[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 126 (Friday, June 29, 2018)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 30592]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-14015]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

7 CFR Part 810

[Doc. No. AMS-FGIS-18-0054]


United States Standards for Soybeans

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Request for information.

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SUMMARY: The United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) 
Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is seeking comments from the 
public regarding the United States (U.S.) Standards for Soybeans under 
the United States Grain Standards Act (USGSA). To ensure that standards 
and official grading practices remain relevant, AMS invites interested 
parties to comment on whether the current soybean standards and grading 
practices need to be changed.

DATES: We will consider comments we receive by August 28, 2018.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments or notice of intent to submit comments by 
any of the following methods:
     Postal Mail: Please send your comment addressed to Kendra 
Kline, AMS, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Room 2043-S, Washington, 
DC 20250-3614.
     Hand Delivery or Courier: Kendra Kline, AMS, USDA, 1400 
Independence Avenue SW, Room 2043-S, Washington, DC 20250-3614.
     Internet: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the on-
line instructions for submitting comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Patrick McCluskey, USDA AMS; 
Telephone: (816) 659-8403; Email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 4 of the USGSA (7 U.S.C. 76(a)) 
grants the Secretary of Agriculture the authority to establish 
standards for soybeans and other grains regarding kind, class, quality, 
and condition. The soybean standards, established by USDA on November 
20, 1940, were last revised in 2006 (71 FR 52403) and appear in the 
USGSA regulations at 7 CFR 810.1601-810.1605. The standards facilitate 
soybean marketing and define U.S. soybean quality in the domestic and 
global marketplace. The standards define commonly used industry terms; 
contain basic principles governing the application of standards, such 
as the type of sample used for a particular quality analysis; the basis 
of determination; and specify grades and grade requirements. Official 
procedures for determining grading factors are provided in Grain 
Inspection Handbook, Book II, Chapter 10, ``Soybeans''. The Handbook 
also includes standardized procedures for additional quality attributes 
not used to determine grade, such as oil and protein content. Together, 
the grading standards and official procedures allow buyers and sellers 
to communicate quality requirements, compare soybean quality using 
equivalent forms of measurement, and assist in price discovery.
    The realignment of offices within the U.S. Department of 
Agriculture authorized by the Secretary's Memorandum dated November 14, 
2017, ``Improving Customer Service and Efficiency'', eliminates the 
Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) as a 
standalone agency. Federal Grain Inspection Service (FGIS) activities, 
formerly part of GIPSA, are now organized under AMS. FGIS grading and 
inspection services are provided through a network of federal, state, 
and private laboratories that conduct tests to determine the quality 
and condition of soybeans. These tests are conducted in accordance with 
applicable standards using approved methodologies and can be applied at 
any point in the marketing chain. Furthermore the tests yield rapid, 
reliable, and consistent results. In addition, FGIS-issued certificates 
describing the quality and condition of graded soybeans are accepted as 
prima facie evidence in all Federal courts. U.S. Standards for Soybeans 
and the affiliated grading and testing services offered by FGIS verify 
that a seller's soybeans meet specified requirements, and ensure that 
customers receive the quality of soybeans they purchased.
    In order for U.S. standards and grading procedures for soybeans to 
remain relevant, AMS is issuing this request for information to invite 
interested parties to submit comments, ideas, and suggestions on all 
aspects of the U.S. Standards for Soybeans and official procedures.

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 71-87k.

    Dated: June 26, 2018.
Greg Ibach,
Under Secretary, Marketing and Regulatory Programs.
[FR Doc. 2018-14015 Filed 6-28-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-02-P