We still use a visual system. Kernel visual distinguishability was a requirement that if new varieties were brought forward for registration, particularly wheat varieties, they could only be registered if you could visually distinguish them from varieties in other classes. In other words, you had to be able to distinguish the difference between a hard red winter wheat and a hard red spring wheat, and that made it difficult for the breeders of new varieties to use all the tools. They wanted to bring the best varieties forward. That was discontinued some time ago.
In its place a declaration system was adopted by the industry, so now when a producer delivers wheat to a primary elevator they declare to which class it's going. That's a legal document. They will say that they have hard red spring wheat, or hard red winter wheat, or some other class of wheat. They will sign a written declaration at the beginning of the year and they will orally reinforce that declaration upon each delivery of grain. That has allowed wheat breeders more flexibility in bringing forward new varieties.