF exceptional
value may be labeled and the true
worth secured when selling by grade,
instead of being included with wheat
of lesser value and sold at the lower
average price. That the federal
standards are more discriminating
than the old grades and recognize
place for the higher quality grain 10
evident by the fact that the various
grain exchanges have in most cases
adopted the Federal No. 2 as the con-
tract grade, instead of the old No.
1 grade.
The United States grain standards
have upset old standards just as III
tie as possible and have retained all