Agricultural Policy Committee calls attention to uptick in sprout damage grading
The Agricultural Policy Committee of the American Malting Barley Association has submitted a letter to the Acting Deputy Administrator of the USDA-AMS Federal Grain Inspection Service (FGIS) calling attention to the rising discrepancies in the assessment of sprout damage.
Since early 2024, AMBA members have received barley samples that were determined to be sample grade due to excessive sprout damage per testing performed by various agencies given the authority by the USDA to grade barley. When these samples are analyzed using the pearling method for injured by sprout (an official criteria factor for malting barley since 2003), there is little to no evidence for preharvest sprouting. These increased values in sprout damage may be a result of USDA-FGIS changes in the testing procedures or interpretation of results and not in a decrease in injured by sprout results of AMBA members.
The Agricultural Policy Committee is concerned with this trend that may be inadvertently leading to rejected barley. The Committee looks forward to working with FGIS on bringing these two measures of preharvest sprouting back in alignment.
Read the full letter here.
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