ASA joined several agricultural industries last week in a letter to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, reemphasizing concern for the periodic disruptions in Official grain inspection and weighing services provided by the Federal Grain Inspection Service’s (FGIS) designated agencies in the Pacific Northwest.

Last October at a meeting with Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards, the groups urged that contingency plans be developed to ensure that FGIS respond immediately and effectively if there were any future disruptions in Official inspection service from WSDA.

“Our expanded stakeholder interest group now understands that on July 1, 2014, the designated agency – the Washington State Department of Agriculture – provided written notification that it was withdrawing Official grain inspection services at the Port of Vancouver, WA, effective July 7, 2014.  Based upon this unprecedented development, we urge you to direct that FGIS take immediate action to provide such Official inspection services utilizing either its own personnel or the personnel of another FGIS-designated agency authorized-  perform such Official services at grain export facilities,” the groups state in the letter.

The groups reemphasized that statute prohibits the export of U.S. grains and oilseeds unless Officially inspected and weighed by Official personnel in accordance with the Grain Standards and exports are required to be accompanied by Official certificates showing the Official grade designation and certified weight – unless such a requirement is waived by the Secretary of Agriculture and the grain is not sold or exported by grade.

“Thus, Congress has vested in FGIS the responsibility and obligation to provide vibrant and reliable Official inspection and weighing services to facilitate efficient and cost-effective marketing of U.S. grains and oilseeds to foreign markets, upon which U.S. agriculture and the American economy depend for economic growth and jobs,” the letter states. “To our knowledge, this latest announcement by a designated State agency declining to provide Official services is unprecedented.  We believe WSDA’s actions create an extremely troubling precedent that will cause irreparable damage to the integrity and reliability of the nation’s Official grain inspection system.  This development already has created uncertainty within the U.S. grain export industry regarding potential future disruptions of Official services at facilities operating at other U.S. export ports.  The disruptions that already have occurred have put at risk the United States’ reputation as a reliable supplier of grains and oilseeds to foreign customers.  In the absence of WSDA’s reliable performance of its duties, FGIS must intervene and make the necessary arrangements to provide the mandatory Official services.”

The letter concluded by underscoring the importance of accurate, timely and cost-effective delivery of mandated impartial third-party Official inspection services—depended upon by American farmers, grain handlers and exporters and foreign customers.