Takashi Shimizu - Corn Standards ANPR Comment

Japan Corn Grits Association RE: Docket No. GIPSA-2010-FGIS-0004; Request for Public Comment on the United States Standards for Corn Japan Corn Grits Association submits this statement in response to the advance notice of proposed rulemaking, published on page 56911 in the September 17, 2010 edition of the Federal Register. Thank you for the opportunity for commenting on the U.S. Standards for Corn. As a Japanese user of U.S. corn, we would like to submit the following comments. 1) Relative weight as a new category: We would like the Grains Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration of the Department of Agriculture to incorporate relative weight as a new category of the standards. The relative weight, not test weight, is a useful tool for judging corn quality. 2) Hardness as a new standard: We also would like to incorporate hardness as a new standard. In general, the harder the corn kernel is the better in quality for processing. 3) Size of kernels as a new standard: Kernel size influences yield and quality of grits during the manufacturing. We hereby request standard for kernel size such as percentage ratio of kernels passing through a sieve with a certain mesh. 4) Ratio of cracks as a new standard: We request ratio of cracks in a kernel as a new standard. Thank you again for your considering the above comments. Sincerely yours, Takashi Shimizu Managing Director Japan Corn Grits Association corngrits@aurora.ocn.ne.jp