Chapter ATCP 155

Chapter ATCP 155

VEGETABLE GRADING PROCEDURES AND GRADE STANDARDS

Subchapter I — Definitions and General Requirements

ATCP 155.01   Definitions.

ATCP 155.02   Grade standards.

ATCP 155.03   Grading procedures.

ATCP 155.05   Recordkeeping.

ATCP 155.06   Weighing and measuring devices.

Subchapter II — Grading Procedure for Snap Beans for Processing

ATCP 155.11   Grading deadline.

ATCP 155.12   Sampling procedure.

ATCP 155.13   Grading and sizing procedure.

ATCP 155.14   Grade statement.

Subchapter III — Grading Procedure for Fresh Shelled Peas for Canning or Freezing

ATCP 155.20   Grading deadline.

ATCP 155.21   Sampling procedure.

ATCP 155.215   Deductions for thistle buds, nightshade berries and mustard pod pieces.

ATCP 155.22   Grading and tenderness testing procedure.

ATCP 155.23   Grade statement.

Subchapter IV — Grading Procedure for Sweet Corn for Processing

ATCP 155.30   Grading deadline.

ATCP 155.31   Sampling procedure.

ATCP 155.32   Grading procedure.

ATCP 155.33   Grade statement.

Ch. ATCP 155 Note Note: Chapter Ag 99 was renumbered chapter ATCP 155 under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 1., Stats., Register, April, 1993, No. 448.

subch. I of ch. ATCP 155 Subchapter I — Definitions and General Requirements

ATCP 155.01 ATCP 155.01 Definitions. As used in this chapter:

ATCP 155.01(1) (1) “Contractor” means a vegetable contractor as defined in s. 126.55 (14), Stats.

ATCP 155.01(2) (2) “Department” means the state of Wisconsin department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection.

ATCP 155.01(3) (3) “Procurement contract” means a vegetable procurement contract as defined in s. 126.55 (15), Stats.

ATCP 155.01(4) (4) “Producer” means a vegetable producer as defined in s. 126.55 (16), Stats.

ATCP 155.01(5) (5) “Tare” means the weight of extraneous or foreign material in a load of vegetables which is deducted from the gross weight to obtain net weight. “Tare” does not include culled, substandard or undergrade vegetables.

ATCP 155.01(6) (6) “Vegetables” means sweet corn, snap beans or peas which are grown or sold for use in food processing, whether or not they are actually processed as food.

ATCP 155.01 History History: Cr. Register, December, 1990, No. 420, eff. 1-1-91; CR 06-028: am. (1), (3) and (4) Register November 2006 No. 611, eff. 12-1-06.

ATCP 155.02 ATCP 155.02 Grade standards. A determination of the condition or qualitative classification of vegetables is a determination of grade. If the amount of payment received by a producer under a vegetable procurement contract depends on the grade of the vegetables, the grade of the vegetables shall be determined according to one of the following:

ATCP 155.02(1) (1) Applicable grade standards adopted by the federal department of agriculture under 7 USC 1621 et seq.

ATCP 155.02(2) (2) Alternative grade standards which are clearly specified in writing in the procurement contract.

ATCP 155.02 Note Note: Copies of USDA grade standards for snap beans for processing, fresh shelled peas for canning or freezing, and sweet corn for processing are on file with the department, the secretary of state, and the legislative reference bureau. Copies may be obtained from the department.

ATCP 155.02 History History: Cr. Register, December, 1990, No. 420, eff. 1-1-91.

ATCP 155.03 ATCP 155.03 Grading procedures.

ATCP 155.03(1) (1) General. Vegetables grown under a procurement contract, if graded for payment purposes, shall be received, handled and graded in compliance with this subchapter and crop-specific requirements under subchs. II to IV.

ATCP 155.03(2) (2) Loading receipt. When a contractor receives vegetables under a procurement contract, the contractor shall immediately provide the producer with a signed receipt for the vegetables. If the contractor harvests the vegetables, or receives the vegetables at the harvest site, the contractor shall provide the producer with a receipt for each load of vegetables before that load leaves the harvest field. The contractor may leave the loading receipt in a receptacle provided by the producer at the harvest field. The receipt shall include all of the following information:

ATCP 155.03(2)(a) (a) The name and address of the contractor and carrier.

ATCP 155.03(2)(b) (b) The identity of the producer.

ATCP 155.03(2)(c) (c) The location of the harvest field.

ATCP 155.03(2)(d) (d) The date and beginning time of harvest.

ATCP 155.03(2)(e) (e) Identification of the load of vegetables, including the license number of the transport vehicle used to haul the load of vegetables.

ATCP 155.03(2)(f) (f) Signature of the contractor or agent of the contractor.

ATCP 155.03(3) (3) Every load sampled; identification of samples. If vegetables are graded for payment purposes, the contractor shall collect a grading sample from every load of vegetables, according to sampling procedures prescribed under this chapter. The sample may be collected from the transport vehicle at the harvest location or when the vegetables are delivered or unloaded at the processing plant. Each sample shall be identified with all of the following information:

ATCP 155.03(3)(a) (a) The name and address of the contractor.

ATCP 155.03(3)(b) (b) The identity of the producer.

ATCP 155.03(3)(c) (c) The location of the harvest field.

ATCP 155.03(3)(d) (d) Identification of the load of vegetables from which the sample was drawn, including the license number of the transport vehicle used to haul the vegetables.

ATCP 155.03(3)(e) (e) The date and time when the sample was collected.

ATCP 155.03(3)(f) (f) The date and time the vegetables were harvested.

ATCP 155.03(4) (4) Load weight statement. Within 7 days after a load of vegetables is harvested, the contractor shall mail or deliver to the producer a written statement of load weight. A contractor shall orally provide load weight information on request of the producer made prior to delivery of the written load weight statement. The statement shall identify the load of vegetables, and shall state the weight of the load of vegetables, as determined by the person who weighs the load. The weight statement shall be signed by the weigher when the load is weighed, and may be incorporated with a grade statement under sub. (5). If tare is deducted from the weight, tare shall be determined in compliance with sub. (6) and shall be recorded with the weight statement.

ATCP 155.03(5) (5) Grade statement. Within 7 days after a load of vegetables is harvested, the contractor shall mail or deliver to the producer a written grade statement for that load. A contractor shall orally provide grade information on request of the producer made prior to delivery of the written grade statement. The grade statement shall indicate the grade of the load, as determined by the grader and shall be signed by the grader when the load is graded. Grade shall be determined by analyzing the grading sample collected under sub. (3), according to standards and procedures prescribed under this chapter. The grade statement shall include all of the following:

ATCP 155.03(5)(a) (a) The name and address of the contractor.

ATCP 155.03(5)(b) (b) The identity of the producer.

ATCP 155.03(5)(c) (c) The location, date and time at which the grading sample was collected and the location at which it was graded.

ATCP 155.03(5)(d) (d) Identification of the load of vegetables to which the grade statement pertains, including the license number of the transport vehicle used to haul the vegetables.

ATCP 155.03(5)(e) (e) The date and time of grading.

ATCP 155.03(5)(f) (f) The weight of the samples used for grading.

ATCP 155.03(5)(g) (g) The weight of tare in the grading sample, and the percentage of tare calculated on the gross weight of the sample.

ATCP 155.03(5)(h) (h) The grade information required under s. ATCP 155.14 for snap beans, s. ATCP 155.23 for peas, and s. ATCP 155.33 for sweet corn.

ATCP 155.03(5)(i) (i) Space for comments or remarks of the grader.

ATCP 155.03(5)(j) (j) The grader’s signature.

ATCP 155.03(6) (6) Tare. If, under any procurement contract, there is a deduction for tare, tare shall be actual tare as defined under s. ATCP 155.12 (4) for snap beans, s. ATCP 155.21 (3) for peas, or s. ATCP 155.31 (4) for sweet corn. This subsection does not prohibit either of the following:

ATCP 155.03(6)(a) (a) A payment deduction under s. ATCP 155.215 for thistle buds, nightshade berries or mustard pod pieces in peas.

ATCP 155.03(6)(b) (b) A payment deduction for undergrade, substandard or culled vegetables graded under subchapters II to IV, provided that the undergrade, substandard or culled vegetables are separately identified and graded and are not counted as tare.

ATCP 155.03(7) (7) Grading location. Vegetables graded under this chapter shall be sampled and graded in this state. Vegetables may be graded outside this state with prior approval from the department. Approval will only be granted if grading is performed by a grader or inspector licensed by the federal department of agriculture.

ATCP 155.03(8) (8) Review by producer. A producer or producer’s representative may observe the loading, weighing, sampling and grading of vegetables grown by that producer, and may review any records required to be kept by the contractor under s. ATCP 155.05.

ATCP 155.03 History History: Cr. Register, December, 1990, No. 420, eff. 1-1-91; r. and recr. (6), Register, February, 1995, No. 470, eff. 3-1-95.

ATCP 155.05 ATCP 155.05 Recordkeeping.

ATCP 155.05(1) (1) Records required. Every contractor shall maintain copies of the following records for each producer with whom the contractor has entered into a procurement contract:

ATCP 155.05(1)(a) (a) Procurement contracts.

ATCP 155.05(1)(b) (b) Loading receipts under s. ATCP 155.03 (2).

ATCP 155.05(1)(c) (c) Sampling information under s. ATCP 155.03 (3).

ATCP 155.05(1)(d) (d) Load weight statements under s. ATCP 155.03 (4).

ATCP 155.05(1)(e) (e) Grade statements under s. ATCP 155.03 (5).

ATCP 155.05(2) (2) Records kept for 3 years. Records required under this section shall be kept for 3 years and shall be made available for inspection and copying upon request by the producer, an authorized agent of the producer, or a representative of the department.

ATCP 155.05 History History: Cr. Register, December, 1990, No. 420, eff. 1-1-91; r. (1) (f), Register, December, 1992, No. 444, eff. 1-1-93; reprinted to correct printing error, Register, November, 1999, No. 527.

ATCP 155.06 ATCP 155.06 Weighing and measuring devices.

ATCP 155.06(1) (1) Good working order. Scales and other measuring devices used in weighing, sampling and grading vegetables shall be maintained in good working order.

ATCP 155.06(2) (2) Annual inspection and testing. Every scale and measuring device used in weighing, sampling or grading farm products shall be inspected and tested for accuracy annually by the manufacturer of the equipment or an independent testing or service company. Inspection and testing shall comply with applicable specifications, tolerances, standards and procedures required by the national institute of standards and technology and the department. Test weights shall be approved by the department. Annual tests and inspections shall be at the expense of the owner or operator of the scale or measuring device.

ATCP 155.06 History History: Cr. Register, December, 1990, No. 420, eff. 1-1-91.