The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has revised the Minimum Quality and Handling standards for domestic and imported peanuts marketed in the United States.
This action relaxes the allowance for damaged kernels in farmers’ stock peanuts when determining segregation and grade. The change aligns the incoming standards with recent changes relaxing the outgoing quality standards.
The Peanut Standards Board, which is comprised of U.S. peanut producers and industry representatives, recommended the change to help increase grower returns. The Board plays a key role in representing the U.S. peanut industry on issues affecting quality and marketability. The 2002 Farm Bill established the Board to advise USDA regarding quality and handling standards for domestically produced and imported peanuts.
The notice announcing the changes was published in the Federal Register on Oct. 20, 2017. The rule will be effective Feb. 1, 2018, in order for the change to be implemented for the next crop year.
More information about the Board is available on the Peanut Standards Board page on the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) website.
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