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Chapter 16-237 WAC

Last Update: 12/22/15

COMMODITY STORAGE WAREHOUSES AND GRAIN DEALERS

WAC Sections

HTMLPDF16-237-010Definitions.
HTMLPDF16-237-015Covered commodities.
HTMLPDF16-237-020Grades and standards.
HTMLPDF16-237-025Bond requirements.
HTMLPDF16-237-030Certificates of deposit, letters of credit, life insurance.
HTMLPDF16-237-035Net worth requirements.
HTMLPDF16-237-040Financial statement requirements.
HTMLPDF16-237-140Warehouse operator recordkeeping requirements.
HTMLPDF16-237-145Grain dealer recordkeeping requirements.
HTMLPDF16-237-150Recordkeeping requirements for warehouse operators storing seed.
HTMLPDF16-237-155Rates and charges.
HTMLPDF16-237-160Scales.
HTMLPDF16-237-165Historical depositor.
HTMLPDF16-237-170Emergency storage situation.
HTMLPDF16-237-175Outside storage.
HTMLPDF16-237-180Warehouse license expiration and late renewal penalty.
HTMLPDF16-237-185Grain dealer license expiration and late renewal penalty.
HTMLPDF16-237-190Inventory requirements.
HTMLPDF16-237-195Fees for warehouse audit and related services.
HTMLPDF16-237-200Printing by private printer—When.
HTMLPDF16-237-205Bond requirements for the use of outside printers.
HTMLPDF16-237-210Completion of printing.


PDF16-237-010

Definitions.

(1) "Permanent enclosed storage space" means that it has a foundation and both rigid walls and roof.
(2) "Warehouse operator" means the same as "warehouseman" which is defined in chapter 22.09 RCW.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 22.09.020(13). WSR 00-21-043, § 16-237-010, filed 10/13/00, effective 11/13/00.]



PDF16-237-015

Covered commodities.

Commodities covered under chapter 22.09 RCW in respect to storage and/or merchandising shall include wheat, barley, oats, field corn, popcorn, rye, triticale, grain sorghum, soybeans, sunflowers, flax, buckwheat, canola, rapeseed, safflower, millet, mustard, dry peas, dry beans, lentils, malt, and the by-products resulting from conditioning the above commodities.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 22.09.020 and chapter 34.05 RCW. WSR 16-01-159, § 16-237-015, filed 12/22/15, effective 1/22/16. Statutory Authority: RCW 22.09.020(13). WSR 00-21-043, § 16-237-015, filed 10/13/00, effective 11/13/00.]



PDF16-237-020

Grades and standards.

The grades and standards established by the United States Department of Agriculture as of August 1, 1984, for all grains and commodities included within the provisions of this chapter are hereby adopted. In addition, the procedures to sample, grade, test and weigh grains and commodities, established by the regulations and instructions under the United States Grain Standards Act and the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946, are hereby adopted for this state.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 22.09.020(13). WSR 00-21-043, § 16-237-020, filed 10/13/00, effective 11/13/00.]



PDF16-237-025

Bond requirements.

(1) A bond of not less than fifty thousand dollars nor more than seven hundred fifty thousand dollars shall be required for each warehouse operator and dealer licensed pursuant to chapter 22.09 RCW, the Washington Warehouse Act. The bond amount shall be computed at the rate of eighteen cents per bushel of licensed storage capacity or six percent of cost of covered commodities purchased from producers, whichever is higher.
(2) For purposes of this section, the cost of covered commodities purchased from producers will include only those commodities purchased during the preceding fiscal year of that dealer.
(3) Grain dealers who purchase less than one hundred thousand dollars annually from producers may petition the director for exemption from the bond requirements. A grain dealer who is granted exemption must:
(a) Pay for the commodity at time of taking possession by:
(i) Coin or currency; or
(ii) Cashier's check; or
(iii) Certified check; or
(iv) Bank draft.
(b) Dealers must maintain a copy of the contract, scale ticket and payment record. All documents must be complete and show the actual date of the transaction. If paid for in coin or currency, a receipt must be issued and signed and dated by the producer.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 22.09.020(13). WSR 00-21-043, § 16-237-025, filed 10/13/00, effective 11/13/00.]



PDF16-237-030

Certificates of deposit, letters of credit, life insurance.

A certificate of deposit, irrevocable letter of credit or assignment on a life insurance policy issued to the department in lieu of a bond shall not be released, canceled or discharged until three years after cancellation of the license unless the department determines that no outstanding claims exist for the subject period.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 22.09.020(13). WSR 00-21-043, § 16-237-030, filed 10/13/00, effective 11/13/00.]



PDF16-237-035

Net worth requirements.

A warehouse operator must maintain an allowable net worth of twenty cents per bushel of licensed space, with a minimum of twenty-five thousand dollars. A dealer must maintain an allowable net worth of four percent of sales of commodities purchased from producers, with a minimum of twenty-five thousand dollars. A warehouse operator who is also a dealer must maintain the higher of these two requirements. For a warehouse operator, any deficiency above the twenty-five thousand dollar minimum must be compensated for by increasing the amount of the warehouse operator's bond by the amount of the deficiency, up to the seven hundred fifty thousand dollar maximum. For a dealer, any deficiency above the twenty-five thousand dollar minimum must be compensated for by increasing the amount of the dealer's bond by the amount of the deficiency regardless of the seven hundred fifty thousand dollar maximum. Warehouse operators and grain dealers must maintain a current asset to current liability ratio of at least point nine to one. Deficiencies must be made up by providing additional bonding in the amount of the deficiency.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 22.09.020(13). WSR 00-21-043, § 16-237-035, filed 10/13/00, effective 11/13/00.]



PDF16-237-040

Financial statement requirements.

Each warehouse operator and dealer shall submit to the department an annual financial statement which shall have been audited or reviewed by a certified or licensed public accountant. The statement must be submitted to the department within four months after the conclusion of the warehouse operator's or dealer's fiscal year. The statement shall include:
(1) A balance sheet.
(2) An income statement which includes annual gross sales of commodities from producers covered under the act.
(3) A statement of changes in financial position.
(4) Footnotes or schedule disclosure of:
(a) The total bushels received annually by commodity.
(b) The amount of each commodity in storage at end of year.
(c) The amount of each commodity held for depositors.
For purposes of this section, commodity refers to those commodities covered under the Washington Warehouse Act, chapter 22.09 RCW.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 22.09.020(13). WSR 00-21-043, § 16-237-040, filed 10/13/00, effective 11/13/00.]



PDF16-237-140

Warehouse operator recordkeeping requirements.

Each warehouse operator shall maintain the following records at a location required by RCW 22.09.340:
(1) A printed daily position record showing by commodity:
(a) The amount received.
(b) The amount shipped.
(c) Adjustments.
(d) The amount forwarded to other locations.
(e) The amount in storage.
(f) The amount belonging to depositors.
(g) The amount belonging to the warehouse operator.
(2) A depositor ledger for each depositor showing:
(a) The amount deposited each day by scale ticket number.
(b) The amount transferred to warehouse receipts with the corresponding warehouse receipt number.
(c) The amount transferred to other locations.
(d) The amount purchased and purchase report number.
(e) The amount contracted to purchase and contract number.
(f) The amount delivered back to depositors.
(g) The lot numbers and grade.
(h) Any crop divisions.
(3) Scale tickets. In addition to the requirements in RCW 22.09.010(16), scale tickets must:
(a) Show location where the commodity is deposited.
(b) Show that the commodity is insured for current market value.
(c) Plainly indicate that it is nonnegotiable.
(d) Be filed numerically in the main office.
(4) Shipments out of warehouses must be filed by:
(a) Warehouse location; and
(b) Intracompany transfers must be on a prenumbered form and filed numerically by warehouse location.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 22.09.020(13). WSR 00-21-043, § 16-237-140, filed 10/13/00, effective 11/13/00.]



PDF16-237-145

Grain dealer recordkeeping requirements.

Each dealer shall maintain the following records at a location as required by RCW 22.09.340:
(1) Contracts. Contracts issued to producers must:
(a) Be serially numbered.
(b) Clearly indicate the date title passes.
(c) Show the net price due the producer or charges to be deducted from the selling price.
(d) Show the date payment is due.
(e) Indicate the method of adjustment for over and under deliveries.
(f) Show date paid.
(g) Be maintained in numerical sequence by month payment is due for outstanding contracts and completed contracts must be filed numerically.
(2) Delayed price contracts. Delayed price contracts must contain the following information:
(a) Indicate in large type the date title will pass.
(b) Show the method for setting price.
(c) Charges to be assessed.
(d) Commodity and quantity contracted.
(3) Purchase reports. Each dealer who purchases commodity from a producer must issue a purchase report to the producer at the time of payment which shall:
(a) Be prenumbered.
(b) Show commodity and quantity purchased.
(c) Show price and basis.
(d) Show discounts.
(e) Show itemized charges assessed the producer.
(f) Show the check number and date paid with one copy filed numerically.
(4) Producer ledger. Each dealer must maintain a producer ledger showing:
(a) The name of each producer from whom the dealer has purchased an agricultural commodity.
(b) The amount contracted with corresponding contract number.
(c) Scale ticket numbers, lot numbers and/or bills of lading to apply against the contract.
(d) The purchase voucher number.
(5) Daily position. All grain dealers shall maintain a daily position by commodity in regard to producer purchases showing:
(a) The net buy/sell position.
(b) The amount in pounds, bushels, tons, or hundred weight of delayed price contracts which the producer has not priced.
(c) The amount in pounds, bushels, tons, or hundred weight which the producer has priced but has not received payment.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 22.09.020(13). WSR 00-21-043, § 16-237-145, filed 10/13/00, effective 11/13/00.]



PDF16-237-150

Recordkeeping requirements for warehouse operators storing seed.

Warehouse operators storing treated seed for depositors must maintain, at a minimum, a separate daily position record by class for treated seed that shows the amount in pounds, bushels, or hundred weights owed to depositors.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 22.09.020(13). WSR 00-21-043, § 16-237-150, filed 10/13/00, effective 11/13/00.]



PDF16-237-155

Rates and charges.

Warehouse operators and dealers who receive commodities for storage, handling, or conditioning shall post conspicuously a schedule of all charges, moisture adjustment factors, and disposition and/or ownership of all by-products. A copy of all charges assessed and billed to each depositor shall be itemized and retained in a numerical file.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 22.09.020(13). WSR 00-21-043, § 16-237-155, filed 10/13/00, effective 11/13/00.]



PDF16-237-160

Scales.

All scales used by warehouse operators and dealers must be certified for accuracy annually. Scale testing for certification may be performed by the department or by an approved scale company. When scales are tested by the department a seal shall be placed on the scales. The seal shall be dated and shall indicate approval or rejection. When scales are tested by an approved scale company, a copy of a scale test report shall be forwarded to the department and a copy shall be maintained in the warehouse operator's file.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 22.09.020(13). WSR 00-21-043, § 16-237-160, filed 10/13/00, effective 11/13/00.]



PDF16-237-165

Historical depositor.

Prior to allocating storage space, each warehouse operator shall file a policy statement with the department of agriculture setting forth the criteria that identifies a person as a historical depositor as defined in RCW 22.09.010. Any subsequent changes in this policy shall be filed with the department.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 22.09.020(13). WSR 00-21-043, § 16-237-165, filed 10/13/00, effective 11/13/00.]



PDF16-237-170

Emergency storage situation.

If the director determines that an emergency storage situation exists, a warehouse operator may forward warehouse receipted grain to other licensed warehouses for storage without canceling the depositor's warehouse receipt under the following conditions:
(1) The warehouse operator must:
(a) Obtain written permission from the depositor and/or the holder of the warehouse receipt before the grain is shipped.
(b) Notify the department before the grain is shipped.
(c) Have a warehouse receipt issued in his/her name from the receiving warehouse.
(d) Be back in compliance with the requirements described in RCW 22.09.250 within one hundred twenty days from the date of the first grain shipment.
(2) An extension of the one hundred twenty-day requirement in subsection (1)(d) of this section may be granted for government owned commodities.
[Statutory Authority: 2003 c 13, RCW 22.09.020(13) and chapter 34.05 RCW. WSR 03-19-013, § 16-237-170, filed 9/5/03, effective 10/6/03. Statutory Authority: RCW 22.09.020(13). WSR 00-21-043, § 16-237-170, filed 10/13/00, effective 11/13/00.]



PDF16-237-175

Outside storage.

(1) Grain may be stored outside the warehouse operator's permanent enclosed storage space only under the following conditions:
(a) The warehouse operator has insufficient permanent enclosed storage space to handle commodities for the current license year.
(b) Outside storage shall be on ground properly crowned and groomed to provide adequate drainage. Prior to its use, the storage space shall be approved by the department.
(c) Outside storage not filled through the warehouse operator's permanent enclosed storage facility shall have a separate letter designation and license fee.
(d) Outside storage must be free of contact with any building or elevator after October 15th of each year.
(e) The warehouse operator shall maintain a net worth of twenty-five cents per bushel in addition to the net worth requirements of WAC 16-237-035.
(2) Uncovered and/or nonaerated outside storage must be moved to a covered licensed storage facility by October 31st. A warehouse operator may submit a written request to the department for a thirty-day extension. The request for extension shall indicate the amount and condition of the commodity for which the extension is requested along with other information that may be necessary to assist the department in the evaluation of the request. This request must be received by October 15th. The request will be granted upon satisfying the following conditions:
(a) That the amount of outside storage does not exceed fifty-percent of the warehouse operator's license permanent enclosed storage space.
(b) The warehouse operator maintains a total net worth of seventy-five cents per bushel for uncovered outside storage in addition to the net worth requirements of WAC 16-237-035.
(c) There is no unreasonable risk to depositors.
(3) Licensed outside piles that have been covered and aerated prior to November 1 may be relicensed for the next license period provided that the warehouse operator samples each pile and submits the samples for grading.
(a) A sufficient number of samples that is representative of the entire pile shall be drawn, at a minimum, one sample for every ten thousand bushels in each outside pile and submitted for grading by June 1st. Samples are required to be graded using the grades and standards established by the United States Department of Agriculture.
(b) The results of the grading must be made available to the department within ten days of receipt of the grades.
(c) The department may deem that the requirements of this subsection have been met if outside storage samples are drawn and graded under the requirements of a United States Department of Agriculture Uniform Grain and Rice Storage Agreement and those certificates are provided to the department.
(d) If the average of the grades of the samples falls two grades below the average of the grades when the commodity was placed in the outside pile, the pile will not be approved for relicensing. Unless otherwise documented, "average grade" is considered to be U.S. No. 1.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 22.09.020(13). WSR 00-21-043, § 16-237-175, filed 10/13/00, effective 11/13/00.]



PDF16-237-180

Warehouse license expiration and late renewal penalty.

(1) Warehouse licenses issued under RCW 22.09.070 shall expire on June 30th after the date of issuance.
(2) If the application for renewal of a warehouse license(s) is not received by the department prior to June 30th of any year a penalty shall be assessed as provided by RCW 22.09.050.
(3) Subsequent to the expiration of a license, nothing herein shall be construed to limit the department's ability to enforce applicable laws as provided by chapter 22.09 RCW.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 22.09.020(13). WSR 00-21-043, § 16-237-180, filed 10/13/00, effective 11/13/00.]



PDF16-237-185

Grain dealer license expiration and late renewal penalty.

(1) Grain dealer license issued under RCW 22.09.075 shall expire on June 30th after the date of issuance.
(2) If the application for renewal of a grain dealer license is not received by the department prior to June 30th of any year, a penalty shall be assessed as provided by RCW 22.09.055.
(3) Subsequent to the expiration of a license, nothing herein shall be construed to limit the department's ability to enforce applicable laws as provided by chapter 22.09 RCW.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 22.09.020(13). WSR 00-21-043, § 16-237-185, filed 10/13/00, effective 11/13/00.]



PDF16-237-190

Inventory requirements.

A warehouse not licensed prior to July 1, 1983, must meet the following requirements:
(1) Tanks and stices over two hundred bushels per foot must have inventory holes situated in such a manner as to allow the measurement of the high and low points of the commodity.
(2) Conventional flat storage must have an overhead catwalk with a minimum of five feet of headroom.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 22.09.020(13). WSR 00-21-043, § 16-237-190, filed 10/13/00, effective 11/13/00.]



PDF16-237-195

Fees for warehouse audit and related services.

The following fees apply to the following services:
(1) For year-end inventories requested by a warehouse operator, the department charges twenty percent of the warehouse license fee with a minimum fee of four hundred dollars.
(2)(a) The hourly rate for all other services performed by the warehouse audit program at the request of warehouse operators, grain dealers and/or other government agencies is $56.00 per hour.
(b) These services include, but are not limited to, technical assisted audits of records and inventory, observation of sampling of commodities, collection of samples for the Karnal Bunt Survey, and remeasurement of commodities and storage bins.
(3) In addition to the hourly rate established in subsection (2)(a) of this section, the department assesses appropriate charges for overtime, mileage, meals, and lodging expenses incurred by department personnel when providing the types of services identified in subsection (2)(b) of this section.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 15.17.050, 2012 2nd sp.s. c 7, and chapter 34.05 RCW. WSR 12-21-063, § 16-237-195, filed 10/17/12, effective 11/17/12. Statutory Authority: 2003 1st sp.s. c 25 and chapters 22.09 and 34.05 RCW. WSR 05-07-080, § 16-237-195, filed 3/15/05, effective 4/15/05. Statutory Authority: RCW 22.09.020(13). WSR 00-21-043, § 16-237-195, filed 10/13/00, effective 11/13/00.]



PDF16-237-200

Printing by private printer—When.

The department of agriculture will allow warehouse operators to have their negotiable warehouse receipts printed by a private printer only when the state printer cannot supply said receipts within a reasonable time in the form requested and at a competitive price as determined by the director.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 22.09.020(13). WSR 00-21-043, § 16-237-200, filed 10/13/00, effective 11/13/00.]



PDF16-237-205

Bond requirements for the use of outside printers.

Warehouse operators who require receipts as set forth in WAC 16-234-010 shall apply to the director and furnish the following:
(1) A bond for one thousand dollars as provided for in RCW 22.09.300.
(2) Complete the department's "requisition for negotiable warehouse receipts" form, and forward to the department for both approval and forwarding to said private printer.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 22.09.020(13). WSR 00-21-043, § 16-237-205, filed 10/13/00, effective 11/13/00.]



PDF16-237-210

Completion of printing.

Upon receipt of a completed "requisition for negotiable warehouse receipts" form, the private printer shall print the authorized negotiable warehouse receipts, and upon completion of printing notify the department, by use of the "affidavit of printer" form, the number of negotiable warehouse receipts printed and the inclusive numbers as specified.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 22.09.020(13). WSR 00-21-043, § 16-237-210, filed 10/13/00, effective 11/13/00.]