Wheat Standards
On November 27, 2010 USDA’s Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) announced it was inviting interested parties to comment on whether the current wheat standards and grading practices need to be revised.
USDA stated that since the wheat standards were last revised, numerous changes have occurred in the breeding and production practices of wheat; the technology used to harvest, process, and test wheat; and also wheat marketing. USDA stated it was conducting the standards review to ensure that standards and official grading practices remain relevant.
In response, on February 24, 2010 NAMA submitted comments to USDA/GIPSA. NAMA said most, if not all, the factors in the U.S. wheat standards were adopted many years ago. Unfortunately, through the years the standards and test methods for measuring compliance with them have not kept pace with market demands or testing technology.
Standards are simply a short-hand means of providing buyers and sellers with information about the value of the grain. But many of the factors that reflect true intrinsic value are either not included in the official U.S. standards, or are included in only a backhanded way.
Areas identified by NAMA as deserving particular attention were:
- Flour yield
- Insect damaged kernels
- Live insect infestation
- Protein quality vs. quantity
- Mycotoxins
- Alpha amylase enzyme activity
- The definition of Wheat of Other Classes
Prepared by Jim Bair, jbair@namamillers.org, 202.484.2200, ext. 14
Last updated March 3, 2011
- More Information -
- Apr 11, 2012 - USDA Wheat Standards Proposal a Missed Opportunity
- Feb 2010 - Comments to GIPSA on whether wheat standards should be changed
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