SOYBEANS

Product Description

Soybean Grade and Grade Requirements

Grading Factors Grades U.S. Nos.

1 2 3 4 Minimum limits of

Test weight lbs/bu *6.0 *4.0 *2.0 *9.0 Damaged kernels: Heat (part of total) 0.2 0.5 1.0 3.0 Total 2.0 3.0 5.0 8.0 Foreign Material 1.0 2.0 3.0 5.0 Splits *0.0 *0.0 *0.0 *0.0 Soybeans of other colors 1/ 1.0 2.0 5.0 *0.0 Maximum count limits of: Other materials Animal waste 9 9 9 9 Castor Beans 1 1 1 1 Crotalaria seeds 2 2 2 2 Glass 0 0 0 0 Stones 2/ 3 3 3 3 Unknown foreign substance 3 3 3 3 Total 3/ *0 *0 *0 *0 U.S. Sample grade soybeans that: Do not meet the requirements for U.S. Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4; or Have a musty, sour, or commercially objectionable foreign odor (except garlic odor); or Are heating or of distinctly low quality. 1/ Disregard for Mixed soybeans. 2/ In addition to the maximum count limit, stones must exceed 0.1 percent of the sample weight. 3/ Includes any combination of animal filth, castor beans, crotalaria seeds, glass, stone, and unknown foreign substances. The weight of stones not applicable for total other material. One of the most significant factors in grade requirements is foreign material (FM). Foreign material is defined as all material that readily passes through an 8/*4 inch (3.2 mm), round-hole, perforated sieve and any material other than soybeans remaining atop the sieve. The limitation in U.S. #2 soybeans is two percent. FM levels at the first point of sale in the U.S. are commonly one percent, however, each handling of the soybean lot can generate more FM because of breakage of the soybean seeds, especially when the moisture content is low.  The presence of foreign material in soybeans adversely affect storability and drying/aeration efficiency, and, unless removed prior to processing, will affect the quality of both the oil and the protein meal. A second significant factor in grade requirements is damaged kernels, specifically heat damage. Damaged kernels have an effect on oil quality such as higher acid values, higher peroxide values, higher non-hydratable phosphatides, off color and reduced shelf life. FGIS defines damaged kernels as soybeans and pieces of soybeans that are badly ground-damaged, badly weather-damaged, diseased, frostdamaged, germ-damaged, heat-damaged, insect-bored, mold-damaged, sproutdamaged, stinkbug-stung, or otherwise materially damaged. Stinkbug-stung kernels are considered damaged kernels at the rate of one-fourth of the actual percentage of the stung kernels. U.S. Soy: International Buyers Guide weight is a measure of weight per unit volume and expressed in pounds per volume bushel. There is no correlation of test weight to quality factors such asprotein and oil and is only useful for determining the relationship between weight and volume when calculating storage space or processing capacity. Splits are broken soybeans, with one-quarter or more of the seed missing, generally half-pieces, but otherwise undamaged. A *0/**-inch by ¾-inch (4.0 mm by *9.0 mm) slotted screen is used to separate splits for grade determination. Splits can impact oil quality. There are two classes of soybeans, yellow soybeans and mixed soybeans. Yellow soybeans have a yellow or green seed coat and are yellow in a cross section. They may not contain more than *0 percent of seeds of other colors. Mixed soybeans are any that do not meet the standard for yellow soybeans. Moisture content is not part of the grade determining factors but is mandatory information in official inspections. Proper moisture specification and storage management are the keys to successful long-term storage of soybeans. Dependent on end use and ambient storage condition, there is a range of recommended moisture contents considered safe for storage.

Muhommad Ali 

American Union Ventures, INC