The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1919-12-04
GRAIN GRADING

There may be no such thing as
sixth sense. but in many lines of work
! there are certain kinds of knowledge
that appear remarkable to others who
have different occupations. For in
stance, there is the art of opening
passing each other; the ability to
guess within few pounds of the
weight of a man or beast; and, Of
course, the fellows who can spot an
automobile in the distance and tell
| you its name and model.
! No less remarkable than some of
! these things is the way in which
many a country grain buyer can tell
his customers team of horses as far
as he can see them. Not only that,
but he learns to know his customers
grain at the beginning of each crop
| season and does not need to run tests
on every load hauled. A test of the
| first load or two Of a farmers crop is
usually enough to form correct idea
of the quality and condition of that
farmers grain. OF course. every load
is closely examined to see if it is uni
form with previous loads.
With all this superknowledge, how.
ever, the country grain buyer often
overlooks the need for a better knowl-
edge of federal grain grades, accord
! ing to the bureau of markets. United
States Department of Agriculture, and
| this is said to explain certain criti-
cisms leveled at federal grain grades
as applied at country points. Wher-
ever federal grades are used by coun-
try buyers who understand how to ap-
ply them, reports show that such coun-
try buyers are holding their trade and
that the farmers seem better satisfied
than to have buyer make price
without any definite standard as 4.
basis.
Unless federal grades are applied by
country buyers somewhere along the
way to the consumer there is sure to
| be dissatisfaction. Some buyers are
afraid to buy on grades, and so start
1
others from whom they buy their
grain. Some line elevators complain
| that they lose on wheat bought in the
country by the elevator managers. The
wheat is often graded lower at the
terminal market than the grade given
to the farmer by the buyers.
1t Is mistake for the farmer to in
sist that his wheat shall be graded
No. / in cases where the grain is not
entitled to that grade. The country
buyer who overgrades in order TO
please his customers, and then under.
weighs or assesses more dockage than
| justified, Is unfair both to the farmer
and to the company for whom he Is
buying Then, too, 1t is mistake for
the country buyers not to grade wheat
| No. / when it is of a No. grade. Now
adays the farmer can check this grad
| ing. for he can send a representative
sample to any licensed grain inspector,
and receive an official sample certfi-
cate. Buyers who know how to paply
federal grades may easily test the first
load farmer brings ,in,, and keep
the sample as a type sample of that
| farmers wheat or corn or oats, while
the remaining loads are marketed. 1t
is not unusual in some localities for
| farmer to bring sample of his wheat
to the buyer soon after threshing, and
offer to sell his crop on the basis of
price made on the sample. with the
understanding that the wheat when
hauled shall be equal to the sample.
This gives the buyer plenty of time TO
apply all the tests necessary to estab-
| lish accurately the correct grade of
the grain.