[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 196 (Wednesday, October 12, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Page 61561]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-22113]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Doc. No. AMS-FGIS-21-0017]


United States Standards for Wheat

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) 
Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is making no changes regarding the 
U.S. Standards for Wheat under the U.S. Grain Standards Act, as amended 
(USGSA).

DATES: Applicable: October 12, 2022.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Barry Gomoll, USDA AMS; Telephone: 
(202) 720-8286; 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 a request for information on April 20, 2021, in the Federal 
Register (86 FR 20480), inviting interested parties to comment on 
whether the current wheat standards and grading practices need to be 
changed. Current U.S. Standards for Wheat can be found at 7 CFR 
810.2201-5.
    AMS received a total of five comments on the U.S. Standards for 
Wheat during the comment period.
    Four commenters, representing grain merchandisers, exporters, and 
traders, responded that they are satisfied with the standards as 
currently written, stating that changes may create confusion and 
uncertainty for the market and should only be made if they 
significantly improve the marketing of U.S. wheat. Three of these 
commenters further stated a desire for further research into the 
marketing of Hard White Wheat (HDWH), either by differentiating between 
winter and spring varieties, merging HDWH with the class Hard Red 
Winter Wheat (HRW) to create a Hard Winter Wheat class, or increasing 
the allowable amount of HDWH in HRW.
    One commenter, representing a wheat growing group, suggested 
changing the standards, either by merging HDWH and HRW to create a Hard 
Winter Wheat class or by increasing the allowable Wheat of Other 
Classes in HRW to 25%. The commenter mentioned that such a standards 
change could help remove barriers to growers hoping to market HDWH for 
export markets.
    Based on the balance of comments received in response to the 
request, AMS has decided to make no changes to the wheat standards at 
this time. However, AMS will collaborate with the wheat industry to 
consider any data and research from interested stakeholders regarding 
the possibilities, impacts, and potential market acceptance of either 
merging HDWH and HRW to create a Hard Winter Wheat class, or increasing 
the allowable Wheat of Other Classes in HRW to 25%.

Final Action

    Based on the comments received, AMS-FGIS is making no changes to 
the U.S Standards for Wheat at this time.
    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 71-87k.

Melissa Bailey,
Associate Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2022-22113 Filed 10-11-22; 8:45 am]
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