United States

Department of
Agriculture

Barley Grades and Grade Requirements

Minimum Limits of - Maximum Limits of -

Blight Damage Heat Damage

Test Weight Sound Damaged Heat-Damaged Foreign Broken
per bushel Barley Kernels Kernels Material Kernels Thin Barley
Grade (pounds) (percent) (percent) (percent) (percent) (percent) (percent)

U.S. No. 1 47.0 97.0 2.0 0.2 1.0 4.0 10.0

Mold Damage U.S. No. 2 45.0 94.0 4.0 0.3 2.0 8.0 15.0 Insect Bored

U.S. No. 3 43.0 90.0 6.0 0.5 3.0 12.0 25.0

U.S. No. 4 40.0 85.0 8.0 1.0 4.0 18.0 35.0
U.S. No. 5 36.0 75.0 10.0 3.0 5.0 28.0 75.0
Injured By Frost Injured By Mold

Frost Damage Sprout Damage

Germ Damage Skinned / Broken

Injured By Heat These images have been enlarged and are presented without the required written guidance provided with USDA’s Official Interpretive lines. Two-Row / Six-Row
More information on the Official Interpretive Lines can be found on the GIPSA website (www.gipsa.usda.gov) under the Topic “Education & Outreach.”
National Grain Center - 10383 North Ambassador Drive - Kansas City, MO 64153 - (816) 891-0499
USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer English August 2012
 United States
Department of
Agriculture

Corn Grades and Grade Requirements

Minimum Limits of - Maximum Limits of -

Blue Eye Mold Damage Not Damage (Dirt)

Test Weight Heat-Damaged Damaged Broken Corn and
per Bushel kernels kernels total Foreign Material
Grade (pounds) (percent) (percent) (percent)
U.S. No. 1 56.0 0.1 3.0 2.0
Purple Plumule (not damage) U.S. No. 2 54.0 0.2 5.0 3.0 Heat Damage (drier)

U.S. No. 3 52.0 0.5 7.0 4.0

U.S. No. 4 49.0 1.0 10.0 5.0
U.S. No. 5 46.0 3.0 15.0 7.0
Surface Mold (blight) Heat Damage (yellow corn)

Cob Rot Damage Germ Damage

Surface Mold (More than Slight) Sprout Damage

Mold Damage These images have been enlarged and are presented without the required written guidance provided with USDA’s Official Interpretive lines. Insect Damage
More information on the Official Interpretive Lines can be found on the GIPSA website (www.gipsa.usda.gov) under the Topic “Education & Outreach.”
National Grain Center - 10383 North Ambassador Drive - Kansas City, MO 64153 - (816) 891-0499
USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer
English August 2012
 United States
Department of
Agriculture

Oat Grades and Grade Requirements

Minimum Limits of - Maximum Limits of -

Badly Ground / Weather Damage

Test Weight Heat-Damaged Wild Oats

per bushel Sound Oats Kernels Foreign Material Wild oats

Grade (pounds) (percent) (percent) (percent) (percent)

U.S. No. 1 36.0 97.0 0.1 2.0 2.0

Weather Damaged (Stained)
U.S. No. 2 33.0 94.0 0.3 3.0 3.0 Heat Damage

U.S. No. 3 30.0 90.0 1.0 4.0 5.0

U.S. No. 4 27.0 80.0 3.0 5.0 10.0
Germ Damage Insect Damage

Mold Damage Sprout Damage

These images have been enlarged and are presented without the required written guidance provided with USDA’s Official Interpretive lines.
More information on the Official Interpretive Lines can be found on the GIPSA website (www.gipsa.usda.gov) under the Topic “Education & Outreach.”
National Grain Center - 10383 North Ambassador Drive - Kansas City, MO 64153 - (816) 891-0499
USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer
English August 2012
 United States
Department of
Agriculture

Rye Grades and Grade Requirements

Maximum Limits of -
Foreign Material Damaged Kernels

A B
Minimum Foreign Matter
A. Insect Chewed (not damaged)
Germ Damage Test Weight Other than B. Sprout Socket Damage
per bushel Wheat Total Heat-Damaged Total Thin Rye
Grade (pounds) (percent) (percent) (percent) (percent) (percent)

U.S. No. 1 56.0 1.0 3.0 0.2 2.0 10.0

U.S. No. 2 54.0 6.0 0.2 4.0 15.0
Sprout Damage
2.0
Insect Damage

U.S. No. 3 52.0 4.0 10.0 0.5 7.0 25.0

U.S. No. 4 49.0 6.0 10.0 3.0 15.0 --
Exposed Germs Not Damage Other Damage

These images have been enlarged and are presented without the required written guidance provided with USDA’s Official Interpretive lines.
More information on the Official Interpretive Lines can be found on the GIPSA website (www.gipsa.usda.gov) under the Topic “Education & Outreach.”
National Grain Center - 10383 North Ambassador Drive - Kansas City, MO 64153 - (816) 891-0499
USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer
English August 2012
 United States
Department of
Agriculture

Sorghum Grades and Grade Requirements

Maximum Limits of -
Minimum Limits of - Damaged Kernels Broken Kernels and Foreign Material

Germ Damage (bleached) Foreign Sprout Damage

Material
Test Weight Per Bushel Heat Total (part of total) Total
Grade (pounds) (percent) (percent) (percent) (percent)

U.S. No. 1 57.0 0.2 2.0 1.0 3.0

U.S. No. 2 55.0 0.5 5.0 2.0 6.0
Ground/ Weather Damaged Split Germs (sound kernels)

U.S. No. 3 53.0 1.0 10.0 3.0 8.0

U.S. No. 4 51.0 3.0 15.0 4.0 10.0
Heat Damage Purple Pigment

Insect Bored Tannin Sorghum

Mold Damage White Sorghum

Mold Damage (internal) These images have been enlarged and are presented without the required written guidance provided with USDA’s Official Interpretive lines. Non-Grain Sorghum
More information on the Official Interpretive Lines can be found on the GIPSA website (www.gipsa.usda.gov) under the Topic “Education & Outreach.”
National Grain Center - 10383 North Ambassador Drive - Kansas City, MO 64153 - (816) 891-0499
USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer
English August 2012
 United States
Department of
Agriculture

Soybeans Grades and Grade Requirements

Maximum Limits of -
Damaged Kernels

Soybeans of Other Colors Insect Bored Kernels

Heat Foreign Soybeans of
(part of total) Total Material Splits other colors
Grade (percent) (percent) (percent) (percent) (percent)
U.S. No. 1 0.2 2.0 1.0 10.0 1.0
Badly Ground and/or
Weather Damaged U.S. No. 2 0.5 3.0 2.0 20.0 2.0 Insect Stung Kernels

U.S. No. 3 1.0 5.0 3.0 30.0 5.0

U.S. No. 4 3.0 8.0 5.0 40.0 10.0
Weather Damage (gray/black) Mold Damage

Sprout Damaged Mold Damage (Pink)

Green Damage Heat Damage

Frost Damage (Waxy) These images have been enlarged and are presented without the required written guidance provided with USDA’s Official Interpretive lines. Damaged by Heat
More information on the Official Interpretive Lines can be found on the GIPSA website (www.gipsa.usda.gov) under the Topic “Education & Outreach.”
National Grain Center - 10383 North Ambassador Drive - Kansas City, MO 64153 - (816) 891-0499
USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer
English August 2012
 United States
Department of
Agriculture

Wheat Grades and Grade Requirements

Minimum limits of— Maximum Limits of -
Test Weight Per Bushel Damaged kernels Wheat of Other Class
Hard Red
Spring All Other
Black Tip Fungus wheat or Classes Heat Shrunken Heat Damage Other Than Durum
White Club and Damage Foreign and Broken Contrasting
Grade wheat Subclasses (part of total) Total Material Kernels Defects Classes Total
(pounds) (pounds) (percent) (percent) (percent) (percent) (percent) (percent) (percent)

U.S. No. 1 58.0 60.0 0.2 2.0 0.4 3.0 3.0 1.0 3.0
Scab Damage
U.S. No. 2 57.0 58.0 0.2 4.0 0.7 5.0 5.0 2.0 5.0 Heat Damage (Durum)

U.S. No. 3 55.0 56.0 0.5 7.0 1.3 8.0 8.0 3.0 10.0
U.S. No. 4 53.0 54.0 1.0 10.0 3.0 12.0 12.0 10.0 10.0
U.S. No. 5 50.0 51.0 3.0 15.0 5.0 20.0 20.0 10.0 10.0
Frost Damage (Blistered) Sprout Damage

Frost (Flaked) Insect Chewed (not damage)

Germ Damage Insect Bored

Mold Damage These images have been enlarged and are presented without the required written guidance provided with USDA’s Official Interpretive lines. Green Immature
More information on the Official Interpretive Lines can be found on the GIPSA website (www.gipsa.usda.gov) under the Topic “Education & Outreach.”
National Grain Center - 10383 North Ambassador Drive - Kansas City, MO 64153 - (816) 891-0499
USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer
English August 2012
 United States
Department of
Agriculture

Canola Grades and Grade Requirements

Maximum Limits of -
Damaged Kernels Conspicuous Admixture
Inconspicuous
Grade Heat Damaged Distinctly Green Total Ergot Sclerotinia Stones Total Admixture A B C
(percent) (percent) (percent) (percent) (percent) (percent) (percent) (percent)
U.S. No. 1 0.1 2.0 3.0 0.05 0.05 0.05 1.0 5.0 Other Damage
Distinctly Green
U.S. No. 2 0.5 6.0 10.0 0.05 0.10 0.05 1.5 5.0 A. Rimed B. Frost & C. Mold
U.S. No. 3 2.0 20.0 20.0 0.05 0.15 0.05 2.0 5.0

A B

Heat Damage
Sunflower Seed Flaxseed Sprout Damage
Minimum Maximum Limits of - Minimum Limits of - Maximum Limits of - A. Damage B. Not Damage
Limits of - Damaged Kernels
Test Weight per Test Weight per Damaged
Grade Bushel Heat-Damaged Kernels KernelsTotal
Bushel Heat Damage Total Dehulled Seed Grade (percent)
(pounds) (percent) (percent) (percent) (pounds) (percent)

U.S. No. 1 25.0 0.5 5.0 5.0 U.S. No. 1 49.0 0.2 10.0
U.S. No. 2 25.0 1.0 10.0 USDA is an5.0 U.S. No. 2
equal opportunity provider and employer.
47.0 0.5 15.0

Damaged by Heat Damaged Flaxseed (Bee’s Wings)

Heat Damaged Damaged by Heat

Surface Mold These images have been enlarged and are presented without the required written guidance provided with USDA’s Official Interpretive lines. Heat Damage
More information on the Official Interpretive Lines can be found on the GIPSA website (www.gipsa.usda.gov) under the Topic “Education & Outreach.”

National Grain Center, 10383 North Ambassador Drive, Kansas City, MO 64153-1394, (816) 891-0499 English August 2012
 United States
Department of
Agriculture
Bean Grading Mat

Badly Damaged Green Damage (Chickpea) Insect Stung Damage (White Beans) Worm Eaten Damage Mold Damage (Pink/Brown) Water Blistered Damage

Clean-Cut Weevil-Bored Insect Stung Damage (Blackeye) Insect Webbing or Filth Mold/Mildew Damage Nightshade Damage Internal (Respiration) Damage

Visible Window Damage (Weevil) Insect Stung Damage (Other Beans) Frost Damage Machine Damage Sprout Damage Water Blistered Damage
(Pink Beans)
USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Dirt and Grime Pea Beans Damaged (Pieces)

(Not Damage)

Dirt and Grime Damage

(Other than Pea Beans)

These images have been enlarged and are presented without the required written guidance provided with USDA’s Official Interpretive lines.
More information on the Official Interpretive Lines can be found on the GIPSA website (www.gipsa.usda.gov) under the Topic “Education & Outreach.”
National Grain Center, 10383 North Ambassador Drive, Kansas City, MO 64153-1394, (816) 891-0499 English August 2012
 United States
Department of
Agriculture

Pea/Split Pea Grading Mat

Lygus Hail Bruised

Damaged Damaged Not
Damaged

Damage (Chalky) (Pea/Split Pea) Weevil Damage (Pea) Weevil Damage (Sting) (Pea) Bleached (Green Peas) (Pea/Split Pea) Cracked Seed Coats (Pea) Stained (Yellow) (Split Pea)

Damage (Dirt / Grime) (Pea) Weevil Damage (Cavity) (Split Pea) Frost Damage (Pea) Bleached (Yellow Peas) (Pea/Split Pea) Stained (Green) (Split Pea) Shriveled (Smooth) (Pea)

Heat Damage (Pea/Split Pea) Shriveled (Wrinkled) (Pea)

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Damaged by Heat (Pea/Split Pea) Bacterium/Fungal Stain (Pea)

Mold/Mildew Damage (Pea) Weather Damage (Pea)

Sprout Damage (Pea) These images have been enlarged and are presented without the required written guidance provided with USDA’s Official Interpretive lines. Whole Dry Pea (Split Pea)
More information on the Official Interpretive Lines can be found on the GIPSA website (www.gipsa.usda.gov) under the Topic “Education & Outreach.”
National Grain Center, 10383 North Ambassador Drive, Kansas City, MO 64153-1394, (816) 891-0499 English August 2012
USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
 United States
Department of
Agriculture

Lentil Grades and Grade Requirements

Grades U.S. Nos.
Grading Factors
1 2 3
Insect-stung Damage Mold Damage
Defective Lentils
Total 2.0 3.5 5.0
Weevil-Damaged Lentils 0.3 0.8 0.8
Heat-Damaged Lentils 0.2 0.5 1.0

Blight (Ascochyta) Damage Foreign Material Damaged by Heat

Total 0.2 0.5 0.5
Stones 0.1 0.2 0.2

Skinned Lentils 4.0 7.0 10.0

Contrasting Lentils 2.0 4.0 >4.0
Frost Damage Dirt / Grime
Inconspicuous Admixture 0.5 0.8 1.0

Minimum Requirements for Color Good Fair Poor

Heat Damage Skinned

Sprout Damage

These images have been enlarged and are presented without the required written guidance provided with USDA’s Official Interpretive lines.
More information on the Official Interpretive Lines can be found on the GIPSA website (www.gipsa.usda.gov) under the Topic “Education & Outreach.”
National Grain Center, 10383 North Ambassador Drive, Kansas City, MO 64153-1394, (816) 891-0499 English August 2012
USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
 United States
Department of
Agriculture

Brown Rice Grades and Grade Requirements

Maximum number in 500 grams Maximum limit (percent)

A B C Red Rice
Seeds and and
Heat-Damaged Damaged
Water, Stain, & Peck Kernels Total Heat- Kernels Broken Pecky Kernels Damage
Damaged (Glutinous Rice) Paddy Damaged Objectionable
(Singly or Paddy (Singly or Chalky Kernels Removed by
Grade Kernels
Combined) Kernels Seeds Combined) Kernels a 6 Plate or 6 Sieve Other Types Well-Milled Kernels
Kernels

U.S. No. 1 20 10 1 2 - 1.0 2.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

U.S. No. 2 - 40 2 10 2.0 2.0 4.0 2.0 2.0 3.0

U.S. No. 3 - 70 4 20 2.0 4.0 6.0 3.0 5.0 10.0 Smut Damage
Non-Objectionable Seeds U.S. No. 4 - 100 8 35 2.0 8.0 8.0 4.0 10.0 10.0

U.S. No. 5 - 150 15 50 2.0 15.0 15.0 6.0 10.0 10.0 Alligator Heads Morning Glory

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Turtle Back

Water Parsley Sudan Grass

Lightly Stained
(Not Damage)

Curley Indigo Lowsena

(sickle pod)

Kings Head Millet

(ragweed)

Damage by Heat
(Stain)
Tall Indigo Velvet Leaf

Pennycress Jimson Weed

Johnson Grass Spearhead

Heat Damage These images have been enlarged and are presented without the required written guidance provided with USDA’s Official Interpretive lines. Objectionable Seeds
More information on the Official Interpretive Lines can be found on the GIPSA website (www.gipsa.usda.gov) under the Topic “Education & Outreach.”
National Grain Center, 10383 North Ambassador Drive, Kansas City, MO 64153-1394, (816) 891-0499 English May 2013
 United States
Department of
Agriculture

Rice Grades and Grade Requirements

Maximum number
in 500 grams Maximum limit (percent) Minimum level

Seeds, Heat Chalky Kernels Broken Kernels Other Types

A B C Damaged, Heat-Damaged
and Paddy Kernels and Red Rice and In Long In Medium Total Removed Removed Through Whole Whole Color Milling
Kernels Objectionable Damaged Grain or Short by a by a a 6 sieve kernels and Requirement Requirement
Water, Stain, & Peck Total Seeds Kernels Grain 5 plate 6 plate broken Pecky Kernels Damage
Damaged (Glutinous Rice) (Singly or (Singly or (Singly or kernels
Grade Combined) Combined) Combined)

U.S. No. 1 2 1 0.5 1.0 2.0 4.0 0.04 0.1 0.1 -- 1.0 Shall be white or creamy Well Milled

U.S. No. 2 4 2 1.5 2.0 4.0 7.0 0.06 0.2 0.2 -- 2.0 May be slightly gray Well Milled

U.S. No. 3 7 5 2.5 4.0 6.0 15.0 0.1 0.8 0.5 -- 3.0 May be light gray Reasonably Well Milled
Smut Damage
Non-Objectionable Seeds U.S. No. 4 20 15 4.0 6.0 8.0 25.0 0.4 2.0 0.7 -- 5.0 May be gray or slightly rosy Reasonably Well Milled

U.S. No. 5 30 25 6.0 10.0 10.0 35.0 0.7 3.0 1.0 10.0 -- May be dark gray or rosy Lightly Milled Alligator Heads Morning Glory

U.S. No. 6 75 75 15.0 15.0 15.0 50.0 1.0 4.0 2.0 10.0 -- May be dark gray or rosy Lightly Milled
USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Turtle Back

Water Parsley Sudan Grass

Lightly Stained
(Not Damage)

Curley Indigo Lowsena

(sickle pod)

Kings Head Millet

(ragweed)

Damage by Heat
(Stain)
Tall Indigo Velvet Leaf

Pennycress Jimson Weed

Johnson Grass Spearhead

Heat Damage These images have been enlarged and are presented without the required written guidance provided with USDA’s Official Interpretive lines. Objectionable Seeds
More information on the Official Interpretive Lines can be found on the GIPSA website (www.gipsa.usda.gov) under the Topic “Education & Outreach.”
National Grain Center, 10383 North Ambassador Drive, Kansas City, MO 64153-1394, (816) 891-0499 English October 2012