Section R. 285.523.2 - DefinitionsRule 2. As used in these rules:
(a) "Badly damaged beans" means beans and pieces of beans that are seriously injured or discolored so as to seriously affect the appearance and quality of the sample.(b) "Certified shipper" means a processor, packer, shipper, or authorized representative approved by the director of the department of agriculture to draw samples and submit self-drawn samples to the official grading agency for grading.(c) "Contrasting classes" means beans of other classes that are of a contrasting color, size, or shape to the beans of the class designated.(d) "Damaged beans" (culls) means beans and pieces of beans that are seriously injured or discolored by any of the following so as to affect the appearance and quality of the samples:(e) "Defects" means splits, damaged beans, contrasting classes, and foreign material.(f) "Foreign material" means any of the following:(iv) Cereal grain of 1 kernel per 500 grams maximum.(v) All matter other than dry edible beans,(g) "Graded beans" means dry, edible beans that meet the quality and condition requirements of any 1 of the specific processed grades as indicated in R 285.523.1 as determined by a licensed bean inspector at the point of origin or as a submitted sample.(h) "Labeling" means labels or other written, printed, or graphic matter upon or accompanying dry edible beans.(i) "Licensed bean inspector" means a person trained and licensed by the Michigan department of agriculture to sample and grade dry edible beans .(j) "Mixed beans" means any lot of dry edible beans composed of 2 or more classes mixed together. The mixture shall meet the regular grade requirements for the predominating class in the sample in all respects except for the presence of sound split beans of any class, sound sports or faders, and other classes.(k) "Off-color beans" means beans of any class which, after removal of defects, do not meet the standards for good or fair color, which are distinctly below normal color standards, due to any natural cause, but which are not materially weathered and are otherwise sound. Off-color beans shall be graded and designated according to the grade requirements of the standards applicable to off-color beans that are not off-color; however, the standards shall not apply to choice, prime, and no. 1 grades. The word "off-color" shall be added to, and made a part of, the grade designation following the name of the class.(l) "Official grading agency" means the Michigan bean shippers association or other agency approved by the director of the department of agriculture to grade dry edible beans and issue official grade documents.(m) "Other classes that blend" means sound beans of other classes that are similar in color, size, and shape to the beans of the class designated.(n) "Peewee beans" or "small beans" means all sound navy beans that screen out by using a 9/64-inch screen. The beans shall be known as "Peewee" and the regular grade requirements for dry beans shall apply in the grading of Peewee beans. The inspection certificate shall bear the "Peewee" designation and the labeling on the package shall also include the "Peewee" designation.(o) "Percentage of moisture" means moisture content as ascertained by the water oven or air oven and the method of use as described in service and regulatory announcement no. 147 of the agricultural marketing service of the United States department of agriculture or moisture content as ascertained by any device and method that gives equivalent results. Moisture content shall be designated in units of half percent and whole percent. A fraction of a percent that is equal to or greater than 1/2 shall be stated as 1/2 and when less than 1/2 shall be disregarded.(p) "Percentages," except in the case of moisture, means percentages ascertained by weight.(q) "Picking stock beans," also known as beans of "no established grade" means dry beans of any class that fail to qualify for any of the processed grades because of condition, excessive total defects, other disqualifying factors, or not having been well-screened or well-processed.(r) "Point of origin inspection" means an inspection performed by a licensed bean inspector at the point where the product is processed and packaged before being placed into channels of commercial trade.(s) "Sound beans" means beans which have a natural odor and which are free from must, mold, damage, and other defects.(t) "Splits" means pieces of beans which are not damaged and which consist of 3/4 or less of the whole bean and includes bean halves that are held together loosely, but does not include beans that have only cracked or checked skins.(u) "Stones" means any of the following: (iv) Other concreted earthly matter.(v) Other substances of similar composition and hardness that do not readily disintegrate in water.(v) "Submitted samples" means a sample of dry edible beans which is drawn by a certified shipper using approved methods and which is submitted to the official grading agency for grading.(w) "Weevily beans" means beans which are infested with weevils or other inspects injurious to stored beans or which contain beans that have been damaged by weevils or insects.(x) "Well screened," as applied to the general appearance of beans, means that the beans are as free from small, shriveled, undeveloped, split, and broken beans, large beans, and foreign materials as practicable through the proper use of top and bottom mill screens as is generally recognized by the bean industry. The recognized top and bottom screen sizes to be used in combination on navy beans are as follows: Minimum Bottom Maximum Top
9/64-inch x by 3/4-inch slotted with no. 20 or 20/64-inch diameter perforation
11/64-inch x by 3/4-inch slotted with no 21 or 21/64-inch diameter perforation
12/64-inch x by 3/4-inch slotted with no. 22 or 22/64-inch diameter perforation
The recommended minimum bottom and maximum top screen sizes for use in screening colored beans are as follows:
Top Range Bottom
Cranberry 26 to 28 12/64-inch by 3/4 inch
Yelloweye 24 to 26 12/64-inch by 3/4 inch
Kidney 26 to 30 11/64-inch by 3/4 inch
Mich. Admin. Code R. 285.523.2
1979 AC; 1987 AACS; 1998-2000 AACS