Proposal to Remove SBOC from Soybean Grading Standards

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) today announced that the Federal Grain and Inspection Service (FGIS) will publish a proposed rule seeking public comment on a proposal to make changes to the U.S. Standards for Soybeans.

Under the authority of the U.S. Grain Standards Act (USGSA), USDA established the soybean standards to help in the marketing of soybeans. “Soybeans of Other Colors” (SBOC) has served as a grading factor for determining soybean quality. USDA has recently received numerous requests from representatives of US soybean producers and grain traders to remove SBOC, as a grade-determining factor for describing the quality for soybeans (e.g., U.S. No 1 Yellow soybeans, U.S. No. 2 Yellow Soybeans, etc.).

In response to these requests for changes to the soybean standard, USDA will implement notice and comment rulemaking, as required by USGSA, to receive comments from the public regarding whether SBOC should be considered an informational factor that does not impact soybean grade determinations.

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