Grain Inspection Topics ... 50 Years Ago

ADM’s Norm Larson was the featured industry speaker at the NACGI meeting held May 7-9, 1971 in Phoenix. NACGI – the National Association of Chief Grain Inspectors – was the predecessor to AAGIWA. The annual conference was held jointly with the USDA/AMS Grain Division.

Mr. Larson was a leading grain industry figure of the era in his role as the general superintendent for ADM Grain Company. In his remarks, he spoke in favor of changes to address such areas as: better samples, reduction in cost of sampling and inspection, a rapid, accurate method of determining protein content, a combination electro-mechanical method of determining factor components in a grain lot, clean equipment – cars, barges, and vessels arriving on time and in the quantities ordered, one composite official grade and weight on a multiple car shipments, using a mechanical sampler for the entire shipment or unit, and allowing company personnel, licensed and bonded, to obtain samples for official grades.

Association President Harry Van Houten (Lincoln Grain Inspection) reminded members to pay their annual dues of $10. The Treasurer reported the association had a balance on hand of $621.62. It was voted to hold the 1972 conference in New Orleans and the 1973 conference in Las Vegas.