Publisher's Synopsis
State and local weights and measures jurisdictions or other testing laboratories that use transfer standards developed using the air-oven reference methods (referred to as "air-oven reference standards) to test commercial grain moisture meters collect grains that are typically grown and traded in their State and transport them to their laboratory for testing. In the laboratory, these grains are cleaned, mixed, and tested to determine moisture content and test weight. The grains are then divided into smaller grain samples and assigned moisture and test weight reference values.
These samples with known reference moisture and weight per bushel values are issued to weights and measures officials to test commercial grain moisture meters in accordance with NIST Handbook 44, Specifications, Tolerances, and Other Technical Requirements for Weighing and Measuring Devices, Section 5.56.(a) "Grain Moisture Meters." Commercial grain moisture meters are meters that provide rapid measurement of grain moisture content during the sale of a quantity of grain. The moisture content of grain is used to determine the amount of money a seller will receive for the grain. For example, if grain moisture content is too high, the buyer must dry the grain before storage, so cost adjustments are made by the buyer to offset the cost for drying. Conversely, if the moisture is too low the grain quality may be affected and cost adjustments may be made for low moisture. This reference manual provides technical guidelines for: (1) laboratory grain sample preparation and testing; and (2) the field evaluation of grain moisture meters and multi-constituent grain analyzers that measure moisture in accordance with NIST Handbook 44, Section 5.56.(a) for field testing using air-oven reference method transfer standards.
This manual is one of a number of manuals published by the National Institute of Standards and Technology that are designed to present, in compact form, comprehensive technical guidance for state and local weights and measures officials. Individual reference manuals for the various types of measuring devices in NIST Handbook 44 are being considered in acknowledgement of the rapidly developing technological character of commercial measurement and the ever-changing equipment used in the measurement process.Although this handbook is prepared primarily for use by State and local weights and measures officials, the information may also be useful to manufacturers and commercial and industrial establishments interested in evaluating grain moisture meters.
