[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 186 (Wednesday, September 25, 2019)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 50293-50294]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-20295]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

7 CFR Part 810

[Doc No. AMS-FGIS-19-0033]


Official United States Standards for Grain

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Final action.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) 
Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) will not pursue changes to the 
United States (U.S.) Standards for Corn and Soybeans under the United 
States Grain Standards Act (USGSA).

DATES: September 25, 2019.

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 grain regarding kind, class, quality, and condition. AMS 
published two requests for information on June 29, 2018, in the Federal 
Register (83 FR 30591 and 83 FR 30592), wherein AMS invited interested 
parties to submit comments, ideas, and suggestions on all aspects of 
the official procedures and the U.S. Standards for Soybeans.
    AMS received a total of six comments on the U.S. Standards for 
Soybeans. AMS received one comment from a stakeholder requesting the 
comment period for the U.S. Standards for Soybeans be extended. AMS 
reopened the comment period in a Federal Register publication on 
October 2, 2018.
    AMS received a total of six comments on the U.S. Standards for 
Soybeans. Two comments were not germane to the rulemaking and 
accordingly AMS will not take action based on the comments.
    AMS received one comment from stakeholders representing grain 
handlers and exporters requesting the comment period for the U.S. 
Standards for Soybeans be extended and accordingly, the comment period 
was reopened on October 2, 2018. During the re-opened comment period, 
the same commenter group joined with soy processors recommending that 
AMS withdraw the Request for Information. AMS considers this to mean 
the commenters request no changes to the soybean standards.
    One commenter recommended revising the standard to include a 
minimum protein content, and to establish a maximum limit of three 
percent of gluten containing grains in U.S. #1 and U.S. #2 soybeans. 
Protein content specifications in grain and oilseed commerce are 
typically handled contractually. Likewise, a maximum limit for gluten 
containing grains at the contracted grade can be a contract term. 
Accordingly, AMS will not take action based on this comment.
    One commenter made three recommendations: First, that AMS change 
the table of Grades and Grade Requirements in the soybean Regulations 
to match the same table in Grain Inspection Handbook II, Chapter 10, 
Soybeans. AMS observes that the table of Grades and Grade Requirements 
is correct in both the Regulations and the Handbook, with only 
differences in format. AMS prefers the format of the table in the 
Regulations and AMS will format the layout of the table in the Handbook 
to match the Regulations.

[[Page 50294]]

    Second, the commenter asked AMS to remove ``germ damage'' from the 
definition of Damaged Kernels in the Regulations, stating: ``There is 
not a germ location on a soybean, instead the area where the sprout 
protruded from the soybean is called the ``hilum.'' AMS agrees that 
there is no ``germ'' in soybeans. However, the hilum is not where a 
sprout emerges from the seedcoat, rather, the hilum is the point of 
attachment of the seed to the pod. AMS has no instruction, however, for 
assessing germ damage in soybeans, thus AMS inspectors never assesses 
germ damage. Third, the commenter recommend AMS change the term 
``Interpretive Line Picture'' to ``Interpretive Line Print.'' AMS 
agrees that a technical correction would be appropriate to clarify the 
regulations on germ inspection and ``Interpretative Line Picture.'' AMS 
plans a subsequent rulemaking to addresses technical corrections 
throughout the Regulations.
    Accordingly, AMS will not pursue amendment of the U.S. Standards 
for Soybeans and the U.S. Standards for Corn at this time.

    Authority: USGSA (7 U.S.C. 71-87k).

    Dated: September 16, 2019.
Bruce Summers,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-20295 Filed 9-24-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P