Sampling Grain
Obtaining a representative sample by following the correct sampling procedures is the essential part of the inspection process and critical to the accuracy of the final inspection results. Sampling devices that a producer may encounter include: Hand Probe, Pelican, Mechanical Probe and Truck Tailgate Sampler.
Test Weight (TW)
Test Weight (TW) is the weight of the volume of grain that is required to fill a Winchester bushel. Since TW can increase as a moisture content decreases, measure it as quickly as possible after grain is sampled.
For the following grains determine TW before the removal of dockage and/or foreign material: Corn, Mixed Grain, Oats, Sorghum and Soybeans.
For the following grains determine TW after the removal of dockage and/or foreign material: Barley, Canola, Flaxseed, Rye, Sunflower Seed, Triticale and Wheat.
Foreign Material (FM)
Corn BCFM: Broken corn and Foreign Material is all matter that passes readily through a 12/64” sieve and all matter other than corn that remains in the sample after sieving.
Soybean FM: All matter that passes through an 8/64” round-hold sieve, and all matter other than soybeans that remains in the sample after sieving.
Sorghum FM: All matter, other than dockage that passes through a 5/64” triangular-hole sieve (i.e., broken kernels) and all matter other than sorghum that remains in the sample after sieving (i.e., FM).
Wheat FM: All matter other than wheat that remains in the sample after the removal of dockage and shrunken and broken kernels.
See other definitions of FM in the Practical Procedures for Grain Handlers eBook.
Moisture
Moisture is an essential measure of grain’s storability and value. It is determined on all grain at the time of inspection.
Determine moisture on the sample as a whole (i.e., before the removal of dockage and/or foreign material). Any device that has been tested and approved by the local State weights and measures agency may be used.
Dockage
Dockage is material other than the predominant grain that can be easily removed with either a mechanical dockage tester or appropriate size hand sieve.
Barley: 5/64” triangular-hole sieve.
Canola, Mustard Seed, Rapeseed: .064” x 3/8” oblong-hole sieve on top of a 3/64” x 3/8” oblong-hole sieve.
Safflower Seed: .089” inscribed circle triangle-hole sieve on top of a 4.5 / 64” round-hole sieve.
Sorghum: 2.5 / 64” round-hole sieve.
Wheat, Rye, Triticale: 12/64” round-hole top of 5/64” or 4.5 / 64” round-hole sieve.
Protein
Protein can be determined on Wheat, Barley, Soybeans, and Corn.
Basis of Determination
Wheat: After the removal of dockage.
Barley: After the removal of dockage.
Soybeans: After the removal of Foreign Material.
Corn: After the removal of Broken Corn and Foreign Material.