The United States Grain Standards Act states in part that: "The Administrator shall provide for the testing of all equipment used in the sampling, grading, inspection and weighing for the purpose of official inspection, official weighing, or supervision of weighing of grain...to be made on a random and periodic basis, but at least annually...as he deems necessary to assure the accuracy and integrity of such equipment."

Since the late 1930's, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has provided for a "check test" program whereby on-line grain inspection equipment would be periodically tested for the purpose of detecting differences in equipment performance when compared to the performance of designated "Standard" inspection equipment. It has long been acknowledged that dependable precision equipment is necessary for accurate grain and commodity inspection. Incorrect grading factor determinations can result from poorly designed equipment, or equipment that has become excessively worn, or is misadjusted. GIPSA has also begun developing online tutorials to assist official inspection personnel and the industry in the maintenance of inspection equipment. The following tutorials are currently available: