News Release

Today, the Missouri Department of Agriculture issued a consumer alert to advise Missourians that the Corn Xpress Bulk Corn Vending Machine is not-legal-for-trade in the state of Missouri. The machine is advertised as an agricultural vending machine that can dispense products such as corn, wheat, protein pellets and rock salt.

The Missouri Department of Agriculture’s Weights, Measures and Consumer Protection team originally learned about the devices in November 2018. Since then, the team has attempted to work with the company to find a resolution without success.

Missourians and small businesses have purchased these devices, which cost tens of thousands of dollars, believing they are legal. However, devices have been removed from service in Sikeston, Jackson, Advance and Wappapallo because they do not meet standards set forth in state law. Additionally, devices have been removed from service in other states including the state in which they are manufactured – Mississippi.

The device is not-legal-for-trade in the state of Missouri because of the following primary issues:

• Weighing: The machine sells the commodity by weight, but has no weighing mechanism within the device, which violates Missouri’s Method of Sale law.
• Accuracy: The device also has no method for verifying its accuracy. The machines have not been manufactured to meet National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) or National Weights & Measures Conference NTEP standards for legal trade. These industry standards exist as established methods for verifying the accuracy of the device.
• Seal: The device has no sealing mechanism and no method of security to ensure that contents are not tampered with.

The Missouri Department of Agriculture has requested the company adhere to several provisions. Those provisions include marking the device “not-legal-for-trade,” or providing a similar disclosure on copies of all invoices and delivery tickets in the State of Missouri. Additionally, the Department has asked Corn Xpress to notify individuals and businesses in Missouri that have purchased or received Corn Xpress devices that the device is not-legal-for trade. At this time all requests have gone unanswered by the company.

Corn Xpress was issued a Notice of Violation to ensure no additional machines were sold in Missouri.

If consumers have any questions or concerns, please contact the Weights, Measures and Consumer Protection Division by phone at (573) 751-5638 or by email at mda.dci@mda.mo.gov.

To learn more about the Missouri Department of Agriculture, please visit Agriculture.Mo.Gov.