Serving the U.S. Grain Industry
Official agencies offer many different types of inspection services. The most common is the official sample-lot inspection service. When this service is requested, a licensed sampler draws a representative sample from the grain and then takes it to an FGIS-approved laboratory for analysis by a licensed inspector. Many agencies offer on-site grading and analysis to accommodate the real-time needs of customers for inspection results.
Another service offered by official agencies, the submitted sample inspection service, allows producers and grain handlers to draw their own samples and submit them to the nearest official agency. Many official agencies also test grain for end-use qualities, such as protein and oil content.
Other Typical Services
Grain inspection agencies often offer a variety of other services and laboratory analysis, such as measuring for:
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o Wheat
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- protein content
- insect damaged kernels
- falling numbers
- vomitoxin
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o Soybean protein and oil content
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o Corn
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- Protein/oil/start content
- Stress crack analysis
- Mycotoxins - aflatoxin, fumonisin, vomitoxin and zearalenone
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Many other, specialized services are also available.
Accurate and repeatable grain quality and quantity measurements ensure all parties that a transaction is based on fairness.
Map: Official Agency Geographic Areas & FGIS Field Office Locations
Other than GIPSA and their authorized contractors working at export locations, only agencies officially designated/delegated by USDA's Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration can issue an official inspection certificate under the U.S. Grain Standards Act. All other certificates are not "official" inspections.