GIPSA Seeks Industry Input on Marketing Grains and Related Commodities

The Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) has requested public comments on the services provided to support “the marketing of grain and related commodities.” The agency seeks input from producers, handlers, processors, food manufacturers, exporters, importers, and other industry stakeholders to determine how GIPSA “can best facilitate the marketing of grains, oilseeds, rice, pulses, and related products or products made from them, including co-products of ethanol production, commonly referred to as distillers’ grains, based on market-identified
quality attributes.”

In particular, GIPSA asks respondents to consider the following questions: (i) “Are there any market-identified quality attributes that GIPSA does not currently describe (or provide testing) that would facilitate the marketing of grain, oilseeds, and related products?”; (ii) “What role should GIPSA take, if any, in standardizing the testing of inputs and outputs of ethanol coproduct processing?”; and (iii) “Are there any other services that GIPSA could offer to facilitate the marketing of grain, oilseeds, or related products?.” The agency will accept written or electronic comments before April 18, 2016. See Federal Register, January 19, 2016.

Issue 591