U.S. Department of Agriculture Grain Inspection, Packers & Stockyards Administration: Federal Grain Inspection Service, 2011 Annual Report

摘要

This is the Federal Grain Inspection Service's 2011 Annual Report. The Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administrations Federal Grain Inspection Service (FGIS) establishes quality standards for grains, oilseeds, pulses, and legumes; provides impartial inspection and weighing services through a network of Federal, State, and private entities; and monitors marketing practices to enforce compliance with the U.S. Grain Standards Act, as amended, (hereinafter, the Act) and Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946, as amended (hereinafter, AMA). Through these activities, FGIS facilitates the marketing of grain, oilseeds and related products. Organizationally, FGIS is aligned with USDA's Marketing and Regulatory Programs mission area. FGIS administers uniform, national grain inspection and weighing programs established by the Act. Services under the Act are performed on a fee basis for both export and domestic grain shipments. The Act requires generally that export grain be inspected and weighed; prohibits deceptive practices with respect to the inspection and weighing of grain; and provides penalties for violations. FGIS' primary mission is twofold: promote the marketing of high quality grain to domestic and international buyers and maintain objective standards for grain to certify its quality as accurately as practicable. These standards define uniform and descriptive terms to facilitate the grain trade, help determine grain storability, offer users the best possible information to determine endproduct yield and quality, provide market incentive frameworks, reflect the economic value-based characteristics to end users, and accommodate scientific advances in testing.