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GIPSA accepting comment for U.S. Standards for WheatThe USDA's Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration plans a review of the United States Standards for Wheat, under the United States Grain Standards Act. An Advance Notice of Proposed Ruling requesting public comment on the wheat standards was published in the Nov. 27 Federal Register, and comments are due by Feb. 25, 2010. The GIPSA's ANPR does not propose changes, but simply asks stakeholders what, if anything, GIPSA should do to amend or modify the standards. Patrick McCluskey, an Agricultural Marketing Specialist with GIPSA, says GIPSA establishes standards for wheat and other grains regarding kind, class, quality and condition. The wheat standards were established by USDA in 1917 and were most recently revised in 2006. "We want to make sure the wheat standards retain relevancy in the marketplace. By opening the standards for review, wheat industry stakeholders have an opportunity to offer comment as to whether the standards are accomplishing what they're supposed to accomplish," McCluskey says. Advances in breeding and production practices in wheat, the evolving nature of wheat marketing globally, and technology used to test and process wheat compel GIPSA to take a proactive stance regarding the relevance of the standards, which facilitate wheat marketing and define U.S. wheat quality in the domestic and global marketplace. Standards define the type of sample used for a particular quality analysis; grade specifications; grade requirements; special grades and more. Grain standards exist to facilitate the marketing of grain, by providing a common trading language used by both buyers and sellers, which verifies a seller's wheat meets specified requirements and ensures customers receive the quality of wheat they purchased. The grading standards and testing procedures allow buyers and sellers to communicate quality requirements, compare wheat quality using equivalent forms of measurement, and assist in price discovery. McCluskey says that after comments are received by Feb. 25, GIPSA will evaluate comments to determine if there is a need to propose specific changes to the standards. If so, GIPSA would publish a Proposed Rule offering the specific changes to the wheat standards for a 60-day comment period. After considering comments to the proposed rule, GIPSA would prepare a Final Rule with an implementation date for changes set one year after publication in the Federal Register. It will be at least two years from now before any changes to the Grain Standards are implemented, he adds. You may submit written or electronic comments to: Mail: Tess Butler, GIPSA, USDA, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., Room 1643-S, Washington, DC 20250-3604. E-mail: comments.gipsa@usda.gov. Fax: 202-690-2173. Internet: Go to www.regulations.gov and follow the online instructions for submitting comments.
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