INFORMATIONAL MEMORANDUM:  R&D-97-033
     
TO:       All Reinsured Companies
          All Risk Management Field Offices
          FSA Headquarters, Program Delivery and Field Operations

FROM:     Tim B. Witt         /s/ R. E. Waggoner (for) 04/29/97 
          Deputy Administrator
     
SUBJECT:  Grain Standards Handbook
    
BACKGROUND:
   
In the past, the Risk Management Agency (RMA) has distributed the
Official United States Standards for Grain (Grain Standards) - Grain
Standards Handbook prepared by Federal Grain Inspection Service (FGIS). 
The handbook is now available on the Internet at
http://www.usda.gov/gipsa.  You may also request copies by contacting:
     
          Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services (APHIS)
          MSD-HSB, PDMS
          Room 1A28, 4700 River Road
          Riverdale, Maryland 20737
          Telephone (301) 734-5523
     
Also, the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) has recently made its
quality standards for hundreds of agricultural products available on the
Internet at http://www.ams.usda.gov/standards.
     
ACTION:
     
Since this information is available from the above sources, RMA will no
longer distribute the Grain Standards Handbook.  Obtain these and future
updates through the Internet or through APHIS.  We have been notified of
changes to the barley standards, effective June 1, 1997, and updated on
the Internet.  
     
We will advise of any changes to the grain standards that affect loss
adjustment.  If you become aware of any changes, please notify us.